78' Nissan 280z? Help please, I really need to figure something out for a car soon.?

Question

I am thinking of buying one but it needs a fuel pump. Does anyone know how much it would cost to get on put in? Or were one is on it if my father could install it.

Also any help on weather I should buy it or not would be helpful.

It is only $550 and a little dingy but other than that seems fine.

Answer 1

A fuel pump for this car would be about 100 dollars (give or take). It's a relatively easy installation for anyone with minimal mechanical ability.

That being said, if you're looking to buy a car cheap then you should be ready to work on it, so get out there with your dad and learn how to turn a spanner. :) My daughter is 9 and is perfectly capable of wrenching on a car.

As to buying the car, it's very difficult to determine if a non-running car would make a reliable daily driver. The 280Z is a neat car, and they are becoming collectible. But, it's also a 30 year old car. So, there's no such thing as a warranty, and old cars tend to need a fair bit of maintenance to keep them on the road.

The primary words are, "Caveat Emptor." This may be a gem in the rough, or it may be a rotten egg.

If in doubt, ask your dad what he thinks, as it sounds like he may be the one who has to fix it.  

Answer 2

BUY IT. I just got a 77, and I love it. Mine also needs a fuel pump, and it runs about $140 (unless you go with Bosch, which are $850 (don't go with Bosch)). But check for rust, since for 550 its probably pretty rusty. Also take the amount you think it will cost to fix it up, and double or triple it. It probably needs brake work, belts replaced, body work, paint, dash work, interior/seats, hoses, air/oil filters, stuff like that. But it's DEFINITELY worth it. Trust me. It's incredibly fun. Make sure you have some mechanical skills or your dad does, though.

By the way, what area are you in? I'm in the DFW area. If you need help, I like HybridZ forums, and there are numerous other forums devoted to Z cars (S30s in Japan).

The fuel pump is actually located just ahead of the fuel tank. Mine was black and had a manufacturer sticker on it. Really sticks out. Also, it's recommended to put a fuel filter behind the fuel pump (between the pump and the tank) to make the pump last longer.

Wow. That is a steal. I'm not kidding, I would be all over that. So would Z fanatics, so watch out! Like I said, HybridZ is a good place to get info. Just make sure to use the search feature.

Answer 3

I don't know a h**l of alot about older cars (especially older Japanese cars) but at least in modern cars the fuel pump is in the fuel tank and usually can be removed by removing the carpet from the trunk and there is some form of cover over it. I've never had a problem with mine so I've never done it but I'd think that no matter what the case you should be able to buy a pump for $100- online or possibly locally and do it yourself.

As long as its otherwise in good condition it's a good deal. In fact you could probably buy it, fix it up and sell it for a profit if you wanted.