But I'm actually 24 years old. I got this car when I was 14 from my grandfather and still have it to this day. 100% Bone stock except for what was damaged by thieves through the years. Happy 10 Year Anniversary to Z.

Anyway it's been in a hundred thousand little pieces in my garage for almost 3 years fixing various things which I won't go into here and today I got it up and running, set the timing and went. The wierd thing is aside from some timing and belt adjustments it started the first time from a complete tear down and rebuild. It helps to have a mechanic friend double check your work, and the resources of this forum. Thanks to all it runs again.

Send my regards to Tony D...

Looks great, love the two tone.

---

81 280zx (patiently awaiting 83 turbo 'swap')
75 Chevy Monza TC (in honor of rednekz)

"Enter witty sig line here"

This is from 2001 when I first got licensed, pics of the same car.

The future Mrs. Hart with the car driving up Mt. Hood in the summer, 2004.

Pics of the last time I drove it, which was to graduation from Oregon State in 06. The interior sadly has rotted even more while being in storage. Also includes video of massive vacuum leaks after pictures in November.





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Very clean original car. I'm digging the color combo. Needs one of these-

nice ride. don't listen to dave. it definitely doesn't need one of those.

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Currently Zless
Z's I've owned:

'71 240Z White
'73 240Z Orange
'05 350Z Chrome Silver Touring
[www.henryism.com]

Actually, yes. Yes it does! Painted on the underside of the hood!

---

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
My main areas of knowledge involve the ZX.

Grammar Saves Lives! IE: Lets eat Grampa or Lets eat, Grampa.

Hmmm... "More than meets the eye!"

In all seriousness after replacing every darn seal, gasket, vacuum line (AND putting all the emission equipment back as original) hose, fitting et all I'm about ready to drive it and go. I work for Bridgestone so I'll get a set of Insignia SE-200s put on there (195/70R14) as a hold for awhile since it'll cost me $173 for a set of four. The way I figure these new tires are so vastly superior to the tires of even the best in the 70s that with a stock suspension I really shouldn't need to go balls-to-the-wall with so-called "Performance Upgrades" aside from little things like better rotors and pads, make sure the left-outter tie rod end is replaced and have the vehicle aligned. When I was 16 living in Vancouver WA there was plenty of room to roam, but 10 years later you have to drive 45 minutes to find open road anymore.

Wish I hadn't read so much of this forum in the last two years or else I might have convinced myself that all these bolt on upgrades would yield a better ride and make it go faster. I'm just not willing to dump $6K into this car to make "go faster" when my 2000 Civic is faster, corners better and brakes quicker. It's for me, all about the experience of driving it as it was 30 years ago. Now that the cooling system is resolved when I take my vacation I'll probably drive on a nice 300 mile journey and call it an experience. That's why I must especially thank Tony D whose posts made me realize how futile it is just to bolt on an exhaust and call it good, or that removing emission equipment would do nothing but look "cleaner" whereas with some more time I can reroute to my heart's desire.

Still irked the differential is on it's way out and the fuel pump is a noisy beast, but those are things to worry about later. For now I'll start fabricating a new interior to make it appear less "gross" and try to keep it all original. If someone you know has a working OEM radio let me know it'd be the capstone to keeping it 70s.

Which radio do you have? I just pulled a digital with tape deck that I'm hoping to test this weekend. From a 79 zx.

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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
My main areas of knowledge involve the ZX.

Grammar Saves Lives! IE: Lets eat Grampa or Lets eat, Grampa.

Easyguy71 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Which radio do you have? I just pulled a digital
> with tape deck that I'm hoping to test this
> weekend. From a 79 zx.

It came with a aftermarket Pioneer tape deck so I'm not entirely sure. Even if it was non functional I'd be interested solely for the look. But after driving I realize I've got front and rear shocks to do, took them to work and had them tested. Need both inner and both outter tie rod ends I can literally smack it out of alignment and the rear brakes are going, the fronts are due to replaced in a couple of days when parts arrive. Repack the bearings et all.

There is always something to do. That'll likely be a winter project, while I figure out why the air doesn't blow hardly at all. If it's anything like the cars at work I suspect a blower motor but I'll have to diagnose to be sure.

