Where do I even start on my new z.

[cogspin]

Long story short, I managed to grab a 240z in I believe good condition for 3k. It has a few obvious rust issues on the hatch window and some surface rust here and there. But the chassis has never had a prang, it's straight and there no serious damage over all.

 

It's pretty much stripped down as well. Still sitting on good suspension, good wheels, has a stripped down engine bay with an L28 p90/f54 turbo still sitting in there, but apart from the steering wheel and dashboard, there is no interior at all. Essentially the car is rolling shell blank canvas.

 

Where do I go from here.. One side is telling me to strip it further, sandblast it and patch up any holes and then rust protection along with primer/paint etc. The other is telling me to clean it up and just piece it back together again with a few touch ups just to get it over the pits and on the road without breaking the bank.

 

I don't mind doing the job properly, but is it really going to cost me 10k (someone threw this figure over the table talking away to me) just to blast, bodywork (extremely minor body work, except for maybe a brand new hatch and fenders) and paint?

 

Slightly lost.

[Ledge]

Hi Cogspin

Sorry to tell you but unless you can do almost all the work yourself 10K

is cheap.

On average to blast a car repair lets say 5 rusty sections and get metal done

good enough for 2mm or less of bog, high fill prime, block, prime, block and

top coat you would easy spend 15 to 20.

We use only PPG or Glasurit and would put 5k worth of product on your car.

You may find a bog jockey to do it for less that 10k but good luck in a couple of years time.

 

If you just want to drive it then get what you need to get done for it to pass rego

and enjoy

 

Regards

Paul

[nizm0zed]

Id have to rally say, concentrate on getting it rego'd

Once you get past that, you can drive it around a bit, enjoy it, think about what you want to do with it, then get into it.

 

[handsandwhich]

My opinion is, these cars are just getting to a point where they are not feasible to restore as labour costs just start to get astronomical and when you add this to the fact that you can buy a lot better, modern cars for the same money invested, well you can see why there are a lot of z's out there that will just sit there waiting for a revival.

 

That's not to say people won't restore them as a labour of love, but unless you can do (or learn to do) a lot of the work yourself, then be prepared to pay to play so to speak.

 

 

[Pedro]

hamsandwich speaks sense. well said. there is nothing more special when done, but $ wise its a blowout.

[zzzzed]

My opinion is, these cars are just getting to a point where they are not feasible to restore as labour costs just start to get astronomical and when you add this to the fact that you can buy a lot better, modern cars for the same money invested, well you can see why there are a lot of z's out there that will just sit there waiting for a revival.

 

That's not to say people won't restore them as a labour of love, but unless you can do (or learn to do) a lot of the work yourself, then be prepared to pay to play so to speak.

 

Yes you could buy a lot newer car for the price one would pay to restore a zed. But there is no fun on that. And the newer car would not hold its value as the zed will. My every day car is a $600 jackaroo because I prefer to put my money int to my 240z which I will always get far more satisfaction and enjoyment out of and will hold its value

[luvemfast]

I too sacrifice my daily driver, for my Z.

Cosspin, what are your plans for the Z?

Show, street or strip?  Er I mean track? 

[peter mc]

If you love the zed fix it up and enjoy it there a great sports car , but if you just got it and think i will spend 5000 and have a car ,,, well if you are not doing all the repears your self, you have the wrong car

[dat2kman]

Yes, the $$ will be up there,,, but,,,, you could spend the same amount on say a Datsun 1200 coupe, to get it right, and what do you have?

A 1200 coupe!. Or, stick to the Z, you have a true classic, with engine enhancement!!!

 

How are the floors under the carpet, and the inner top rails under the guards?

When they are lokking pinholey, then better to consider a full strip, and do the whole thing, otherwise, keep it minimal, and do what is obvious, but have a good look around for preventative work looking into the future.

[gav240z]

My 200 cents is.....

 

Don't worry about it being perfect if you are on a budget just get her in good mechanical order and enjoy driving it. Honestly there is nothing less motivational than having a car off the road for a long time. Mine is not perfect body wise but I get it out and enjoy it. You can always touch things up as you go. Besides I kind of like the rat rod look it allows for more creativity I feel.

 

I would also say don't be afraid to do it yourself and more importantly don't be scared to fudge it up either. Only way to learn really. If in 3 or 4 or 8 years time (me) you still love it and still want to do a strip down go for it then. At least you will have scratched the paint put a dent in it and replaced most mechanical bits allowing you to do a good make over and keep that pristine body.

[Lynton]

First work out what realistic outcome you want from the car in its appearance/mechanically and the $$ you are prepared to invest in it, knowing that gives you your sincerity of indulgement of what is needed to get the car on the road and enjoying the drive.

No matter how well you prepare your car it is a 40 YO car and somewhere within the panels or mechanicals it will require your devoted attention again!!

My opinion is fix the car to the best of your ability make it look nice and enjoy driving it, keep it garaged and protected and as time goes by there will be those little pesky things that will come up once again need your attention.................treat it as work in progress..............enjoy 8)Lynton

[cogspin]

Thank you for the advice and guidance guys It's really appreciated considering you all own a z and have no doubt experienced all of this before.

 

I think for now I'll concentrate on cleaning her up a little, get her on the road and enjoy the ride! I'll no doubt use this forum to my full advantage here and there, as this will definitely be a work in progress.