Hey, I am looking into buyin a cheaper second car to drive daily. I park at bart daily and once my wheels and stereo are in my car I really don't feel safe having it at bar...been broken into several times there with 2 cars a 2 alarms.

If you know anything I'd like some advice. I'm looking at a 72 right now. It's a great deal. One of those that might be tooooo good.

I'll explain it in a pm and forward photos to whoever wants to help me out.

72, 5 speed. 3/2/1 headers. 3 inch exhaust. blue. Nice car. blemishes and problems of course but guy says it's a daily driver. I'd only be driving like 30 miles a day so yeah.

 

with a car that old, id guess the thing to worry the most about is the frame, and also rust.
make sure the frame is straight, and the rust (because i am sure there IS some rust) is fixable, or not that extreme.

z's are awesome cars, more awesome when you drop in a 280z turbo motor and stroke it out a little =)

 

shoot I already have a quote for an sr20det. $1800.

 

Old Z's are awesome commuters, I've owned 4 in my time. I don't remember 72's having 5-speeds, I thought they were 4 speeds. I would recommend holding out and finding a 280z instead. Slightly more displacement (2.8L as opposed to the 2.4L in the 72 240z) and you would get fuel injection. Aside from that, I would recommend everyone own a Datsun Z car at some point in there life. Great car to just go out and drive.

 

I guess I have a soft spot for 240's. my mom had one. After she passed it was suppose to be mine. I have very fond memories of that car....most of my fond memories of my mom where in that car actually. As I was being bounced around and what not the car was lost. I asked for it when I turned 16 and the government said they lost it. Right...lost it..mmmhmmm.

So I've always wanted one.

yeah they came with 4 speeds. But lots of people put 280 trannies in them to get the 5 speed.

as for the displacement...don't care. It's a fun commuter and a project car. I probably wouldn't keep it forever as it is. I'd really like a pimped out 510 or a 71 240 z. Just something I've always wanted to own..for my mom...you know. fix it like she never got to.

he wants $2700 for it. But he is in some personal crap right now and likely will go much much lower. What do you guys think...i can pass on photos and more info to anyone that has knowledge and can help me out.

 

don't get a later 280Z!

get a '73 or earlier, because you don't want to have to smog it!!!!!

I'm not saying you want it to run dirty, its just that you can have it run clean & powerful with none of the original smog equipment (air pumps, etc).

Who cares since you can throw in all the better later parts, and you have the best-looking body, small bumpers, etc.

Oh and if you do get it throw in an RB26 motor or a built Chevy 383 with a blower before a puny SR20DET!!!! It has a LONG engine compartment....

Good Luck,

David

 

dude i think you can throw just about any motor into a z car lol
my neighbor across the street has like 4 z's, one of em his kid "drifts" lol
anyways, his personal z has a smallblock chevy..... sounds so nice!
anyways, gluck! 2700 is a bit pricey, but i guess people will pay for the classics nowadays.
lol soon the 240sx will be a classic too haha

 

Take an old pre-smog 240, add a Chevy LS1 = car that not only is insanely quick, but I betcha would weigh LESS than the original car (the LS1 is surprisingly light, alum heads and alum block!) AND get better MPG than the original. And enough LS1 F-bodies (Camaros/Firebirds) are getting wrecked now that motors are becoming plentiful in recycling yards....

 

I've seen a few with v8's. I drove one with a 350 back in the day and hated it. Way nose heavy.

If the LS1 is light then maybe I'd look into that in the future but I'd probably just run multi carbs. strait exhaust. Update the ignition and leave it for a while. I don't want this thing to be a speed burner...I mean it's ment to be my daily driver. haaaa. I want my wrx to stay home most days a week and rest. Too many miles too fast. And once a few more bits get put on I really don't want it at the bart lot.



You think $2700 is pricey? I've seen them going like $9k and what not. Most in the 71-73 seem to go for $2-5kish.

I wouldn't get anything after 73. I don't like the bodies that much and I don't want to deal with smog.

 

If you do indeed buy the 240Z, as a fun project you should try modding it with genuine '60s parts, like those from Nissan Speed Options (Nismo's daddy)
Try to keep it in its era, if you know what I mean. Solex Mikuni twin barrel carbeurators, Watanabe rims, etc.

 

Yeah, could see that with a "regular" 350. However, the LS1 is 150-200 lbs lighter. Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised at all if it is lighter than the stock inline 6 in the Z!

And food for thought : driven at "sane" speeds on the freeway (i.e. 80 or so), a Z06 Vette (with the LS6 = an LS1 with better heads and a hotter cam) will easily pull down 28-30 MPG. 30-32 freeway MPG isn't unheard of on an LS1 Vette or F-body. I don't know for sure, but would guess that an original 240Z would be lucky to ever pull down more than 25 MPG, regardless of conditions. Electronic Fuel Injection is pretty sweet

 

At the Sacramento Concours a guy had an epic 280Z. Second owner, 70K og miles...

those cars are a lot of fun

 

yeah I love the old school stuff.

here is what it looks like right now...only picture so far.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...483738331&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...483860621&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...483638462&rd=1

damn i love red...

edit

OMG OMG!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6187
green is HAWTNESS

 

I saw that red one.


that black one is sick..the last one...but by the time it's over I bet it goes up a couple more grand.

I contacted this dude about a silver one...right hand drive...oh. yeah.