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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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Datsun 280Z 2+2 question for you motorheads
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 |
#2
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It's worth keeping. I heard that years ago Nissan went around and
picked up every 280Z they could get their hands on, but there's a few left, obviously. If I had one I'd have some fun. There's Z cars out there with small block Chevy's and Fords in 'em. "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 | |
#3
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Gunner Asch wrote:
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. Sounds good to me. Decide if you're going to get your enjoyment out of making progress or doing the work. If you have to make progress on it to have fun then ask if you can do everything yourself or if you can afford to have some parts done for you. Those are nice cars, and as already mentioned you can put in a chevy small block if you don't like sixes. -- Tim Wescott Wescott Design Services http://www.wescottdesign.com |
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"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. I'm no motorhead by any means- had a 1985 300Z IIRC for a few years during the clapped out phase of its life. Parts were very expensive, the car had extensive structural rust damage and wasn't really worth restoring. A few friends of mine have had 280Zs and they eventually became frustrated with the cost and frequency of repairs. Look into what it will really cost to get in good shape- might be more than you think. It's not like getting a Camaro into shape. |
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Gunner Asch wrote in
: 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. The 280Z was a great little sports car. Probably was the best in the 70's as far as bang for the buck goes. I used to work at a car dealer plus my brother had one, so while I've never owned one, I have spent some time behind the wheel. The car is an absolute blast to drive on twisty roads. I would get it running, repair the suspension, put new tires on it, and flog it around a bit. Then you can decide if driving around corners at absurd speeds in a tiny car is for you. -- Dan |
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280Z isn't that bad to maintain. Fun cars. Keep the 6-cylinder
though. Don't desecrate that nice little sports car with an American motor. That straight six will go plenty fast, trust me. Dunno about the 2+2, never really liked the way it changed the look of the car. |
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As others have said, it's a blast to drive. Smog might be your biggest
issue. My brother had one, ended up buying a new engine, it wasn't that much more than having the clapped out engine rebuilt to his standards. Should have side draft constant velocity SU carbs. Get them balanced, and make sure you check the oil in the dampers, that's what's under the little black caps on top of the carbs. Used to run those carbs on a 510 Datsun. You know where I live now, in winter I'd run ATF in the dampers, 10-40w in summer to slow off idle response. People looked at me real funny when I'd say "I have to change the oil in my carbs this weekend". G Jon |
#8
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there is a tool called a "selsyn" as I recall, for synchronizing SU type
carbs - I have one for use on my Morgan - you can do it by eye and come pretty close though, just look at the piston height. "Jon Anderson" wrote in message ... As others have said, it's a blast to drive. Smog might be your biggest issue. My brother had one, ended up buying a new engine, it wasn't that much more than having the clapped out engine rebuilt to his standards. Should have side draft constant velocity SU carbs. Get them balanced, and make sure you check the oil in the dampers, that's what's under the little black caps on top of the carbs. Used to run those carbs on a 510 Datsun. You know where I live now, in winter I'd run ATF in the dampers, 10-40w in summer to slow off idle response. People looked at me real funny when I'd say "I have to change the oil in my carbs this weekend". G Jon |
#9
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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 "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 |
#10
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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 |
#11
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Gunner,
Check closely for RUST. That is the reason that there is not to many of them around. It hard to keep the wheels on the road when the mounting points are gone. I whatched my 83, disolve before my eyes, in 10 years. Jim Gunner Asch wrote: 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 |
#12
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lizardblue wrote:
280Z isn't that bad to maintain. Fun cars. Keep the 6-cylinder though. Don't desecrate that nice little sports car with an American motor. That straight six will go plenty fast, trust me. About 20 years ago, that fairly gutless 6 with its touchy Carbs was the first thing to go when a friend redid his. Plenty of room under the hood for a SB Chevy, in the tunnel for a 4sp. toploader and a narrowed Ford 9" with a 4link setup in back. plenty of 'Go' with similar handling. Doing that over again today, I'd say still pull the 6 and drivetrain but Ebay it rather than scrapping it for its metalweight, and I'd use a SB Ford w/Aluminum heads or Turbo 3.8 Buick in front of a 5 speed, a little lighter and now no more expensive to build than doing the SB Chevy route, and saves you some weight over the front end, plus those two have Fuel Injection and Computer setups that aren't bad to retrofit to other vehicles. Companies make drop in harness kits, so you don't have to mess with Holley or Carter Carbs (That were far better than the carbs that came with the 260, in any case) to avoid cutting your own harness. ** mike ** |
#13
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On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 09:17:47 -0400, "James E. Baldock (Jim)"
wrote: Gunner, Check closely for RUST. That is the reason that there is not to many of them around. It hard to keep the wheels on the road when the mounting points are gone. I whatched my 83, disolve before my eyes, in 10 years. Jim Where I live...rust is not much of a concern......high desert, about 100 miles from Mojave/Death Valley But thanks indeed, Ill check it over really well. Gunner Gunner Asch wrote: 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 |
#14
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Drop me a note offline when you're ready to check out the carbs. If I
can't help I can point you in the right direction. Being a Triumph owner, multiple carbs are the norm, and working with them is no harder than a single. "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 | |
#15
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Gunner Asch wrote in
: 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. 142k is barely broken in. My brother is the parts mgr. at a volvo dealer. He bought an 84 with 150k and a loud bearing rap. He bought a junkyard motor and figured he'd swap it out when the motor died. He junked it at 250k, never put the boneyard motor in. His 850 has got 240k on it now, never has had any major engine or tranny repair. I've owned a bunch of Volvos over the years, but have never kept any past 150k or so for one reason or another. I sold my wifes 740 a while back and bought her her first ever new car. An S70. Nice car AFAIK, it's not like she'll let me drive it or anything. 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. Yup. A few electrical issues is the main beef with the 240's. I like the 740's too. Outside of the distributor, it's an easy car to work on. In any case stay away from the sixes and the early turbos. -- Dan |
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