Thinking about a Z for the first time

[Shade133]

240z up to 75 280 no hood vents, interior is different like amp guage instead of volt, set up for choke cable if carbed in center console. rear luggage straps are different.. 240z strut mount insulators are 1 inch or so shorter then the 280's in the rear.. the 280 bumpers are huge and stick out vs the small 240 and 260 ones.

just a few stuff off the top of my head not counting engine and tranny stuff.

i personally think a 78 280 (last year of 280z before they went to the 280ZX) would be best for v8 swap.

[Fahrenheit]

One thing im a little worried about with laster 280s is ditching the bumper and still passing safety inspection. I guess thats not a problem being other people do it. I dont really care about the little things like vents and what not but as a while was the shell not changed?

[Shade133]

little things like Arne stated were improved in the later 280'z vs the 240's.. and yes the shell changed a bit. the strut towers are one that i noticed. hence the 280'z have the longer insulator, the tower is taller then a 240 i believe. and the 280'z were heavier so the uni-body was probably stronger, regardless you'll have to do some beefing up.

and ive lived in cali, and now in phoenix, and taken bumpers off of both without issues. but then again i never had to go through a safety inspection of any kind.. thats something you'll have to find out for your city/state before considering taking them off, BUT you can always take them off and replace them with nice sleek after market ones like the one in the picture

[Fahrenheit]

Yeah, I might email Arizona Z (that pic is from there website) to see if they can put me in contact with the owner to see how to get that bumper

[Arne]

It is an over-simplification to say that the body-shell was unchanged from '70-78, but the the basic shell design is all the same. Lots of detail changes like bumper mounts, etc.

A good site to begin your research is at http://zhome.com/ as a single point with many easily located FAQs and such. Much easier to get the basics from than using the Search here.

As an introduction to what is available, try looking through the online catalog at http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/CTGY/70-96 (a site sponsor). While these people don't have everything, nor are they always the best place to get parts, the catalog will give you an idea of what you can expect to buy off-the-shelf.

There are several bolt-in (more or less) V8 kits for Z cars. You may wish to read through this site as well, as a start: http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Datsun_Z_V-8.html

Edited August 16, 2010 by Arne

[Arne]

Yeah, I might email Arizona Z (that pic is from there website) to see if they can put me in contact with the owner to see how to get that bumper

That is a very common bumper replacement - but will not pass impact testing. It is available at the catalog link I posted above.

[Shade133]

Best of wishes with it though! i want to see what the out come is if you decide to buy a z and go with it!

[Fahrenheit]

Awsome that link looks like a great place to start! Thanks!

[Fahrenheit]

Thanks for the kind words. Im already surfing the net looking for them in my area. If i had a good one that not priced to the moon ill buy it today haha.

[Shade133]

if your looking for a cheap one. look for one that doesnt have bad rust in the normal areas like battery tray, floor boards, under the car anywhere, wheel wells, stuff like that.

you can get one in good shape with a bad engine for real cheap. but you did say you wanted to drive it while searching for parts, but still you should be able to get a really decent one for 4k or even 3k if you dont want to do a ton of cosmetic work. i bought mine for 900, all suspension bushings shot or gone, suspension shot, engine had minimal issues but it drives and runs. it also has cosmetic issues. not a lot of rust (most surface rust) but the paint is horrible.

[Walter Moore]

I have also seen V8 conversions in the later (S130) 280ZX platform. It is a slightly bigger, heaver car, but still smaller than a Camaro of the same era. And in some places they are more available than the early cars. That might be an option for you as well.

[Shade133]

their also a little more comfy inside the car then the earlier years i personally dont like the look of them but everyone is different.