On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 04:58:18 GMT, "Peter Grey"
wrote:

Gunner,

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "restore". The 280Zs (and
especially the 2+2s) aren't worth much and are unlikely ever to be. It's
always going to cost more to restore a car than it would to buy one in good
shape, so unless you can get it going cheaply, it's unlikely to pay you back
come resale time.

I've spent a fair amount of time in a 240Z and I liked the car, but it never
was what I would call nimble, and as the 240 evolved into the 260 and 280,
the cars got heavier, softer and slower and were not much fun to drive.

If you can get it running for cheap and enjoy driving it, go for it. As a
restoration project, I wouldn't bother. Of course, if you love 280Zs and
have always wanted one, then any rational argument goes out the window, and
you are at the mercy of your automotive hormones. I KNOW of what I speak...

Peter

Chuckle..excellent point you bring up. In this case.."restore" means
getting the thing running if possible, cleaned up and roadworthy.
Thats all. Ive not the time, money or interest in doing a "factory
new" type of restoration. I dont even do that with machine tools,
except when a customer pays me..and I generally try to dissuade them.
Ill take my time doing it, scrounging as needed.

Btw..I also bought a 1983 Volvo 240 today for $100. It was on a ranch
out in the middle of sweet **** all. Old lady owned it (really) and
she was having problems as it would cut out now and then. I figure
its the fuel pump relay. Pretty common with that series. The wifes 82
Volvo is developing transmission issues, and it was cheaper to buy her
another car, than to buy a tranny from a wrecking yard. Shrug. Hers
is pretty ragged inside, and a 2 door, the new one is a 4 door, which
will make life for her easier strapping the grandbaby in the car seat.
Pretty clean, inside and out. 142k miles. Shrug..worst comes to
worst..pull the tranny and stick it in her car, along with the seats
and upholstery and junk out the 83.

I actually like Bricks. Easy to work on, lots of em in the wrecking
yards to pull parts off. Hers has the K-jet injection, which around
here is rarer than the one on the new car.

Btw...was it your buddy that bought the Lorch lathe from me a year or
more ago? I would sure like to have it gone. Since I lost the
warehouse..storage is pretty rough..and as its paid for..I simply cant
leave it out in the sun.

Gunner



"Gunner Asch" wrote in message
.. .
I was just given a Datsun 280Z 2+2 thats been sitting in the back
corner of a farm. Slight front corner damage drivers side and the
interior is missing whatever goes around the shifter..inside is rough.

Is this something I want to mess around with as a long term
restoration project? Looking at that long assed engine..nothing
appears to be missing and the glass is sound all the way around. No
idea of the year yet. I was given this along with a split boom older
cable style tow truck, but I think I have the tow truck given away
already ..in trade for getting the Datsun hauled off and for long term
storage until Im ready to do something with it.

Any info would be appreciated.

And no..Im not gonna buy a Rolex, grow a pony tail and find a trophy
girlfriend half my age either. It just looked like it might be a fun
ride to putter around the area in.

G

Gunner



"Pax Americana is a philosophy. Hardly an empire.
Making sure other people play nice and dont kill each other (and us)
off in job lots is hardly empire building, particularly when you give
them self determination under "play nice" rules.

Think of it as having your older brother knock the **** out of you
for torturing the cat." Gunner