My first classic (part-refurb) '78 280z, LHD, auto, Ex-California

Jason McIvor

Club Member
Folks
Hope this is the right section to announce the "refurb" of a '78 280z (pics below)
Previous owner started it, did a great job, then had to sell due to work commitments - he's a great guy and helped out a lot.

Body is in really good condition and painted relatively recently
bushes, suspension, weatherproofing (rubber), carpeting, lining, seat covers, door cards, etc all replaced/refurbed, leaving
  • dashboard/centre console - bit of a mess but I will take it all out, fix it up and repaint
  • engine - new injectors, sparks, oil/liquids change etc but there is a problem with the 5th cylinder that is not working properly (engine turns over and runs horribly until it conks out (10-15secs)
It's currently in the garage to get the engine running/driving
Registration papers have been sent - now in my 3rd week waiting for a response ;(

I plan to keep things basic for a while - minimal outlay of cash until it is running reliably and interior is "good enough". and when I have a little bit of cash I will deal with some bits to continually renew bits and pieces

Can you experts please review the pics and let me know of anything you see that needs dealt with ?

Would appreciate any and all advice
 

Attachments

  • 167575986_10158677583396849_1784548048804521017_n.jpg
    167575986_10158677583396849_1784548048804521017_n.jpg
    128.9 KB · Views: 165
  • 167893414_10158677583736849_7721980274412465243_n.jpg
    167893414_10158677583736849_7721980274412465243_n.jpg
    124.5 KB · Views: 153
  • 167923749_10158677583671849_9062636729942383766_n.jpg
    167923749_10158677583671849_9062636729942383766_n.jpg
    122.3 KB · Views: 153
  • 167923765_10158677583706849_8299633544436995598_n.jpg
    167923765_10158677583706849_8299633544436995598_n.jpg
    130.6 KB · Views: 153
  • 167948788_10158677583551849_471400693418932606_n.jpg
    167948788_10158677583551849_471400693418932606_n.jpg
    110.3 KB · Views: 150
  • 168014756_10158677583971849_745467286667708461_n.jpg
    168014756_10158677583971849_745467286667708461_n.jpg
    192.2 KB · Views: 160
  • 167987661_10158677583411849_8735257251298675889_n.jpg
    167987661_10158677583411849_8735257251298675889_n.jpg
    123 KB · Views: 154
  • 167957020_10158677583876849_3185901135112916822_n.jpg
    167957020_10158677583876849_3185901135112916822_n.jpg
    157.4 KB · Views: 159
  • Like
Reactions: Huw

Jason McIvor

Club Member
Folks
First of many silly questions - on the silliest of conundrums, the wiper arms
What do I do with the arms in the photo ? The ends don't seem to connect to anything except the original wiper blades with the attached small pin connectors
I think I read you can drill the rivet out to get it to connect as a bayonet type connector but figured I would ask before making a mistake

Let me know your thoughts
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20210608_182941153.MP.jpg
    PXL_20210608_182941153.MP.jpg
    185.9 KB · Views: 40

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
I'd forgotten how ugly 280Z exhausts are :) but that auto fluid reservoir doesn't leave a lot of room for much else...

Custom parcel shelf ?

Leaving it auto until all the bugs are ironed out ?
 

Jason McIvor

Club Member
I'd forgotten how ugly 280Z exhausts are :) but that auto fluid reservoir doesn't leave a lot of room for much else...

Custom parcel shelf ?

Leaving it auto until all the bugs are ironed out ?
Hey Sean

Yes to all that ;)
Get it running reliably I hope, focus on interior finishing - dashboard is a cap and it's all faded, centre console is faded, brittle with one big crack that needs quite a bit of mending/repainting
Parcel shelf, carpet etc are all new but not my "target" quality - medium term goals
And eventually I'll try to tune the engine and swap out the auto box for a 5 speed

Its a hobby car so I'm high on ambition but low on cash - lol

What do you think of stainless steel exhaust with the two stacked pipes ? I think they look good and have a friend in the industry who hand builds them so that might be part of the plan
 

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
And eventually I'll try to tune the engine and swap out the auto box for a 5 speed

Its a hobby car so I'm high on ambition but low on cash - lol

What do you think of stainless steel exhaust with the two stacked pipes ? I think they look good and have a friend in the industry who hand builds them so that might be part of the plan

'Tune' the engine ? What do you expect to be able to do whilst keeping the stock fuel injection ?

I improved my wifes' 77 280Z by fitting a billet lightened flywheel, 3.9 diff and one of my stainless headers and lines. She's now a lot more spritely than stock (the car, not the wife) !