I'm pretty sure I'll be tinkering with this until I die.

How do you like the firehawk's? I have some on my truck (bigger) and I was thinking about putting a set on my Z. Do they handle well? And how is the noise?

---

1985 N/A Z31 5 speed 2+2-burgundy exterior and interior.

MY Z31

"RIP ol' red she didn't make it after the wreck, she died at the scene on 8-8-08"

I've got the firehawks on mine and love them. They are crap in winter but for dry or wet, I like them very much!

Good gription. (That's a patented frenglish word from Canadia, btw....)

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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
My main areas of knowledge involve the ZX.

Grammar Saves Lives! IE: Lets eat Grampa or Lets eat, Grampa.

I really like the fact that your car has been basically left as is.

I'm sort of in the same boat. I was considering making my car a crazy sportscar, but I think I'll leave that to my brother and his 1980.

If you don't put an autobot decal on the hood, consider getting a felt backed magnet made that you can take off. You definitely need a Bluestreak toy to put on the seat, arm rest or some place for car shows. hahaha...

It sounds to me like your suspension is about due for a complete overhaul. It also sounds like you have access to an alignment rack and can replace parts leasurely, which is cool.

I restore cars for a living and I know how to do alignments, but I don't have the alignment rack, so I'm looking at all or nothing and right now it's the latter.

Very clean car. Keep it real. You don't see too many of them that way and it will be a completely lost art in the future!

N/Adriver85j Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How do you like the firehawk's? I have some on my
> truck (bigger) and I was thinking about putting a
> set on my Z. Do they handle well? And how is the
> noise?

The ones I had on my car had severe flat spots from being stored for 4 years. I replaced them with Bridgestone Insignia SE-200s in P195/70R14. I'll replace them with Bridgestone RE-11s in 205/50R16 when I find a set of wheels I like. The SE-200s are smooth and quiet, they grip like crazy too I'm much happier with them.

The SS20s are no longer in production, they were replaced by the Firehawk Indy 500 which are sometimes available but only for small truck applications.

As far as Alignment goes I recommend getting the Lifetime Alignment from Firestone Complete Auto Care because for around $150 you can get an agreement after the first alignment all subsequent rechecks are free. REALLY helpful if you're looking to replace suspension pieces and have the alignment reset.

Caveat: I do work for the company. Ask for a tech who is certified ASE in steering and suspension and has preferably gone through the alignment classes from Hunter.

Pull the control arms and replace with OEM bushings. You won't believe the new ride.

---

Chattanooga, TN
82 white w/ red n/a coupe 120,000 miles.
83 2+2 314,395 miles at college AGAIN
96 Pathfinder, 96 Maxima
90 300ZX 2+2, 82 ZXcoupe, 81 200sx, 72 Camaro SS, 68 Mustang, 1950 Chev PU fully restored
Pics:[www.zcar.com]

Here is a bit of irony

My cars a 83
That is the same year my mom was going to Portalnd University

27 years later
My first car the 83 I bought in july just after I got into collage.

Wired eh?

---

83 280ZX L28E nonturbo coupe California Model 5 speed.

NY, You need an upper steering console?

Jaket, I can't help myself. You wrote, "My first car the 83 I bought in july just after I got into collage.

Wired eh?." College and weird.

---

Chattanooga, TN
82 white w/ red n/a coupe 120,000 miles.
83 2+2 314,395 miles at college AGAIN
96 Pathfinder, 96 Maxima
90 300ZX 2+2, 82 ZXcoupe, 81 200sx, 72 Camaro SS, 68 Mustang, 1950 Chev PU fully restored
Pics:[www.zcar.com]

Yeah Iam an educational system fail. My grammer sucks so bad that they thought I should be in English as a second language.

---

83 280ZX L28E nonturbo coupe California Model 5 speed.

Read more, it will come. Never stop learning, I learn something everyday...puts off dementia as well.

---

Chattanooga, TN
82 white w/ red n/a coupe 120,000 miles.
83 2+2 314,395 miles at college AGAIN
96 Pathfinder, 96 Maxima
90 300ZX 2+2, 82 ZXcoupe, 81 200sx, 72 Camaro SS, 68 Mustang, 1950 Chev PU fully restored
Pics:[www.zcar.com]