Well sold my T Type

[kornball426]

Congratulations on your new acquisition. I always thought those cars were cool. A 260-Z is a one year only model, or in between a 240 and a 280.
I have seen a few with a sbc in them. Both stick shift cars. They seem to be a natural with a sbc in them. However, I think it would be killer with an LS in it.
There used to be one in my town with a 327 and T-5. It looked like a nicely setup car.
These cars are getting up there in value, so I don't think you had anything to lose. Good luck and have fun with it.

Yeah, oddly enough despite the 260 being one year only (and technically that year is split into early 1974 and 1974.5 because there were significant midyear changes), and therefore relatively rare... They're not as desirable as a 240.

The 280's are the least valuable, but they're probably the best in many ways. Especially if all the emissions and federally mandated 5 mph crash bumpers are removed from a 280 and replaced with 240 or early 260 bumpers and a few other changes. The bumpers and emissions stuff added a couple hundred pounds and reduced horsepower on the stock 280's despite getting a slightly bigger engine. The 280's are reputed to be made of slightly thicker steel and have structural reinforcements that make them a bit stiffer, especially for high horsepower swaps.

 

[Longroof79]

Back in the day, I took a female friend of mine out to look at a few Z cars. She was kind of fixed on a 240-Z. Most of the ones we looked at were rust buckets. I think they were notorious for being so. They ran good but needed body work...as in rust repair. The '70 model is the rarest of the bunch, being the first year.
She ended up buying a 260-Z, but it was the 2+2 body style, which I thought were pretty ugly.
I've driven a few 240's and a 280. The 240's were quicker cars, but the 280 was a bit more refined.
And you're right, the 260 was not as desirable as the 240 or 280, but they've gotten pretty rare, as you mentioned.

 

[kornball426]

Back in the day, I took a female friend of mine out to look at a few Z cars. She was kind of fixed on a 240-Z. Most of the ones we looked at were rust buckets. I think they were notorious for being so. They ran good but needed body work...as in rust repair. The '70 model is the rarest of the bunch, being the first year.
She ended up buying a 260-Z, but it was the 2+2 body style, which I thought were pretty ugly.
I've driven a few 240's and a 280. The 240's were quicker cars, but the 280 was a bit more refined.
And you're right, the 260 was not as desirable as the 240 or 280, but they've gotten pretty rare, as you mentioned.

Yeah I'm really not a fan of the 2+2 roofline. I did see one turned into a little mini station wagon though once, reminded me of a Volvo P1800 wagon, and that was pretty darn cool.

And yeah they're notorious for rusting out. This one is solid which is why I couldn't passed it up. Either someone did an excellent job doing a restoration on the body at some point in the past, or it never saw winter roads in the Northeast.

 

[ck80]

Have an intercooled turbo Buick, just sold an intercooled turbo Buick... And in my limited experience, nothing is that simple or inexpensive with them. Not trying to be dismissive, but I really don't want another turbo Buick. 😂

Understandable, sometimes it's nice to have something different. I was just pointing out cost shouldn't be the excuse.

Kinda like keeping an olds olds-powered, or a poncho in a pontiac, there IS a swap that I think would be cool...

What about a period correct SD33 or SD33T if you wanted a turbo? Torque down low, and true to the marque. Also DEFINITELY unique.

 

[kornball426]

Understandable, sometimes it's nice to have something different. I was just pointing out cost shouldn't be the excuse.

Kinda like keeping an olds olds-powered, or a poncho in a pontiac, there IS a swap that I think would be cool...

What about a period correct SD33 or SD33T if you wanted a turbo? Torque down low, and true to the marque. Also DEFINITELY unique.

I'm not well versed enough in Datsuns to know all the different engines that were available. However I think that's the engine that you can take the crank out of and put it in this cars block and it would make a 2.9 liter, or better yet put it in a 2.8 block and it would stroke out to 3.1 liter.

