Nothing helps with the planning and execution of a dream build better than real world, hands-on experience. Knowing the inner workings of a particular chassis or engine platform can help to avoid mistakes and speed up the assembly process. Having experience with both, like Diego Garibay, is even better.

Long before this 1977 280Z became a reality, Diego was the proud owner of a 1976 model that served as his first car, which was later replaced with a 240Z—but not by choice. He adds, "being young and dumb, I crashed my first two Datsuns." A tough lesson to learn, and with two chassis down, he decided to move on, eventually building a 1.5 JZ-powered Mitsubishi Starion that we featured previously. "I decided to part ways [the Starion] and ended up selling it," he adds. "I was ready to start a new build and went where my heart was— I wanted to build my dream Z from the ground up."

Finding an ideal project candidate in the current automotive climate of "all things old are gold" wasn't going to be easy. Pricing now compared to when he purchased his first pair of Z-cars is almost comical. Fortunately, Diego had a connection. He states, "Luckily, my wife's coworker's mom had a Z she was willing to sell. About four years ago I bought what I thought was a clean, complete, driving car. I stripped it down to a bare shell a few weeks later and that revealed the true condition of the car."

With 40 years on the chassis and multiple owners, fender benders and dodgy repair work was almost expected, but it was much worse than anticipated. Well below Diego's standards, he reached out to his friend Michael Nevarez to assist with refreshing the chassis and eliminating the rust found in the rear tail panel, window areas, and "dog legs."

Once straightened out and free of metal cancer, fresh white paint was laid down before Retrospec carbon fiber front and Industrial Garage rear flares were added. Additional carbon touches come by way of a carbon fiber hood and Skillard GT3 APR mirrors, while a Victory carbon spoiler, seated on the end of the hatch, kicks upward. Blacked-out bumpers also help tie the two-tone theme together.

When you hear Panasport, you can't help but imagine the banana-shaped spokes merging into a large center disk often found on older Z-cars, but for this build, the G7 C5C version got the nod. Measuring in at 17x10.5 front, and 11.5 rear, they were teamed up with Nitto NT05R in 235/40 and massive 315/35s in the rear. Huge, at least by typical 280Z standards, the combination completely fills each wheel well. Even from the front, it's obvious this Z means business.

The large footprint is more than just a scare tactic and necessary to handle the updated power plant. Still motivated by six cylinders, Diego took notes from his Starion's Toyota-derived heart, and put together a 1JZ-GTE non-VVTI swap that sits firmly in place with custom SC300 mounts. The bottom end remains stock beyond ARP studs, but the head itself was fitted with a fresh valve train and 272 cams from Brian Crower.

Borg Warner's 369sxe was elected and features a Kelly Built 3.5-in. stainless steel down pipe that leads to Kelly's oval exhaust handiwork. Inside the bay you'll spot the Perfect Tuning intake manifold and if you're a few feet back you'll notice the tall Treadstone Motorsports 1245 intercooler behind the factory grill slats. Currently at low boost, this 280Z pumps out an easy 562 hp at the rear wheels, sent through Nissan's CD009 transmission armed with a South Bend six-puck HD clutch using a Collins adapter to make it all work.

Another dyno session is in the works with Lawrence Shipman as Diego readies his Z-car for the strip. That preparation includes a custom roll cage built to NHRA guidelines and a mandatory remote power kill switch in the car's rear. Racequip's five-point harness is draped around a Sparco Evo2 fixed-back seat and a Renown steering wheel and carbon shift knob were swapped in.

The lightweight chassis, big power, and huge tires are a start, but you'll find yourself in all sorts of trouble without a capable suspension and brakes. Swift springs were fitted to BC Racing coilovers in the front, and TechnoToyTunings in the rear, backed by anti-roll bars, adjustable control arms, Energy Suspension bushings, and more. Further helping to keep things under control are Wilwood six-piston calipers behind the front Panasports, and PowerbyMax 300ZX behind the rears.

A bit of a roller coaster ride being that Diego was lucky enough to have the inside scoop on this 280Z, only to find out that it held some not-so-promising secrets beneath the surface. Never second-guessing himself, the build moved forward, and the result is the exact ground-up dream Z that he was after all along.

Engine 1JZ-GTE non-VVTI swap; custom SC300 solid mounts; ARP head studs; Brian Crower 272 cams, HD valve springs, titanium retainers, billet keepers; unnecessary coolant ports blocked off; Borg Warner 369sxe; T4 turbo manifold; Kelly Built 3.5-in. stainless steel down pipe, custom oval exhaust; Perfect Tuning intake manifold; Treadstone Motorsports 1245 intercooler, piping; TiAL 50mm blow-off valve; Precision 46mm wastegate; AEM 400lph fuel pump; Kenne Bell boost-a-pump; dual feed 14mm custom fuel rail; ID1700cc injectors; 2 liter surge tank fed by Walbro 255 lph fuel pump; flex-fuel sensor; AEM V2 management

Drivetrain Nissan CD009; CBF Performance shifter; South Bend 6-puck HD clutch; Collins JZ to CD009 adapter; OEM Nissan Q45 LSD; custom 1350 yoked drive shaft

Suspension Swift springs; BC Racing coilovers front, Techno Toy Tuning coilovers rear, anti-roll bars, adjustable control arms, Short Nose R200 kit; Energy Suspension bushings; Silvermine Motorsports 5-lug hubs front; 300zx 5-lug rear hubs

Braking Wilwood 6-piston calipers front, Powerby Max 300ZX rear; STI rotors front, 300ZX rotors rear; Wilwood proportioning valve, pads front, Project Mu rear

Wheels & Tires Panasport G7 C5C 17x10.5 -32 front, 17x11.5 -32 rear; Nitto NT05R 235/40 front, 315/35 rear

Exterior Michael A. Nevarez paint and body; Industrial Garage carbon fiber flares rear; Retrospec carbon fiber flares front; Victory carbon fiber spoiler; Skillard GT3 APR carbon fiber mirrors; carbon fiber hood; Skillard 77-78 louver vents, inspection lid louver vents, grill, front splitter; Garagistic tow hooks

Interior Sparco Evo2 driver's seat; Racequip 5-pt. harness; Renown steering wheel; Boss hub; carbon fiber shift knob; Speed Hut speedometer, tachometer, fuel level gauges; AEM wideband, failsafe; Autometer water temp, boost, oil pressure; Shortrodeo custom 10-pt. DOM cage w/removable door bars

Thank You Huge shout-out to my best friend Micheal A Nevarez for doing all the rust and body work on the car, to Scott Hibbard for all the aluminum tig welding, to Francisco Alcantar for letting me use his garage to assemble the car and to my brothers Miguel Garibay and Fabian Garibay for always giving me a helping hand on the project. I also want to thank my wife Ana Garibay for supporting the build.