MEZZZ

I agree about the silver although mine came with an absolutely AWFUL paint job, overspray, runs, drips, etc...looks like the P.O. did it with spray cans in his driveway. So after staring at it for 8 months in my garage like that, I'm thinking I want a change. I look at cars on the road all the time and always come back to a graphite color. There are certain BMW's I've seen that look great. Keep me posted on the progress, I hope it turns out to your liking.

I will check that out today, thanks. I was thinking of unplugging the AFM and see if it makes any difference. I will clean the contacts and see if that helps. The boots are in good shape, fairly soft and crack free. Would it make sense that if I unplug the AFM and notice no difference then I have narrowed it down? I remember cleaning the outside with Simple Green and a scotchbrite pad and then wiping out the yuck from inside. The car ran well after I did this and within about 10 miles I noticed a difference.

Post some pics as I am in the same boat on the color, I have a guy that has a shop and he has silver he bought for a job I can get cheap and I too thought about what would happen if I added some black to it. I really like the dark graphite look.

I have a '77 280Z that is running very rough and I need some advice from you guys. When I bought it last Sept it seemed to run fine. I changed the oil and filter and cleaned up the engine compartment a bit and noticed that it started running a little off after that. At that time I also put on a "cold air intake" in place of the stock air box and when I did that I pulled off the AFM and cleaned it up inside and out. At that time is when I noticed it seemed to be missing a bit. I also used some degreaser on the engine and cleaned it up and I thought maybe I got some on the fuel injection wires (they have some cracks in them). One day, it seemed to run ok, the next day it was missing, a few days later, it seemed ok again, etc. I just bought new plugs (NGK B6ES-11, Taylor Hi Pro wires, new dist. cap and rotor and a fuel filter. I took out each plug (they were black and dry, not oily), checked the gap .042 and installed the new ones, replaced the wires one by one in order and then did the same thig with the dist.cap and rotor. Changed the fuel filter, charged her up and after a bit of cranking she fired. It sounded good for a few seconds, letting it idle, then I gave it a little gas and its still missing, spitting out quite a bit of smoke(black) as well. Do you think I might have screwed up the AFM wiping it out? I read that the car will run like crap if its unplugged and I wonder what else it might be? Any ideas are very much appreciated.

Thanks to all that have replied. I will wait until he returns from the Middle East, whats another few weeks, the car has been sitting here for 8 months now anyway

Thanks for the reference. I've read good things about them. I just cleaned out my junk mail folder and found the reply in there from Bad Dog about being out of the country, sorry for any confusion I may have caused!

Thanks for letting me know, not a problem on the delay at all. I was just wondering why I never got a reply, I was startng to take it personally Let me knowwhen you get back as I need one of your framerails! Thanks

I was wondering if any of you have had any experience with Bad Dog Parts. The only way I see to contact them about getting something from them is via email and I havent heard back from them. I am in need of one of their frame rail replacements as I am going to have a shop do some other metal work for me and would like them to do the frame rail at the same time. Is this a normal thing for them? Does anyone have an idea on where else to get this part if they dont contact me? Thanks

I may have to take the 4 hour trip north then becasue I have seen exactly one Z down here in Cincy in the past year

Justin, where in Ohio are you moving? It would be nice to have another z enthusiast close to me.

Ive been watching that one since it posted, if the claim of only 4K+ miles is accurate, looks like it should command that kind of price. Of course, paying a premium for the low miles, you tend to lose value everytime you take it for a spin.

I am looking to replace my injector wires as mine are cracked where they meet the injectors. I got on Ebay and did a search and found a link to several different wires, the first link belongong to MSA and then a couple more that look the same but for ALOT less money. Anyone used these? Are they junk? Any suggestions on replacing mine other than these? Thanks http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Detachable-Fuel-Injector-Plug-Datsun-280Z-280ZX-75-83_W0QQitemZ370038975896QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item370038975896 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-280zx-280z-Nissan-300zx-fuel-injector-connectors_W0QQitemZ250233526982QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250233526982 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/injector-connectors-Datsun-Nissan-280z-280zx-300zx_W0QQitemZ300213622471QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item300213622471

I second EScanlon, the first thing I did was buy the book he mentioned, a Haynes manual, and the microfiche CD. Then I decided to gut the interior first, since it seemed like the easiest place to start and probably the cheapest Im about $1200 into it so far. I figure from there I will do the mechanicals, brakes, suspension and motor, and finally, body and paint. It only makes sense to do body and paint last so you dont screw it up doing everything else.

