Comments: 1-15, 16-19
This car had sat in a field in the California sun for four years. She was delivered to me on a trailer and pushed onto my drive with 4 flat tires and almost opaque windows from the grime of static age. Long strands of grass grew up through the engine bay and the remains of a squirrel's lunch was scattered across the exhaust manifold.
I attached a battery to utterly rotten, green and brown cables.
I opened the filler cap and poured 2 gallons of premium and injector cleaner into the tank.
I checked the brake fluid, power steering and the radiator. I found no fluid in the master cylinders and no water in the radiator. I filled them all.
I checked the vacuum hoses and re-cut them.
I checked the engine oil. It was black and thick and right on the max line.
I got in and turned the key to accessories. The dash lights flickered on just like in a movie.
I tried the indicators and after the third or fourth switch they started to flash.
I worked my way through every switch and function in this way, coaxing her back to life and, to my increasing delight, found that EVERY switch and function worked, every bulb lit and the radio crackled like a WWII wireless.
I turned the key to 'on' and watched more dash lights flicker on.
I held my breath and turned the key one stage further.
Nothing.
My eyes became slits as my mind raced over the possible reasons for the failure. I jumped out and ran round to the battery cables where I could see that the corrosion on the cables was inhibiting the flow of power. I cleaned those contacts with a furious and urgent energy and then sprang back into the leather cockpit.
I turned the key once again and a miracle happened...
My Z roared to life, belching and spluttering, the revs wandered up and down searching for a steady place to rest.
She sat on my drive and hummed like an old smoker, defying time and weather to beat her yet.
She now has all new cables, leads, plugs and fluids. She's been gapped, greased and tidied up ready for a fresh coat of paint.
I love this car. Fast as a rocket, hard as a tank.
This car is slow, have you driven a later model performance car?
Lol
OK, first of all, this car's engine has a LOT of potential because it's an inline.
Stock, its what 135 bhp or so? add turbo, it's a 6 sec car
OK, now... you can increase the bhp up past 230
... think about that now... it can still smoke a lot of cars today :D.
Just if it is stock, it starts to lose at higher speeds.
Very well written, any car guy's dream..
That was an ultra-sexy review. I hope to get my 280zx up and running again soon. It's been in my drive for about 4 years, seems to need about as much work as yours. Thanks.
I want one.
I would like my 280zx to be running low 11s high 10s, but it is just too heavy for a 1/4 mile.
Hello from Houston...
I bought my 1981 280ZX-Turbo in mid December, 2005. We drove it home... but she needs work... We are in the process of replacing all the struts, rack&pinion, springs, bearings, casings, gaskets, you name it we are replacing... It has 121,000 original miles... has been a Texas car most of her 25 years... Have lots of work (carpet and recover seats etc.) but the power windows, locks, and cruise control still work..!! I love the "Z" cars.. Had a brand new 1971 240Z I bought off the show room floor in Japan for $2800.00 cash.. It was a beauty.
I have some concerns about getting this one (the 1981) painted correctly.. I want it as close to original as possible... Any suggestions??
Hello all.
I just recently purchased a 1981 280z (non-turbo unfortunately) for $200! It Cranks and Idles great, but if you step on the gas the car revs up and down by itself! I just ordered a service manual for the car and should be here in a week or so. You guys got any pointers about this car in general? I don't know a lot about them, but it's a nice looking car for sure!
B.
The devil is doing that to your car!
Ahhhh... That must be why I got it so cheap!
I just got the manual today so now I can try a little home mechanikin' and really mess it up! Actually, I don't think it'll be that difficult to fix, I glanced at the troubleshooting in the manual and there's only about 5 things it could be. YAY! A friend of mine has had two of these and 3 300zs and says he never had a problem with any of them. I guess that's saying something about them.
Have fun will all your Zs they do become addicting I now have four. Too bad three of the four are second generation, but a Z is a Z to me, I'm not in it for all the power and lightness of the car, I am in it cause I love the sleek design and they can be pretty easy to maintain once you get it all figured out. And let me tell you Victoria British has been my best friend at times when I destroy something I shouldn't have trying to get it out. Victoria British offers free catalogue and have skins for your rusted out panels etcetera. Look them up on the net order a catalogue and keep the Z on the road and out of the parts yard.
I just got mine for 300. It's badass, it doesn't have a turbo and the interior is a little messed up, but it runs like a champ for a 1981 280z and it's got low miles.
I am considering purchasing a pretty worn down 81 280zx. $300, needs some fixing up. They say it doesn't run, but that might be b/c it has old gas and hasn't been used for a while. If I get it I will get a manual for it so I don't screw anything up. I would be my project car. Should I do it?
I have a 1980 280zx that cranks over no problem and only starts when starter fluid is used, then it dies out right away. Its obviously not getting any fuel. Its not the fuel pump. any other suggestions as to what it could be? fuses?
I live in Brisbane Australia and have a 280ZX from new. Has 140,000k on the clock and looks like it just drove out of the showroom. No rust everything perfect, Could buy a 350 for $80,000 but intend to keep my 280 a while yet.