Virto

Why, is that an XJ220 I see up there?

Great idea, unless you're interested in learning to do it yourself. That said, I don't have the time, money for equipment, or space...so I would also opt to pay someone else, BUT if I had those things, I would strongly consider doing it myself as a neat kind of "classroom" experience.

No, she's not. She actaully reminds me of an old lady I work with. If that's the case, she's gonna need more than a boob job . Look at all the questions at the bottom of her ad...NONE of them are about the car.

Whoo Hoo! The only 3-speed vote! My car came with a 3-speed auto and I find it does well for cruising. I'd actually prefer a 4-speed, but I'm a bit too...stout, and can't really move my legs enough under the wheel to permit a clutch. I'd just like a good working auto tranny. The only part I have of that so far is the "auto" part.

A nice point is that auto trannys seem almost disposable. So many people are doing auto/manual swaps that there are auto trannys just being tossed to the scrappers. I too could use a new automatic, as I can't engage park, which causes me to use the service brake, which has led to my previously discussed rusted up rear brakes. I've seen the auto transmissions advertised as free several times, but I don't have any means of going to pick it up, let alone the space or tools to replace it, but you should have no trouble finding a good quality auto.

This is a 280Z. The 280ZX is larger, heavier, loaded with more emmissions controls and electrics, and is more of a comfort cruiser rather than a sports GT. Of course, the 240Z guys could say the same for the 280Z. Same 2.8L I6 with FI. All manuals were equipped with 5-speeds, whereas not all 280Z manauls were. The 280ZX was the first factory turbocharged option, as well as the first Z car with t-tops.

The separation of Church and State is also supposed to guarantee that those people of strong faith are not permitted to allow that faith to sway them in decisions regarding the whole of American people. I have no problem with a leadership devoted to its religion, as I am a minister myself. What I have a problem with is clear disregard for the requirement of a seperate church and state. A prime example is gay marriage. In reality, it will NOT hurt the economy, it will NOT hurt children because there is no mother and father (if this is true, why can we allow birth out of wedlock or divorce if children are involved) and it really has no impact on anyone BUT the people that wish to be bound together. But we need to try to ban gay marriage. Why? Because GOD says it's wrong. That seems an awful lot like a connection between church and state. Christianity has always been a strong backbone of American democracy, but I think it's starting to be taken too far, in the 21st Century, where people should be allowed to live as THEY choose. If we have freedom of religion, how can we pass a law that affects more than the Christians that feel the law needs to be changed? Sorry about the tangent. Today is not about bickering.

Lets just make sure we all remember WHY we rebelled, and never forget those freedoms laid upon us by those who fought for something better. Americans have had thier freedoms squeezed and contorted lately, and it goes largely unchallenged. The latest attempt was a flag burning ban...and while it pains me to see the flag burned in protest or hatred, as an American I WILL support every other American's RIGHT to burn that flag. Thank you to our troops, from now and then, who have fought, struggled and died for our basic freedoms. Lets hope we can get some leadership that helps preserve those freedoms that countless men and women thought they needed to DIE to protect. Happy Independence Day, America.

I'd just rock the car. I know when you rock my 280, you can hear gas slosh around, even if there's less than a gallon in there. The sloshing sound becomes pretty pronounced if there's a lot of gas in the tank. Sombody could have dumped a ton of sugar in the tank I suppose. It doesn't dissolve in cold gas, and the mythbusters determined it isn't enough to stop a car from working just fine.

A/C too. Wish my Z had been free.

My 280Z doesn't have that kind of covering, although my floors were replaced by the PO. I know a similar coating was applied to the floors of the Datsun Roadsters, so it might very well be factory.

Sounds like a fun time under the dash. Glad you got it sorted. My car HAD A/C, but it's pretty much all in a box now. I'm not interested in fixing it simply because the car desn't get enough use (hence the fact that it's sitting with locked rear brakes), but it's excellent that you got yours running.

It's only good to 120 degrees too. Makes me wonder if it can stand up to a baking hot summer day in the sun.

Well you're in a good place to start. You could have any number of problems, from bad fuel, clogs in the fuel lines, bad injectors, bad plugs, bad wires, an off or damaged dizzy...the list goes on. You might want to run a search on "stalling" or similar problems. If you can't find anything there, create a new thread in HELP ME and the good folks will help you sort it out.

