SoCalJim

This thread is great, and timely! The wipers didn't work on the '75 280Z that I recently bought. So, I removed the motor and linkage this afternoon and I verified that the motor on its own works fine. I checked the linkage and determined that the culprit is a seized driver's side pivot arm. I sprayed it down with PB Blaster and tomorrow I'll see if I can coax the base off of the shaft and clean & lubricate the pivot arm assembly.

Zed Head’s comment is an excellent one. I’ve seen a lot of discussion about the nut on the countershaft working loose and causing the transmission to pop out of 5th gear. Google Datsun 280z popping out of 5th gear and you’ll get a lot of hits.

That's great advice, Greg. I’ll look for some DeOxit and start cleaning connectors over the next few weeks. Hopefully, I’ll soon have a fairly reliable electrical system.

My new-to-me 1975 280Z didn’t have working turn signals when I bought it a few days ago. So, this morning I set out to get them operational. When I measured voltage on the common pin of the turn signal switch (Green) with the switch in the neutral position, I saw normal battery voltage. Then, when I moved the switch to either the left or right position, the common pin ‘s voltage dropped to near zero. I next unplugged the 3-pin connector for the turn signal (the connector towards the left-center part of the attached photo) and ran a jumper wire to the common pin on each side of that connector, thus isolating the circuit load (turn signals) and associated wiring. When I then operated the switch, the common pin’s voltage remained at normal battery voltage, and normal battery voltage also showed up at the pin for the left or right turn signals, corresponding to the position of the turn signal switch. I unplugged connector C-7 and saw the the pin associated with the ground (Black) was completely green with corrosion. I cleaned that up and tested my turn signals. They worked! While I was feeling good about my accomplishment, I check all the exterior lights to make sure they were working. The right parking light wouldn’t come on. When I removed the lens and unscrewed the bulb, it was also corroded. A little fine grit sandpaper cleaned that up and now all of my exterior lights work. On to the next project...

I found out that they are Center Line wheel caps.

Captain Obvious, three of the caps are what's shown in this picture. I have no idea what they are.

Thanks!

That sounds right for the wheels. The attached picture provides a closer look. The interior will need some work. The dash will need a full cover, the driver’s seat will need new foam and a recover, and the carpeting is pretty hard alongside the transmission tunnel. The sun visors are puffy. And, there’s no radio...just a big hole. The door panels aren’t terrible, but they’re not great. Still, it’s all things I feel that I can address and look forward to making it nice in the cabin. My wife sat in Z today and proudly proclaimed that she could drive It. Uh oh! The Z does run and I drove it for a few miles. It’s a bit loud in the rear end, so I’ll have some work to do there.

I think so. The seller claimed that the indicated 80+ kmiles is accurate. This car was only owned by the original owner and his son (seller). I have quite a few, but likely not all service records, and, based on it being off the road with lapsed CA registration since 2002, I think the seller's claim could be true.

Greg, your green Z looks fantastic!

Thanks! Here’s a couple of additional pics. When we left the seller’s house and pictures with with the Z in my driveway. Surface rust on the floorboards is all that I could find. The fuel system needs attending to. It also needs a lot of new rubber bits, and the electrical has a few bugs. The interior needs a total redo. The A/C isn’t working. This car sat for quite a few years (since 2002) with some effort by the previous owner to fix it up. It runs fairly well, doesn’t smoke, and the compression is 150-160 lbs. across all cylinders. Looks like it’s going to be a fun, drivable project.

No longer looking. I brought this 1975 Z home yesterday.

It's posting to threads that all can see. There is also a feature to send messages privately between forum members.

Would this help? Look at Page 9, in the table for XAS and evolutions. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=20&ved=0ahUKEwjvoMfJwabaAhUp2oMKHTF0BKM4ChAWCHQwCQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.michelin.com%2Feng%2Fcontent%2Fdownload%2F12061%2F137268%2Fversion%2F2%2Ffile%2FPneusCollection_2012_GB_BD.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1JLhJ2DjfkJI0ZC0Kd2wlo

Disco died?

Congrats! This should be a great father/son project.

That's sad to look at.

Anyone thinking about selling your 280Z?

Yeah, that link is a great read.

riverstonefly, perhaps you can get an auto upholstery shop to fabricate a carpet set for you in Perlon.

Beautiful work, Dan!u what is the finish on the calipers?

What's the disadvantage of removing the rear bumper gap guard, riverstonefly? I would think the simplicity of just having the thin rear bumper would be ideal. Just my $0.02.

As a guy wanting to buy a 280z, the prices I’ve seen are all over the map. And two of the cars I’ve “looked at” on the internet this week have turned out to be scams. It’s kind of disheartening.

The previous owner must have been something special!