Honestly like I said earlier, my mind isn't made up... But if I keep it, I'm leaning towards putting the engine from a Datsun 280ZX turbo in it. It's the same engine series only 2.8 turbocharged opposed to 2.6 N/A so it will go right into the car no muss no fuss. And according to what I've read 300 horsepower is no sweat, 350 is doable on an unopened stock block but may be asking for trouble. With ARP rod bolts, head bolts, forged pistons, and a good modern fuel and ignition management system 400+ is completely possible. Which, I don't care what anyone says, is a ton of power for a street car with a 2,425 lbs curb weight. And it has the added appeal of staying all Datsun and period correct.

With the exception of a modern standalone ECU and injectors and whatnot.

 

[ck80]

I'm not well versed enough in Datsuns to know all the different engines that were available. However I think that's the engine that you can take the crank out of and put it in this cars block and it would make a 2.9 liter, or better yet put it in a 2.8 block and it would stroke out to 3.1 liter.

Honestly like I said earlier, my mind isn't made up... But if I keep it, I'm leaning towards putting the engine from a Datsun 280ZX turbo in it. It's the same engine series only 2.8 turbocharged opposed to 2.6 N/A so it will go right into the car no muss no fuss. And according to what I've read 300 horsepower is no sweat, 350 is doable on an unopened stock block but may be asking for trouble. With ARP rod bolts, head bolts, forged pistons, and a good modern fuel and ignition management system 400+ is completely possible. Which, I don't care what anyone says, is a ton of power for a street car with a 2,425 lbs curb weight. And it has the added appeal of staying all Datsun and period correct.

With the exception of a modern standalone ECU and injectors and whatnot.

It's a diesel engine that in its turbocharged version especially was fun in the old international scouts. Epitome of different but marque correct.

However, anything you do to it, as long as you enjoy it, is the correct choice.

 

[kornball426]

It's a diesel engine that in its turbocharged version especially was fun in the old international scouts. Epitome of different but marque correct.

However, anything you do to it, as long as you enjoy it, is the correct choice.

Yeah I think I've seen one or two of those. I was thinking of the LD28 Datsun engine, not sure why it has a different stroke than the gas L28 but it does. Probably hard to come by one of those cranks these days.

 

[Longroof79]

Yeah I'm really not a fan of the 2+2 roofline. I did see one turned into a little mini station wagon though once, reminded me of a Volvo P1800 wagon, and that was pretty darn cool.

And yeah they're notorious for rusting out. This one is solid which is why I couldn't passed it up. Either someone did an excellent job doing a restoration on the body at some point in the past, or it never saw winter roads in the Northeast.

You 're lucky to score a good example...hopefully within reason. A 2+2 turned into a mini wagon....now that sounds cool. It's gotta be an improvement over the 2+2 roof line. I don't recall the last time I saw a P-1800 wagon. I always thought they were a cool body style.

 

[kornball426]

You 're lucky to score a good example...hopefully within reason. A 2+2 turned into a mini wagon....now that sounds cool. It's gotta be an improvement over the 2+2 roof line. I don't recall the last time I saw a P-1800 wagon. I always thought they were a cool body style.

I have only ever seen a P1800 wagon in person once in my life, I don't think they were officially imported to the US I've probably seen a dozen or more of the coupes, but even they are pretty rare at this point.

Ever seen a Porsche 944 wagon conversion? I think those are super cool.

 

[Longroof79]

I have only ever seen a P1800 wagon in person once in my life, I don't think they were officially imported to the US I've probably seen a dozen or more of the coupes, but even they are pretty rare at this point.

Ever seen a Porsche 944 wagon conversion? I think those are super cool.

I actually had a friend with a Volvo P-1800E wagon back in the '70's....yeah, I know, I'm an old fart...lol! I also had friends with P-1800 coupes. They were cool cars as well. You never see them anymore. The wagon version is a rare bird, and I can count the amount of those I've seen in a lifetime on one hand.
No, I've never seen a Porsche 944 wagon conversion, but I bet they are cool. I'll have to Google it.