1978 Datsun 280Z w/5 speed in NorCal/Bay Area California with smog issues and other r

[Some Random Guy]

Dear Z car group/enthusiasts,

I shoulda done this a long time ago. But I have so much going on and wrong in my life I am not thinking clearly.

I bought a 78 Datsun 280Z car (I believe it is the original engine and tranny) about 3 or 4 months ago. The car came with a smog that was done within the last 6 months of the previous owners ownership. Yea, I shoulda brought the car to a shop and had it checked out before I bought it. Maybe this problem would have been seen but the guy had a smog cert. so I figured this wasnt going to be an issue. When I drove the car it handled great and I knew I was going to throw 1 -2k at it and have a nice little driver. Not a show car, the interior is functional and that is all I wanted. New blue paint blah blah blah......

I got the car and 1500 later the front end that was literally about to fall apart and very dangerous to drive was fixed. That was about a thou. The other 500 was little things and half that was to diagnose why the car would not pass smog. It is dumping fuel though the fuel injector and with gas at 4 or 5 a gallon now I can't just go and pay someone off because this is the last year in Cali I have to go though this. It *has* to be fixed, and then other little things, a list I send to the mechanics that the car has been to is usually ignored and I'm tired of this whole damn situation.So if I can't get help from someone here, I'm dumping the car on craigslist because the love for the thing I had is pretty much gone.

If you know of someone in the Nor Cal / Bay Area that will be willing to take on a sympathy project for someone on a budget that, like I said, is about at the end of his patience and $$$, please, *please* let me know.

Ok, that's it.

Thanks

kaizendogtraining@yahoo.com

-Max

[5thhorsemann]

As far as I know, Mother Theresa passed on years ago, and I don't think she was a very good mechanic. FWIW, don't buy a 30+ year old car and expect a turn key daily driver. You need to get out from under the money pit and get a bus pass. The only people that can keep a 78 alive as a daily driver will have no simpathy for your delima, they wish they were in your position. Just fix the damn thing yourself. BTW, your average mechanic these days can only swap out parts. You need to become a true mechanic and actually learn to tune your car to be successful and worthy of the 280Z, and the attention it affords you.

[StephenJ]

Hahahaha. I'm sorry. All I can do is laugh. I've earned the right...with replacing an fixing so many little items. It's almost like fixing up your home, it never ends. It starts out with fixing a heater contrl valve.....and before you know it, you have entire interior of the car ripped out. Honestly though, isn't that part of the fun?

Hahahaha.