Good evening everyone! My mother bought a 1981 280ZX in '82 - she was the 2nd owner but the first owner only had the car for one year. In 1982 I was in 10th grade and I lusted after that car! Needless to say, I was not allowed to drive it. Well, finally, after 26 years, she gave me the car in 2008, when she moved out of the state. Sadly, the poor thing has been garaged and rarely driven, but after I put in a new alternator last month and tuned her up a bit, she's ready to roll again. She needs some body work though ... the salt air in Westerly has caused some rust, but the engine is still sound.

Here's a pic I took in 2008 when I got her. I hope to get her on the road and looking sharp by spring/summer 2011.

Hi Kara,
Thanks for introducing yourself. We have many members from RI and I'm sure you will feel very welcomed and at home on our site. You have all winter to get your Z ready for our next season. From the picture, she looks great to start with. Welcome!

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Ross Williams
1978 280Z Black Pearl Edition 38k Original Miles

Hi Kara and welcome to the club! Always good to see new members from eastern Ct and RI. Nice looking Z as well!

Al

Welcome to the club!! And it does look like you got a great start with that 280zx

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694

Welcome, and it looks good in the pic. I'm over here in the Newport area, occasionaly I go over there, my brother works at Speed Craft, and we'll eat at the Mew's once in a great while. I have tons of parts for the 280zx, but looks like you don't need much. The only things you might need is anything made of rubber, for it doesn't last 30 years despite the milage. Well you joined a great club, hope you get to the events next year and just have a great time, that's what the Z is all about. If you need anything there are plenty of us here that can help you out, thanks, Paul.

Thanks everyone, for the warm welcome & the compliments on the Z. She really is a beauty. When I was in high school, I used to wash & wax that car every Saturday, just hoping my mother would look kindly upon me and let me drive her. Not a chance.

I'm so glad I found this site (thanks to Robin in Charlestown!) and am looking forward to attending the events. Paul, I may hit you up if I run into any parts problems. You're definitely right about the rubber parts ... when I was crawling around under the car the day I did the alternator, I saw lots of dry, cracked rubber parts. Ick.

Hi Kara ~ glad to have you aboard! I received your application for membership this weekend and I am looking for time to write you a WELCOME letter. It will tell you some info about the CTZCC which you will want to know.

I'm VERY glad you're a referral from Robin ~ that's one of the highest endorsements you can receive from this Club!

As you can already zee, the ZX carz are very popular with us, so you will certainly meet members here who have already fought your upcoming issues, especially the rust. Please enjoy their sage wisdom and let them make your life easier with the advice of someone who's been there, done that, and prevailed.

Happy to have you aboard and we all look fwd to meeting you in person as soon as the snow and salt are off the roads next spring.

Z ya ~

Frank Thomas

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1970 240Z

Welcome aboard Kara!

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Keith Hultmark
2009 370Z Touring - Sold (5 years owned)
1993 300ZX - Sold (5 years owned)
1976 Porsche 912E. #163 of 2200 - SOLD (3 years owned)
2018 BMW 330i GT xdrive daily driver
2004 BMW Z4 3.0i ….it is a Z

Welcome Kara, from a fellow 280zx owner!!

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Phil
1981 280zxt - Now in the care my son!
2014 370Z Sports Touring Roadster

Those old rubber parts are better replaced by polyurethane bushings. They can be bought individually or in whole kits. They don't deteriorate like rubber does, add stiffness to the steering and suspension and even look sexier because they are in colors. Most of us have had this done to our Zs. It's a space-aged solution which wasn't available back when these carz were new. You fix 'em once and forget about them for the life of your car.

(Anybody got a link for a nice Poly set for Kara's ZX?)

Frank

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1970 240Z

Here's the MSA master bushing kit...

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/ ... /23-4100AX

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Phil
1981 280zxt - Now in the care my son!
2014 370Z Sports Touring Roadster

Thanks so much Frank & Phil for the info on the bushings kit ... that will surely help a lot. I'm so excited about getting my little girl out on the road in the spring. Thanks for the tips, and I'll be sure to post my progress as I go. Have a great night,
Kara

Welcome! By the way, where can you get NON urethane bushings?

Yeah I have only replaced my front sway bar end links with polyurethane and just that so far has made a big difference.

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Mike Tubiak
1978 Datsun 280Z - HLS30-438694