The want is too strong

"Big Bubba Ray" (eganward01)
02/17/2014 at 11:56 • Filed to: None

Who wants to buy my Outback and Baja Bug so I can fly to Oregon, pick this up and drive it back? $10,000 for the lot.

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/19…

DISCUSSION (34)

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:01

Damn that is pretty

505Turbeaux > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:02

man does that thing look good.

How did your valve adjusting go on the bug anyhow?

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:02

Kinja'd!!!

saltcityeuros > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:04

That is beautiful - and it seems to be only $8900 now?

Big Bubba Ray > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2014 at 12:07

It is stunning.

The valve adjustment went great! When I initially went in to do it, I kept running into problems, but now the car is running like a top. Ive been driving it non stop for the past 5 days.

Big Bubba Ray > saltcityeuros
02/17/2014 at 12:09

It seems so! Gorgeous car for a great price. If it was relatively close to me, I'd have to say goodbye to my cars and pick this up. Utility be damned I want a Z car.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:12

Just emailed the fiancee, probably going to be shot down but holy jesus... I'd DD that for as long as I possibly could (I drive 80 miles a week to a train station).

505Turbeaux > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:15

nice! yeah it can really wake up a boxer if it has been awhile

Big Bubba Ray > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
02/17/2014 at 12:21

BUY IT.

Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:29

It's not too far from where I am right now. If I had the funds I would probably go for it.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:29

I'm working the SWAMBO now.

Edit: encountering resistance, but I'm pushing forward.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:34

How much for the Baja bug, and where is it located?

Cynical > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 12:54

For real...

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 13:07

Oh boy, I'm in trouble now... damit so close...

Big Bubba Ray > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts.
02/17/2014 at 13:13

Do it man, or live in regret for the rest of your life!

Big Bubba Ray > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2014 at 13:18

Ya that's an understatement. The previous owner had no idea how to tune it or anything and it ran like hell when I bought it so that helped lower the sale price dramatically haha I'm going to get a video of it running up on here shortly

Big Bubba Ray > Doge_Supreme drives a BRZ
02/17/2014 at 13:21

Sell everything. BUY IT

Big Bubba Ray > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/17/2014 at 13:25

Unfortunately I can't sell the Bug just yet cause I haven't finished everything I want to do and haven't had enough fun in it! Haha but I'm in St. Louis. If the Z were closer to me I would absolutely get rid of the bug but it's just too damn car away.

GhostZ > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 13:26

The 78 Motor ruins all of the rarity/valuability of being a 260Z, but the cleanliness makes it an amazing daily driver . Price is pretty much spot-on for a good Z, but I haven't seen one that clean for sale in a while.

505Turbeaux > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 13:28

nice! I have seen too many of these owned by non mechanical people and it is always good for the sale price. "Oh it doesnt run right". 20 minutes doing valves and a twist of the distributor and it is golden. Awesome

Big Bubba Ray > GhostZ
02/17/2014 at 14:14

Ya it's in unbelievably good shape judging by the pictures. I wouldn't mind the 78 power plant too much because I personally prefer the six over some LS or other V8 swap that people always do with these. I do love seeing a good V8 swap in a Z sometimes, but most of the time they've turned into poor projects for people.

Big Bubba Ray > 505Turbeaux
02/17/2014 at 14:17

Spot on haha

I talked the owner down $700 because he was sick of owning a barely running car. I tuned it, fixed timing and changed the oil and it runs like a dream. I didn't know anything about the Bug when I bought it but a week or so on the internet spent researching helped vastly in getting it running properly.

505Turbeaux > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 14:19

all you should ever need...

Kinja'd!!!

GhostZ > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 14:20

I like the 78 too, but the 260Z's engine is rather rare and has the second-best collectibility of any S30 (only superseded by the early '71 240z). I'd rather see someone cut up a 72-73 240z or a 75-77 280z than a 260z.

I think it's also interesting that it has Carbs, '78 motors were EFI, which means they reconverted back to carburetors probably using the 260Z intake.

