Late hello from a Sydney 260Z 2+2 Owner

[Maddie260]

Hi all

Late to the party but thought it about time I introduced myself here after lurking for so long. First found you guys in 2014 when I became serious about saving for an older car; was looking around the market for a few different older cars but settled on this model with a huge passion. Very thankful for the people that helped me in the process - special thanks goes to @oldmates260z who I found through this site (and a mutual friend) and who posted on this forum on my behalf, emailed me constantly, inspected Zeds in Brisbane, and took me under his wing for the entire hunt. Truly a good man!

I've attached a few photos from the day I bought it back in January 2016 - I'm now on my green P's and thankfully haven't wrapped it around a pole as most people told me I would when I was planning on getting it haha!

I was driving it as a daily but it's now in the garage with auto electrical problems unfortunately - a few of the gauges hadn't been working since I bought it, but it was at driving fine otherwise. Took out the dash, and now it's not starting since we've put it back in. Itching to drive it again, so I've got plenty more reading on the forum to do, as well as a more considerable search for auto electricians in Sydney. Main goal currently is just to get it started again now. It has an L28 that was put in with the last owner and is auto, but hopefully won't be forever - once the auto electrics are in order and a bit of the paintwork is fixed up, a manual conversion is in the longer-term plan.

Might be worth noting that I'm a female 19 year old uni student and this is my first car, so perhaps not fitting the stereotype there. If I had a dollar for every time I got asked if it's my Dad's car, I'd be able to fix it up properly  No regrets though - bought my dream car already and I still pinch myself because of it.

Currently located around the Hills area in Sydney - happy to meet some other Z owners and am all ears when it comes to any advice (unless it's to sell - strictly no chance at all )

Cheers!

Maddie

 

 

Edited July 31, 2018 by Maddie260
Realised I doubled up on a photo

[gav240z]

Looks like it's in great shape! Love the colour too. What year is it 74/75? Does it have an amp or volt gauge? Did you do anything to disturb the tach? They often won't start without the tach hooked up. So maybe start there?

My first car was a 240z and I had the yellow L plates on it too. Very fun car to learn in. Don't think I've been without an S30z since I was 17.

PS: looks like someone modified the rear overrider location on the rear bumper. Interesting.

Oh and where did you find this car? Do you know its history?

[RAP260]

Welcome Maddie 

Good to see another 2+2 getting some love. 

 

Rob 

[C.A.R.]

8 hours ago, Maddie260 said:

Might be worth noting that I'm a female 19 year old uni student and this is my first car...

[Maddie260]

7 hours ago, gav240z said:

Looks like it's in great shape! Love the colour too. What year is it 74/75? Does it have an amp or volt gauge? Did you do anything to disturb the tach? They often won't start without the tach hooked up. So maybe start there?

Oh and where did you find this car? Do you know its history?

Ah forgot to mention that it's a 1974. I've been following up the wires again this morning and fingers crossed it'll be able to start once this battery charges. 

Found the car on Gumtree - I believe I'm the fourth owner. Initially owned by someone for 20 odd years, then the second owner changed over the engine and played around with the auto electrics it appears. Somewhere along there, the radio got taken out and it got re-painted which does look beautiful. Though I've had an issue with the paint bubbling and peeling, which I'll attach a photo of (the photo's from this morning - it's turned progressively bigger for over a year now and I have nightmares that one day it will swallow the car whole). Undecided as to whether I should re-paint the panel alone or get the whole car done since there's a bit of bubbling around the side of the car and beneath the door handle too. Might have to do more of a cheaper fix for now until I can get it properly done. 

[gav240z]

32 minutes ago, Maddie260 said:

Though I've had an issue with the paint bubbling and peeling, which I'll attach a photo of (the photo's from this morning - it's turned progressively bigger for over a year now and I have nightmares that one day it will swallow the car whole). Undecided as to whether I should re-paint the panel alone or get the whole car done since there's a bit of bubbling around the side of the car and beneath the door handle too. Might have to do more of a cheaper fix for now until I can get it properly done. 

That looks like the result of poor prep work, for it to flake like that. I can't really tell if there is a lot of body filler under there? But I guess it depends on the rest of the car, if there is an issue like that in 1 place, is it likely to be in other places also? If you start digging then you might unravel more than you intended to. These cars can be hiding a multitude of poor repair jobs over the years (due to their relatively cheap prices for many years) and owners not seeing the value in investing in doing the job right.

I wouldn't invest the money in a full repaint (especially on a Uni student budget) unless you're willing to go back to bare metal and in doing so you may uncover additional repair work needed. Painting a car is expensive, so you really only want to have to do it once. If there is less than stellar previous repairs, going over it again with a nice paint job may disappoint if whatever is below the surface starts to turn sour.

Not saying all this to alarm you by the way or say the car is full of bad repairs, but there is plenty of member projects here that can show what is found once a car is completely stripped back. I would opt for the smaller cheaper repair for now and see how the rest of the car holds up paint wise over the next couple of years. Then decide if it's going to need full restoration etc..

[Maddie260]

Hit the nail on the head with my thoughts exactly. I've been quoted around 15-20k for a full restoration but that's without a second quote. Regardless I do think I have to prepare for that worst case scenario and go for the cheaper repairs until I'm earning enough to justify anything like that.

Now I'm thinking my plan of attack will be just to get that panel painted over for now, and play a bit of a whack-a-mole game if any other panels start to flake in the future. Been putting it off for a while purely out of indecision, but helpful to confirm that it's the best option available now.

[AussieZed]

Welcome Maddie, 

My 2+2 is approaching completion,  so if you need bits and pieces yell out.  I was a uni student with a Z car back in the day and benefited from the generosity of so many folks.... Probably time for payback. 

Looks like a great car...  Good luck with it. 

Ross

[Maddie260]

3 hours ago, AussieZed said:

Welcome Maddie, 

My 2+2 is approaching completion,  so if you need bits and pieces yell out.  I was a uni student with a Z car back in the day and benefited from the generosity of so many folks.... Probably time for payback. 

Looks like a great car...  Good luck with it. 

Ross

That's incredibly kind, thanks so much Ross. Still got a long way to go so I might have to take you up on that offer in the near future. Congrats on your nearing completion!

[260z blues]

Very clean looking zed, what a great car to learn to drive on. My first car was a 72 Ta22 celica. Still believe you get so much more out of driving an old car than a new one.

 

[Gojira]

Congratulations on the purchase , i recently turned 20 and found the 260z 2+2 of my dreams , also bases in sydney paramatta area.

Getting ready for an ls1 swap wt the moment , keep us updated on your gem !