"StudyStudyStudy" (jesterjin)
04/15/2015 at 11:45 • Filed to: 240z, project car
3
0|
"StudyStudyStudy" (jesterjin)
04/15/2015 at 11:45 • Filed to: 240z, project car | 3
| 0 |
So it rolled into the garage.
As with most people who started a project I had grand plans, an engine swap, wide wheels, low to the ground, nice paint. Then came the problem and reality - tools. Fact is I had little to none. I usually went to a friends house when he was working on his car and did my work there, unfortunately he was away at a different university. I called him up and asked him for his advice on what brands to look for and such, and he said he would be back home that weekend and I could use all his tools since he wouldn’t be using them for a while.
He lent me the car mechanics beginners tool set.
3 ton jack
jack stands
ratchet set
deep well sockets
breaker bar
full wrench set
So armed with a fairly comprehensive tool kit I started into it. The Z came with camaro seats that were loosely bolted in, so out came the tools. Fenders came off along with the doors and the seats
I knew the engine had been blown so I searched for a replacement. I wanted to end up with a Vq35, they sounded great and I had seen a couple completed swaps. However looking up the price it was pretty much out of my price range by a long deal. I put up a post on craigslist looking for an engine, received a reply with a gentleman selling his out of his 280zx along with a 5 speed transmission. It was smoking a bit so it was dirt cheap. A deal was struck and he delivered for an extra 40$.
The thought was either the piston rings had gone or the valve stem seals were gone somehow it was burning oil. So off came the manifolds. I had wanted to run the factory carbs so the round ports would not serve me either so the search commenced for a square port head.
Luckily these cars were made over a fairly large life cycle, and the engine was used in a few vehicles during and after. A quick peek on craigslist yielded the head I was looking for, an N42 head with square ports just freshly removed from a running car for a rebuilt higher compression head. This one was located across the water and required a ferry ride to pick up. I don’t think too many people can say that :).
On my way, the seller called and said that he had bad news, it had been left out the previous night and we had a night shower and that it looked pretty rusty now, he said if I still wanted to come by he would give it to me for free. I was already on the ferry so I figured I would go take a look. A little scrubbing with a scotch pad seemed to quickly remove the rust so I decided I would take it home with me and if anything I can use it to mock up everything.
On a late night surfing session on craigslist, I found a roll bar. I called the ad and the guy said he had a couple people interested, but he said he had even more flake. His policy was the first person to put money in his hand would get it, he said someone claimed he was on the way, but he had heard that story several times before. I ran to the bank and booked it up there cash in hand. I arrived and no one was there. Loaded it up and took it home. It would need to be modified but as a starting piece it was excellent.
Things seemed to be going well. I even decided that while I had the seats out, I would chip away at the sound deadening and put down some modern stuff. We had a particularly cold winter so going early on the weekend I managed to break off all the sound deadening with little to no drama. Unfortunately under the sound deadening and interior I was about to discover a world of hurt.
Things I learned:
Craigslist can be your friend, but your real life friends can be better ones.
Talk things out with people, you never know what insight they might have.
Have cash ready, you never know what may pop up.
300 - L28E + 5 speed + delivery
40 free - N42 head
150 - Roll bar
Subtotal: 450
Total spent: 1150
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