When you ask me about stainless exhausts and especially the twin vertically stacked pipes, you're going to get a biased answer EXTRA:D : https://www.datsun-zstory.com/

If you can get a good deal then go for it being careful upon the quality of the sound-proofing material. Otherwise I produce and sell them (see photos) - where are you based ?

Keep asking questions as you go, you might not agree with what is said but other opinions for this and that will help confirm for you feel is right for you, your car and your budget.

Good luck.:S30:
 

Attachments

  • 028.JPG
    028.JPG
    80.3 KB · Views: 41
  • BlueZ.jpg
    BlueZ.jpg
    138.2 KB · Views: 41
  • Z2.jpg
    Z2.jpg
    874.1 KB · Views: 41

Jason McIvor

Club Member
'Tune' the engine ? What do you expect to be able to do whilst keeping the stock fuel injection ?

I improved my wifes' 77 280Z by fitting a billet lightened flywheel, 3.9 diff and one of my stainless headers and lines. She's now a lot more spritely than stock (the car, not the wife) !

When you ask me about stainless exhausts and especially the twin vertically stacked pipes, you're going to get a biased answer EXTRA:D : https://www.datsun-zstory.com/

If you can get a good deal then go for it being careful upon the quality of the sound-proofing material. Otherwise I produce and sell them (see photos) - where are you based ?

Keep asking questions as you go, you might not agree with what is said but other opinions for this and that will help confirm for you feel is right for you, your car and your budget.

Good luck.:S30:

Sean

Wow ! excellent exhausts ! Look amazing
I'm in the UK, Bristol actually, but when the car is to the "good enough" stage I will come visit you in France ;)

I am not sure exactly what my plans are for "tune" - anything from better quality ancilliaries through to turbo and/or megasquirt (it's all up for investigation and understanding) but nice and simple to start with. So something like flywheel and diff are really good options

Those stacked exhausts are beautiful so I'll keep you in mind when I get to that part

Thanks so much for the encouragement, I will be in touch
 

Jason McIvor

Club Member

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
Do you mean I should just replace them? With these versions ?
Not sure I understand the clues

I'd prefer to use the original arms that I have but there are no blades for them, with the attached pin (at least not cheap blades) so wondering if the removal of the rivet actually works ?
If I exhaust this rivet option then I might look at buying different ones
The arms in the pic looks the same as yours to me, but with a circlipped pin that retains a fairly normal looking wiper blade. do you have the pin? if not I think it should be fairly easy to find or make a replacement.
 

Jason McIvor

Club Member
The arms in the pic looks the same as yours to me, but with a circlipped pin that retains a fairly normal looking wiper blade. do you have the pin? if not I think it should be fairly easy to find or make a replacement.
Jonbills
They are similar but see my pic attached
The arms have no pin, just the recieving holes
The pins are actually on the wiper blades themselves.
The wiper blades are knackered and any blades like them, with the pin attached, seem overly expensive

Ideally I would keep the arms but somehow modify the ends of the arm to take a modern blade, easiest way may be a bayonet set up but I don't want to go drilling modifying if someone else has a better idea
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20210610_201742071.MP.jpg
    PXL_20210610_201742071.MP.jpg
    244.9 KB · Views: 21

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
you can get replacement rubber and steel strips to rebuild most 'blades' - worth a look?
 

Pondo

Club Member
Hey Jason if your in Bristol there are a few guys going to the chew valley rugby club meet this weekend. It’s only a small meet but good for a drive out for a few hours.

......unfortunately I’m not allowed out to play!
 

Jason McIvor

Club Member
Hey Jason if your in Bristol there are a few guys going to the chew valley rugby club meet this weekend. It’s only a small meet but good for a drive out for a few hours.

......unfortunately I’m not allowed out to play!
lol

I know the club quite well

I'll see if I can get a pass and maybe check it out
Thanks for the tip
 

Jason McIvor

Club Member
Centre console armrest

Main centre console is salvageable with a bit of fibreglass/glue and a respray
But ...
Inside the armrest is a just a pile of broken plastic - some of it, not a lot, is gluable/fixable lots of it is not. As you can see from the pics, most of the screw fixings are bust beyond repair so I'm playing with the idea of grinding them down and 3D printing some replacements - attempt to glue the replacement plastic screw fixings and maybe re-enforce with fibreglass - lots of messing around

I had a limited look in a few places and these don't seem too easy to find so wondering if anyone has any ideas ?
If not I will start printing some replacement fixings and see if that works
 

Attachments

  • PXL_20210612_094803742.MP.jpg
    PXL_20210612_094803742.MP.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 39
  • PXL_20210612_094449267.MP.jpg
    PXL_20210612_094449267.MP.jpg
    329.9 KB · Views: 39
Top