Good looking clean little 280zx. Runs and drives great! Low mile restored engine installed about 2k miles ago. Comes with original engine as well that runs good. Tons of additional parts.
Service history:
No known service history before my ownership.
*not in chronological order
~ July 2022: L28e engine from a junkyard (70,000mi) was rebuilt and then swapped into car. Original July 2022: Rack and pinion swap; old steering box system was replaced with later model rack and pinion
engine is still in good condition and will be sold with the car.
system
~ June 2020: Suspension overhaul; all new springs and shocks, all bushings and rubber pieces replaced, new
wheel bearings
~ June 2020: Complete interior re-upholstery overhaul; all seats, door cards, headliner, rear panels, and
assorted interior parts and trims.
~ July 2020: Fuel system overhaul: new injectors, new rubber fuel lines, new fuel pump, new fuel filter
~ July 2022: New radiator, new thermostat
~ July 2020: Rebuilt brake calipers; every part cleaned, new seals, new brake lines
~ August 2021: R-134 Air Conditioning Conversion; old R-12 system was converted to R-134 and is now
operational
~ August 2021: Climate control system was refreshed; fixed broken parts, replaced rubber lines, etc.
~ July 2022: New clutch disc, new pilot bearing, new throw-out bearing, new clutch master cylinder
~ July 2022: Transmission fluid change; Redline MT90
~ July 2020: Rear differential oil change
~ September 2020: New ignition switch (original switch still with the car, new one doesn't look great but
works good, I hoped to fix the old one and put it back in, maybe new owner can)
Date unknown (within the last few years): New rear hatch weatherseal
Known issues:
- Current tires are expired; needs new tires
- Steering pull issue: Weird issue that I haven't figured out. After turning sharply in one direction, the
steering will then pull in that same direction until a sharp turn in the opposite direction is done, which
seemingly "cancels it out". This problem has been present since I bought it (i.e. before the rack and pinion
swap, so it is not a steering issue, and most of the suspension has been replaced at this point.) The pull is
not particularly strong, but is there. - Needs some throttle to start. Always has, even with the old engine
- Power mirrors do not work
- Recent issue: Handbrake light on dashboard is stuck on (handbrake is fully operational though as far as I
am aware)
- Pinch welds near the front are messed up from the previous owner
- Very small oil leak
- Probably needs new catalytic converter (exhaust stinks)
- Original dashboard is in terrible condition, but the dash carpet covers it up nicely
- Poor job done on one of the rear panel upholstery jobs
- A few plastic interior pieces in poor condition
- Battery works good, but dies if left to sit a few weeks, wouldn’t hurt to replace
- The door seals might leak a bit if you choose to pressure wash the car, but otherwise work great for
weather
Other:
Despite the high mileage, the car is in great mechanical condition since most systems of the car have been
worked on or replaced over the last few years. The car also coming with 2 working engines will give the
buyer some peace of mind that they will certainly have a good engine to use, as well as some boxes of spare
parts to pull from. I daily drove this car for about a year in 2021, and it was about as reliable as you could
ask for from a 40 year old car. I believe it still is capable of being daily driven, I just opt not to. Worth
noting; the warning display lamp in the center of the dash flashes a green OK when starting the car,
indicating that the onboard computer is working well (I have seen it give accurate warnings before as
This 1981 Datsun 280ZX GL 2+2 is available for drivers in Aztec, Durango, Bayfield ...