Bigfellas Bus - 1975 2+2

[Bigfella]

I have made the plunge into the Dato River. 

 

I have just taken delivery of my 1975 260z 2+2 and before you 2+2 haters say anything, it was my choice to get a bus. I have to little kids and I like to think one day we will all be driving around in it. I think it is going to be many years before that though. A hell of a lot of work ahead of me.

 

I will post some picks this weekend.

Stay tuned

Matt

[lightmaster240z]

Well done mate  There is nothing wrong with Bus's if you ask me 

regrads

Bruce

[Zedman240®]

Congrats! Was that the partially stripped zed from St Albans?

[Bigfella]

Congrats! Was that the partially stripped zed from St Albans?

 

Thanks

No it was one from up at lilydale. Has some real nice rust in it..

 

[FuzzyDropbear]

Congrats on taking the plunge Matt! There's no turning back now  Definitely nothing wrong with getting a bus. 

 

Hope the rust situation isn't too bad. Can't wait for the pics.

 

Cheers.

[KatoKid]

Go the Bus...bought one for the same reason. Well done.

[Bigfella]

Congrats on taking the plunge Matt! There's no turning back now  Definitely nothing wrong with getting a bus. 

 

Hope the rust situation isn't too bad. Can't wait for the pics.

 

Cheers.

 

The rear right quarter is F@#$ked. I think I will have to try and get an entire quarter from a wreak. "Anyone?"

It is gone right around the window and well everywhere. I will put picks when I get the guts to show everyone. The rest of the car is pretty good. Well in comparison. Does have a sun roof though. so yet another panel I will be looking for.

 

 

[C.A.R.]

I have a unmolested roof/turret here is you want to come cut it off Matt...

[Bigfella]

Yeah that would be great lurch, Thanks.

Is it ok if I do it in a couple of weeks.

 

Where would I start looking for a rear quarter ?

 

[C.A.R.]

Nps mate - it's not going anywhere for a while...

 

NFI on the rear 1/4. You need to post pics though so we can all best advise you on which will be the best solution.

You have 24 hours to post pics!!!

[Scoota G]

I'd say man up and post some pictures, mine's there, warts and all. Oscar (my zed) was also at the rust repair day for everyone to see. No one said "omg what a rusted piece of crap" we all know how rust can affect our Cars. It's not what the car is because mine didn't get that way because i neglected it, it's that now everytime i put in another weekend, hour, $500- $1000 i get one step closer to that goal. I Will achieve my goal.

[Bigfella]

Ok here ya go..

 

Yes you can put your arm in that rust hole

[C.A.R.]

Nice rust you have the Matt

 

It's all quite fixable mate, but I would completely paint strip it first to see exactly what the extent of the rust is.

BTW is the chassis straight?

[Bigfella]

Yeah this one will be going back to metal.

 

The chassis looks good. No kinks in the engine bay a couple of dings on the under side, but nothing to bad. That is by far the worst on the car. Floor pans look good even the other side looks ok. But hey looks can be deceiving. i will start stripping in down over the next couple of weeks and go from there.

 

[gav240z]

I have made the plunge into the Dato River. 

 

Yes you can put your arm in that rust hole

 

Well it sounds like you know what you are getting yourself into. I'm just hoping for your sake that what's visible to you right now is the worst of it. At least it appears this car hasn't had someone try and cover it all up with bog - which in my opinion often just makes it all worse.

 

Good luck with it.

[Bigfella]

I have had a day of tinkering today. Just stuff like changing the flat tyre. Crawling around looking for rust.

I tried to get it running today, even went a bought a battery but no luck. It fired but that's about all. The plugs and points look good and it is getting fuel, even if there was a fair bit on the ground. I think the fuel pump is leaking. So no joy there.

 

I am pretty happy with the car other than that. It looks like the rust has restricted it self to that one quarter mostly. Of course there is rust in other places but not to bad.

 

Here is a link to some more picks

 

http://gallery.me.com/bigfellas/100131

[C.A.R.]

Tis a challenge for sure - have you got anywhere decent to strip it down & start the resto, Matt?

[Bigfella]

yeah it will be going into the garage. Limited space. But I'm hoping ok. I was thinking of putting an undercover part at the front of the garage so I can work on it out side as well.

 

I like a challenge. it's no fun other wise.. 

[Zedman240®]

First problem I see are those carbs! Throw them into the nearest river... or a Viking type funeral. Once you have decent carbs, you will be making the fault finding alot easier.

[Bigfella]

First problem I see are those carbs! Throw them into the nearest river... or a Viking type funeral. Once you have decent carbs, you will be making the fault finding alot easier.

I will save that for the rebuild..

 

I was just trying to get it to run so I could get it up and down the drive easily so I could give it a clean before I start pulling it down. I reckon the engine will be out in a couple of weeks. I would have just like to hear the purr from the engine before it goes on a stand for the next couple of years..

 

[Bruce]

Matt,

Well done on the purchase.

I have an engine crane that you are welcome to borrow for the engine removal if you are interested.

cheers

Bruce

 

[Bigfella]

Matt,

Well done on the purchase.

I have an engine crane that you are welcome to borrow for the engine removal if you are interested.

cheers

Bruce

 

Might just take you up on that Bruce.

I have a week of next week. So fingers crossed I can pull it out then..

[reverendzed]

Well done Matt,

When you strip the Zed down (make sure you buy those ziplock bags and a black paint pen) and bag everything you can with good explanations written on it (paint pen because after about 12 months permanent marker even fades!), remember if it's 2 year between reassemble all the others parts of life get in the way of remembering where all those bits and pieces bolt on to.  Then write yourself a small project management plan where you can actually tick stuff off - this is how you actually finish projects and resist the urge to lose motivation and pass a project to someone else...who inturn passes it to someone else...

 

This is how I got 3 Zeds done in 4 years, planning, planning, planning!

If I can be of any help, you only have to yell!

Rev.

[Bigfella]

Thanks Rev.

I have been reading how to rebuild your z. He also stresses ziplock bags. So I will be buying them in bulk.. Thanks for the paint pen tip..

 

I'm very happy to be part of the in people now..

 

 

[Bigfella]

A got just a little bit excited today. I managed to get the car running. My wife promptly came out and told me it this may be the last time the engine will run.. I don't think she has a lot of faith in my mechanical skills. I don't blame her. I have the week off so the engine will come out this week. "Thanks to Bruce for the lend of the crane".

 

I have pulled a couple of panels of and some carpet and no more so far no more surprises .