Got a new toy added to my Z stable
 

Agreed to the deal on Father's Day and had it delivered a couple of weeks later. I've been tinkering with it ever since. She barely runs, but I'm not worried since I'm starting the custom project right away.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13.../2ndday004.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13.../2ndday001.jpg

I don't know if this album is locked:

Datsun pictures by SmoothZ - Photobucket

I'm going to keep those wheels and clean them up as spares, but I really want new wheels since I'm a fan of aftermarket ones. I think I can go as big as 15's on the size. If you have recommendations or ideas, please feel free to post. Thanks!

Photobucket link works just fine! :tup:

Check out The Z Store! Nissan-Datsun 240Z-260Z-280Z-280ZX-300ZX(Z31/Z32)-350Z-370Z Parts: 70-85 Z/ZX 4-Lug Wheels

A good source for a variety of parts.

Also ZCAR.COM | 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX, 300ZX, 350Z, 370Z forums

What are your plans for restoration?

Is this going to be a restoration to factory or time period, or more of a restoration and modify?

This is a restoration and custom modifying project. I don't know if I really want the dash. I was thinking of something along the lines of this:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...sanmeet013.jpg

I want bucket racing seats, upgraded brakes, suspension, wheels, and a new engine. I'm supposed to be getting a VG30DETT as part of this deal.

cool project. You can easily go with 17s, but I would go with the 16" Konig Rewinds. I had the 15s on my 240
The Z Store! Nissan-Datsun 240Z-260Z-280Z-280ZX-300ZX(Z31/Z32)-350Z-370Z Parts: Konig Rewind Silver 16x7 Wheel Kit

http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/8...klesidehl9.jpg

Nice ride, Mike. Love that color. My son wants to do blue like this one:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...wer_19rw1c.jpg

I love those wheels. Thanks for the link. Is that price for all 4 wheels? I hope so...lol

That is a very nice blue.

Those are aftermarket wheels. I believe they were made by Ansen many years ago. I had similar wheels on my Ford Falcon in 1968.......

love that blue, but daytona blue is my fav. blue on a 240.

That's going to look nice!

I should order the wheels so it would force me to finish the car faster. j/k I wouldn't want to rush it. Good to know about the Ansen brand wheels. I'll see if they can't be cleaned up and made to shine again.

Trust me, those Ansens can be polished to look like chrome.

Would you recommend a local wheel shop or a DIY project?

A wheel shop could polish those wheels in no time. You can do it yourself but it will take a bit of time to do the job properly.

Here is a better picture of the Ansen wheels. Mine were 8 1/2" x 15" so are much deeper than the wheels on your Z. The Ansen wheels were a very popular wheel for the Z's in the early 70's.

smooth, I don't know if you are aware of this forum, but its a wealth of info, even if many of the guys have different engines in their Zs. They don't frown down upon stock engined ones either.
HybridZ

Ooh, nice. :tup:
Yeah, I'm a member on there. I do a lot of reading, but hardly anyone answers my questions. They're a bit too serious over there. I'm also on classiczcar.com which is a bit friendlier.

I need a two or three car garage! :mad:

It looks way better now that I cleaned and organized it. I should take a pic, but it's boring.

Build threads are never boring

The picture of the fusible links brought back memories of the 280 I used to have.

damn those classics look nice.

Yesterday, a friend and I tore off the old dash from the frame. It was beyond salvage, and I didn't like looking at it. Probably saved about 10 lbs there. :D

We put the frame back in and connected as many wires as we knew how. Took us about 10 tries to jump start the car. We think it's the alternator and/or starter. The longer we charged the car during idle, the longer it would last before sputtering out.

I also tore out the rest of the carpeting. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the brown interior pieces and paint. This project just took on a life of its own now. I'm scuuured....

Wow what a great project car! Keep us updated on the build process.

you should do a vq37 swap in that thing.

Or I could try the VG30DETT that's coming with the car. Either way, the wiring is going to be hell on Earth. I don't even know where to start or how.

Update: I cleaned out a bunch of leaves and gunk from what looks like years of being outside.

Before:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...artment001.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...artment002.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...artment003.jpg


After:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...artment004.jpg

any rust issues?

And in case anyone forgot what color I want to paint this baby....

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a13...owers_11rw.jpg

Just a few but not as bad as you'd think. Of course, the floor pan needs to be replaced and parts of the door sill. I'm sure there's a lot of surface rust that can be sandblasted.

have you made yourself a budget of about how much you want to spend after all is said and done?

Not really. I'm only going to spend what I can little by little. I'm trying to do a lot of the work by myself until I can't do it anymore. I'm guessing the paint job alone is going to be about $2k if not more. I want to do the prepping myself.

I need to buy wheels, suspension, brakes, seats, etc.

what are you thinking as far as teh motor? are you going to do something crazy, or just restore it?

:tiphat: This.

oh, hah my bad.

My neighbors have an orange 280z that i'd love to restore, but nows not really the time for me. Don't have the room or the time. If they still have it in a few years when i have my own place with a 2 car garage, i'll snatch it up.

Damn 2K, where are you going to get that from? Also, are you not painting the engine bay, inside body panels, door jams..etc.

Because I think that's going to cost more than 2k.

Are you going to attempt painting it yourself?

Any new pics of progress?

I was throwing that figure out there as a minimum. I have no clue how much it will cost. Sounds like I'm going to have to sell my balls for this car. Dammit. I really like these balls.

lol