DreamZproject

All good, it seems as though you guys have the right approach towards the project. Always time later to do the crazy stuff. My suggestion having just faced all the possible problems you can have in starting one of these projects is if you can afford to spend more cash up front you are going to save yourself HEAPS of money and time later. Get yourself a car that has been properly rust repaired and looked after, none of these bog and fiberglass jobs that are all too common (like mine was ). The chassis and panel work is roughly 70% of the cost of these cars seeing as though they rust so damn easily. Whereas something like an L28 motor starts as low as $200 and for 1k second hand you can have yourself something really decent. Before buying anything, meet up with someone that has one of these cars close by and get as much information off them as possible (there are very specific things about these cars that can be easily detected if you know what you are looking for). Sounds amazing guys! I wish my dad was forking out all the cash for mine!

Before telling someone straight up that they're wrong you need to do a bit more research. This research will probably lead you to the fact that this route of project is really not necessary/ a good idea for an inexperienced driver. The heaviest 260z will weigh 1.3 tonnes, and i mean a real flabby 2+2 with auto box, airconditioning, 2 containers of bog in it etc. 2 seaters (which is what most people prefer) are quite close to 1.1 ton, and the early 260 (like mine) is closer to 1. As for the cost of this, have you any idea? Its not impossible, its what I'm doing, but i now have a full time job. Committing yourself to this sort of project really takes a chunk of your life. Do you really want that level of commitment and cost while you are trying to study? It just isn't going to happen until you finish studying, unless your dad is willing to fork out roughly the 30k minimum it will cost to do this project. As for the engine being more reliable, eh. Give the L series a freshen up and it will last for as long as any RB, if not longer. Feel the need for reliability? lucky the 280zx had an approved engine with efi on it. 260's have what ever you want to put in them. The reason I was suggesting an L28 in it is because that is what currently more than half the Z community is running in their 260's. It is as close as you could possibly get to a direct bolt in replacement, requires no engineering (WAY cheaper insurance) and can be picked up for as little as 200 bucks. This engine out of the box gives you 145hp, strangled by emissions and conservative stock factors. Want 180hp, easy, bolt on a couple of upgrades and you're done. This simple route gives you a car that does 0-100's of mid 6's! My current car does low 7's with a ton of rear mechanical grip, and no turbo to jump in all of a sudden. There have been times where i nearly crapped myself, and I am by no means a crazy driver (Lurch I'm looking at you). Had i crashed in my MR2 I would have been not the best. Its a pretty small car. had i been in a 260, I would probably not be able to walk again. No matter what you do to these cars, they will never be easy to drive for an inexperienced driver. Stronger brakes will give you the confidence to brake harder and later, but is that necessarily safe? Harder shocks mean you can corner faster, which is obviously not safer. Even if you intend to drive like a granny (which I'm under no illusions you will), these cars have the potential to be very unforgiving if you don't know what you are doing, let alone with a turbo strapped to it! There is a guy on here (Can't remember who it was) who has the L28 turbo (which it came in stock form) in his 2 seater, and he almost flat out refuses to drive it in the wet, and he by no means lacks driving experience. What I'm saying is if you absolutely have to have a Z, i hear ya! I'm the same! But seriously, these cars are enough work and power when simply using what god gifted to them naturally. If you don't believe me go take a ride in Lurch's L24 240z. Hands down the most scary thing I've done in my life, but he seemed to know what he was doing :/ Also make sure that you don't correct people for corrections sake, yeah wow there were 200 uber rare stupidly expensive non road legal engines out there, that's obviously not what you're going to use. I strongly suggest you so some more research online, but even better, come and look at these cars, get a real feel for them, their speed and reliability. I think you'll be blown away. Hope this helps

Do you have any idea how fast this car would be!?!? A car like this for someone who will have just be learning to drive is insanity! Hell I have an MR2 that would have half the power to weight of this and i get myself in to enough trouble as it is. Why not just start out with the L28 so he can legaly drive it on his P's and when he's off them you can consider changing it. The RB26TT (only ever came out in twin turbo) puts out 280hp stock. The car itsself only weighs a touch over 1 tonne giving you a 0-100 of easily under 5 seconds. This car + an inexperienced driver sounds like at best a massive waste of money (as I have no doubt that the car will get some form of damage, and they aren't cheap cars to fix), or at worst a tin can coffin. Have you seen the protection the doors will offer you??? (the answer is 0). If he absolutely HAS to have a Z, i completely understand it, but as a driver who is a year or two away from getting my full licsence, i am shit scared of the prospect of driving a car this expensive and powerful (plus not the easiest to drive) and that's just with a L28 in it! If he has to have a Z, just start off by using the stock motor. He will find it EASILY has enough power for years to come.

