New Member...new Z

W

wkxsports

Forum User
Hi everybody,

I've just joined the forum and have recently bought a 260Z. I'm from Dublin and just had the car shipped over. I was just wondering if anybody knows or recognises this car? Any inofrmation would be greately appreciated.

Thanks
Leo

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220011706007&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D%2B220011706007%26fvi%3D1http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....earch.dll?from=R40&satitle=220011706007&fvi=1



:280Z:
 
Hi Leo, welcome and enjoy
Can't say I know the car but someone here might.

What are your plans for it?
 
Well this is the problem. Well the car has been sitting up in a garage since 1987, there's very litle rust from what I can see. However the engine in seized. At best weather seized but I fear worse! Ive been on the US forum and have instructions regarding putting oil in the plug holes and leaving it for a few days etc but I fear that she may need a new engine. I have always admired these cars and wanted one for years but I'm very inexperienced with cars and there is no way that I can do any technical work with the car. Change the oil, plugs and filter...no problem but not change an engine.

Ireland isnt totally different from England when it comes to cars. Garages that specialise in old cars are hard to find. And if you do fin one it will be vastly expensive. As for a specific Z specialist...no chance.

The above combined with the fact that I am just out of colledge and have very limited funds is making me feel that I may have bitten off more than I can chew.

You guys could really help me by giving me some ball park figures for what a Z garage would charge to get the car up and running. Remember that the car is really quite solid , its just the engine thats looking problematic, maybe new brake lines etc.

So what would one of the z garages charge for prioviding a decent engine and b gitting it. Obviously im just looking for a ball park figure.

I would really like to keep the car so any advice would be greately appreciated.
 
There are a few traders listed on the forum, you could try giving one of them a call.
Geoff Gale from Auto Active might be able to give you some advise (0117 9442068)

Russ - our Web Master - is in the process of re-building a 240Z and he has also just left college, he might be able to give you some pointers, I think he is re-building his engine as well!!
 
Yep, I did the same :) My engine was a runner before I took it apart though.

Are you thinking of doing any work yourself, or not really that way inclined?
 
Welcome, i had a few envious looks at that 260 on ebay.

I did think the seat covers looked like something out of the muppet show LOL, but a nice black 2 seater 260Z!! Sweeeeet!

Have fun with it

Rich
 
Lads,

Thanks for the replies, the short answer is that I dont have the set up, to do the work myself. I know that it would be a thoroughly enjoyable experience but i' dont have the tools ,space or time to get into a project like that. I'm not lazy, ...i mean i will totally do some things, interior, exterior etc but would ideally like to get someone to get it up and running if needs be. Noboday has thrown me a ball park figure for a new engine and installation- is it a huge jobin turns of labour.

Suzy, thanks for the contacts , i will give auto active a call.

Thanks guys
 
Actually you can pick up a running engine for very little, they are pretty straightforward to swap too.

Maybe £200 for an engine, couple of days tinkering at say £100 a day... 4 - 500 would see the engine bought, swapped and running.

This would of course be an older engine rather than a race or rebuilt one but it should not be wildly expensive.

Good Luck
 
Dont worry about finding a specialist,any decent machanic will know wot he is doing,just like working on an old mk11 cortina,not a lot of difference just a few extra pipes and a bigger engine,nothing special,good 280zx engine £150-£200 max,
 
Actually you can pick up a running engine for very little, they are pretty straightforward to swap too.

Maybe £200 for an engine, couple of days tinkering at say £100 a day... 4 - 500 would see the engine bought, swapped and running.

This would of course be an older engine rather than a race or rebuilt one but it should not be wildly expensive.
Click to expand...

total number of Zeds in Eire is probably 10. so picking up an engine???? No chance.
£100 a day????? Dont talk silly. Thats £12.50 an hour.

start with an expectation of £2000 to get this car into useable condition.
standard spec rebuilt engine will cost £750 approx without fitting. Brakes . clutch suspension etc are all gonna be needing parts bought.
Them emission carbs will be siezed useless. Lets be honest they were useless when new. So good set of 240Z carbs needed.
Labour rates. you will be lucky to find anyone in england who is a proper mechanic and can tackle a job like that for less than £30 an hour. i dont know if rates are any more or less over with you.
Ball park labour time 40 hours. Just call it £1000.
then there are tyres?? Ten years old= Scrap.
You just gotta hope you dont need a respray or any welding or you can add another £2000.
 
saddlesore

hi there i am in waterford and i have a 1979 280z i bought in christchurch , i am going to get another in the new year, not to many of us in the country.
 
Guys, thanks for all the input. Believe it or not ive just been offered (for free) a Datsun Laurel engine. The guy says its a 240 and a straight 6.

(a) is this the same engine as a 240Z?
(b) will it be able to replace my seized 260z engine (straight swap)
(c) the guy said it was fuel injected. Can i just hook up some 240 carbs to feed it?
 
i am not 100% sure but i would check the postion of the sump on the laurel engine as i think it might be opposite to the 240z/260z engine,i could be wrong :conf2: but worth checking otherwise it should be fine.if not you want a engine out of a 240Z 260Z or 280zx or 280z and aslong as you have the carbs on a inlet manfold they will fit anyone.or to really confuse you a 2ltr fairlady Z (japanese domestic market)engine from a 1974 car that would fit aswell ,drove mint last time i used it about 2 year ago.
 
Just found an old post that said the Laurel wont fit. Oh well!

"the Laurel Engine won't fit into a 'Z', even though it looks similar.

The Oil pan is in the reverse position ( i.e. it is in the front half of the Engine, not the rear - it will foul the Z Crossmember; if you try to fit a Z Oil pan, then the dipstick won't go into the oil pan.
And.....the port sizes are smaller than a Z's & won't produce as much power"
 
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