What kinda of Z-car guy are you?

[studioti]

Ever since i bought my 280Z, i get this question a lot, "What are you planning to do with it?"

The answer to this is what i love the most about the S30 Z cars. I figure most of us fit into one of three categories:

1) Classic restoration: This guy loves the mystique of the car and wants to restore it to the day it drove on to the dealer floor, with attention to detail and period correct parts.

2) Hot rod: this guys loves the car for what i can do. He dreams about engine swaps...L28 turbo, RB, maybe a V8. Definitely driven by function over form, but you can't go wrong with the S30 chassis.

3) JDM Spec: I'd like to fit myself in this category. If money was not an issue i would build a blue Devil Z. This is a group that wants a bit of modified style, yet will stay true to period/regionally correct aftermarket mods.

Anyhow... tell me what kind of Z guy you are and what's your dream car look like?

[abruzzi]

I generally prefer the stock look. I don't mind some subtle departures from stock--rims, interior, but I'm not a fan of:

- air-dams, I like the stock front valance

- 17" or larger rims on the z

- big rear tires

- rear wings

- louvers

Under the hood, I don't care as long as it's still a datsun.

Of course, my car has a lot of what I don't like (the crapshoot of the used market.)

Geof

[FastWoman]

HEY! Some of us are Z-car GALS, ya' know!

I very much like the stock look, but with essential functional mods to overcome design deficiencies and ensure longevity. Whenever I make a mod, I save the stock parts, so that I can return to 100% stock if desired. I've got a bit of color and "bling" under the hood and will have a bit more before I'm finished. However, my car is essentially stock and has a stock feel to it.

One curious case in point is the seat belt warning buzzer. When I first bought my car, I enjoyed hearing the NORAD-like sound of that late 1970's buzzer whenever I started up. However, I grew tired of the sound one day when my head was under the dash and the thing wouldn't stop, so I unplugged it while it was there staring me in the face. My SO/co-owner was very pleased.

Geof, although you and I feel the same way about the body mods you mention, I have to differ with you on the louvers. In a way, they are period-correct option to the late 70's models. I thought about removing mine but decided to keep them. They are unique to the era and therefore belong on my car, IMO.

[d240zx2]

I consider me to be an enthusiast! In all aspects of the word.

I enjoy tracking the old gal, showing her off at shows and events, indeed, just driving her on the street gives me immense satisfaction.

The list of mods done far removes her from any consideration as being "stock" and I think the mods have been nothing but improvements from the original car I bought 39 7/12 years ago. For example, the suspension was wallowy (is that a word?) so I put in a BRE race set-up. Now it's firm, but not overly so. I thought the L-24 was a bit puny as about 110mph was all I could glean, so I upped the ante with a performance cam, triple Mikuni-Solex carbs and headers. That got me to 135mph. Then came hi-speed stability as an issue, necessitating the installation of an air dam and rear spoiler. Problem solved.

Wifey complained about the seemingly high revs at street/highway speeds, and a '82-'83 5-speed took care of that. I wanted a bit more punch, and an R-200 3.90 took care of that. It's an evolving thing...I'll never be done tweaking her.

H-4 headlights w/covers and David's magic headlight harness, LED taillights and 280ZX alternator upgrade package complete (so far) the modernization of the appearance/functionality department. This car will always be a large part of my life, and when that's done, hopefully a large part of my family's life as well. She's a keeper.....

Frank

[IdahoKidd]

I guess I am at least two of the above options. I am putting my 72 240 together in "the spirit" of it's heyday. Not a to the letter restoration, but all things appropriate. I'll keep my slotted mags, I'll do Dave's alternator and light conversions, I'll put in a 5 speed, but I'll keep the stock radio, stock sheet metal, interior etc. Someone walking by will say "Wow, nice 240!

Now on one of my 77's, I am installing l28et, 5 speed, some ground effects and a rear spoiler of some sort, some wheels, perhaps a decent stereo. Not a show stopper, not the fastest car in town, but one that will get a double take in the parking lot or cause some of the punk kids to try to race between lights, etc.

On the other 77, it is very orginal, plain, white 280 with stock wheels and absolutely nothing special except it isn't beat all to crap and doesn't look like swiss cheese. And as plain as it is, it always amazes me the compliments I get. This car, I simply drive because I enjoy the drive.

And on those days I feel like I am really cool, I take out the 57 Volvo. Almost everybody has seen a Z car, almost nobody has seen a 444K. And besides, It'll dust the Z between lights..............

[abruzzi]

Geof, although you and I feel the same way about the body mods you mention, I have to differ with you on the louvers. In a way, they are period-correct option to the late 70's models. I thought about removing mine but decided to keep them. They are unique to the era and therefore belong on my car, IMO.

heh. No problem. I can appreciate a lot of stuff I don't want on my car. That why we all have our own car to play with.

Geof

[Earthcruiser]

Currently, My 240Z is completely stock (hubcaps and AM/FM radio) w/ the exception of the seats. They were recovered. It will be going to the body shop for a complete restore in January. From there I plan to improve/Modify to make things better. I don't see any body mod's happening. Mostly electrical (Lights, Wipers, Stereo, etc) and suspension.

