zoe280 Posted July 8, 2020 Share Posted July 8, 2020 hi! my name is Zoe and i'm a 20 year old girl living in Melbourne. I very recently purchased my first own project - an '83 280zx from a super cool lady i lived around the corner from in Newcastle, NSW. i know its no 240 or 260 but to be honest i'm just as stoked on it!! Unfortunately due to lockdown i won't get up there to drive it for at least 6 weeks!! im devastated but i think my dad is pretty happy to babysit and have something new to look/fiddle around with haha. i thought i would introduce myself as I am planning to try and do as much of the work as I can (with a little help of course), so you will probably see a lot of silly questions from me from time to time. if anyone can point me in the direction of reliable places for parts in australia etc would be very helpful too! there are some pretty intensive rust issues that we know of; around the windscreen and on the bonnet can be seen to easily but theres also some chassis, towards firewall and the floor pans need to be replaced. anyway, thanks again! Zoe CBR Jeff, OdinZ, Dragonball240z and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators gav240z Posted July 8, 2020 Administrators Share Posted July 8, 2020 Hi Zoe, welcome. We do cater to 280zx but members are not as active. Probably because there is less ZX's around now than say 5 years ago. Your biggest issue will be rust. Since it gets very expensive to repair. But it will be a good learning experience and mechanically these cars are nice to work on (provided not all the bolts are rusty). And spares are still accessible given the engine's were fitted to many older Datsuns of the era. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoe280 Posted July 9, 2020 Author Share Posted July 9, 2020 thanks gav : ) yep, the rust is gonna cut my pockets. i've got a little experience on an oxy and now mig welder and luckily have very competent welders around who are willing to help me with the patching bits but obviously the structural stuff will be too big a job. granny keeps asking if i want a silverware set or diamond earrings for my 21st... nope, but i'd take a some frame rail!! i'm also struggling to find places that arent in the states as $$ conversion and SHIPPING are wild. i've seen rails on rarespares for the 240/260 but to my knowledge theyre a fair bit shorter. would you happen to know any places or direction i could sniff around in for some in aus?? cheers Ponyo240z and theremm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1600dave Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 (edited) Ha, I got a compressor for my 21st. Still going strong many resprays and 35 years later - only thing I got for my 21st that I still have. Are the frame rails very complicated ? Never seen 280ZX rails, but most Datsuns I've messed around with have relatively straight forward rails that could be made pretty easily, particularly if you're not fussed with 100% originality Edited July 10, 2020 by 1600dave GregTas and zoe280 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponyo240z Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 14 hours ago, zoe280 said: thanks gav : ) yep, the rust is gonna cut my pockets. i've got a little experience on an oxy and now mig welder and luckily have very competent welders around who are willing to help me with the patching bits but obviously the structural stuff will be too big a job. granny keeps asking if i want a silverware set or diamond earrings for my 21st... nope, but i'd take a some frame rail!! i'm also struggling to find places that arent in the states as $$ conversion and SHIPPING are wild. i've seen rails on rarespares for the 240/260 but to my knowledge theyre a fair bit shorter. would you happen to know any places or direction i could sniff around in for some in aus?? cheers Plenty of knowledge on here that yo can tap into. Just ask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilltech Posted July 10, 2020 Share Posted July 10, 2020 Quote Plenty of knowledge on here that yo can tap into. Just ask Sure is. And there are people on this forum who have restored some very rusty cars indeed. Be sure to post photos along with your questions, it helps a lot when people are trying to diagnose issues from a distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoe280 Posted July 11, 2020 Author Share Posted July 11, 2020 thanks everyone. 21 hours ago, 1600dave said: Ha, I got a compressor for my 21st. Still going strong many resprays and 35 years later - only thing I got for my 21st that I still have. Are the frame rails very complicated ? Never seen 280ZX rails, but most Datsuns I've messed around with have relatively straight forward rails that could be made pretty easily, particularly if you're not fussed with 100% originality yeah youre right, they are straight forward. i dont really have sufficient fabrication skills so i'll probably buy some metal and take it somewhere local or ask a mate. i'm just sussing out of there were any kits or prefabs available in australia it will save the time. 20 hours ago, gilltech said: Sure is. And there are people on this forum who have restored some very rusty cars indeed. Be sure to post photos along with your questions, it helps a lot when people are trying to diagnose issues from a distance. yep i'l post photos of what i'm working with soon for some advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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