First Z

[Spike]

Hey, I'm new here so go easy if I'm in the wrong spot.

To make a really long story short I may be buying my very first Z car. I am going to go to college next year and my 7MPG Trans Am just won't cut it anymore, although I do love the thing. I have always been into cars and have fixed just about everything on the TA, and many other cars so I am very savvy.

Anyway, the TA has gotta go but I still need somthing that CAN be made to "go like stink, and yet, still have somewhat of a reasonable consumption of gas.

I am looking at getting a 240Z. I'll be honest, although I have done my homework, I really don't know a whole lot about imported cars in general. And these little six shooters are black magic to me. (I'm use to muscle cars making 400hp at 3,000 rpm, not 200HP at 6,000rpm). As a first time owner I was woundering if someone can give me some pointers on these cars. What to look for, ect. (IE. rusty spots, common mech. problems, ect)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks alot.

[MikeW]

You might want to update your profile here to include your location. It would be a good idea for you to find someone who really knows these cars to inspect whatever car you might be looking to buy as well as possibly give you a chance to check out a finished car to make sure you know what you're getting into.

[Spike]

Will do, but I doubt I can get much help. I'm in eastern Canada.

As for a challenge, its no big deal. I'm just looking for somthing that i can drive and fix up at the same time. You know the kind, somewhat reliable and not rusty (I've had my fair share of rust).

[Arne]

All early Z cars have rust. Even here in the Pacific Northwest where we don't suffer from road salt, 240Z's in particular are rusty. Later Z cars (280Z's mostly) are less rust-prone than the early cars, but if road salt is used in your area, expect rust.

[MikeW]

Unfortunately I think you'll find that rust is by far the biggest enemy of early Z cars as well. Putting salt on the roads certainly doesn't help so the best examples tend to come from the warm and dry Southwest US. If you already have a car you're looking at in your area you might consider posting pictures here to get some opinions.

[Spike]

Well I just mean not rusty enough that its actually driveable. Trust me, I spent my whole life on the east end of Canada so I know rust. I'm not afraid of it, but I prefer as little as possible.

I'm actually willing to travel a good ways to get a decent one. So thats not an issue.

[bpilati]

Generally speaking the drive train of a 240Z is bulletproof, especially compared to almost anything American you've owed. The body is a unibody (integrated frame), so rust is something you MUST pay attention to. The windshield wipers and heater fan suck, but most everything else is great. Have fun.

You want a classic, you're getting a classic.....more than you know. Whenever you see a Japanese sports car on the road, you'll be driving the car that made them possible. You're Z made history, the rest are part of history....that's one of the beauties of it. A man with a vision of a special car for the American market, and a special group of engineers in Japan hatched a concept that hit the American market right between the eyes at the perfect time in history. Very few cars ever come along and do that. Model T, Corvette, Mustang, 57 Chevy, Datsun 510, Porsche 911, and VW Beetle are a few.

[Spike]

Cool thanks. My very first car was actually a 67 Mustang (a restoration project that never did get finished), so American classics I'm use to.

One thing that worries me is the fact that I can be a litttle bit like Tim Taylor as such that I have to make every automobile I own go a lot faster than it really should. I was wounder what kind of market there is for nissan engines. How much power can they make? Do they like to rev? Are they torquey? ect.

Thanks guys.

[bpilati]

The L-series engine loves to rev. I think the BRE car put out about 250 HP, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Some L-series engines are more torquey than others I believe, but your not driving a V8. A Z is a GT, not a muscle car.

[zguitar71]

There is a combination to turn a 2.8 into a 3.2. It involves using a crank from a Desiel Maxima from the `80's and pistons from a 240SX or a truck (89 mm bore, some are dish some are flat). There are many different combos but www.rebelloracing.com builds them to about 310-320HP. In a 240, with a little structural renforcement to take the twist, you could run the 1/4 in 12.5 sec. There is a guy called Brian510 over at www.hybridz.org that has one and is running even faster. I think that type of motor is right up your alley.

The earlier 240's are lighter than the later 260's and 80's and the 280ZX is a pig. My `71 weighs in at 2315 LBS so you do not need a lot of power to make the car fast. They handel great too. IMO the 240's look the best too with the small bumpers and the older 240's are preemmisions (no catalitic) so depending on the state you can do more legally to the car.

You might be able to find a decent 240 with a 2.8 already in it. The great thing is the amount of parts from other Nissans (Z and non Z) that will work in the Z. There is also the option of a turbo 2.8 from a ZX or if you have $ a twin turbo from a Skyline (RB26DETT). You can also use a V8. If you are into making the car fast do some searching around on hybridz, there is everyting under the sun over there.

Rust: look at the floor pans, battery tray, around the hatch, FRAME RAILS. Rust on the outside means there is more hidden rust. Nevada, California, Montana, the Dakotas, Arizona all the dry western states are the best bet for a car with a good body.

[ggarrard]

Spike - See if you can make contact with some of the members of the Atlantic Canada Zed car club.. at http://www.atlanticz.ca/ .

There should be someone who can help you out, maybe even locally in Moncton...

Regards

GWGarrard

[bpilati]

There is a combination to turn a 2.8 into a 3.2. It involves using a crank from a Desiel Maxima from the `80's and pistons from a 240SX or a truck (89 mm bore, some are dish some are flat). There are many different combos but www.rebelloracing.com builds them to about 310-320HP. In a 240, with a little structural renforcement to take the twist, you could run the 1/4 in 12.5 sec. There is a guy called Brian510 over at www.hybridz.org that has one and is running even faster. I think that type of motor is right up your alley.

The earlier 240's are lighter than the later 260's and 80's and the 280ZX is a pig. My `71 weighs in at 2315 LBS so you do not need a lot of power to make the car fast. They handel great too. IMO the 240's look the best too with the small bumpers and the older 240's are preemmisions (no catalitic) so depending on the state you can do more legally to the car.

You might be able to find a decent 240 with a 2.8 already in it. The great thing is the amount of parts from other Nissans (Z and non Z) that will work in the Z. There is also the option of a turbo 2.8 from a ZX or if you have $ a twin turbo from a Skyline (RB26DETT). You can also use a V8. If you are into making the car fast do some searching around on hybridz, there is everyting under the sun over there.

Rust: look at the floor pans, battery tray, around the hatch, FRAME RAILS. Rust on the outside means there is more hidden rust. Nevada, California, Montana, the Dakotas, Arizona all the dry western states are the best bet for a car with a good body.

This statement is incorrect based on expert testimony. It handles more like an American car. :sick: