kiwi303 Posted May 4, 2008 Share #1 Posted May 4, 2008 Well, my first day on this forum, I bought a '78 280Z rolling body with transmission but no motor last month, now just to get it up from where it was and start restoring it. I'm still not sure what to put in it. L28s are as rare as hens teeth here. A Holden 253 is about the same weight with more power and more torque, and can mount a little further back. Sounds like lots of chev smallblock mounts out there which means it will be easy to plug in the 253 Another option is a SR20DET, which is shorter, far lighter, and produces more power than the L28 with less weight to shift with the power or maybe a worked RB30DET with RB26DETT head and a fast spooling turbo on high boost. I'll be haunting this forum for a while yet so many options, so much fun putting the car together Cheers Rhys from NZ Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
hls30.com Posted May 4, 2008 Share #2 Posted May 4, 2008 Welcome to the club!Congratulations on the purchase!For stock info on the car we are happy to help, for info on engine swaps, HybridZ would be a better source.Will Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246152 Share on other sites More sharing options...
240znz Posted May 4, 2008 Share #3 Posted May 4, 2008 Gidday Rhys,You aren't looking hard enough for a L28. There a plenty of old 280zx's about this country just waiting for you to rip that heart of out of it. Just keep an eye on TM as complete cars come up for very little. Also try a few wreakers.You could also join www.zclub.org.nz ZClub is a NZ wide club (with most activity in Auckland) for all zeds. Plenty of knowledge there too.Just remember to refer to your car on this forum as a 280ZX even though the badge on the back reads 280z. The US got both the 280Z(S30 shape) and the 280ZX from Nissan where we didn't get the 280Z. We went straight from the 260Z to the 280ZX.Welcome to this fantastic club. It has a wealth of information stored within and you'll be amazed with the results from a forum search.CheersJames (Christchurch) Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246153 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi303 Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted May 4, 2008 Gidday Rhys,You aren't looking hard enough for a L28. There a plenty of old 280zx's about this country just waiting for you to rip that heart of out of it. Just keep an eye on TM as complete cars come up for very little. Also try a few wreakers. Cheers James (Christchurch) I'm trying to avoid buying a whole new car to pull apart. I may have 700 acres to strew the parts around, but I've very little shed space to put things in that I want to keep dry and rust free. I'm getting the Z from in Chch so not far from you, maybe I could drop by and have a look at your Z when I'm down to pick it up I'll check out the NZ club site Cheers Rhys Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246168 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndysPlit Posted May 4, 2008 Share #5 Posted May 4, 2008 How did a 280Z get down to your neck of the woods? Do you have any sort of history on it? Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246178 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi303 Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted May 4, 2008 I'm no expert on Z cars beyond the fact that my Greatuncle had a 260Z he bought when he was 85... But following on from what James from Chch said in post 3 on here I went and had a look at the pics on the auction site a bit more and it looks like a ZX body despite the badging saying Z, the rear quarter panel glass spikes down into a point at the rear rather than sweeping up in a rounded curve as the 240 and 260 goes. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Nissan/photos/a-149489101/p-62320150.htm The ownership certificate simply says Fairlady Z. Once I get down there in the weekend of the 17th may with a car trailer I'll be able to check the chassis numbers and option codes etc. but from the pic and a bit of browsing on the net, it looks more to be a ZX than a Z. Still, I was looking for a dead cheap, fair to good condition, challenging restoration of a classic long bonnet sports car. I would have been happy with any of the 2xxZ cars, a 300ZX, porsche 924, 944 or 928, ferrari 308 if one appeared in the price range (wishfull thinking!) or possibly an early Supra. I'm quite happy with what I got for $300 Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246180 Share on other sites More sharing options...
hls30.com Posted May 4, 2008 Share #7 Posted May 4, 2008 You bloody Larrikin!You bought the wheels and they threw in the car!Great buy!Will Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246214 Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndysPlit Posted May 4, 2008 Share #8 Posted May 4, 2008 I'm no expert on Z cars beyond the fact that my Greatuncle had a 260Z he bought when he was 85... But following on from what James from Chch said in post 3 on here I went and had a look at the pics on the auction site a bit more and it looks like a ZX body despite the badging saying Z, Once I get down there in the weekend of the 17th may with a car trailer I'll be able to check the chassis numbers and option codes etc. but from the pic and a bit of browsing on the net, it looks more to be a ZX than a Z. Still, I was looking for a dead cheap, fair to good condition, challenging restoration of a classic long bonnet sports car. I would have been happy with any of the 2xxZ cars, a 300ZX, porsche 924, 944 or 928, ferrari 308 if one appeared in the price range (wishfull thinking!) or possibly an early Supra. I'm quite happy with what I got for $300 Ahh, that explains everything. I was thinking it was America's 280Z from 75-78. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246231 Share on other sites More sharing options...
240znz Posted May 4, 2008 Share #9 Posted May 4, 2008 PM sent Rhys,Those rims are worth NZ$300 by themselves. Now that's a good purchase. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246246 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi303 Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share #10 Posted May 4, 2008 PM sent Rhys,Those rims are worth NZ$300 by themselves. Now that's a good purchase. Pm replied Hmm... beginners luck It makes a nice bonus to a car then, I won't have to scrape around for matching wheels. Any mods will be under the body, nothing visible or irreversible. I'm not a fan of riced up poser-mobiles, I far prefer sleepers. I've passed on the idea of a VQ30DET, that requires a bit of cutting and reprofiling the inside of the engine bay to make it fit, I want to keep it straight so just by returning a L28 to the bay it's stock again. Stiffer anti-sway bars, I'll have to brace the mounting points, but that will have to be done, stiffer shocks. Probably replace the seats with something snugger. But everything that comes off will be stored to be able to be returned to the car. There will need to be modifications to the mounts to take a SR20DET and gearbox, but I'm hoping the original mounts can be left in place rather than torched off. I've a few plans But most will have to wait till I get it up here to have a good look at it. cheers Rhys Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246248 Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi303 Posted May 6, 2008 Author Share #11 Posted May 6, 2008 Can someone out there confirm that this type of rear quarter panel window is the Coupe with no rear seats... If so then mine will likely be a 2x2 Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246413 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Beck Posted May 6, 2008 Share #12 Posted May 6, 2008 Yes - that is a coupeThey did not use the "X" in Japan, just Fairlady 280ZFWIW,Carl B. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/27974-new-owner/#findComment-246424 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yarb
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