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The 2k car

Nezerconezer

Hard-core CEG'er
Joined
Jul 4, 2006
Messages
1,651
Location
PHX AZ
With my 1k car project coming to a close, I figgured its time to look towards my next summer project. It needed to be small, light, cheap, rwd, with a manual trans and great handling. Tall order, but heres what I got:













































1977 280z 5spd.
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I've been wanting one of these for years, and am super excited to start working on it right away. She has a few typical issues for Z cars. There is a rust hole in the floor, I've allready cut out all the cancer, its about the size of a note card, you can see where the previous owner put a "patch" on top of the rust. And theres another spot of rust in the rear hatch where the weather stripping is. Nothing major the chassis is clean other then those spots.

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The interior is all there and she runs and drives, quite smoothly. I was very happy to see how quickly it started.

I've since gutted the interior completly to clean out the car and search for more rust, didnt find any :). The interior is in great shape just a few things need replacing and everything else can be salvaged.

I'll try to keep this thread going as I progress on the car. Stay tuned!

 
Looks fun! Has anyone put a 3L in one yet? :D

Does it have a/c? Looks like the heater core is bypassed too.
 
I don't think 2k is too steep, theres a lot more of em advertised in worse shape for more. I have a lot of new parts for the car just needs to be put together.

Hmm I don't know about the 3l swaps but 350 swaps are popular.

Yes it has a/c.

(oh and I fixed my contours a/c too :))
 
Nice, those are cool little cars. I have always liked then. But please no 350 swap. Stay nissan. There is a Datsun 260z around here with a skyline motor. Looks and sounds awesome!
 
Been working on it slowly.

Heres the redone interior with new weather stripping

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New shifter bushings made a world of difference considering I didn't have any when I got the car.
 
Then I installed tokico springs struts and new poly bushings
Fronts first
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Then rear, I also put 240z rear strut mounts on instead of the 280z ones since they are nearly an inch shorter.

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Looking good. Congrats on the great find! I was lloking at one before I got the SVT. $1200 for RHD that needed a battery and tires, but wasnt the best of family cars for me. So jealous.
 
Nezer, thought maybe you disappeared for good...glad to see the progress. Still owe you for checking out the Bondurant for me...one of these days...
 
Nope still around, just haven't been here since I've been very busy with well life. I actually took a 4-5 month break on working on this thing but now its nearly ready to be back on the road just a few things to button up first.

And I totally forgot about that Bondurant stuff! I still cant wait to see what ever that surprise is!
 
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