Faults:

The main problem I had was the rear main seal was leaking. Also, when I bought the car it was burning oil pretty good before a re-build.

General Comments:

Probably the most fun car that I have ever owned. When the engine was rebuilt with polished and ported head, headers and a decent cat-back exhaust, there was not much this car wouldn't do. Not to mention that there wasn't much I wasn't willing to race.

If I still owned the car, I would gladly put it up against anyone of these wanna-be "Fast-N-Furious" rice burners with their wanna-be loud exhaust.

A slightly tweaked suspension gave this car the best cornering and handling characteristics EVER! Scared my Grandmother on more than one occasion. You could feel every bump in the road.

Faults:

Dash is worn and is cracked.

General Comments:

This is a fully restored car with oversize brakes and customized front end..No wonder they call it the Japanese Jaguar.

Faults:

Starter went bad; replaced this with a re-manufactured starter.

Interior was in poor condition and is being repaired, slowly, but surely.

The brakes need some work. They are functioning, but probably has a vacuum leak.

Valve guides are going to need replacement soon. PCV clogged and was replaced.

Injector is leaking. Will need to be repaired.

General Comments:

I had a friend in high school who had a 280Z. I thought about a 240Z, I decided against it because I did not want to deal with a carburetor. I decided against the 260Z because of the poor reviews (i.e. too much weight, not enough power). I did not want to move to the more complex 280ZX or 300ZX (expensive too!), so the 280Z was the best fit for me. It is fuel injected, easy to work on (love the straight six!) and fun to drive. I get very frustrated with it, but I am still committed to restoring it.

DR Z is my license plate (I have a PhD). Look for me around Indiana! Hopefully my the Indy Z-Car Club will have another event at the speedway so I can take her around the famous 2 mile track!

Faults:

Several electrical problems, including corroded major electrical contacts; easily fixed once located, however.

Front end bushings were replaced.

Fuel pump was replaced.

Valves beginning to tap, perhaps from too many incursions into tachometer red zone.

Transmission beginning to chatter, perhaps from repeated downshifts during hard driving.

Rear end howls in summer heat.

Clunk from "mustache bar" driveline retaining piece under power.

Fuel tank leaks.

Leaky sliding roof.

Leaky weather seals.

Body highly susceptible to rust!

General Comments:

I don't care about any of the above problems.

This car is seriously quick (14's in the quarter mile). It seems even faster off the line because of its light weight. The thing only weighs close to the happy side of 2000 pounds; it's totally stripped inside.

It handles like it's on rails (with throttle-controlled track-warping).

It used to look pretty sweet before rust became a problem, as well. Now it looks like the Devil, Lord Lucifer Himself, in all His infernal fly-infested glory.

The drive-line is from a 1983 280ZX: 2.8 with camshaft and shaved head, five-speed transmission, 3.90 drive rearend.

I have tormented many unsuspecting victims on the track and street.

Until I buy another one, this car will likely serve as my coffin. I shall die with a big cheese-eating grin on my face, midst a crystal rain, twisted metal, and a spurting chorus of blood poured out upon the highroad.