About to be a 280z owner - First Things First?

[Ryyyyyy]

First time post, been lurking for a while now.

 

About to finally become an owner of a 77' 280Z! The car is actually being given to me by a very close family friend. She is retiring and moving back home to her

motherland. While having dinner at a family function, asked what she was going to do with her late husband's Z which has been sitting for months now. She said

if I wanted it, she'd be more than happy to sign it over (: She said it starts but it hasn't been driven in a while.

 

I am fairly new to the Z world and have been trying to read up on modifications and maintenance.

 

My first step is to make sure the car is as reliable as I could possibly make it before executing big modifications. My post is to ask for suggestions on what should be

done/replaced immediately after taking ownership of the car. I don't know the maintenance record on this vehicle so I'd pretty much be going in on this blind.

Of course if a car runs smoothly, doesn't mean it's perfect. I am thinking of finding a Datsun specialized shop and have a thorough inspection on it (If anyone is

in the Los Angeles/Orange County area and knows of a person/shop that may do this for me, please send me there way!)

 

My concern is what I should check/replace with the motor as I have limited knowledge on the workings of a Z. I'm not the greatest mechanic and dont have all the tools

in the world (which is why I'd like to take it to a professional to look at) and I'd like to get some forward knowledge into what I might need to replace. I would like to

keep the L28 and not swap out for a different motor, but might look into it eventually.

 

So far when I take possession, this is what I have first planned to make it more road-worthy:

• Power wash entire vehicle to rid of built up dirt, grime, debris, etc. (underbody, suspension, engine bay)
• Rid of all fluid and replace with new
• Suspension: New tires, wheels, brake maintenance, bushing replacements if needed, bearings.
• Engine: Replace all gaskets, lines, hoses, and other general things (ie: spark plugs)

If anyone could chime in on what else I should generally do, it would help me out a lot!

 

My plan is to make this car for daily performance, leisurely canyon driving, maybe a few auto-x events. Future and sure modifications would be soon after would be:

• Coilovers (undecided)
• F & R disc brake conversion
• Techno Toy Tuning suspension parts:rear/front lower control arms, tension control rods, RCA's,
• Polyurethane bushings - all 
   
• Motorwork/power would start after I have the car with a solid handling base as I feel it is pointless to add power without sorting out the suspension first.

[Z-train]

Drop the tank and have it cleaned professionally. Replace every piece of hose on the car.

[Joey J]

Congrats on the new Z, in sure you'll love it as much as i love mine. Looks like you got the main stuff covered. If you don't have the tools have a mechanic check the fuel and vacuum pressure as well as run a compression test. I'm at the point that I'm fixing stuff as they go.

 

One thing I'd strongly recommend as your first project is replace all the fuel lines and clean out your gas tank. Mine was horrible.

[Ryyyyyy]

Thanks for the input guys!

 

I've posted in the other Classiczcar's forum and it looks like fuel and vacuum lines seem to be the most important!