best engine mods for stock 260z?

[jackboxxx]

if your stuck on orange-ish Z's with the big bumpers (the those orginal slotted mags arent all that hard to find by the way) i was bored so i went to see whats on ebay..

Orange..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976-Datsun-280z-with-low-miles-Show-winner_W0QQitemZ4572938529QQcategoryZ6187QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I kinda liked this one (based on the current bidding close to 3k) if the reserve is low enough..and its a 1 family car but its the wrong color etc...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-Datsun-240Z-ORIGINAL-OWNERS-Excellant-Daily-Driver_W0QQitemZ4573611774QQcategoryZ6187QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

heres another orange one...

AND finally whats wrong with the BLUE! (mines blue ORGINAL paint. so im biased)

anyway, I totally understand what you mean, about getting a feeling about a car...soon as i saw mine i was sold. and i wasnt looking for blue at all...i didnt really have a preference that way, i was more worried about finding a nice orginal owner, clean, un butchered wiring, orginal interior, no rust, etcetc

Good Luck to you,

i'll be waiting to see what you finally buy.

JacK

it's really helpful and puts things in perspective.

i'm learning a lot!

gratefully,

-anthony g

jack, to answer your question:

"So what is it about this specific car that makes you want it so badly anyway?"

i think it's the appearance of the car

i think i've developed an emotional attachment HAHA

to the orange color and even that lines of the big heavy bumpers

and original rims

you know, it like when you see a car and you say "that's me! that's my car! that's my style!"

i'm glad you forced me to answer that question

i've gotta put it in perspective

i guess the question is am i willing to pay a premium for this SO CALLED emotional satisfaction?

for example, there IS another car that is a better value:

a 1971 240z (better carbs, stick) it great shape with expensive rims

and really babied by its owner (great stereo, the whole 9 yards)

for $4000

but it's BLUE (and a nice blue too)

and for some reason i'm stuck on the orange

i feel like it would somehow be sacriledge to repaint it orange

like bad car karma! like the car would hate me!

of course i would think twice about ripping the engine apart to improve it

kind of a hypocracy, eh?

crazy huh? i've really got to stop all this silliness :stupid: HELP!

[agnyc1]

thanks jack!

the 1st orange is sweet, but it has 2 days left an is probably going to go for at least 5 or 6K. then i'd have to drop 1K to get it out here. and the one i want locally looks nearly as good! and for half the price. (admittedly it's less car presently under the hood)

the second one, the silver one looks great too, and i like the silver. the 240K miles scared me off a bit. and then there's the cash to get it out here again.

hmm. maybe i'll offer this guy a lot less like dave suggested, and see if he bites. then i can drop the 1K on the ztherapy carb, and another $1-2K? on the 5 speed. then i'll have my dream car for roughly the same price. (would spend $60 to get it profesionally inspected by a Z specialist first)

[jackboxxx]

are you in calif? going by your name i thought NYC all this time...

[dat260]

Hi agnyc1

I'am with chickenwafer all the way. It's true, it's in nice shape according to the picture but do not rush into it. I saw a 240 with mikuni carbs, watt wheels, zg flairs, front & back spoiler beef up suspension and more go for $5500 on ebay. Check pictures.

[agnyc1]

yeah i'm in cali. 2 years now. but i'm still a new yorker at heart!

wow great price on that car!

you guys are really making me consider this.

i wrote the guy a long note explaining all the valid reasons he should give me a better deal, but he's not really budging. right now he won't go lower than about 3100. i think he thinks he has more than he does. but someone will probably come along and pay it because the car looks cool.

i definitely want to stay pre 1976 -- those are smog exempt in cali

[chickenwafer]

Go for a manual 240 or 260. They are more common in California than anywhere else in this country, and most examples are 99% rust free. You don't want to have to settle on the automatic 260- although it is nice- he is probably charging too much. And besides, it isn't the car you REALLY want, is it? Sure, it has nice paint, but it isn't stick. Although converting an auto to a manual could be done for under $1k if you do it yourself, for a garage to do it would be around $2.5k, and for that much, you can get the car repainted the color you want, and it will look mint.

Dave

[jackboxxx]

yeah i'm in cali. 2 years now. but i'm still a new yorker at heart!

wow great price on that car!

you guys are really making me consider this.

i wrote the guy a long note explaining all the valid reasons he should give me a better deal, but he's not really budging. right now he won't go lower than about 3100. i think he thinks he has more than he does. but someone will probably come along and pay it because the car looks cool.

i definitely want to stay pre 1976 -- those are smog exempt in cali

heres a link to Z cars (within 250 miles of my house for sale...) from the recycler...

link to Z cars for sale

Hmm theres a 1970 for sale..in my area maybe ill go look at that one...

also the 1st one with a photo, 280 looks in good cond....from the tiny pic...

have fun do a search in your area...

JacK

[agnyc1]

what a couple of you said about the flat top carbs working well IF you could tune them properly.

assuming i could, or assuming i put in 240SUs from z-therapy

are there any other things (weight aside) that would make the 260 perform less well than a 240?

are there other emissions things that need to be changed or removed to put it on equal footing (again weight aside) with a 240? or are the SU carbs the only thing?

(again 1974 260Z is smog exempt in CA, so i'm able to strip emissions stuff or change it.)

[pontiacguy]

Hey for what its worth the price seems good to me --Im on the east coast so any Z that has minimal rust looks good to me -- had to pay a bit more than 3100.00 to get myself a nice 73 240 in comprable condtion and if us east coast guys want a calif car thats IN CALIF WE GO TO PAY A LOT OF $$$ to haul it back. If it has solid floors -rockers framerails ect .. and a good body the preformance stuff bolts on -consider this --a car thats been modified to go fast -has -you know what i mean -those cars have been driven hard ---better to get one unmodified in my opinion