It has finally arrived

[MEZZZ]

After 4 weeks of waiting, my 77 280Z has finally arrived. It was an Ebay sale frm Oregon and I picked her up tonight. My initial reaction was not good. The paint was described as not of high quality and that was an understatement. It looks like someone painted her with a brush and rattle cans! I knew that it was in need of a paint job so this isnt that big of a deal. The rubber looks like it could be stand being replaced around the doors.

[zbane]

Congratulations!

Now the fun begins...

[MEZZZ]

Not sure why the rest of my post didnt show up...anyway..damn new users

She definitely will need the paint stripped off..it looks like an AWFUL amateur job. I looked into soda blasting her down, waiting on reply from a couple different people. On the rust side..I have to say that it is one shining spot.

No visible rust at all, I went around the car with a magnet and it stuck everywhere I put it. Under the battery tray looks great with just the slightest bit of surface rust. Open up the doors and it looks great, underneath looks good, the rails and floors appear to be solid. I finally got the hatch open after reading links on here on how to open it (thanks), I was pushing down and turning the key at the same time The hatch area appears solid but the hatch itself has some rot on the inside lip. That is all I could find on he car.

Interior, the seats are shot, need to be rebuilt with new foam/upholstery kit, but the ad stated that. The clock is not working but was told that as well. It has a 1/2 dash cap. The tach seems to stick around 3000rpm from time to time. The radio doesnt work and neither does the blower motor, these things were not mentioned to me. The interior lights work (map light) and the dome light comes on when I push it but does not go off when I close the door..is this normal anyone? She does have a new carpet kit installed and all the interior pieces are there and in reasonably good shape. The chrome strip is about gone off the door panels and they have had speakers installed in them, but overall, the inside looks good.

Driving? She pulls strong and smooth, brakes seem a little weak but seemed better the more I drove. No weird rattles or noises, no clunks. The steering however feels funny, it just doesnt feel right. It has the shimmy at highway speeds..seems to get better the faster I go but around town it just feels heavy and sloppy at the same time if that makes sense to anyone. I had the dreaded fume thing going too with the window open.

Overall, my first impression was oh no, what did I do this for. Buying a car blind, I deserve what I got. After giving it a closer inspection, it doesnt seem that bad actually and afterall, she is meant to be a mild-moderate project anyway. I am thinking of starting with the interior as it doesnt look like it will take that much to get it nice. Aftermarket steering wheel/shifter knob from Motorsport, and foam/upholstery kit for the seats. Aftermarket radio, figure out the fan problem, then get a reconditioned clock and tach and put a full dash cover on it and it will be looking great.

Mechanically, I will have to go over the front end, new bushings seem a good place to start and figure out what needs to be done to make it right. Probably do the 4 piston brake job while Im down there. Engine, just a good cleaning, fluid change, put a set of plugs/wires and thats about it. Aftermarket muffler as she is QUIET! Any suggestions? I like the look ofthe Monza setup or twice pipes from MSA.

Then it is onto the body, strip it, do the needed ding repairs, paint and new seals. I am thinking of changing the bumpers over, not too crazy about the body kit look, might go the fiberglass style from 70-73 and fabricate mounts for them. The tires look fairly new, and the rims are in great shape..I hate to admit it, I kinda like the white letters on it.

So, thats about it..to rate her..I'd give her about a 6.5-7 overall, mainly due to the lack of rust. My goal is to bring her up to about a 9. I would consider it to be a tired driver right now in desperate need of attention. Stay tuned and thanks for reading.

[a7dz]

I can only ask with so many members in the Oregon area why did you not ask one of us to look at the car before you bought it?

[EScanlon]

Mark:

BEFORE you start disassembly....DRIVE THE CAR!!!

Get to know her faults, and her many VIRTUES.

Much of what you're referencing as "wanna" do projects may in fact turn out to be not required.

Then start doing tons of research here. Most of us have spent countless hours documenting most of the "problems" you're mentioning and have spent, again, countless hours explaining how to disassemble, fix, and re-assemble those items.

