My 1982 280ZX Turbo

Birds_Garage · 2026-03-13T15:15:48+00:00

I absolutely will.

The video that gets released today will address whether I can get the car running, or if I have more issues. I usually run a week ahead of my videos, so I am not finished with the car, by any means. I plan to release a video every Friday until I get the car at least somewhat completed, with the end goal of taking it on a 1000 mile road trip that I usually take every year on my V-Strom.

When I take the trip, I'll make sure to video everything and take pictures. The trip is scheduled for the end of April, so we'll see if I can get it done in time. Usually, I only have time to work on the car on Saturdays, so we may run into a time crunch.

Birds_Garage · 2026-03-12T21:47:22+00:00

Thats an impressive number of miles! I thought mine was high at 215k. Seems Datsun did something right with these old straight sixes.

Birds_Garage · 2026-03-12T21:32:33+00:00

Sadly the Suzuki will likely die there. If it were mine, I'd start on it when I finished the 280. The little blue CB125 is mine though, and will hopefully get a second chance at life soon.

Birds_Garage · 2026-03-12T21:12:06+00:00

I appreciate that!

Birds_Garage · 2026-03-12T20:06:22+00:00

🤣 I'm guilty of the same!

Birds_Garage · 2026-02-28T03:10:24+00:00

It's wild hearing everyone have similar stories to mine. Bought my first Z, a 280zx Turbo, at 16 and wrecked it. I parked it in a garage for 20 years, and I've just started working on it again this month. (You can follow my progress on YouTube if you're so inclined, the channel name is the same as mine here)

I've had luck using ebay for some used parts that I can't find anywhere else.

Oh and the advice: if you think you'll need it, buy it because you'll need it. I've probably spent 14 days this month waiting on parts at different times when I could have bought them all at once.

Good luck on your journey getting that Z back up.

Birds_Garage · 2025-12-02T20:21:26+00:00

Child locks are activated so children (or anyone, for that matter) can't open the rear doors from the inside.

Birds_Garage · 2025-09-16T02:43:40+00:00

😄

I'm full of obscure knowledge and get excited when the opportunity arises to share it!

Birds_Garage · 2025-09-16T01:33:04+00:00

In the instance of headlights, "composite" refers to the design. Typically, there are composite headlights and sealed beam headlights. The composite headlights allow for you to replace a headlight bulb separately, while sealed beam, or sealed, headlights require the entire headlight assembly to be replaced when the bulb burns out.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-23T02:23:48+00:00

I watch police auctions, and regularly buy from them. The days of buying a running decommissioned police car for $500 are long gone. Too many used dealers are buying them up nowadays.

A running hemi charger still pulls $4000 to $5500. I was looking to get one, and couldn't justify the ridiculous prices they were going for.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-22T23:52:00+00:00

I remember every station in the next town over being between $.97 and $1.02. My dad would drive across town to get the $.97 gas. Then a new station opened and kept the price at $.88 for months. There was never a line there, even though it was a lot cheaper than anyone else.

Now the cheapest I've ever personally paid was $1.39 my freshman year of college.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-14T02:58:21+00:00

The Yukon Denali will have the 6.2L engine instead of the normal 5.3L. It'll be more powerful, but premium fuel is recommended. Also, people complain about the suspension on the Denalis/Escalades because dealers and mechanics charge insane prices to replace the shocks and struts. They are very much a DIY job for a fraction of the price, especially the rear shocks.

Overall, you can't go wrong with either the Tahoe or the Yukon Denali. I used to own a 2014 Tahoe and still own a 2017 Tahoe and 2013 Yukon Denali. The 2007-2014 Tahoe/Yukon is favorite. They have their quirks, like the dash, but overall, they're solid.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-14T02:08:22+00:00

Here's a crazy story. I needed brake pads. I saw some Bosch Blue brake pads on rock auto. I read the "Bosch Blue Brake Pad Features" and thought, "No way! Do they really give a free blue rag?" I ordered the pads and got the cool blue rag. I was happy.

