I have just acquired a 1983 280ZX Turbo . One previous owner (my father). I am trying to decide whether I should paint it or not. There are about half a dozen nicks and dings that have been covered with touch up paint over the years. A rust spot above the left windshield wiper and a tiny spot on the back side of the drivers side t-top both of the rust spots are about the size of a nickel or smaller. Other than that everything is original and pristine. The wheel wells are spotless (a big rust area on these I've heard) I am trying to decide if painting would be of value or would de-value it. Any and all thoughts on this are appreciated. I am in no hurry to get anything done (especially because it is put up for the winter). I want to do my homework before I do anything.

E

 

after the years its much more faded than you can really guess, i would do a full proper repaint on it, stock color though to keep it original. it will look great.

 

if it's got any rust at all, i wouldn't guess that fixing that and doing a full repaint in the original color would devalue it at all. go for it. you will be very happy to see it be so shiny perfect.

 

Paint is overrated. PS... welcome to ZDriver!

 

welcome to Zdriver ernieschmidt...

hey and nismo can you help me and ernieschmidt out buy telling us the factory white s130 paint code?

 

look it up. its how i figured out all the paint codes i've ever wanted to know.

 

well the link is bad but im assuming Mint White 002 but ill check on my car in the morning...

 

Welcome to the forum!

This is not a rare car you are talking about.
I think I have one of the most rare Z's ever.
A 260Z 2+2, GRLS30000084
It's still just a Z. Not going to sell for much.

What I am saying is that the rust is going to hurt the value more.
I would rather buy a Z with good paint any day than one with rust.

Now, if you were talking about a 1971 numbers matching Hemi 'Cuda with a little surface rust spot. That would be different.

Nice job getting that Z. You know all the owners, and I would dare say that is better than 90% of us.

When you run into any hack job you know who to hang. haha

I would just paint it whatever color you want. Although a white, or another version of white would be harder to tell that it's been repainted.

 

while my car is down..i will start to rattle can it myself, anything is better the the crappy brown the guy did before me

 

I just got a 83 ZXT too. I am gonna re-paint in the stock color (french beige metallic)with a hint of red and finish with a clear. My question is do I risk pulling the t-top trim, which does not leak yet, to get a complete painting? Gonna take all the exterior parts off first of course.
To get back on your question, mine has some pretty cool battle scars that might argue against paint. Hey, sometimes age is sexy. But you must address rust.

 

I'm in the same quandary right now! Anyone have an opinion or advice?

I mean regarding taking off the T-top seals...

 

Depends on their current condition. If they are already cracking, or look like they will crack, removing them will likely cause damage. I removed mine when I did the t-top conversion. I took my sweet time and they came off okay. I think the only prob I had was around the outside corner up by the windshield... Those suckers are on there!

 

I lifted the outer edges of my seals and there is some light crud. It can be cleaned. Some advice I have received is to clean this area, support the trim with some rope and paint under the raised lips. Yeah, it sounds like a huge pain and have no idea if it will work. New trim per side is expensive. The other advice I have gotten is to find some decent trim in a junkyard and practice pulling it off. Living in the East, Zs don't quite grow on trees, so this probably wont work for me. I am pulling anything even close to hiding oxidation though. I know it will keep me up at night wondering about some little spot I could have painted but didn't.

 

I know that feeling...

We have gone to great lengths to remove every thing including all of the glass to do the paint job right. I am going to try to (verrry carefully) remove the trim and seals. If I blow it - it will be expensive...

Thanks for the input!