Need hwelp

[Doish]

Hello, just came across this site. its been years since my last project (last was a FJ20 Turbo in a 120Y which i miss loads). just need some advice on purchasing a 260Z. where to look and how much to expect to pay. I am looking for a reliable stocker - nothing fancy...any advice?

[Toecutter]

Hi mate and welcome, mechanicals are cheap and parts easy to come by as 2+2 models are cheap and comparatively plentiful so if your looking for a four seater you'll find some good deals.

Look for rust in floors, floor rails, battery tray area, firewall, under the hatch and around hinges. People say the rails are the hardest to fix whilst you can buy floor pans new for 145 ea side. There's lots of info on this site and the yank sites on rust and how severe it can get. 5K and some patients should find you an OK base to start with. You'll prolly find that the bulk of cars that come up for sale end up being cut and pasted into the forum classifieds on this site so check the adds here every couple of days. I know a few people looking for Z's atm and the good deals generally get snapped up in a couple of days so you gotta be quick when they come up.

 

Cheers

Sulio

[Lynton]

260z 2+2 cheap? As compared to what? Wouldn't that be a matter of opinion? Plentiful they were but not now, and as hard to get as a decent 2 seater coupe, most 2+2 have gone to the god now! Lynton

[Toecutter]

Well I suppose any car that can be bought for less than 3K is pretty cheap. That goes for the many old wreck 240's on the market that have rusted through badly. These cars are still prett cheap in general compared to alot of 30 year old classics out there. Your right in that 2+2 are getting harder to find but it's just a fact that there were a lot more 2+2's sold in Australia than the 2 seaters. I'm not sure of the exact figues but it would be about ten to one from memory. Those facts alone make it easier to find one for a cheaper price and I think thats what makes a 2 seater 260 an easier car to restore for young blokes with limited cash. If you buy a 240z then it becomes harder to source parts because items such as door panels, dash, center console etc are different between a 260 2 seater and 240. If the fella is looking for a 2+2 then I think he's in luck because there's more on the market.

[Doish]

Excuse my ignorance and this will be a dead give away i am new to the game however please explain 2+2? would i be right in assuming 4 seater ie 2 front 2 rear?

 

I just was not aware they came in a 2 seater only...guess tehre is a bit to read up...

 

I saw the car in Balmain last week for 2K in teh classifieds - would love to have known its condition.

D

[Lynton]

2+2 = seat in the rear behind the front seats.

Has larger front doors for getting in and out

The car is about a foot longer than a 2 seater coupe

Most came with aircond and radio & tape player

Rear quarter windows open and improve ventilation

Steering turns from lock to lock is more

They deaden the diff whine of 2 seater coupes

They don't pitch over bumps on the road as much as the 2 seater coupe

They generally haven't had the tough driving life from new like the 2 seater coupes.

They handle better "in my opinion" but they do weigh more

Other than that basically identical and more user friendly

Lynton

[Toecutter]

The earliest car is the 240z as pictured below...

Then after 73 til 77 I think the 260z was released, major diff is rear lights and interior bits, oh and biggr motor from a 2.4L to a 2.6L but with the addition of poor performance carbs with alot of pollution gear attached. The 260z was sold as a 2 seater and 2+2.

 

The 2 seater 260z...

 

and the 2+2...the 2+2 are identical from the front screen pillars forward inc the dash so parts are interchangable. As Lynton said the 2+2 are getting harder to find but if you can find one with a lot of rear end rust for a cheap price you can use the front end on a 2 seater. I've owned all three models at some point inc 2 2+2 models. When I bought my 2 seater I was able to find a 2+2 with rusted out floors & unregestered but drivable for $100.00 I used the front end ie guards and bonnet and the dash also since it had no cracks in the 2+2, and later soold the remains. Don't expect those sort of bargains but you can find good deals if your patient.

[JP240z]

2+2's are much cheaper than 2seaters.

anyone who thinks otherwise is ignorant.

[zedevan]

yeah, but finding a nice one is probably harder...as no one really spends the same sort of money or care on keeping them going?

 

i went and looked at one, was 2g, and half bog lol

 

edit: nice green car above btw lol

[Lynton]

For those that aren't interested in 2+2's look no further, if you don't want to be ignorant, check out the sleeping giants, this is to name just a few refreshed and restored 2+2's, there are many people that turn a blind eye to what is happening in their own back yard, so called purists may claim popularity to the 2 seater coupe but I can asure you the 2+2 is equally as popular for different reasons and is alive and kicking Lynton :?

[zedevan]

i think u need a pic of craigs car there one sexy beast

[Toecutter]

hmmm...there's those chrome headlight covers again... :?

[gav240z]

hmmm...there's those chrome headlight covers again... :?

 

Turn that frown upside down. Those chrome covers kick butt. I'll get a set someday.

 

They look really good on that champagne 2+2.

 

Everyone seems to dismiss the 2+2 but the wider track makes them handle slightly better. Many people have raced them successfully.

 

Any S30 Zcar is cool in my opinion, I guess it's just that you see so many bog stock 2+2's which have been neglected. :cry:

[Toecutter]

Any S30 Zcar is cool in my opinion, I guess it's just that you see so many bog stock 2+2's which have been neglected

 

Yes, hence you can find some really cheap deals to use for parts.