As far as stripping the paint, have you even washed the car? Maybe a good cleaning and waxing with a quality wax would do wonders for the car and allow you to put that off for a bit. Remember that just a good paint job ALONE will run you over $2k, ask that it be stripped to the metal and you're bound to be upwards of $4k if not closer to $6k.

The radio, clock and blower have been discussed numerous times. Those items might be as simple as a pair of fuses and a tiny drop of oil away from working.

The dome light has both the switch on the light and the switches at the doors. If you turn the light on by pressing on the lens, then the door switches are superfluous. Turn off the light with the doors closed by pressing on the lens, and the door switches should each turn the light on. If they don't, it might be as simple as rotating the little button to remove whatever corrosion is preventing the contacts from making contact.

So, congrats on getting the car. Take a bit of time and get to know her before you start disassembling her. I've bought two DIRT cheap from guys that disassembled theirs shortly after receiving them....and then didn't follow up on finishing them.... then never enjoyed the cars.

FWIW

E

[MEZZZ]

I can only ask with so many members in the Oregon area why did you not ask one of us to look at the car before you bought it?

Well Jim, thanks for asking the obvious question

Unfortunately, I didnt find this site until after I purchased the car, I joined up on ehre not too long after. I wish I had known about this site beforehand. BUT...it will be very useful to me now that I have found it! I have been researching on here for weeks now, this forum will prove to be invaluable to me.

Funny thing, I am in Cincinanti, and due to the winters, salt, etc, most Z's around here dissolved many, many years ago. I started searching online a couple months ago because there was very little around here.

I just went to buy oil and filter and a couple misc. things at my local parts store, come walking out..and there was a 78 280 sitting there. First one Ive seen on the road in many, many months!

He had bought it a few months back and we compared cars, he opens his hood and I see the paint code..it was a Black Pearl...paint code 638! It has seen better days, it had some type of chemical spill all over it, the guy he bought it from said it was parked next to some chemical place and just got hammered one day...alot of the paint has been eaten away and what was left was cracked up. He, like me, plan on doing a slow refreshing on it...so we swapped numbers...kinda cool.

Thanks again for the obvious question though

[MEZZZ]

Mark:

BEFORE you start disassembly....DRIVE THE CAR!!!

Get to know her faults, and her many VIRTUES.

Much of what you're referencing as "wanna" do projects may in fact turn out to be not required.

Then start doing tons of research here. Most of us have spent countless hours documenting most of the "problems" you're mentioning and have spent, again, countless hours explaining how to disassemble, fix, and re-assemble those items.

As far as stripping the paint, have you even washed the car? Maybe a good cleaning and waxing with a quality wax would do wonders for the car and allow you to put that off for a bit. Remember that just a good paint job ALONE will run you over $2k, ask that it be stripped to the metal and you're bound to be upwards of $4k if not closer to $6k.

The radio, clock and blower have been discussed numerous times. Those items might be as simple as a pair of fuses and a tiny drop of oil away from working.

The dome light has both the switch on the light and the switches at the doors. If you turn the light on by pressing on the lens, then the door switches are superfluous. Turn off the light with the doors closed by pressing on the lens, and the door switches should each turn the light on. If they don't, it might be as simple as rotating the little button to remove whatever corrosion is preventing the contacts from making contact.

So, congrats on getting the car. Take a bit of time and get to know her before you start disassembling her. I've bought two DIRT cheap from guys that disassembled theirs shortly after receiving them....and then didn't follow up on finishing them.... then never enjoyed the cars.

