Currently, I am living in Bristol Rhode Island until March to become a composites technician. So I will preface this whole build with a disclaimer that states: I will only be able to work on the car(s) every third week or so, for about a day. So progress will be slow. But, I'll be making carbon pieces and projects for the cars while I am here though, and will update accordingly.


and yeah...... I know....The LAST thing I need is ANOTHER Z car, but I promise you this one solves a couple of problems I have been facing.

I'll explain...

A little back story to get you familiarized. I own a 240z a 260z and a 280zx. The 240 is the project car some of you have seen, my 260 is a running driving future gift for my brother, and my 280zx is unfortunately non moving, non operational.

But currently it just sits in my driveway, as most of its good turbo parts were robbed to aid my N/A --> turbo conversion build on my 240. The other problems with the 280zx are the facts that it is an automatic, has some pretty rotten floors, and needs rear end work, despite what a respray may lead you to believe.



So what's a guy supposed to do?

On one of my last nights in New York, I was curious and just decided to pop on craigslist to see if anything interesting was in the area. Lo and behold, a 1983 Datsun 280zx turbo, runs. drives. body is rough (but I'm a body guy, plus you'll see it doesn't really matter)

Taking any reasonable offer. Title in hand. "I don't know much about the vehicle"

Jackpot!!!


A little Z car history: 1983 was a special year for the 280zx turbo models. They had a spectacularly radical 80's digital dash, which I personally like; it cracks me up. Instead of the traditional Nissan close ratio 5 speed, this one came with a Borg Warner T5 transmission, offers a heftier rear end (than my automatic zx), and CVs instead of half shafts.

So already in a couple of mental notes I've racked up well over the purchase price of the car.....




The car is pretty rusty. But luckily most of it is what I call "crispy on the edges" due to a stupid factory two tone decal that loves to trap moisture and subsequently rust. But lucky for me, I own a pretty much worthless 280zx that is not doing anything other than sitting in my driveway. So I have a donor car.

I got this rusty piece of shiz for 650 dollars.




And here's my NOW donor car.



Let the surgery begin.





Continued.....

The following was only 1 day of work. That's all I've been able to do. The timing with purchasing this car and going to Rhode Island couldn't have been worse..Talk about blue balls......

Pictures continued...Stupid 3 picture limit. Starting with more of the car as I bought it.

Make it look like this

and then sell it to me. Doesnt even need a motor.

Started the transformation.

And here's a link to some initial exhaust note stuff. For having a spectacularly awful restriction at one bend in the pipe, it still doesn't sound too bad. I'm excited to build a nice three inch exhaust for it. Really let it sing a bit.

http://s524.photobucket.com/user/twofortyz/media/photobucket-51276-1378767778162_zps556a4081.mp4.html

sounds seexy!! and the dinging is annoyinh IMO and also the digital dash is sex. um also do you recommend 240's? like a s14 or so. jw, thinking about picking up one for a project, maybe ls swap or sr swap or just ka turbo. idk u know a lot about nissan/ datsun.

off topic but whats the body of the 280 like i have allways wanted to for a racecar

Believe it or not, I'm actually not a HUGE Japanese car guy, I just happen to like, and own a few Datsuns. But that said, I don't discriminate against a good car regardless of its origins and the 240sx is a good car. Definitely a good project. Just beware of the drift tax. They are popular, and are priced as such.



There are two different body styles of 280

The 1975-1978 Datsun 280z, which is called an "s30" is the same overall dimensions/shape as the original 240 and 260zs, they just weighed a little more (roughly 2600).

the second gen 280 (1979-1983), which is the same as the car in THIS thread, is known as an s130.

Both body styles were spectacular race cars in the day. Both Paul Newman, and John Morton won championships in a 240z and a 280zx turbo.

I highly recommend the s130 body for it's low price, and high potential. It would make a wonderful dedicated race car, with just seldom small modifications.

This post was edited by OldAndyAndTheSea on Sep 9 2013 10:19pm

loving the digital rpms lol