[Mikes Z car]

I like the stock look but with limited funds my 240 will have to keep the things the PO installed. I think the original Z seats look great but I remember as a young guy driving a 240 across half the country in one sitting that the no lumbar support was a killer. The seats someone put in the 240 I have now don't look as good as the original IMO but i can drive with them all day as an old duffer with no problem. I also like the stock front valence look but I wonder if the air dam on my car might keep some water out? I lost my last Z to rust, very cautious about that. I don't drive in the rain so maybe that doesn't matter.

Mike

[Pomorza]

I would have to join Frank here and say that I'm a car enthusiast. Not just Z's really but any car. I owned a Jeep before I decided to buy the Z I own now. The car has 270K on it now and its a 1996. I ended up giving it to my brother as he needed it more than I did. It was by far one of the hardest things I've ever done.

But then I bought the car of my dreams you can say. Its not in perfect shape, which means I can get my hands dirty once in a while fixing this and tinkering with that. She drives like a champ which is exactly what I wanted. I try to keep cars as stock as possible. I updated the lights as the ones that come with Z's are just not powerful enough for my liking. Other than lights I haven't touched anything. I like it the way it is. 150 horse power is plenty for me to have fun on the hills here in Arizona.

I'm a bit nuts about cars as my Z has no radio. I see no reasoning to get one. I rather listen to the roar of the engine at 5k climbing a banked turn in the mountains than listen to music.

As for body kits. Yes I have a front dam and rear spoiler and a wing and some side skirts. But those are just there to replace the heavy bumpers and to add to the already sexy lines that old Z's have. The added air resistance and down force is just added tidbit.

Jan

[Walter Moore]

...I very much like the stock look, but with essential functional mods to overcome design deficiencies....

Be careful, with that "deficiencies" word. Wouldn't want to start a flame war.

There are people lurking around here who take talk like that personally.

Anyway, back on topic, I guess I am just a tinkerer, more so than a restorer. I have resurrected my 240Z back into a functional sports car. (Started with a heap of rust that I thought had potential.)

Some people play golf, or build models. I work on my Datsun. You will know that it is finished when I sell it to buy something else.

[Zs-ondabrain]

So I guess I'm a mix between a #2 and #3. I'm known in small circles as "Datsun Dave" My daily driver is a 70' 240Z that has been torn down and rebuilt to my own liking. Power windows, full alarm with Power door locks, 90/100 watt H4 Headlights with My Headlight Upgrade Harness, LED taillights, sidemarkers, front markers and dash lights. As well as an LED dome light and map light, My Parking light upgrade harness and 2) cold Cathode tubes under the dash hooked up to the door pins. 2) amp with 800 watts to the stereo systems 8 speakers (2 subs and 6 speakers) CD player and XM Sat radio.

79' ZX 5-speed and 3:90 R-200 diff make for great MPH and MPG (depending on the lead content of my right foot) Stock block and E88 head, 6-into-1 coated header, rebuilt SU's, Mallory Unilite dizzy, mallory Promaster Coil and MSD 6ALwith 7K pill. Aluminum Radiator, 2ga power wires, dist blocks and ground wire kit (my own) and the list goes on and on. May pages worth.

Then there's the early 260Z. It's a project in progress and I hope to drive it by April. Don't get me wrong, I love the classic lines of these Japanese Sports Cars. I'll make minor changes here and there, like ZG flares, ABS front air dam, BRE rear spoiler, Possibly build another Cowl induction hood (All Steel) Custom build another grill (possibly chrome tube or aluminum tube) but it'll still look like a Z, albeit a Custom Z, but a Classic Z none the less.

The add ons, including the ones above will also consist of a 1000 watt stereo system with 6 speakers in custom pods and panels, 2 amps, 2 Pioneer Shallow mount subs in the spare tire well. Angled rear pods to prevent the speakers from firing at each other, Double din Touch screen AM/FM/CD +R/RW/XM/DVD/NAV with USB card slot and iPod connector as well as bluetooth. Custom seats, 4-point harness bolted to a chromed roll bar, 76 sq ft of DynaMat Xtreme, new 5 peice carpet kit, shaved door handles, remote door pop and Maxima Start/Stop Button where the keyed ignition switch was. There's more but the question was What kinda of Zcar guy I am.

I'm a Customizer who builds my cars the way I think they should have been built. I make inprovements where I want them and don't really care who it offends. I appreciate Datsuns for what they are, whether it came that way or you built it that way.

So I'm a #4

Dave

[Oiluj]

Like most, I don't fit a single catagory. Kind of a resto-mod.

Have BRE spoilers, bigger Toyota front brakes, upgraded L series engine, (212 hp), headlight harness upgrade, H4 headlights, Eibach springs, 15" panasports with a grey & black interior. I'm in the process of completing a Vintage Air HVAC upgrade and have a 280Z 5-speed and Dave's diff mount upgrade to install next year.

Everything I've done, with exception of the internal engine mods is easily reversable to stock, and the engine exterior looks stock with exception of the polished parts.