FWIW

E

Thanks much for the advice. I do plan on driving her for a bit before I start to tear her apart. Some things are very apparent from the start. As far as painting goes..believe me, the paint is toast! It is absolutely hideous, I swear it looks like someone used a brush, although from the overspray on the rubber, windshield! and the engine bay, (yes, all the hoses have overspray!),,it is apparent someone sprayed it. It looks like they put the base on it, and very poorly and then said screw it before applying the clear. It is so thick in spots I dont think I want to try to hit it with 600 grit and spray. I think the best scenario to get it looking really nice is a strip down, removing doors, hood, fenders, etc...and doing it right. True, that kind of paint job costs a small fortune, but I have a gun and compressor and painted my Harley and got compliments every time I rode it. I laid out a nice flame job and it looked like glass when I finished. True, a car is ALOT more than a bike, but the basics are the same. Just alot more work I have an old friend that has a shop with a booth and I am going to do all the prep here and take it up there probably over a weekend...but thats along time off still.

Thanks for the heads up on the interior light, I twisted around the door switch last night but will look into that, I figured it must be something to do with the switch since it worked when pressed. The radio is an older Sony/cassete, it has power as the digital clock works but I get nothing when I turn it on. Since its aftermarket, I will just replace, if it were stock, I would try to make it work, I am an AM kinda guy anyway

I will get some photos posted besides my avatar. I just finished doing an oil/filter change (the oil filter had paint overspray on it as well), replaced the air filter and now Im going out to flush the radiator. I am starting with some basics that I figure should be done and work my way from there. But I drove the car about 50 miles so far today, feeling it, listening to it, just as you said. Thanks again for the great advice!

[WingZr0]

Hello MEZZZ,

Welcome to the Club

I to jus bought my 1977 RUBY 280Z about 2 months ago and I Love HER

I've made lots a friends in this club and I can absolutely tell

you they're help has help me immenesly :rambo: !

Change your inner shifter boot!

Trust me most likely it's cracked like an Earthquake.

That should take care of your fume problems when

driving with the windows rolled up and

greatly decrease outside road noise !

$10 part, 20 minute self installation.

Sloppy loose steering?, get the Poly Urethane steering rack bushings from

MSA (Motor Sport Auto)

Under $20, 1 and a half hours self installed taking you time

Remember to remove your splash pan first to get to the bolts,

5 minuts to take the splash plan off.

~Z~

[MEZZZ]

Hello MEZZZ,

Welcome to the Club

I to jus bought my 1977 RUBY 280Z about 2 months ago and I Love HER

I've made lots a friends in this club and I can absolutely tell

you they're help has help me immenesly :rambo: !

Change your inner shifter boot!

Trust me most likely it's cracked like an Earthquake.

That should take care of your fume problems when

driving with the windows rolled up and

greatly decrease outside road noise !

$10 part, 20 minute self installation.

Sloppy loose steering?, get the Poly Urethane steering rack bushings from

MSA (Motor Sport Auto)

Under $20, 1 and a half hours self installed taking you time

Remember to remove your splash pan first to get to the bolts,

5 minuts to take the splash plan off.

~Z~

Thanks for the tips, I agree, there are many great people on here to be sure. I am thrilled that I came across this site. The outer shift boot has a couple cracks and while I am changing that, I will take your advice and get the inner boot as well. I am torn (pun intended) on what to do about the seats, they are pretty trashed and have some seat pads on them now. I am thinking of rebuliding them with foam/upholstery from MSA or possibly finding replacement seats. I read that Miata seats bolt right up and look similar to stock and I could probably get a used set cheaper than rebuilding the stocks. I have seen alot of "racing seats" on ebay but dont know if I want to go that route and building up new rails, etc. I will have to search on here before deciding. I know I ran across a list of replacements on here.

The front end is one of the first things I will tackle, I once again will replace the bushings you spoke of. I looked underneath today and they look to be original, old, black and cracked. I am leaning towards getting the whole bushing kit and doing them all.

I want to amke sure I do what I need and want carefully and not go too crazy, I dont want to end up with a TON of $$ in this thing. I feel I already overpaid a bit for what I got. They guy i ran into today with the Black Pearl told me he thought it was a fair price but no deal by any means. So I have to be smarter from this point on, do everything I can do myself to save on labor and farm out the work thats over my head..unless anyone on here knows of any members in the Cincinnati area