Horrah!

netpreference

netpreference

Well-Known Forum User
After about 6 months of looking at my 260 parked on the drive I have finally found a garage to take on the project. Watched it being carted off on the back of a trailer last night with a smile on my face :)

The plan is for a complete strip down, black respray, dark grey leather trim and I've even chosen the wheels: http://www.wolfrace.co.uk/blkmatrix.htm

What I haven't thought about is the engine, anyone got any suggestions on what I should or shouldn't do to it?

Dean
 
Well it depends on what you want.

Do you want the smoothest of smooth drives, or savage angry power?

Do you want a more revvy engine or a torque monster?

Do you want to stick with the original parts and warm it up slightly, or go for bigger cc?

N/A or does forced induction interest you???

Long term project, more expensive, or make the best of what you've got?

Oh my the possibilites are endless :)
 
Hmmmmm good questions Russ!

The overall look I'm trying to achieve is best described as 'American Muscle' so I guess Growling Beast could be the best description!? :confused:

In any event I want the car to 'roll' when I rev it! :D
 
LOL.

As someone once said (and forgive the misquote) "There's no substitute for cc" (or ci). If you're thinking long term you might look to the 2.8 conversion or even 3.1 stroker kits available, but these are more expensive (£1800 depending on the exchange rate). However theres plenty of life in the 260 lump, and there are some potent ones on here.

Unfortunately I'm by far the best person to help you on this. I'm sure others will be along with contributions.
 
who's doing the job for you? nice wheels! as for the engine, mmmmmm alot more power requires stronger box/diff/drive shafts etc. starts to become expensive.

oh and of course the brakes should be better then the suspension and and and ...lol:D
 
It's a fairly local garage who specialise in classic restoration. I hunted for a local place so I could visit often and annoy them! :p

I've got about 8k set aside for the job which I hope will get me everything I want, I'm starting to think however that I should leave the engine almost stock, maybe just go for some minor mods for it? Any suggestions (suppliers) on doing just that?

You'll all have to excuse my lack of knowledge! I'm just a guy who has a picture in his mind of a finished Z but no real experience of mechanics etc :confused: After all I do drive an XK8!
 
The overall look I'm trying to achieve is best described as 'American Muscle'
Click to expand...

That.ll need to be a SBC then mate if you want the authentic Muscle Growl.
Nobody has done one recently inspite of pages of wannabe talk.

It's a fairly local garage who specialise in classic restoration. I hunted for a local place so I could visit often and annoy them!
Click to expand...
What a refreshing change to find someone on here with a bit of common sense.
If you are unable or unwilling to do the work yourself then this is an excellent route to take.
Congratulations
 
theres only a hand full of people on here that have done everthing and seen it all. even so its still down to what you want that matters ie; are you happy with the power/handling and looks. i would suggest get the body done first then run it about for a while then decide on performance etc.
 
On reflection that might be the best thing to do, sort the look first.... can I just say a big thanks to you guys for the input on here, it was joining this forum last year that inspired me to get off my arse and finally purchase a 260!

Look forward to meeting some of you when it's finished! :) I'll try and update my gallery with pics of the progress.....
 
260 growler

well, I'd put some thought into the following areas:

1) structural issues (rust)
2) suspension (poly bushings, shocks, springs, and sway/strut tower bars)
3) drivetrain upgrade (5-spd, R200 w/280 halfshafts and mustache bar)
4) interior (better seat and seat belts, rollbar, steering wheel)
5) engine (header, carbs, cam, turbo oil pump, electric fan), L28 (turbo?), V-8
6) brakes (MC upgrade, better pads, toyota 4X4, wilwoods, etc.)
6) exterior (front and rear spoilers)
7) tires and wheels

If the paint job was okay, then all the undercarriage and engine work would give you a great handling car that will accept more HP and allow you to stop now that you can go faster. The seat, wheel and rollbar will make you feel more confident.

A lot of this can be done in your own garage with limited tools. you can farm out the tough stuff on an as needed basis.
 
Depending on the current condition of this car, my feeling is that most of that £8k will be used up in the restoration before you've had chance to think about silly brake and engine mod's.

I'd say urethane bushes are a must, it'll take out any slop in the car and make it feel right. If you want to get the car sitting lower, a set of springs are relativley cheap, but stock dampers will do at first.

There's nothing wrong with stock brakes providing they work correctly. Rebuild that master cylinder, use braided hose and an uprated pad.

Find a 280zx lump and fit it with 240z carbs, K&N filters and a sports exhaust manifold and system - maybe a mild cam if you want a bit more umph.

You'll end up with a car that feels tight through the bends, has a bit more than stock power and has brakes that are up to the job.

After you've been driving it for a while, you'll know from there what areas need improvement, because at the end of the day it's all about personal taste.
 
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