I prefer the retro-original look as opposed to air dams and "boy racer" add-ons. I do like the BRE spoilers and sun shades. I have some sun shades, but and not sure if I will install them.

[Jack T]

I guess I would be labeled an enthusiast. Sometimes I feel guilty because I am making modifications to a '70 that stray away from originality, but I can't seem to stop. It all started when I needed to replace the wiring harness under the dash and could not find an affordable replacement. My answer was to redesign the harness and drop in a modern 16 fuse block. Then I upgraded the distributor to a Mallory, followed by replacing the radiator with a four core unit, adding a polished Euro style balance tube, replacing the alternator, adding a header, upgrading front and rear brakes, replacing the bushings, springs, and struts. Only the Z gods know when I will stop tinkering with what was already a good thing. I am thinking about redoing the interior, which had already been "customised" by a PO (but really needs replacement) and saw where you can now buy burnt orange leather accompanied by black vinly; sounds like an intersting upgrade.

The only things that eases the guilt factor is the support from members on this site that stress... its your car, do what ever you want.

My wife has now given my Z a female name and refers to her as my mistress,,, I spend a lot of money and time with her, she lets me do what ever I want, and knows that late in the evening I will go home to the wife. (My wife also gave up her spot in the garage for the Z.)

[Skyblue280z]

My car as of now looks great, but one day ill get an older 240z and make it like Wangan Midnights Devil Z.... Just for fun. ha.

[Terrapin Z]

I feel I fall between 1 and 2. I really like the stock look, but will make upgrade with newer components when things were out. This car had some modifications when I bought it. but retained the nostalgic look. After getting it home I found some rubber under the car had deteriorated. I feel if you can make an improvement to the stock 70.s technology without changing the original look I feel it is worthwhile. A semi sleeper if you will. For example I replaced the worn bushings, struts and springs, brakes and some electrical wiring (Dave's) There is a spoiler on the front that was on it, and thats fine but I would not do any extra body work. I like the way it looks. Not a full on racer and definitely not a trailer queen, something in between!!

[Reverend]

Definetly number 1. Im not the best restorer or mechanic on the world but im trying. Actually i dont even have to be, cause my Z is all original except the colour.

IdahoKidd, id love to see more pics of your Volvo PV, we have lotta of them here. I cursed my parents for not buying one in 70's. Now theyre driving VW Golf...

[studioti]

Everybody had great reasons mentioned above. I guess if funds weren't limited, we'd build multiple Zs. one for each day of the week.

And by the way, my apologies to any Z-car "gals" out there. My wife took my Z for a spin one day and came back 30 min later and said she got one "thumbs up" and another guy asking if she wanted to meet up at Starbucs to talk about cars.... YA RIGHT BUDDY... i'll be waiting for him with a crow bar.. haha j/k

[TomoHawk]

I'm with abruzzi,

I like the original design, and if anything extra goes on it, it'll be period-correct, except for the digial CD stereo, GPS, and the laptop/power inverter . Some of the modern conveniences can go well with the classic cars...

Under the hood, you'll see vintage Datsun, except for the parts that you can't get any more, so those get replaced with something a little newer than OE.

Oh- just a little extra paint here or there under the hood, and a little polishing (which helps keep the dirt off.)

When I'm not busy cleaning & repairing, I drive the car- autocross, track, twisty rural roads. And the local cruise-ins to remind people what real cars were like.

thxZ

Edited December 3, 2009 by TomoHawk

[Zedyone_kenobi]

What an interesting question. I am a blend of 1 and 3 with a dash of 2 in very small amounts. When I work on the car, I try to bring it back to stock. Things like rubber bushings I replace with poly most of the time. I kept the interior original and have fixed or had fixed a couple gauges inside. I like to think that I am bringing her back to the original glory, but with some modern materials improvements. I guess to really know what kind of Datsun person you are you have to ask yourself, what would you do if...

If my engine was to blow up, I would try to save the stock block and build another L24, so I guess that means I am a bit of a purest. But I would probably do some minor work to the head and install a high pressure pump and perhaps a very mild cam, maybe. So I guess that puts me more in the hot rod category. If the car was wrecked, I would want it repaired back to original body work, so that edges me back into the restorer category. I think I am a lot like most people here. I want to keep the beauty and originality of the Z but make incremental improvements that do not change the spirit of the car.

[mgood]

I fell in to the #3 category and all by accident. I am the original owner of my car and I did not have any plans to keep it as long as I have. Just by chance I did keep the car and now it is a unique classic here in Pittsburgh, most have rusted away and are gone.

I started adding thing like the louvers within a couple of years. The front air dam and rear spoiler came when I had to replace the front finders after they rusted out after only 4 years of ownership. This is when I didn't need the car as my daily driver and could just cruse the car on the weekends.

After many years of storage I started the process of getting the car back to what it is now. I was lucky in the fact that I just didn't want to part with the car after owning it so long. I am now working on the suspension, changing the bushings and removing the rust on the suspension parts and painting and plating the bolts and nuts.

I don't plan on any more mods than I have, just to clean and keep it from rusting. And hopefully give the car to my granddaughter, she is 2 1/2 so I have about 20 more years before that happens.