I agree, especially at the no reserve price of $275 when I ran across it. It would take some $$ to get back to where it needs to be for sure, but hey, dont they all

I screwed up and timed out on my edit. (I got so stressed out I needed a cigarette break ) Here are a few more pics. This is what a rust free, o bondo, no body damaged car looks like This is what a car that "used a paint of not high quality" looks like. Now keep in mind this car was claimed to be a rust free, unmolested original car. With a paint job, "it would be a show car". "Runs perfect, no smoke, no leaks, just a great example of a great Z car" "Everything works but the clock" I get the car, it looks like it was painted with rattle cans, overspray everywhere, the engine bay, interior, windshield, tires, bumpers, weatherstripping. The radio, blower motor, tach are inoperable. The thing sounds like a yellow school bus when I brake. The suspension is shot. Obvious rust and bondo. Took 3 months to get the title and only after I got Ebays fraud dept involved and threatended to sue the idiot. In that process, I find out he bought the car 4 weeks before listing it and not from "the original owner, an old retired guy" as claimed. He listed it for $2250 more than he paid for it on his reserve price and the only thing he did between buying it and listing it to enhance its value was to lie about it. He didnt so much as clean the windows, vaucum it or do an oil change (the oil filter had silver paint all over it as well). Then after everyhing, the guy leaves me feedback on ebay calling me a "piece of dog feces" Phots can be misleading, words even more so. Needless to say, I will never buy another sight unseen

Arne, I live in Ohio and the rust consumed 99% of the early Z's around here 20 years ago I decided to go on ebay and get one from the west. After looking for a few months, I ran across this one in my price range. Described as a rust free, unmolested original Z. Runs great, needs seats replaced and with a paint job, it would be a show car. I emailed back and forth a few times to the seller, he answered all my questions. He said he found no rust or bondo on the car and looked more carefully now than back when he bought the car. Claimed the original owner used a "paint of not high quality" years before and while it looked good from 10 feet away it was evident it could use a new paint job. Claimed everything but the clock worked. To make a long story short, I bought it. Had it shipped from Salem, Oregon to Cincinnati, Ohio for $986. Needless to say it was far from the description.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-Datsun-240Z-Classic-NO-RESERVE-STK-152814_W0QQitemZ370037236103QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item370037236103 A no reserve auction, looks like a bargain price for now anyway.

Welcome to the club, I havent seen too many of us Buckeyes on here I havent been up to Mansfield in awhile.

I stand corrected It looks like you were typing a response the same time I was too...and correctly I might add.

Carl, When you click on the number next to the sellers nickname (their feedback), it takes you to the comment page. At the top of the comments are 4 tabs, feedback from sellers, feedback from buyers, all feedback and then finally, feedback left for others. It can provide a little more insight to a person. Feedback is important but obviously not the tell all. I have left alot more feedback than I have received and its just another tool. Of course the link to the sale in the feedback area only stays active for 90 days. BTW, I wish you were my nieghbor Carl!

I just looked at his feedback. He bought the car for $13,900 on 1-8-08 using a buy it now. The P.O. left him feedback, making it very easy to track the sale. It makes me wonder why he spent that kind of $$ on a car and now 2+ months later is getting rid of it. I bought my '77 last fall on Ebay and also did a search of the P.O.'s feedback and the car never popped up. After getting screwed on the sale, I went in and looked again, clicked on "feedback left for others"...and there it was! Bought a couple months previously for $2,250 LESS than the scammers reserve price! Obviously, the seller never left the guy feedback and I never thought to look at the "left for others" section. Needless to say I was kinda sick to my stomach And I will ALWAYS check the "left for others" feedback from now on.

Ive been watching the auction all week, just got on Ebay and noticed she sold. Congrats, and here is hoping the process goes smoothily for you.

Carl, Last August I paid $777 to have one shipped from Salem, Oregon to Cincinnati, Ohio. That wasnt door to door but depot to depot. I had to drive 15 miles to pick it up. While I didnt like the additonal cost, I really didnt think the price was all that bad taking everything into consideration, i.e., fuel costs, etc. The company was DAS and I was very happy with them. From depot to depot it was 3 days.