So I found a 280z I'm gonna get, but since its not running and I dont have a trailer with a winch, whats the best way to get it home? I was thinking I could rent a tow dolly and jack the front end of the car up and back the dolly under the front tires. Does anyone have any good methods to get this car home? I'll keep calling places to see if anyone has a trailer with a winch to rent, but I dont know.

 

When we didn't have a winch we substituted a come along to get the car on the trailer.

 

Yep, comalong and chocks.

 

I've used a come-a-long, but if you get 3-4 guys, you can push it up pretty easy. I've done it lots of times, get a guy in the car to steer/apply brakes, and have the other 4 push like mad.

 

Before I got a trailer I used to use a close couple hitch. It's just an adjustable "A" frame that bolts to the front of the vehicle and has a 2 inch ball hitch on the other end. Often I would take the front bumper off and some how just bolt it on to the frame. I would put a sign in the back window "on tow" and just use the hazard lites on the vehicle being towed and use hand signals along with my turn signals. The front wheels follow as long as the steering wheel is unlocked. I've towed this way up to 60 MPH with no problems. If you are towing on snow or ice the front wheels tend not to follow in sharp turns so keep the speed right down if the roads are slippery.

 

280z should be easy for a couple guys to push up on a tow dolly, if not a come along will work fine.

 

So I think a dolly and we'll just push the front wheels up with a few people. Im not planning on keeping the engine thats in it, so I guess I won't worry about disconnecting the driveshaft of it. thanks for the input guys.

 

I would find out about the driveshaft very carefully. Who knows what could happen. The transmission could overheat causing the transmission to lock-up or even catch fire. The car's manual would say how to tow it, be carefull.

 

I used a come a long with an extr pulley to pull a 4500# van up on my trailer. Still a lot of grunt. I also used a couple of husky tiedowns to holw it while I repositioned the cable.

At any rate be careful of winch and come a long lines. If they break or let go they can really do some serious damage.

 

If its a manual trans then just put it in neutral and you are good to go, if its an auto pull the drive shaft.

 

Anyone ever hear about a flatbed tow truck ?

 

Do NOT tow it with drive shaft connected - - it is not the engine that will get hurt, it is the tranny. My Z specs stated specifically do not tow the car with wheels down over 5 miles without removing the shaft. This is assumming you are going a decent distance, not two miles to your house.
Bob

 

Not knowing the tranny type, or engine condition, this is just an idea. If it's a manual, and the motor will crank, the starter may pull it up on a trailer in low gear. I don't know if the car has a neutral safety switch either, you would have to bypass it if it does.

On another note, what would a non-running '82 model 280ZX Turbo be worth? The body is perfect, (needs painted). T-tops, manual tranny, good interior. It did run, but burned a lot of oil. Had the head re-done, (cylinders looked good), needs re-assembled, and needs a turbo. (turns out, the seals were out of the turbo, causing the oil burning). Got a new turbo for it, but when my shop got broken into, the turbo disappeared.

 

Is the car registered? In Mass. you need all four wheels off the ground or a repair plate if it isn't.

 

$50 12V winch from harbor freight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=43331

Not top quality, but I've had one for about 5 years and it is still going.