280Z Full Restore in 5 months, hopefully.

[CG240Z]

The car is moving right along! I'd say I'm sitting somewhere 85% done. You're never really done with a project, but this car should be on the road soon.

The back end is looking awesome. Tail lights and panel installed, along with the rear hatch. Test fitting the spoiler in this picture, spoiler is sitting on the hatch crooked.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/B7FE8A3A-FFB2-4DDE-9EEC-EE7994D6D77B.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/B7FE8A3A-FFB2-4DDE-9EEC-EE7994D6D77B.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo B7FE8A3A-FFB2-4DDE-9EEC-EE7994D6D77B.jpg"/></a>

Another angle with the spoiler mounted. The hatch is sitting a little high, it might need some adjustment, but it's also all new rubber.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/9BE40F42-57EB-45F5-BD43-CBB0D626BF54.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/9BE40F42-57EB-45F5-BD43-CBB0D626BF54.jpg" border="0I alt=" photo 9BE40F42-57EB-45F5-BD43-CBB0D626BF54.jpg"/></a>

Check out this front end! I'm really digging the way it came out. The upper is a stock 280 grill, and the lower is a modified 240 grill. It fills in the front end nicely!

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/42CA0D25-B97E-4B64-B1BC-EDB608FD10FE.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/42CA0D25-B97E-4B64-B1BC-EDB608FD10FE.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 42CA0D25-B97E-4B64-B1BC-EDB608FD10FE.jpg"/></a>

Blasted and painted the spare tire and painted the rear jack. Looks great! Makes a good accessory at car shows. The tire looks like it would actually work, I'm not going to try. I have 3 original cans of air to go with it too.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/9238146F-B63E-4AFA-838E-533EC6537A76.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/9238146F-B63E-4AFA-838E-533EC6537A76.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 9238146F-B63E-4AFA-838E-533EC6537A76.jpg"/></a>

The original stickers are in pretty good shape.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/42C3295F-4DC1-4650-B74A-F2BB81A76508.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/42C3295F-4DC1-4650-B74A-F2BB81A76508.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 42C3295F-4DC1-4650-B74A-F2BB81A76508.jpg"/></a>

The steering wheel has been rewrapped and repainted. Looks great.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/52931859-772C-4CF6-8FB9-E87FEDB5D26E.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/52931859-772C-4CF6-8FB9-E87FEDB5D26E.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 52931859-772C-4CF6-8FB9-E87FEDB5D26E.jpg"/></a>

Got a lot of the interior in. Door panels came out great. The plastic and vinyl pieces are looking good.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/F92C4BE2-E522-4F49-93DE-F5BC0A79F139.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/F92C4BE2-E522-4F49-93DE-F5BC0A79F139.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo F92C4BE2-E522-4F49-93DE-F5BC0A79F139.jpg"/></a>

Car is off to the interior shop tomorrow. Getting the headliner put in. Also getting him to do the finish touches with the carpet. I got the carpet kit from Zcarsource. It didn't come with any padding and the fit isn't too user friendly, so I'll get him to make it look right.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/B34E1E00-5F27-4F54-BEB3-84DA425043A8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/B34E1E00-5F27-4F54-BEB3-84DA425043A8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo B34E1E00-5F27-4F54-BEB3-84DA425043A8.jpg"/></a>

Notice the garage wheels are on the car. Don't want to get the nice wheels messed up.

After this I need to finishing hooking up the engine harness, hook up all the brakes, and get the gas tank in. Then she should be on the road under her own power. Gas tank is kicking my butt right now, I posted a thread about the gas tank to night.

[CG240Z]

I didn't realize how long it's been since I've done an update. A lot has happen to the car, I'd say it's about 90% done. Got the engine fired up, but she's running really rich. I need to double check my vacuum lines, check the AFM, and do a valve adjustment. Engine has only has about 30 mins of idling time on her. The clutch needs some more adjusting. At first it was slipping, then I couldn't shift gears, and now the car will move, but once I give it gas the clutch just slips. More on that later..now for some pictures!

Restored spare tire looking great.

Modified the false floor so I now have access to the storage compartments. It came out perfect. You can't tell that the front part flips up. Perfect for storing random things. (Picture is before I installed the center console and finished painting inside the compartments)

The seats and interior are looking great. (Rear hatch weather stripping fell down)

I really like the rear end with the smooth bumper. Exhaust looks great too.

Here's some shots of it on the lift. I don't have too many photos of the finished product yet.

And finally the car loaded up in the trailer. I'm moving out to San Diego. Progress on the car is going to have to go on hold for a bit until I found a place to live. Can't wait to get back to working on her. She's been registered and insured, just needs a few more adjustments and she'll be ready for her initial drive.

[mjr45]

Very nicely done! You'll find lots of company in San Diego for your Z.

[CG240Z]

Very nicely done! You'll find lots of company in San Diego for your Z.

Thanks! I'm still looking for a place to live. I'm itching to get back to work on the Z and hit these California roads.

[superlen]

CG,

Thanks for the great writeup/cover of your rebuild. Rebuilds take a ton of time, and the fact that you took extra time to document for us is appreciated. I wish I would have seen the thread earlier and followed along.

Lenny

[CG240Z]

CG,

Thanks for the great writeup/cover of your rebuild. Rebuilds take a ton of time, and the fact that you took extra time to document for us is appreciated. I wish I would have seen the thread earlier and followed along.

Lenny

Thanks! I enjoy sharing the restoration experience with others. There is still a lot to be done, so keep following along! I'm still looking for a place to live, so until then work has taking a temporary break.

[superlen]

Live? You have a Z Car...look at all that room back there. You might have to work a bit to squeeze a sofa in though.

Len

[CG240Z]

Figured I'd give my thread an update. Hopefully close on my house within the next 2 weeks. It has a decent sized 2.5 car garage, which isn't very common in San Diego. Can't wait to get the garage setup and the Datsun unloaded. I'm ready to hit the open road in it.

[240260280z]

zcar convention in SD this year...good move!

[dpascual1986]

zcar convention in SD this year...good move!

any details on this? When and Where?

[CG240Z]

any details on this? When and Where?

http://www.zccazconvention.com/conventions/2014/

[CG240Z]

Many moons later I'm settled into the new house and the Datsun has it's new garage. Got to do some tinkering on her today trying to get the engine to run smoothly. I did a valve adjustment and she's still back firing and will barely idle, if any. My next thought is too check the AFM to see if it's calibrated correctly and go over the vacuum hoses again. At least she looks good in the garage regardless of if I can drive her.

Just pretend the Ford Racing flag says Datsun Racing.

<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/user/taillonml/media/280z/E281F1C6-ED9E-4566-AEA3-3EDE5AFF8D30.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh101/taillonml/280z/E281F1C6-ED9E-4566-AEA3-3EDE5AFF8D30.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E281F1C6-ED9E-4566-AEA3-3EDE5AFF8D30.jpg"/></a>