Hey man, welcome, again? Wow! I don't know what I'd do if my Z got smashed up!!! Did you get an insurance payoff etc? These cars really are irreplaceable, I don't think I could go through what I already have and am going to do to get my car on the road. So applause to you!

Well thats exactly what i was after! They use the term coupon, so i must have been searching for the wrong key word Thanks Moss!

Hey guys, just about to do a big shop online at thezstore.com and was wondering if anyone had any voucher codes? I just signed up to their email, so haven't got any yet. Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Zmas, I hope Zanta clauz has brought me some Z bits. But seriously.

Done

Does anyone know of any other suppliers that will sell the gas cylinders cheaply?

Ok, well i might go down to Supagas and have a little look around, shame that there aren't any within an hours drive of me Thanks guys

Yeah i know its a little vague, but considering a complete rotiss jobbie I'm sure you guys could estimate better than me. I think Aus sizes are a little different, unless you have some sort of ungodly huge bottle :/ How many liters of gas is there in a E bottle and/or a D bottle? I think from the research that i could gather a D or E bottle would be best... Oh and are we are supposed to use around 15l/m right? (I may use a little more being outside) I'm assuming around 300L would be idea to give me just over 3 hours of continuous welding???

I will be Migging up my whole car at some point relatively soon, and I'd like to get an idea of which size bottle i should get. I'd obviously be going for Argoshield light or the similar equivalent. I also really dislike the idea of having to pay for bottle rental, especially considering how in the future I'll only be using the bottle very sparingly... I realise there are a few places around VIC that you can buy bottles, but which is the best/ cheapest, and which size should i be buying from them? (I will also be doing a fair amount of practicing before i get to the car as i have never welded before!)

Hey guys, as the title says. I'm not in urgent need for these items, I'd prefer to wait and get the right condition/ price. I own both doors and bonnet, but they are in fairly bad condition and I don't possess the skills to fix the amount of damage they have. As for the mirrors, I am after the bullet JDM ones (they dont have to be the legit Z car ones, i believe the ones I'm after are from a blue bird or something. These don't need to be in perfect condition as i wish to paint them black anyway. I just don't want to have to pay $300 for a pair. Thanks guys!

*Decent for ebay chinese welder prices

For the next couple of days Super Cheap Auto is selling Cigweld 135A MIG welders for around $270. Price match it at Masters and get 10% off this price and you have got yourself a decent cheap name brand welder for around $240! Hope this helps someone. But the sale ends soon, so jump on it quick.

Hey guys. Up for sale is a 1976 260z 2+2 Shell that has roughly 98% of the body work done. All the rust has been cut out and re-welded by a professional, and the exterior of the body has been media blasted and etch primed. There are a couple of little spots where surface rust have surfaced (from the repaired areas weld (see pics)), but from what i can see, the car is now 99.99% rust free. All that is missing from the car (panel wise) is a bonnet, and the only panels that need work are the black front fenders. (oh and just a couple of small spots on the hatch) There is a spare cut-up fender included that may help in restoring the black fenders. Here are the rest of the parts; (Notice bottom left corner (small fix)). Here are a few of the areas that have been repaired (as you can see, quite well) (notice the slight rust bleeding here, will probably need to be sanded back and resprayed) The car has been stripped of parts on the interior besides the loom, and looks to be rust free. This is also mirrored on the underside of the car (which I couldn't get my camera under due to how close the car is to the ground (I forgot to take pictures beforehand )). So yeah, a great car for those who don't want to have to go through what I am currently faced with a bill in the 5 figures for rust repair alone :/ .... $1,500 ONO Car is located 15mins from the CBD of Melbourne.

Not good news from the doc There are some real serious decisions to be made here...

WOW! you actually found some tires that fit!!! Thank you very much, this information I thought didn't exist. This might just help solve my problem... Hmmm on second look, none of these will have an appropriate rolling diameter... I think a 255/60/15 would be too big compared to stock and a 295/50/15 would be similar, but like a flabby cousin... Nup, I think wide 15's are really out. :/

It's not 40 yet!!!! (will be in April though ) Yeah that's the idea. Get it restored so I never have to worry about rust in my lifetime again.

I'll actually be after it at some point soon. just need to pay for sand blasting, welding and painting first :/

I haven't taken all the pics of rust. You'll see it tomorrow.

Hehehhe its the stripped out weight saving option.

DONE! Here are a few little examples of the cancer... :/ Luckily Lurch is coming over tomorrow and he'll give me the proper diagnosis. In my opinion it seems bad, but not terrible. I'm sure there's worse out there.

Z class racing? Z Vs. Z...

What rims have you swapped to Dimitri?