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1980 Datsun 280Z 2 Seater


tyronj

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Hi all - Tyron here (oldschool.co.nz new-be) Well it has been a while since i have had a project vehicle, but the time has come. I have just bought a 1980 Datsun 280Z 2 Seater via trademe.co.nz. The vehicle is currently in Auckland (im in Feilding). but lucky for me i have an legendary uncle who checked out the car and took the time to take lots of photos for me. Based on his inspection/report and my own review of the pics i bought the datto! It is 2.8 N/A manual with 3 piece 16" rims and comes fitted with a bolt in half cage - mint!

As im sure you datto fans will know these vehicles suffer the wrath of intense rust so my work is cut out for me. Please feel free to follow this thread and check the progress of the resto/build!!

Here are the photos of the car where it sat when i bought it...........................

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So the Z was picked up from my Uncles house Tuesday arvo sweet.... She missed the overnight transporter on Tuesday night rrrrrrrr. Missed the day run yesterday yippee!!

As you can imagine im hangin out like a mofo!!!!

Apparently it will be here around mid afternoon today as it left Auck's this morning. I have the Clutch slave and master cylinders here already so as soon as she's of the truck it'll be over the pit and change those hydraulics - then im guna take her for a FANG.... 8)

Ill post some pics when she arrives.

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Yeeeusss - it arrived this arvo at around 3pm - check out the pics.........

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So off the truck she came and over the pit she went to replace the clutch hydraulics - and i was prepared

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Turns out the alternator lower mount bolts were MIA - well 1/2 of one was still stuck in the bracket. Quick fix and were ready to rock

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Cleaned up the plugs and then as promised i went for a fang - Bonnet-less even!!! The first lap was horrible - coughing, farting & surging. Lap 2 was better and then lap 3 was mint lol!

Discovered how rusty she really is though.......she's big job a!

Stay tuned - cheers Tyron

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What have i got myself into AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH :shock:

Holly shit this is rusty - i keep cutting and more appears. Ive cut out 50% of the left front inner guard, which lead to splitting the mono-rail and cutting more + treating.....which lead to 2 big patches in the firewall and so it goes on.

As i mentioned in the discussion - this is far worse than i had expected. I will persevere and keep cutting and welding. Stay tuned for more photos in the next day or so.

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Well i have made a little progress and am nearing the point where i can start putting metal back in. I had a Panel Beater come and have a look..... Once he stopped laughing he did admit he has seen worse rust and has repaired worse, kinda brought me back from the brink :)

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My plan of attack has been to start at the left front corner, so in the next day or so i will start stitching the car back together (well that corner anyway). Keeping the repairs semi localised helps keep it under control i feel.

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Said panel beater also loaned me their small spot sandblasting gun - yea boi! So off to the Tool Shed to by a 20kg bag of Garnet (blasting sand) which might i had was $47 cheaper than another supplier......might give them a wind up for that one i think. Oh and of to Fletcher Steel and bought a full sheet of panel steel - mint!

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  • 2 weeks later...

So made some good progress today, check out the pictures......

Finished welding in the new inner guard i fabricated:

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This is a shot of the guard from the engine bay side:

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Had to fab a new a new battery tray + supports:

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Left door has had all the rust removed and panels repaired as required:

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Have found this to be quite a challenge and have enjoyed learning the new skills required 8)

I just hope the rest of the rust is not going to be as complicated/involved as this left front corner, etc.

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So had a quick tally up - approximately 100 hours so far hahahahahahaha what a piglet. Any how here is some more pics:

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Ready for some underseal...

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Who dropped there struts.....

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Blam undersealed

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You wont believe it but i found some rust..........

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oh and some more...

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Quick release hatch for spare wheel - thats straight james bond people!!!

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One day in the not to distant future we may be rust free...... well maybe distant future ha!

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  • 6 months later...

Hey all,
 
So its been a while - sorry about that. Its been crazy at work then we put in a new kitchen, bathroom and laundry at home oh and had baby number 4 lol!
 
Anyway the fairlady has seen alot of action...

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Hey all,

 

Check out what shit got assholed out of the engine bay today........

 

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Optimus Primed

 

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Oh and look at this - fills me with confidence hahahahaha. Dont know if you can see but the hose is riddled with cracks............

 

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