Test Drive #2: 1977 280Z

Kinja'd!!! "NervesOfThrill" (adrenalingus)
08/24/2014 at 23:56 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!3 Kinja'd!!! 12

Test drove my 2nd Z yesterday. First test drive was a 1975 280Z, This one was a beautiful bronze 1977 280Z and the owner was a fairly well off guy judging from his toys and clearly a total gear head.

After 2 test drives here are my thoughts:

Pros: Such a pure, connected driving experience. Damn light and very nimble because of it. Roomy and comfortable but still compact interior design. Within my ability to wrench on this powertrain. Drop dead gorgeous.

Cons: Just not fast enough in factory form for what I am looking for. My previous "go fast" car, a 2000 BMW M Roadster" was more inline with what I'm looking for as a starting point. Concerned that this spells engine swap since you can only coax so much hp/torque out of the L28's.

The ponder continues....

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DISCUSSION (12)


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > NervesOfThrill
08/25/2014 at 00:01

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How much power do you want out of the Z? Ask, and ye shall receive the cheapest and most reliable way to get it.

Also, what's the price on the Z?


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > NervesOfThrill
08/25/2014 at 00:06

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Also, to get the same power/weight ratio as a BMW M Roadster you'd only need 210 HP, which is easily obtainable for under $3000 through a turbo kit (head swap from a 280ZX) and an intercooler on the stock engine.


Kinja'd!!! Stef Schrader > NervesOfThrill
08/25/2014 at 00:40

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Man, that's beautiful.


Kinja'd!!! NervesOfThrill > GhostZ
08/25/2014 at 00:46

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That one was $7,500 and it was very clean inside and was perfect except for the crap wheels and 2 minor surface rust bubbles that are new enough to get ahead of. The whole undercarriage has been powdercoated too.

I think I'd be looking for around 250 HP and would like about the same range of torque. Having had cars with high HP and low torque and those with a balance of both I know I love me some solid torque like the M Roadster had.

I would also much prefer keeping the car NA if possible. I've had a bit of both NA and turbo and this time around I'd prefer NA.


Kinja'd!!! datsunzep > NervesOfThrill
08/25/2014 at 01:06

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You can build up the L28 to 250hp, but it'll cost you. You could swap for similar prices and start with more power, but less original. $7500 is crazy for a 280z


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > NervesOfThrill
08/25/2014 at 01:17

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If the dash was intact (not all cracked up) it would be a good price. An cracked dash alone is a $3000 fix, since you can't repair the crack, you have to replace the whole thing. But if it's not flawless, you should be able to pick up a clean, nice, running, and rust-free 280Z for at most $6500.

250HP, N/A, can be done 3 ways:

1. High compression Stroker engine. You'll need a crankshaft from a Maxima diesel (~$2000) new conrods or taller pistons, a higher compression head and/or flattop pistons (there's guides out there that let you pick components for a desierable compression ratio) you will probably need at least 10:1, and you'll have to run 91-95 octane all the time, but you'll get that torque you want. Cheapest way to do it (though the least reliable) since most of the parts can be just picked up off of other L engines. Will run you between $2000-$3000, depending on how lucky you get with junkyard parts and a crankshaft. If you get a cheap crank, it can be done under $1000.

2. Rebello racing engine drop-in. 250HP is pretty mild for a Rebello, their cheapest engine build (a high-rpm 2.7l block) is 270HP. You might just be able to find someone else who already has a rebello and swap it over. They'll take your engine core and work on it if the block is good, so there's no need to buy a whole new engine, just the parts and labor to build it up. If you want to keep it cheap, opt to put your own carbs on it (at a slight sacrifice of power) and go with the dirt-cheap twin carbs (instead of the triple carbs they use). This is the most expensive option, but sounds and drives the best. You can always upgrade it up to 350HP (where it basically becomes a race-only engine) on the stock block, these guys know what they're doing. The engine price is about $5k I believe.

3. Engine swap. There's loads of choices here, but you can get a Chevy SBC swap done for about $2000-3000 total. They're really easy in the way of engine swaps (huge engine bay) and they make mounts and kits new for you to swap in. The SBC is actually lighter than the stock L-engine by about 50 lbs. This would be a great choice if you ever want to take it closer to 350 or 400 HP, since it's much cheaper to do with an SBC. You'll be sitting at under $3k depending on how new the parts on the SBC are, and whether or not you do a clean swap or not. However, this is easily the most complicated and takes the most time.

If you're willing to spend more, you can swap in any number of LS engines, but they'll cost you about as much as they'll benefit you in terms of reliability and being able to take power.

Ford swaps used to be more common, but I think whomever was making kits for them stopped selling the crossmembers and mounts.

Also, if you chop the front and rear bumpers off, you drop about 200lbs immediately off the weight of the car. The rear diff, thicker driveshaft, and some misc. sound deadening is what constitutes the other 300lbs it has over the 240z.


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > datsunzep
08/25/2014 at 01:24

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I would be tempted to pay $7500 for a 280Z if it was spotless inside (no cracked dash) and without rust. But that's a very high threshold.


Kinja'd!!! NervesOfThrill > datsunzep
08/25/2014 at 02:19

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Unfortunately, not around here. I've been shopping for 4 months daily and this one is one of the better clean-to-price deals I've found. You could eat off of the engine and other than needing some fresher carpet the interior is perfect. I've definitely found much better deals when you get outside of the surrounding states, particularly in CA, AZ, etc. but by the time you factor in either shipping, or the flight and gas/hotel rooms to drive it back it ends up being a draw.


Kinja'd!!! NervesOfThrill > GhostZ
08/25/2014 at 02:26

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Thank you a ton for the excellent information. I've been operating under the assumption that I would probably go with an engine swap over dumping more money into the L28 and had been looking at models that needed a TLC knowing that I wouldn't keep it original most likely, but that kept leading to major body repair needs also. I'll find one that is the right fit in time, but I am getting anxious as all hell.

I've been lurking on the major Z forums too and picked up the most common weight reductions tactics and will absolutely be retro-fitting to the pre-1974.5 bumpers. The rest I actually want to keep on the car.

Should be a fun journey.


Kinja'd!!! NervesOfThrill > GhostZ
08/25/2014 at 02:29

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I live in Tampa and in the market within 1,000 miles of here it is a bitch to find a good one for under $7,000 that won't cot you more to get it solid gain than you save on the purchase price. Humidity sucks....

I've been scouring the maor X forums, ebay, autotraderclassics, craigslist. Any other suggestions of where I should be looking?


Kinja'd!!! GhostZ > NervesOfThrill
08/25/2014 at 02:37

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Worrying about keeping it original isn't that big of a deal. If it was a 240z (especially a first-series '69-71) then yeah, it would be a bad idea, but they made enough 280zs and they're undesirable enough that an engine swap would probably make it worth more.

You could always find someone with a stock 280Z who doesn't want to modify it, and do a trade+cash for them to have the nicer Z, and you can mod the stock one, but I wouldn't even worry about that.


Kinja'd!!! NervesOfThrill > GhostZ
08/25/2014 at 16:02

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And on cue a blue one that is 100% original and in great shape appears about 2 hours from me for $5,900. This may be the one..... Aren't they all......