I was only looking for a motor, bought the whole car.

[Zs-ondabrain]

So I'm on CraigsList, just looking around, came across this.....

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Datsun LS30 straight six motor and tranny FRESH

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I have a fresh LS30 motor with 4 speed tranny, less than 500 miles on both $400 along with what ever other parts off the car you want.

Call for mor info 206 XXX 1431 Dave

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 601814747

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So I call the guy to set a time to go look at this motor. I go and look to find a brown 260Z. dent in the left fender, very little rust, (lower hatch panel, surface rust near the seat bracket, little here and there but nothing big.)

So we chat for a bit, and I ask him why so low on a freshly rebuilt motor and trans? He tell me he's going thru a divorce, moving in with his girlfriend, just bought a 64'? 4 door hot rod and changed his mind about the car. He bought it from a guy who was restoring it, then died. The PO wife sold it to pay for the funeral.

So I ask this, "If the motor and trans are only $400, how much to give you your parking space back for the 64'?" He mumbles a little then pipes up and says "Oh hell, $500 sounds like a good round number" So I bought the whole damn car instead. (Paid $550) It has a title issue but I'll figure that out. If I decide to keep it, I'll retitle it and put the L26 motor in MY Z then rebuild my L24 and instal it in the 260Z.

Just needs the basics, Carpet, bath, left front fender, and a little TLC. Not sure just how Happy I am at the moment but I am thrilled to have saved her from being stripped down and sent to the metal scrapper, which was his plan in the first place.

lets hear it.

Dave.

[JonnyRock]

Get with the pics already!

[Zs-ondabrain]

Use your imagination for now, It's brown and it's a 260Z. It's an early Z because it has the small bumpers (not the big 280Z style) BUT it has the markers in the grill, so it's not to early.

I only went to buy the motor, so I did'nt even think about bringing a camera with me. Patience my dear boy, patience. I'm gonna have to "Flat-bed it back to my house cause the left rear wheel is locked up. I think the Ebrake froze on him cause it's been parked for a few years. That or the brakes locked up somehow.

Also, the ignition system is a (I think) Crane Cams XR700 and I need to run my fingers thru it and figure out why it won't fire. Plenty to do but I'll have to wait till the car gets here, Probably monday.

Dave

[sleepyzzz]

that sounds like mine. when we went back with a trailor, the left rear wheel was frozen, and we tried rocking it for quite awhile trying to free it up after sitting unmoved for the last twenty something years and got nowhere.

out of desperation, we removed the wheel and broke the drum away from the hub and replaced the wheel so that we could winch it up on the car hauler. at the time i hadn't decided to do the disc brake conversion, but figured that a new drum wouldn't be that much.

glad to hear that you saved the car from the crusher. goodluck on the rebuild.

[deadflo]

Dave

Ddoes your 240Z have it's original engine, if so, just wondering what prompts you to pull it out for the L26? Are you not worried about the originality issue?

[jmortensen]

That's a pretty good deal, congrats. Wondering what an "LS30" is though...

[Arne]

Dave

Ddoes your 240Z have it's original engine, if so, just wondering what prompts you to pull it out for the L26? Are you not worried about the originality issue?

I'm going to assume that you haven't seen Dave's Z in person yet. Originality isn't all that high on Dave's priority list.

And don't get me wrong, that's OK. We can't all be worried about originality, some of us need to be worried about making them faster and better. Dave is in that camp.

[barth4567]

Way to go Dave. That is a heck of a deal, and that is an understatement.

[Zs-ondabrain]

Originality is great, don't get me wrong. Faster and better is great too but I'm more about what works. Believe it or not, My 70' has the original, numbers matching block. The original E-31 head bit the dust a long time ago.

I"m obviously more about Upgrading, improving, updating and personalization. I love Z's that still have that classic look, but have the creature comforts that make it even more of a joy to drive.

Gary, I need a rebuilt motor, plain and simple. I'll put the 260Z's motor in mine for now, rebuild and upgrade my original block over a period of time, then swap them again so I still have the original block. So I'll have practically NO down time. This will also give me time to title the 260Z and make any repairs needed to make the 260Z road worthy.

At this point in time, I have no idea of what problems I'll find after I dig into it. All I know is I got a hell of a deal on a pretty good looking 34 year old Z. I've always wanted another 240Z but this being an early 260Z, it has potential in my book.

The only thing that Does'nt look original on my 240Z is the wheels, grill, and the hood (cause it's black, for the moment) until you start opening the hood or the doors.

P.S. He wrote LS30 cause there was dirt on the vin and he did'nt see the "H" and I don't know if the block, that was rebuilt, is the original or not.

I'll have pictures VERY soon.

Dave.

[deadflo]

Well I was just curious about a potential engine swap, I recalled you had a 70 Z, and know most folks would keep the original engine if given the choice.

But hey it's your car!!

Have fun with it!

[Zs-ondabrain]

SO in essance, I AM keeping the original engine, I'm just putting in the rebuilt 260 motor for now, till I can rebuild the 240 block and re-install it.

This will also give a lighter cehicle to move around the driveway and into the garage for repair and work.

[snub260]

Dave

sounds like you got a great deal! can't wait to see the pic's. let me know if you need any parts. I have several early 260 things laying around.