Browse over this page on BAT and you can see, pretty much just by looking at the pictures and prices, that deleting the big bumpers doesn't add much.  Maybe even hurts.  If you're planning to put it back on BAT in the future, and make a profit, best do what the actual buyers will pay for.  You can even read through the comments on a typical BAT auction and see that most of the comments come from people who aren't buying.

Your car is very original and in great shape, by the pictures.  The cars that make the money are either the original cars or the heavily, professional level, modified cars.  There are many half-done cars that don't do well at all.  Make sure you know what you want the final product to look like and that you can actually get it done.  It would be a shame to ruin a nice car like yours.

https://bringatrailer.com/datsun/280z/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1977-datsun-280z-48/

@Sean Dezart, nice looking exhaust, where did you get that? 😉

I concur with ZH, but in the end make the car what makes you happy not others. What I meant about changes is things like cutting the wheels wells to put fender flares on and such. That is better done on a car that needs lots of love and has rust there already. Not saying the bumpers are an afternoon job. Front is pretty easy, back requires removal of the drip edge by drilling out spot welds and then filling holes where bumper shocks came out, followed by paint I’ve seen many that leave the holes but it’s much better looking when they’re filled. In the end it could be reversed if a later owner liked the rail road ties. The big bumpers grow on you so as ZH said have the vision of what you want before stepping off.
My first order of business would be mechanical. Go through it, and make sure all your hoses are good, look for leaks, give it a tune up, change fluids and then drive it to find any bugs or quirks. Don’t throw away anything as you make the changes you want.
Congrats


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1 minute ago, Av8ferg said:

 The big bumpers grow on you 

.....like warts and greyscale :-)

8 minutes ago, grannyknot said:

@Sean Dezart, nice looking exhaust, where did you get that? 😉

Fast-Road headers, line and Street muffler @Zstory.

Previous 280Z here with the Street-Sport headers and Classic muffler made 162HP DIN with the EGR and CAT deleted and no smog issues : beautiful car inside and out.

Thanks everyone for the feedback!

I actually don't mind the big bumpers. 😘  I had a 78 many years ago, so I guess they grew on me then.

Given the original condition, I'll probably keep it totally stock and try to restore it to a very clean state. I'm unsure about the auto to 5 speed conversion. It makes it more appealing as a driver, but I feel like keeping the auto would retain its collectability factor. I'll probably talk to collectable appraiser about that.

Is anyone familiar with the California Datsun 5 speed conversion kit below?

https://www.californiadatsun.com/transmission-accessories/datsun-240z-260z-280z-zx-automatic-to-5-speed-transmission-conversion-kit.html

Not the kit, but the guy that owns the store, he's been around for quite a while.  He used to be Datsun Parts LLC.  You can search that on the internet.  His new name comes up on the site occasionally, I added a search link below..

His screen name on the forum is URGELIS.  https://www.classiczcars.com/profile/13357-urgelis/

https://www.classiczcars.com/search/?&q="california datsun"&search_and_or=and&sortby=relevancy

Edited December 21, 20204 yr by Zed Head

Read up on that here. Good info. Stay away from Datsun Parts/California parts!

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-americamovil-us-revc&source=android-home&source=hp&ei=_PPfX9vWMOPL_QaF_4roBA&q=auto+to+manual+classiczcars.com+&oq=auto+to+manual+classiczcars.com+&gs_lcp=ChFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocBADMgUIIRCgAToCCCk6CAgpELEDEMkDOggIKRDJAxCRAjoFCCkQkQI6CggpELEDEMkDEAo6BwgpEMkDEA06BQgpELEDOgUIKRDJAzoNCCkQsQMQyQMQChCTAjoLCC4QsQMQgwEQkwI6CAgAELEDEIMBOgIILjoOCAAQsQMQgwEQxwEQowI6CAguELEDEIMBOgsIABCxAxDHARCjAjoFCAAQsQM6AggAOggIABCxAxDJAzoFCAAQkgM6CggAEMcBEKMCEAo6BQgAEMkDOggIABDHARCvAToFCCEQqwI6CAghEBYQHRAeULYVWP-BAWDejQFoAXAAeACAAbABiAGHE5IBBDIuMTeYAQCgAQGwAQ8&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp

Edited December 21, 20204 yr by siteunseen

You can pull your own kit together. Really not that hard

Just saw some stuff over on Hybridz about transmissions and found this site.  Derek is a member here, he builds good stuff.  He made his own cylinder head, among other things.

https://www.godzillaraceworks.com/drivetrain

If you decide that you'd rather buy a swap in kit form this would be much preferable over the other guy's.  Newer stronger transmission and most likely better overall product quality, and probably backed up if there are problems.  I don't know if Derek is involved in this one but he is with the adapters.  @Derek

https://www.godzillaraceworks.com/drivetrain/complete-240sx-5-speed-swap-kit-for-70-83-datsun-z-car

And here is Derek's business - http://datsunworks.com/

Edited December 21, 20204 yr by Zed Head

That's actually not a bad deal on a stronger transmission kit