Mine is currently owned by a cadre of spiders which are apparently better organized than the US military. That's a good long sit it's had, so chances are you'll have to do some dismantleing of the drivetrain.

Maybe if they were just barely rusted together...how long did the car sit since it last was driven? Chances are the rust is severe (or there's another problem) and you'll have to drop the transmission to see what needs to be done. If you've got the pedal to the floor and crank the engine, if the car jumps, the two are probably rusted together.

Like you can't even move the gear lever? Clutch or otherwise, you should still be able to slamshift the car into gear, not that it's healthy for it. You might be looking more at transmission trouble rather than clutch problems.

Looks nice, welcome aboard.

The only limited edition I know of in 1980 was the 10th Anniversary ZX, usually referred to as "Black Gold" due to it's paint scheme. There came almost entirely optioned out (so lavishly appointed, there are virtually NO options, was the ad-speak). Another, much less common anniversary color scheme was available, black and red. There were 3000 Black Gold's made and I think less than 2000 Black and Reds...based on that, it's undoubtedly a Black Gold 10th Ann car. Options were the same other than the color. I THINK all 10th's were 5-speeds...but don't quote me on that. The only other limited edition that came to the 280ZX was the ZX-R package, which was made to legalize a new whaletail spoiler for racing. 10th Anniversarys aren't so uncommon, and mint examples don't usually sell for impressive figures. ZX-Rs are less common but the 280ZX in all its forms really doesn't attract high prices. Engine output was the same with your car, Bane. It wasn't until the turbo that there was really a difference beyond options and colors. It's probably on here somewhere, I but have a clip of the Super Bowl commercial when the 10th Ann was launched I can email you. The car in that ad is 2543/3000. Let me know. It's worth it for the guy's mustache alone.

I actually went out to the garage and had a siesta on the floor, which apparently is the sole supplier for the continential USs spider supply, and located the front differential mount. While fighting off legions of multi-legged attackers, I determined that it will certainly require two people to position the jack properly...one sliding it in from the side, and one watching from the back. The fuel tank prevents the lift handle from raising high enough. I didn't get much of a chance to look around, aside from hunting for the differential mount, but I did notice that the springs on each terminating end of the ebrake cable, where they meet the back of the drum, appear to be somewhat compressed, based on some pictures I've seen of other people's brakes. Of course, things do differ between models and individual vehicles, but at this point it looks as if the brakes have rusted to the drum and are preventing the cable from retracting, and because I had the brake set pretty tightly, I have little doubt that those wheels won't be anxious to spin once they're off the ground. As an aside, is that the 280ZX service manual, or owners' manual? I really do need to get ahold of a service manual.

Good old scissors jacks. If I can't find a suitable place for my floor jack, I guess I'll go with the old tried and true. Thanks bane.

Bah, sounds like this will be quite a chore. Good thing it's only 95 degrees out, and 110 in my garage. I've done some more searching, and I'm trying to find a good spot for my floor jack to lift the rear. I know I can put the jack stands on the frame rails at the back, but I need to know where to put the jack to lift the car in the first place. Some posts mentioned the front differential mount. Anyone have a picture of this location? I don't want to punch thru sheet metal or smush the differential while I'm at it.

I had the car garaged over the winter, and have picked up a new battery so I'm about ready to pull her out. Work has been killer, so this didn't happen two months ago like I wanted. During the storage time, I had the parking brake set, as my auto tranny's park gear doesn't work. I should have just used a cinder block, but hindsight as they say, is 20/20. Anyway, when I put the brake handle down, there's little of that "feel" to it. I can't push the car in neutral so I imagine the brake rusted in place while the car sat. What, in your opinions, would be the best way to release the brakes? I'd like to avoid taking the wheels off just because I'm lazy, but it's not out of the question...I am however scared of drum brakes, ever since I tried to do the ones on my Tercel about 10 years ago and the springs went flying everywhere. Never could get them to work right after that. Bonus Question - What automatic transmission fluid would you recommend?

My tunnel gets plenty warm on my automatic, and if the outside temp is over 95, it can be pretty unbearable. However, as Walter mentioned, I have an exhaust leak in that area. I would be worth checking out on your car as well.