Virto

oooo...That really does look nice, considering it's all original. Compared to that, my dash is a war zone. I actually like the two tone color, don't see it often...and hey...those wheels look AWFULLY familiar... (Hehe...right down to the rust on the center caps!) Just noticed the front overrider...niiiiice. Got one in the garage but it's pitted and crapped up so bad I don't know if I can clean it up enough to be used. I do think they look good though.

If the drive really is toast, there's no sense in handing it over to some people that will charge you for no reason. A new drive fresh from the box will be auto identified by your BIOS, providing the computer was made sometime within the last 15 years. Since you were running XP, that sounds like a non-issue. Now, do you actually HAVE the XP cd, or did your PC just come with a "system restore" cd? A lot of manufacturers actually keep all the windows files on the hard disk in a maintenence partition. If the hard drive dies, so does your copy of Windows. If that's the case, you can get ahold of a cd from someone near you. I figure you legitimately paid for it, I see no reason why you shouldn't have an honest to god copy. Just make sure that the jumpers on the back of the drive are set to either MASTER or CABLE SELECT and the PC should do the rest, initially. Once you get everything going, you may need to visit your manufacturer's website for drivers.

Depends on the level of quality you want out of it. Some cut-rate shops can probably do it for around $300, but you probably have to mask everything yourself, and they probably won't paint anything but the surface without opening the doors or hatch. And that price is probably just a cover coat with no prep work or clearcoat. Your best bet is to ask around at local paintshops and collision centers. I'd figure on budgeting at least a grand if you want a paint job that's worth doing.

Maybe if it looked like a Ferrari, and not a messed up 300ZX...but no, thank you.

Visit zhome.com and click "Production Figures" on the left hand side. It'll give you the most accurate information available pretty much anywhere. EDIT: Apparently these figures are incorrect...but I haven't seen any others online. I have a book at work that might have the info, I'll take a look tomorrow.

Well, if you can find someone running the same version of XP with the same service pack installed, you might be able to copy the NT kernel from them, and using that DOS prompt, insert it into your system32 directory. This isn't neccesarily virus or ad-ware related. It used to be fairly common to walk into major retail stores and find PCs that were crashed out with the same (or similar, depending on software release) condition. Most common cause - Windows terminated unexpectedly...power outage, kernel panic, system fault...or act of God. The OS didn't shut down properly and the kernel was corrupted. Second most common cause - Hard disk failure...or impending hard disk failure. Drives don't often fail all at once...they usually start to produce read or write errors as time goes on. This is even more true now that PCs run at higher temps and may not be properly ventilated. Other possibilities - As Zman said...virus, or some other malware. Most virii prefer to cause problems with a working system, as it's more satisfying for most virus authors. Ad-ware would not do anything that could take down a system because, without a functioning PC and internet connection, how could they make money? My copy of ntoskrnl.exe is 1.9mb...too big for a floppy. If you can get it from someone, it'll need to be on CD. However, a full restore might be required. In order to keep your existing data, take the hard disk out of your PC and install it in someone else's PC. Hopefully, they have enough drive space to copy all the information from your disk to thiers...after that's done, you can wipe your drive, reinstall, and then either swap the drives again or copy the files back using a LAN. EDIT: OR you can do it Steve's way...but where's the adventure in that?

Rob, I've noticed you have a fuel indicator above the hazard switch. Was there a console change in the 280's life? My 78 has the fuel lamp above the center heater vents, opposite what would be the floor temp warning lamp. As for the 3rd hole, mine's plugged with what looks to be a factory plastic plate.

Somewhere around the time that man discovered fire, I'd think. :stupid:

I'm gonna agree with you on that. I like the looks of it, Pontiac or otherwise.

I noticed that too, last weekend. Other forums I used to visit had a similar arrangement. Mod approves article, article posted, thread locked. Worked pretty well. I'd like to think people can pay enough attention to where they should be posting particular topics, but I'm all for locking down the Articles section.

Not nearly as many 280Z coupes. The 2+2 didn't sell well here in the US. However, the 260Z sold in the UK until 1980, and the 2+2 was preferred. I've got an old book called "Z-car: A legend in its own time" or something like that at work. It covers Zs from 1970 to the release of the final style 300ZX. It has detailed production numbers for each year if I recall correctly. Unfortunately the book is at the office, and I won't be back for several more days, but I'll give it a look when I go in and see what it says.

Make sure you have a surplus shifter lever before you cut yours down. The levers in these cars are pretty long, and cutting it SHOULDN'T cause any problems, but shifter cutting is pretty common in the ricer circles, and can really throw of the balance of a shift lever, making shifts heavier or more difficult. I just wouldn't cut up your only shift level on the off chance that you'll be unhappy with the result.

Hmm...normally I shy away from anything that's not original, at least in appearance, but this might actually look nice. Hope you find something, interested in seeing it.

Ha ha, yhea there's been a previous discussion on this monstrosity. Someone should find it any put it out of it's misery. I'd say someone should buy it and rescue it, but for 2 grand, that's a lot of work that needs done.

Maybe someone across the pond can help you out, assuming there are no changes between the pans of the european 260Z and the US 280Z. They actually sold more 2+2s in the european market than 2 seaters. Plus over there, the 260Z didn't leave the factory as a neutered pup. Because of that, the only 280 they got was what we call the 280ZX.

I know I have to spin my knob several times to reset the odo. Wick Humble mentions the cable in "How to restore your Datsun Z-Car" but I left it at the office. I'll take a peek tomorrow and see if it says anything.

It's not a real spyder...it's a chopped 250...heavily modified, custom body...neat because it's Beard's car...but not because it's a Ferrari.

Certainly not hibernating...but I wonder if I could use that as an excuse to get out of work for a whole winter. C'mon spring...hurry up and wash the salt away.

Hey hey, not too shabby! Will it flake off on your hands? If not you might want to try it on that vent knob right there. Maybe it'll work it's magic there as well.

Here's a couple pics from the Chicago Auto Show this last weekend. Don't know if this is a repost, but enjoy.

In Wick's book, it doesn't look that big...but of course that's just a diagram. I certainly don't think it does much for the look of the car. I was just wondering the other day if anyone had one of these. Guess now I know.

Lost the VIN plates, but can give you good VIN plates from another 72 240Z... No, I don't think so. This thing is such a mess.