Big Bubba Ray > GhostZ
02/17/2014 at 14:35

Ya I think the engine is a bit of a Frankenstein creation. I don't know too much about Z's but I did know the 280 was EFI. Wonder why they went back to carbs on this one. Any idea?

GhostZ > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 14:56

The Triple Webers tend to produce more power when tuned correctly than the stock Bosch L-Jetronic EFI. But the twin carbs (the cheaper version offered) produced less. So it's not uncommon to swap over.

The 280ZX motor is also a really easy swap, so that's not too rare either. What's rare is that he did it with a 260Z, not the much more common 240Z or 280z.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Big Bubba Ray
02/17/2014 at 16:22

I'm the same. I'd rather see a tuned L24/26/28 than an LS, but both are cool.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Big Bubba Ray
02/19/2014 at 09:58

OK, who lives close to this guy who could check it out for me?

I want this.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > GhostZ
02/21/2014 at 12:04

Hey GhostZ, mind if I ask a few questions?

I've been talking to this guy and am considering the car. He has it in the paint shop right now, "Car is in shop for a partial repaint, should be out in a couple weeks....had a few nicks, and chips, etc". I would have to have this shipped back to me sight unseen. I might be able to have a non car person check it out.

I also have found a car close to me but in different condition. See this thread:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/240z-craigslis…

Which would you be more incline to go with? The craigslist car is actually $3k.

GhostZ > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
02/21/2014 at 14:06

Between the Autotrader 260 and that 240? Go with the 260. It's worth the extra 5k easily. Unless I read your post wrong and you found another car in addition to the the 3k craigslist car.

It might be worth it if you can inspect it yourself, because if there is NO rust, then it would be worth the money by far. But I doubt that's the case, looking at the pictures.

It's very likely that the 240 you linked is going to have some frame rust beneath it, the fact that he took no pictures of the rear quarter panel (where rust usually accumulates first) is a warning sign. Having an L28ET isn't significantly better than an L28E, especially not if the car isn't quite finished yet.

Ideally I would go for a '75-77 280Z and just get the front bumpers from a 240Z (or aftermarket ones). They came with a stronger R200 differential (a must if you're going to run a turbo motor) and had an optional 5-speed. The craigslist ad doesn't specify, but that 240z may have bolted the L28ET onto the original 4-speed, since the L28ET was never offered with a manual transmission. If you want an L28ET and a 5-speed in a 240z, you need to pull parts from 3 different cars.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > GhostZ
02/21/2014 at 14:45

Thank you for the reply. That is what I was thinking. My draw to the 260 is the L28 with those side draft carbs (love the sound). And I think he has a 78' diff installed.

Stepping into someones half finished project makes me nervous. I may still go look at it. He did say that there was only rust at two places. On the rear bumper and on the frame right in front of the front sway bar mount. Which would require some significant patching and welding.

Thanks for all the info!

GhostZ > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
02/21/2014 at 14:56

If there's rust there, it's likely there are the beginnings of rust in places he hasn't checked yet too. A little rear quarter panel or hatch (especially on early '71 hatch designs) rust is acceptable and easier to fix, but that would be dangerous.

If you're looking for more Z cars in your area, I suggest Zcar.com or HybridZ (another website) classified ads. A lot of times the owners of the cars are willing to drive it out to you or at least provide good pictures.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > GhostZ
02/21/2014 at 16:04

What about the 1978 Z?

http://www.zcar.com/forum/15-cars-…

GhostZ > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger
02/21/2014 at 16:15

If I was in the south I'd buy that car in an instant. Very clean.

In my earlier post where I said 1975-1977, I meant 1975-1978. That being said, if you want carbs you'll have to put on a carbureted intake, since all of them were EFI in '78.

The later the year, the better. The body had VERY few changes between 1970 and 1978, but they had numerous fixes to the reliability of the engine, electronics, and susceptibility to rust. However, because of the large (removable) 100lb bumpers on the front and rear, they're one of the least desirable in terms of resale. But for buyers, that's great, since you get more for your money.