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Dang bitmaps! Sigh....

(rummaging...) now where'd I put my white leisure suit? These guys aren't available for comment... snf.bmp

True, but finding someone to put a small amount in an aerosol can is a bit tougher...

I love how the "tranquilizers" were identified as "typical" contents of a woman's purse....early homage to the Desperate Housewife?

..they also don't carry many of the other color codes for the later 260-280z, so maybe I got a little to enthused over the fact that they had mine (which I assumed was not a very common color to have in stock) They do carry 113 "green metallic." I Just checked the Zhome website, and Carl lists 113 as "green metallic, AKA leaf green metallic"...I wonder if it is in fact the same color as your 302 from the 1974+ era? PPG's website http://www.ppgcarpaint.com/ has a good database also, and doesn't list a match to their own code (4935M) which I also find interesting..

I have to plug this website/company after receiving their product today. Automotive touch-up HUGE array of paints, in touch-up bottle, can or aerosol. Has ALL the old Datsun color palette. I ordered two 12-oz aerosol cans of 112 (lime) on Monday, just came today and the paint matches up very well. For me, this will be used for undercarriage applications and for interior floor after application of sound deadener so the spray was the best fit. Clear coat also available as needed by your application... Just a heads-up if you're having trouble getting your paint matched locally... Good luck, Steve

from the NADA website: 1977 Datsun 280Z coupe Low retail: 3525 Average retail : 6325 High retail: 9750 If $2700 bought you that car, and only that amount of rust--with the interior condition I'd say it was a fair price! I assume your car is the most recent set of pics, as there's another 280 in your gallery that looks a bit rougher...Or was that before the car got painted? Enjoy your new find! Steve

Yeah..they said they kept some paint as leftovers. Since I paid for all the supplies I think I'll take it with me for some touch-up stuff! This week is for final suspension paint and fitment, and ordering new stainless fuel/brake/clutch lines from Classic Tube. (crossed fingers) Let's hope they do as good a job with the Z as they do with American muscle.... ...more pics soon! Thanks for the support! Steve

Back (finally) from the body shop... 10 months and 300+ hours later it's back and looking better than new! The BC/CC in original 112 lime looks so striking, especially in the midday sun. Now the fun part of reassembly will take the rest of the summer (have to take breaks to go to work, you know) and I'm sure my wallet will appreciate taking a break as well! I hope to get "Zeke" back on the road by September 1, barring unforeseen delays...

Glad he relisted it on EBay...sold for $14,600. Wish it had sold for a little more, though.... Steve

....subscribed to the site's feed Thanks for the heads up! Steve

new ones came with my ball joints...I think they probably do from Black Dragon, also, as #1 appears to encompass all the parts within the dotted line box. HTH, Steve

...That's the second time you've made fun of my avatarLOL ...but you bring up an important point. Hagerty insured my vehicle for incidents during the course of restoration, so yes that pic as well as several others (interior, suspension and engine pieces) were emailed to them along with my DD insurance declaration page. They could easily tell that this was a high quality stock restoration (stock 112 lime color, not yellow chromate as you mentioned earlier:cheeky: ), and insured my car in its current state for 14,000. Once it's reassembled, some new pics and a phone call will get an agreed value of 18-20k, depending on how some comp sales pan out. And all for $140/yr (not the original $340). Pretty good, if you ask me.

Timely thread, as I just sent in my app for my car, due out of the shop next Tuesday...$330/yr for 18k agreed value is more expensive than Grundy ($150), but the Hagerty benefits seemed worth the difference (50 miles free towing 3x/yr, for example.) AND, you can do it all online, including uploading photos and insurance docs--very convenient--with (hopefully) quicker turnaround!

What if the documented history is unimpressive? Not to offend, but after reading his description I see it's been raced a lot, but with no significant race wins or podium finishes. Many times it mentions mechanical failures/DNFs. No "famous" connections...the Scoville reference is to a guy who had SCCA wins in a different car, but not that one...Will this adversely affect its value? So, how valuable is this "documented history." I find it more impressive that it's #00004, given by Mr K., and used in some Datsun/Nissan PR capmaigns, but maybe that's just me. Curious to see how it goes.... Steve

No personal offense intended.... Lose weight! If you need to lose that extra 15-20 lbs here's another excuse! By extension, lighten the car. Don't haul around unnecessary stuff in the hatch. Consider lighter seats (cost benefit analysis first, though!) Stick with a slightly narrower tire. Stock is 175 or so, and lots of people run wider tracks than that, which creates more friction and could decrease your fuel economy. Of course, if you've got a beefy engine, that idea would probably be bad---but by default you wouldn't care about fuel economy either! Depending on the math, your financial situation and garage space, consider a different DD. Civic HX, Golf TDI, etc. Again, do the accounting first! Steve

....I stand, willingly, corrected....

I know this is generalizing, but anyone who gets into restoration with dreams of making money is out of their mind! Do it for the fun, the learning and the "community" aspects of it--and of course the enjoyment of driving your project around..After all, not many people can say they put together a car in their garage.... That's a great website though. Lots of good info and theory. I'd love to take courses in auto restoration, especially body/paint/welding but my day (sometimes evening and night) job keeps me busy. It's definitely a money pit. I just ignore the receipts. My wife's happy I'm at home, and the kids like hanging out in the garage with me. So what if I don't turn a profit?

...or just use an early balance tube

Black Dragon Auto, page 102 of version z.52 part#64-153 engine side servo hose....$39.95 (1970-6/71) Not sure why not 1972-1973, though...

Y'all can make fun of the purple people eater....all I see (if accurately described) is a rust-free 240Z with good interior and a crack-free dash. Easily worth 5k out of the box in this neck of the woods... ...Just add paint (and a stock exhaust), remove the body kit and you're in business! Hmmmm...how far's Goodview?

On the first "restored" one... Wasn't its BIN at like 17.9k? Now the BIN is gone and a 5k bid are on it, which is much fairer a starting point. Lots of corners cut, "custom" interior vinyl and carpet, dash cover etc. Looks like the front of the engine leaks oil (timing cover, front seal, oil pan gasket?) onto the steering rack and sway bar--o/w it looks like a good DD (unlike the GT2 racer!)

Steve, I spent 5 years in Atlanta...big place, get used to commuting (ha! Coming from NoVa you should be totally comfortable with that...) The Z Club there is active and friendly, based out of the North Altanta suburbs. Don't forget--you'll be able to go to the Mitty without driving 8-10 hours each way! Good luck on the job, the move etc. Enjoy that 2-car garage! After awhile you'll be standing in your backyard wondering where your freestanding 2-car "shop" can go.... Steve

uh-oh...see what you've done?