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No fiero, but am getting something better!

Andrew1990

Andrew1990

Banned
Well after my shopping quest for a fiero as a replacement car for my camaro, I found something that will be leaps and bounds better than a fiero.


It doesnt run at the moment, but it is cheap enough to buy and slowly fix it up. It is also a classic that you dont see many off.


What I am going to be buying tuesday is a 1978 Nissan Datsun 280zx for $300 or so dollars. It has a valid title and the body and underneath are in decent shape. A little rust and will need a new paint job, but cant expect much from a 32 year old car for $300.

It has an Inline 6 engine in it I believe mated with a 4 speed manual transmission. No cracked glass but the interior will need some loving.



So Im going to buy it for $300, slowly work on it until I get it fully running(figure about $400-600) and then get a nice paint job on it, then I can sell my camaro if I like it enough.


Now, I am a chevy man when it comes to any engine repairs, but the inline 6 in it looks pretty simple for what is is. The engine compartment is pretty big to which leads me to believe is would be a viable option for an engine swap just in case the motor is bad.

Will get pics of it tomorrow, but it is in pretty decent shape cosmetically.
 
I'll be keeping an eye on this..

My aunt has a 82-ish 280ZX that I can essentially have for free.. I might have to take a crack at it; though i doubt it runs.
 
2q0ki6u.jpg
 
Sounds great, Andrew! Nothing beats an inexpensive project car!! :awe:

Back in the late 80's, I drove a 78 or 79 Datsun 810 sedan. Not sure, but think it had basically the same engine (though likely not tuned to be as powerful), with the 4 speed manual. First and only time I've ever seen a manual transmission with cruise control. Smooth driving car!! :thumbsup:
 
marvdmartian said:
Sounds great, Andrew! Nothing beats an inexpensive project car!! :awe:

Back in the late 80's, I drove a 78 or 79 Datsun 810 sedan. Not sure, but think it had basically the same engine (though likely not tuned to be as powerful), with the 4 speed manual. First and only time I've ever seen a manual transmission with cruise control. Smooth driving car!! :thumbsup:
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what?
 
marvdmartian said:
Yes, have only ever seen it on automatics. Of course, it could be because most people I know drive automatics, and I'm such a cheapskate that the stick shift cars I've had after that have not had cruise control. :hmm:
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Lol, I haven't been in a modern manual that didn't have it.
 
Great news Andrew!

But man, if you think you're dropping only $600 into this car, I think you may want to plan for higher. ESPECIALLY if it's not running.

Bare minimum: spark plugs, wires, PCV, distributor.

And getting it running could be as simple as a new starter or might require a major overhaul.

How old are the tires? Dry-rotted tires will need to be replaced. A car that old might not hold an alignment real well, unless suspension components have been replaced. Ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings oh my!

It does sound like a cool project since it's your 2nd car, but I think $600 is a bit low of an estimate dude.

Any idea when it last ran and why it stopped?
 
Pretty much it has sat for about 1 year or so. It hasnt been run because an old guy just let it sit outside to store it.

Not sure why it isnt able to start, like you said, it could be a easy fix or something more expensive.



I am figuring that at a scrap yard it is worth about $200. If I parted it out I may be able to get around $500. So as long as I dont try to drop a lot of money in it, I wont lose much at the beginning.


Of course I am thinking $600, but in car language, that is about $1500-2000 over a few months.
 
Need to quit going incremental and just grit your teeth and save up for a LS1 or you'll never be satisfied 😉
 
Great car, and yes... A million times better than a Fiero.

That is one car I've always wanted to buy and restore to new. Z love!
 
Man, I love the late 70s-early 80s Z cards. Classic styling, fun to drive, easy to mod. I had two of them (both were 82's, one 2+2 T-top Auto, one 2-seater hardtop manual) that I was trying to combine into one, screwed it up, and ended up having to get rid of both.
 
Coming from someone also restoring an old car, DO NOT CRY the first time you see major rust. Trust me, it's there, waiting to show it's ugly head, even IF the exterior looks good. You just have to bite the bullet and accept it... then grab the welder, some spare sheet metal, and the body filler. 😉
 
marvdmartian said:
Yes, have only ever seen it on automatics. Of course, it could be because most people I know drive automatics, and I'm such a cheapskate that the stick shift cars I've had after that have not had cruise control. :hmm:
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I've owned two manual transmission cars that had factory cruise control installed...both were Fords.
 
Sounds like a fun project. Aren't parts for these hard to come by though? Thought I remember seeing a thread about someone looking at buying one and that was the consensus.
 
crazySOB297 said:
Lol, I haven't been in a modern manual that didn't have it.
Click to expand...

my 2001 dodge ram doesnt have cruise control.


as for the 280z, awesome car. i had a 2+2 back before wife and kids, great fun in that thing. i never saw the scarab thing tho, if i had id have done it. i cant imagine how fast it would have been with a v8 dropped in it. i saw a guy broke down on the freeway saturday with an old 280z and thought that it had been a long time since i had seen one on the road.
 
Cool,
Though we just picked up an 86 Fiero GT with V-6 and 5 speed for my friends GF. It needs some cosmetic work but mechanically it's in pretty good shape.
 
hanoverphist said:
my 2001 dodge ram doesnt have cruise control.


as for the 280z, awesome car. i had a 2+2 back before wife and kids, great fun in that thing. i never saw the scarab thing tho, if i had id have done it. i cant imagine how fast it would have been with a v8 dropped in it. i saw a guy broke down on the freeway saturday with an old 280z and thought that it had been a long time since i had seen one on the road.
Click to expand...

I saw one on the side of the road for sale a couple of weeks ago. It was in good shape externally, my kids loved it and said I should buy it.
 
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