My "new" Datsun, '78 280Z

Matt K · **Posted:** Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:53 pm

I recently traded off the Mustang I had the past 18 years for this clean '78 280Z.

Newly refreshed, new paint & interior, nicely done. MSA body kit was molded professionally to the body. It's at my mechanic's place getting Tokico lowering springs & HP shocks (to lose the 4x4 status), MSA ceramic coated header & 2 1/2" exhaust installed currently. Here are a few pics from when I first got it.

I just ordered a set of JDM chrome trim headlight covers from zccjdm.com

Going to get a set of the JDM chrome fender mirrors & remove these MSA window mirrors that are on it currently. I will also upgrade from the 14x7 0-offset wheels on it to some hyper black Rota RB wheels, in 16x8.

The mirrors will come next, then the Rotas in a few months. Eventually she'll get some unnatural aspiration, in the form of a 2JZGTE swap...but not for another year or so. Until then, I'll have to settle for my daily driver for my speed fix (although it isn't that fast...)

NSRz32 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 09, 2011 5:32 pm

Should be a fun project. Congrats on acquiring it :tu:

NSR_s30 · **Posted:** Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:07 pm

Nice Z! That foxbody was pretty clean by the looks of it too. One question though, why a toyota engine? Just wondering.

Matt K · **Posted:** Sun Jan 09, 2011 11:33 pm

The jz is superior in design to the RB and lightyears ahead of the L-series. Cost is roughly the same, the turbo is on the opposite side and there's no steering shaft interference issue. Great aftermarket and potential, to name a few. I lived in Japan for 9 years and have a lot of experience with Nissan and Toyota performance, the Toyota engines are just better engineered. The RB has oil and cooling issues, as well as a very poorly designed intake, that starves the last two cylinders and causes a leaner/hotter condition, eventually killing one or both piston's/rings, even on a well tuned engine.

liquid51 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:05 am

I love toyota and they're hella over engineering. But putting one that's not in another toyota is not right. Keep with brands duder its better in the end.

Matt K · **Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:32 am

liquid51 wrote:

I love toyota and they're hella over engineering. But putting one that's not in another toyota is not right. Keep with brands duder its better in the end.

Yeah, that's not going to happen. I don't like wasting my hard earned cash...been there, done that. I'm not a purist, so in the end, it's results that matter most to me. At least it isn't a Chevy 350! Let's just say I spend a lot of time on hybridz.org...

Drive510 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2011 11:28 am

Cool build. Not my style but each to his own. If you're going to put another engine in 240z, if power is what you want, why not drop a v8 or Viper engine in and call it a day? Like I said though, each to his own. Sounds like you have this planned out. Looking forward to see what's next.

Cool G35 by the way. I use to have a 2dr 07 when I lived in Hawaii. It was my daily cruiser(all stock). They haul butt.

Camshaft · **Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2011 12:00 pm

I vote Honda D15 swap.

NSR_s30 · **Posted:** Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:08 pm

Matt K wrote:

The jz is superior in design to the RB and lightyears ahead of the L-series. Cost is roughly the same, the turbo is on the opposite side and there's no steering shaft interference issue. Great aftermarket and potential, to name a few. I lived in Japan for 9 years and have a lot of experience with Nissan and Toyota performance, the Toyota engines are just better engineered. The RB has oil and cooling issues, as well as a very poorly designed intake, that starves the last two cylinders and causes a leaner/hotter condition, eventually killing one or both piston's/rings, even on a well tuned engine.

To each his own definitely will be interested to see the progress of the swap. :tu:

Matt K · **Posted:** Sat Jan 15, 2011 9:02 pm

I'm in the middle of swapping in Tokico springs, shocks, header and exhaust. Just received my jdm headlight covers too. We're also reinforcing the frame rails, strut towers, and body with additional seam welding and metal. I've got some stainless brake lines on the way, and am getting bigger brakes and master cylinder too. Pics once I get it back from the shop!

schassisowner · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:03 am

beautiful color.... im not feeling the kit but but its better than the impact bumpers it came with.

i like where this is going; but id still stick w a nissan motor.

Matt K · **Posted:** Thu Jan 27, 2011 10:19 am

Yeah, I would have chosen differently, but it came with that kit molded in, so I'm stuck with it for awhile...at least it improves the notoriously bad S30 aerodynamics, even if it doesn't flow like the original lines. I've got the Tokico suspension on & am about to swap in some better brakes (Toyota 4x4 4-piston calipers, stainless lines, Porterfield pads, Brembo rotors, 280ZX master cylinder). Still need to swap in the header & exhaust, but haven't had the time...

Matt K · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 12:53 am

Suspension is done, header & 2 1/2" custom exhaust is done, just added some JDM headlight covers too.

The big news is I am going in a different direction with the car than I had planned. Partly due to the horribly rising gas prices, partly due to dumb luck! SO...I got a Vildini Motorsports kit for an SR20DET into the S30 chassis from a buddy...engine cradle, tranny mount, custom intercooler/piping for S30 & driveshaft. I also scored a decent SR motorset from an old room mate of mine, which I'll be picking up in a few months.

My younger brother in Little Rock has a stock (plus bolt ons) SR in our Dad's old RHD 280ZX 2+2...it dyno'ed around 245 to the wheels & is a screamer for a daily driver, as well as consistently getting over 30 mpg on his work commute. Oh well...guess it was fate!

skyrine · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 1:02 am

Nice car! but rotas? :wink:

Matt K · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 1:03 am

skyrine wrote:

Nice car! but rotas? :wink:

Yeah, not going to spend $550 EACH for Wats...

turboHLS30 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:17 am

Nice Z. 2jz is the way to go. I was going to put a 2jz into my Z and then I realized the my Z is mint and don't want to ruin it or it's value. Good luck with the swap.

sticky280zx · **Posted:** Wed Mar 09, 2011 2:56 pm

turbo get off this site you useless piece of garbage, and while youre at it go ahead and send me that set of tripples and blow thru setup i paid you for months ago and still havent gotten....florida isnt that far away and i like to drive to make house calls

in other news, i think there are better options as well as far as wheels go, but thats for another day lol ssr,work,etc can be had used for around 1k which is only double what you spent, i wouldnt spend that much on WATS either, for that money id go ccw, kodiac, etc but then again id be alot more worried about driving em on the street.

Matt K · **Posted:** Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:21 pm

Updates:

Now for something completely different...I'm halfway there acquiring parts for an SR swap. Got a good deal on a Vildini Motorsports setup with engine cradle, mounts, trans mount, driveshaft, intercooler & piping. I got the RB20DET speed sensor to use with the SR trans to keep my mechanical speedo. Just made a deal for a nice GT2871R turbo setup...I 'm waiting on some new 6K HID lights & projector lenses to modernize my nighttime visibility. I recently fixed a few trivial things, and added the JDM headlight covers & fender mirrors. I just ordered some really nice (larger) mesh wheels to replace my current rolling stock. On to the pics...

Before fender mirrors

After

New wheels

Matt K · **Posted:** Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:05 pm

Epsilons on...

I also picked up a pair of Watanabes, will be looking for another pair soon...

Eric · **Posted:** Sun May 01, 2011 11:00 am

fender mirrors suck in visibility but the always look good!

My "new" Datsun, '78 280Z

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