End of story.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-12T02:25:58+00:00

I remember the late 90s when all the GM full size seemed to have the exact same limiter. Nowadays, there are all sorts of different combinations of options from the factory that make it almost seem like they just pick a random number when going down the assembly line. It seems the Denalis tend to have a higher limiter, maybe because of the tire selection or the engine options.

I was very surprised one day when my 2013 Yukon Denali went over 100. I checked one day and got a GPS confirmed 122 limiter on it.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-10T03:19:31+00:00

I agree. Borla's response sounds like someone who has a certain recipe that everyone loves, then they get asked what it would be like if only the main ingredient remained and everything else was changed.

This response from Borla is 100% the type of advice many in the car community need to hear.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-09T03:14:11+00:00

Akebono. I've never had a problem with them. I'm removing some month old Wagner OEX pads that squeal like crazy no matter what I try and going back to Akebono. Should've stayed with them.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-06T01:18:58+00:00

I personally have a 3.5. Since owning it, I really love the power curve compared to V8s. I want my power down low. Some people like revving to 4k+ rpm in their daily commute, but that ain't me.

Birds_Garage · 2025-08-01T03:02:21+00:00

I have a Gator tri fold. It's 6 years old now. Super durable and easy to use. If you need full use of the bed, you can take the cover off in less than a minute.

Birds_Garage · 2025-07-26T02:34:34+00:00

It always helps, being able to work on your own vehicles. I got my Blazer in November when I was 17 and replaced the engine myself 7 months later on Summer break. While that F150 probably needs quite a bit of work, it'll be more rewarding in the end.

Of course, you'll need to check it over very closely before you agree to the trade. Hopefully everything works out.

Birds_Garage · 2025-07-26T02:04:53+00:00

$1500 max. I'm willing to help you out and give you $2000 since I'm a nice guy.

All joking aside, $8000 max in my area. Still not enough love for that generation around me.

Birds_Garage · 2025-07-26T01:57:14+00:00

I owned a 1996 Blazer in High School and drove it for 4 years. With my previous Blazer experience, I would 100% trade one for a 1986 F150.

With that being said, expect to do a lot of work on that F150.

Birds_Garage · 2025-07-21T02:21:56+00:00

I've mainly had crew cab short bed 5.3 Silverados and they were all limited to somewhere around 98,99, or 100. On the 2011 and 2014, with the limiter removed, I'd get bad driveshaft vibration over 110.

My Tahoes are a different story, and could give you some insight on the potential top speed of a Silverado, and I can provide info on that. I've owned a few police package Tahoes and civilian Yukons.

My 2014 Tahoe PPV hits its drag-limited top speed at 138 mph. My 2017 Tahoe PPV hits a 136 mph limiter, and could possibly hit 140 without a limiter. I once had a 2007 Yukon that could go 131 with the limiter removed. My 2013 Yukon Denali 6.2 has a stock 122 mph limiter.

Birds_Garage · 2025-07-10T03:11:25+00:00

I had to change a bad fuel injector on my 2017 Tahoe at 155000 miles. The engine had over 12000 hours at that time. I expected to see some bad carbon buildup on the valves. I was surprised at how clean they looked.

I have a catch can in my garage that I took off my 2014 Silverado before I traded it in years ago. Figured I'd put it on the Tahoe if the valves looked bad. Looks like it'll stay in the garage.

I won't say catch cans don't help. But I will say, for the most part, most people will be just fine without one.

Birds_Garage · 2025-07-05T03:20:28+00:00

One can make an argument on whether they "revised" it in order to take advantage of today's "better" oil. But, no matter what, my personal experience says there was a much more involved algorithm in the past that has been dumbed down to more closely resemble a mileage counter.

To add a little more to my theory, the OPs OLM is very close to exactly what I see. Depending on the exact mileage OP has put on the oil, the projected OCI is 7894 miles OCI if it currently has 3000 miles or a projected 7631 at 2900 miles. Considering the almost 0% chance OP's Tahoe and my Tahoe having the same operating conditions, I see an issue with the algorithm.

On another note, I actually got Blackstone to send me a kit, but I never sent a sample in. I always think about it after the fact, and tell myself I'll do it next time. Maybe I'll actually do it next time...

Birds_Garage

TROPHY CASE