Ichigo280z

If you're right SixShooter, you're a genius! I just assumed that they were indicators as past cars I have owned have side indicators. Cant wait to get home to test this theory out. Thanks heaps!

Sorry, I wasn't specific with my prior reply. I have replaced the LEDs with filament bulbs and no luck. If reference is made to http://www.wedophones.com/Manuals/Datsun/1977%20Datsun%20280Z%20Service%20Manual.pdf- page 506 or in the attached image, the side indicators and the front and rear indicators seem to connect and earth at the same point as each other. However, it's been a while since I have looked at electrical diagrams. The rear wires are easy to access so I will play around with those first to see if I can find the issue. Cheers

Thanks, I have tried replacing the LED's but no improvement (as I guessed). I suspect it may be a bad earth. I will try and work my way back. Cheers

Quick update and advice required: Took off the ugly strips of metal from the side of the car which I presume were there to stop car doors in car parks from hitting yours. To my disgust I found that they were riveted onto the door and fender, not just stuck there with double sided tape. I drilled out the rivets enough to remove the metal strips, but the majority of the rivet is still in the door/fender. If I keep drilling out the rivets, metal shavings and the rivet is going to fall down into the insides of the fender and door frame. Any suggestions? Would it be reasonable to weld the rivets in where they are and then grind back flush? Or should I drill out the rivets and then repair the remaining holes? Or other ideas? Many thanks!

Hi All, Before I take my 280Z to an auto electrician, thought I'd ask the forum for ideas. My side indicators (all 4) are not working, but the front and rear work fine. Also the signal lights on the dash light up fine (don't know if that is meaningful to my issue). I have checked all the bulbs in the side indicators and all the globes work. They are LED's, where as the front and rear are normal filament type bulbs. I have tried swapping one LED out with a new filament bulb, but that doesn't work either. I have tried a multimeter on the rear indicators and that showed an on/off style current as you would expect with an indicator (ie 12V for 1 sec, 0V for 1 sec...on, off, on, off). When I attached the multimeter to the side indicators I noticed that I get the on/off style current, but the voltage when on barely went past 0.7V before it went back to 0V. It seems that there is current going to the side indicators but not enough. Any ideas would be appreciated. Many thanks Lachlan

After being screwed around by another forum member who took my money and never posted the advertised tail lights I finally found a genuine seller. A big thanks to a forum member, Simon W, for supplying me with Australian tail lights. I removed the USDM tail lights and installed the ADM lights this afternoon. Looks so much better. The extra long bolt on the middle bottom of the tail lights are a nightmare to remove. Even my deep 8mm socket couldnt reach the nut. Got there in the end. Also took the car back home to NSW from Vic. Lots of people thought we were off to Winton. If anyone would like the USDM tail lights, just pay postage and you can have them. Please PM me.

Hi Rudi, Here are the costs outlined below. Secure handover: $297 USD Shipment and Handling: $2388 AUD Australian Clearance and Customs: $1587 AUD GST: 10% on total cost of car and import which for me was $1110 AUD With the secure handover this is getting the import company to pay the seller in cash and in person. They originally quoted me the cost with their conversion rate from AUD to USD. My bank (Citibank) had a way better conversion rate and so I transferred to their US bank account which saved me quite a bit.

Ok, so topped up the ATF and yes, its the transmission, not the engine oil. Once topped up it ran well but this time I noted the colour, slight red tinge. Looks like Im going to get a manual sooner than planned...

Hi All, Picked up the Datsun today and drove home with a VicRoads Unregistered Car Permit. Unfortunately it has a oil leak. A BIG oil leak. I cant figure out where it is coming from at the moment but will need to get underneath to check it out. Also had issues with the transmission. I would apply some throttle and would take a while for power to get to the wheels. Often reving fairly high before I got any movement. Quite jerky movement. Lots of coasting towards red lights hoping they go green. The importation process: As memtioned before, I used USAtoAUS.com - they are a great company and would recommend. However I did have some issues with communication with them, but was probably my anxiousness about it arriving in Australia. You really dont need to do much, they take care of it all. They were even nice enough to pick it up as they were in the area at the time. I was disappointed that the rear "Datsun" badge had been ripped off during transport. Which then lead me to think that the oil leak and transmission issues may have also been caused by the shipping process. When I arrived at the docklands, the fumigation and cleaning company had a car up using a forklift and pressure washing it from underneath. Or it could have been an undisclosed issue by the seller. I dont know... Still trying to find some 260Z tail lights. As I need to change the indicators to orange. Dknt know why North America like red indicators; I believe there have been studies that show orange indicators result in less accidents. Anyone looking to sell me a set, please PM me. Also if you have any ideas about the auto transmission not putting instantaneous power to the wheels and the jerking motion; please also post below. Cheers

I used the import company USAtoAUS.com who are based in Vancouver, Washington and Charlotte, North Carolina. I just searched for listings near these two places and this one popped up. I'm picking up the car today, so I will provide a more detailed process when I get back.

Hi All, My name is Lachy and I have been on this forum for a while. I have contemplated getting a Z car for 2 years, even kicked a few tyres and made a few offers (apologies for wasting anyone's time). But ultimately the prices for Z cars recently have been on the up and further out of my price range. So on a trip to North America I purchased a 280Z. The 280Z being automatic and a late model was relatively cheap even with importation fees. I hope to document the build, the process of importing a car into Australia and any issues encountered. Current build ideas; *Replace red indicator lenses with orange (to be road legal in Aus) *Get engineers approval and register *Remove massive 280Z bumpers and replace with leaner 240Z ones *Remove all the unnecessary trim from the side of the car *Rust repair *Repaint (red, white, grey or blue; haven't made up my mind yet) *Bullet fender mirrors *432 style rear spoiler *Watanabes *Fujitsubo exhaust *Manual conversion? *Carburettor conversion? I also chose to buy a cheap 280Z so I can learn some DYI restoration and other skills. I would hate to screw up something on a 240Z which is worth more as a rusty shell than I paid for this as a complete car. This 280Z I bought from a man and his wife from a town near Portland, Oregon. They had owned it for 30 years and were so excited to hear it was going to a special place overseas. Attached are pictures from the online advertisement in the USA.

Yes, that is correct. Failing that, a used set of 260Z tail lights. Apparently if you warm up the moulding it will enable you to put new lenses in with some epoxy.

Hi All, I'm searching for the amber/orange lenses for both left and right tail lights for a 260Z. As pictured. Willing to pay around $100 for a set. Please PM me if available. Thanks