240ZBUILTBYME

KF vintage jdm will be producing fenders in the future but you will have to wait. Based on their repair panels they should fit very well though are 2+2 fenders the same as 2 seaters?

P1800s are very cool. Have you seen the Resto mod CYAN P1800? I actually have always loved Volvo 240s particularly the wagons. I would have loved to create a sleeper 240, but my mechanical skills and knowledge is far too weak.

Even grandpas Volvo 240 isn’t safe from inflation....

https://www.hagerty.com/media/magazine-features/bull-market-2022/ hagerty providing some speculation to the market for the following models

Nothing wrong with the 280zx, don’t listen to the zx snobs. It’s a very cool car in its own right, much like many sequels, it’s always difficult to live up to the original. Yes the stock suspension was too soft, yes it’s slightly slower/heavier than the early cars, no it doesn’t look as good as the S30s. But in its own right it is a great car. They still handle very well with decent tyres, chassis is balanced, It’s far more comfortable in terms of ride/cabin noise than the S30, you have EFI reliability. Excellent quality cars are selling in the US for $30-35k AUD according to hagerty valuations. 2 seaters are always worth more, so a fair price for an Australian 2+2 will be between 25-30k. when you get 70% of the 240/260z experience for 40% of the price it’s a no brainer for anyone priced out of the S30 market.

Wow you must be getting very excited wags!

To be honest ive had many chances over the years to buy decent 260z 2 seaters for not a lot of money. I was too stubborn and fixated on having the original 240z. Looking back I think I made the wrong choice, I could have been enjoying good condition running car instead of trying to resurrect Lazarus.... ahhh hindsight...

Thanks Jeff I was getting a strut brace anyway...I have the spacers ordered too checked the wheel bearing play, slight play on LHS but none on right and rubbing on both. I will be checking the hub bolt torque

Finally got around to installing the DGR coil overs and the T3 NCRCAs install went very smoothly, I did have to die grind the center bore for the rear strut towers to fit the rear coilovers, but with a steady hand an a bit of paint you can’t even tell. Funnily enough this is the first car I have modified, I always had intentions with all my previous cars to modify them but life and fiscal responsibility has always got in the way. I have to say I’m really impressed with the results. The car is now as low as one can legally go and looks great. Stupidly I forgot to measure the ground clearance before installing so I am unsure exactly how much it has been lowered but I believe somewhere in the range of 30-50mm. Before: After: performance wise it is incredible how the car has changed. In stock form the car handles well and is so balanced (with potenza re-003 tyres) but spring rates are too soft and the car rolls around far too much. The coilovers completely resolve any complaints I had with the handling. The lowered center of gravity, increased spring rates along with the negative camber from the T3 NCRCAs make the car unbelievably good on a mountain road (I use the term mountain loosely here in perth) it is so neutral and predictable. I’m so stoked. Ride quality? Excellent, very impressed. I’m running 5 clicks from the softest setting atm. Obviously a stiffer ride but by no means uncomfortable. Still an excellent city/highway ride. Once on broken back roads it can get a bit harsh But this is to be expected, and given the adjustable damping if it bothers me too much I can pull over and soften within a couple of minutes. After a spirited drive I found I was getting rubbing between the locking nut and rim. Problem: it seems under heavy load the 2-3mm gap (when static) isn’t enough. Annoying... current solution options include: -a thin wheel spacer -install a strut brace in the attempt to reduce flex during heavy load - looking at installing a hopper stopper big brake kit which adds some thickness from the rotors mounting on the hub but this option is expensive.... I took advantage of Black Friday sales and ordered a tri point strut brace from Techno Toy. and have also ordered some custom 5mm aluminum spacers in case the strut brace doesn’t do the trick... Long term I will look at the hopper stopper kit but need to look into whether I can get them engineered. A few other issues are highlighted by the coilovers. 1. the stock seats suck and don’t hold you at all, with the increase in corner speeds and g forces this makes driving the car hard somewhat fatiguing. 2. The steering vagueness is highlighted. I have purchased techno toys billet aluminum steering coupler(could not find a polyurethane one) and some polyurethane steering rack bushings, hopefully these do the trick! 3. The auto gearbox needs to burn in hell. With the entry and mid corner now so good, the corner exit is noticeably unenjoyable because the revs are never where I want them. Overall I thoroughly recommend the DGR Coilovers for the ZX. Transforms the car.

You watched one 900 video (probably the hagerty one like I did... and now YouTube has decided you need to watch all the 900 vids lol

This is terrifying to watch for me lol just seeing what I’m going to have to go through.... inspiring work Lachy

Amen

Great work as always, Does the color go straight over the epoxy for the interior?

hindsight is a wonderful thing gav! I think we all wish we bought Bitcoin! I’m much the same, conservative risk appetite. All this crypto business reminds me of the dot com bubble when people were pouring money into anything internet related, half the companies weren’t actually doing anything. 20 years later only a few companies still exist. chance of choosing the right company....slim... I think there’s still a place for savings accounts, in that if your goal is to save a deposit for a house, you don’t exactly want all your money at risk in the market. For example it took 20 years for the US market to recover to its old high after the Great Depression. but I agree, index funds for the win

I’m betting that they have to raise interest rates much sooner than they thought to cool inflation. And I bet majority of households haven’t accounted for paying a mortgage at a 2-3% higher rate...

Governments needs inflation to decrease its debt. Inflation means they collect more tax and the value of their debt decreases. Obviously they just don’t want it running 1987 hot... all we can do is make sure our money is in assets increasing faster than or at least in line with inflation, so go buy a GTR! *this is not financial advice

Oh snap KF is making these sections now! I need these too! At this rate I won’t have to do any patch panel fabrication!

Yeah I’ve been following this build closely and love it! Very nicely done, he won at SEMA. I don’t like the sound of the engine though, too tinny and raw. Needs more muffling

Have taken the old girl to a couple of car meets recently and great to see people’s positive reactions to the car. went to the annual datsuns in the park meet and the car ended up taking home the best original 280zx prize! then took her to a Japanese car meet, was cool to see a younger crowd appreciating her.

Gav not sure if you have this one. sorry photos weren’t the best #101440

Any reason this shell hasn’t been blasted yet?

I’m just gonna leave this here and see what happens.... let’s just say Larry’s comments on the z being an American car will annoy a few people lol

There would be a case for the FD2 being a future collectors car, last NA, rev to 9k civic type r. I think if you’re looking at Honda’s in that price range you’d have to consider the FK8 civic type r and dc2 ITR. I think the DC2 Integra Type R would be the best collectors car. All these cars are in the 50k bracket. Though in terms of price growth the DC5 ITR/S is still very cheap and worth a look. Albeit it is not quite as lauded as the DC2.

well he didn’t like that... poor @Reearooni just trying to buy a 280zx.... lol

Hey mate follow this thread if you’re not already, people will post up cars they find. I posted two 280zxs up today