Buying my second zcar
#1
Buying my second zcar
Hello everybody,first of all I want to apologise for any grammar errors(English is not my first language)so I will try to do my best. I'm in the process of buying my second zcar,my very first car in general was a 300zx z31(spent 6 months looking for it), I loved it. Once I had it, I started to learn the history of the fairlady z, and z cars. I fell in love with the concept of the 240z, either way too make it short my nimbuz(the nickname I gave to my 300xz) was totaled in an accident 😭 once that happen I decided to look for a 240z. So the past year I been looking for one, but it's been really hard to find an affordoble one, the ones i was looking at where either to expressive or not the one I was looking for due to modifications. So now after looking so long I think I found it, I'm going to go check it out tomorrow. It's a 3 hour and halve drive to go see it.
My plans are to take everything off, to make a complete restoration. I want everything to be done properly and good. I'll take my time to do it right.
My skills are......well I worked in the mechanic shop of my dad for 5 years, so I think I know how to take some bolts and nuts off. I've read on how to do modification, and how to do things that I'm not familiar with, like body work.
So if I do end up getting this Car, I will learn how to repair rusty areas, how to weld and many more things, but I am asking for the help of this community with any tips, recommendation, hints, and even insults, if I have to, I will take them as long as they help me out.
My resources are a shop with many tools, my budget is really low right now so I'm calculating that this year i will be taking it a part.
Please let me know what you think about this plan and also I will try to keep updating with many pictures.
My plans are to take everything off, to make a complete restoration. I want everything to be done properly and good. I'll take my time to do it right.
My skills are......well I worked in the mechanic shop of my dad for 5 years, so I think I know how to take some bolts and nuts off. I've read on how to do modification, and how to do things that I'm not familiar with, like body work.
So if I do end up getting this Car, I will learn how to repair rusty areas, how to weld and many more things, but I am asking for the help of this community with any tips, recommendation, hints, and even insults, if I have to, I will take them as long as they help me out.
My resources are a shop with many tools, my budget is really low right now so I'm calculating that this year i will be taking it a part.
Please let me know what you think about this plan and also I will try to keep updating with many pictures.
#3
Yes, welcome to the ZDriver forums. I'm part way through my own full restoration and am happy to have a compatriot. I hope your purchase works out. I personally had to get two cars to make one good one. Make sure to post lots of photos and keep us up to date on the project!
Good luck! We'll help all we can.
Good luck! We'll help all we can.
#4
sad day
bad news for me, the car was a total rust bucket. I decided not to get it, I believe i can find one in way better shape
my search continues, by the way they wanted 1300 for this 240z(it sadness me seeing it in this shape) the engine would crank, but it would not turn on, something do with the carbs. I don't know for how many years it was sitting down. Either way this car had to come from the northend part of the country cause of the salts. The bottom was a nightmare, either way they got down on the price, to 800, but even though it was tempting i finally decided to keep looking for anther one. What is the opinion of the community on this?
my search continues, by the way they wanted 1300 for this 240z(it sadness me seeing it in this shape) the engine would crank, but it would not turn on, something do with the carbs. I don't know for how many years it was sitting down. Either way this car had to come from the northend part of the country cause of the salts. The bottom was a nightmare, either way they got down on the price, to 800, but even though it was tempting i finally decided to keep looking for anther one. What is the opinion of the community on this?
#6
here we go again
Hey what's up guys, so i been looking and after doing some more search i decided to get me a 280z, that i found on craiglist. Now i've read and know a little about the differences on the 240z and the 280z, so even though there are some pros and cons there pretty much the same, at least to the point of what i want. Either way I'm picking it up tomorrow, but ill be posting more stuff on it and pictures too.
#7
As I was going through this thread and came upon the pictures (before I read the comment you are NOT buying the rust bucket) I thought to myself "Goodness! The job guys are really willing to take upon themselves for the love of a car!" That car is way too gone for any mere mortal to do anything with it. Good luck on the 280Z
#8
Hey what's up guys, so i been looking and after doing some more search i decided to get me a 280z, that i found on craiglist. Now i've read and know a little about the differences on the 240z and the 280z, so even though there are some pros and cons there pretty much the same, at least to the point of what i want. Either way I'm picking it up tomorrow, but ill be posting more stuff on it and pictures too.
#9
This is what i got
Hello guys, this is what i end up getting, this car is in way better shape than the last one, i end up paying to much(i think) for it($2000)but oh well its done already. So here is what i know about the car. So an old lady drove it a couple years back(12years or so) and for some x reason, it broke and it was parked.
They left it alone due to the fact that the lady had no need of it, until recently, where his nephew found out about it and decided to sell it.it would not start, i had to rent a trailer. I spent all day trying to turn it on, and well after removing the old gas and replacing it with good one, getting a battery, cutting the cables and splicing the battery terminal connection and cleaning them. I got to the point where it would crank up. I used a little of starting fluid to get it going but it would not stay on. My conclusion is that the fuel pump is bad, cause I'm getting voltage to the pump but i believe is not enough pressure to feed the fuel system. Either way i just wanted to hear it and see if it would run. Now there is a lot of rust areas that i need to fix, but i will start taking everything apart tomorrow. So project restoration starts tomorrow.
[IMG]http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/Eduardo_Garcia_Estrada
They left it alone due to the fact that the lady had no need of it, until recently, where his nephew found out about it and decided to sell it.it would not start, i had to rent a trailer. I spent all day trying to turn it on, and well after removing the old gas and replacing it with good one, getting a battery, cutting the cables and splicing the battery terminal connection and cleaning them. I got to the point where it would crank up. I used a little of starting fluid to get it going but it would not stay on. My conclusion is that the fuel pump is bad, cause I'm getting voltage to the pump but i believe is not enough pressure to feed the fuel system. Either way i just wanted to hear it and see if it would run. Now there is a lot of rust areas that i need to fix, but i will start taking everything apart tomorrow. So project restoration starts tomorrow.
[IMG]http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/Eduardo_Garcia_Estrada
#11
Help in the next step, how to stop rust?
Hey guys, so as you can see from the pics above I'm currently waiting on welding this part(I know is not the best bent sheet metal, but i dont have the right tool) and also still debating if i should re do it again. Now my question is before i weld, what should i used in order to prevent the somewhat rust that is on car where i cut the metal from, I've been doing some searching here and there and I'm debating if i should use eastwood rust converter or should i use another product. Also another question should i move this thread to another section. Thanks
#13
Congrats on finding your Z!
To post photos, sign in, click 'Post Reply', click on that little paper clip to the right of the smiley face at the top of the text space, locate your photos, click 'Upload', click 'Submit Reply', you’re done!
To post photos, sign in, click 'Post Reply', click on that little paper clip to the right of the smiley face at the top of the text space, locate your photos, click 'Upload', click 'Submit Reply', you’re done!
Last edited by zxguy1986; 03-22-2015 at 09:42 PM.
#15
Bending sheet metal
I clean the area with a grinder that had a wirebrush wheel on it
From some of the videos I've watch on youtube I used a paperbag to do my tracing
got myself a sheet of metal cut a square to match the paperbag template
Now here is the sort of a issue, i dont have the proper tool to do the vents so i tried using this vicegrip
I align the line with the vicegrip and now i just pushed forward on it
not all the way and just left a what looks like a 20-30 degrees of an angle( i just eyeball it)
move it up to the next lineup
and bent backwards now
Its not perfect but looks ok
#16
used tape to help me guide where to cut
Used a air wheel cutter, to cut
removing the cancer
Here is where I'm currently stuck and don't know what to use to eliminate the rust, for any of you guys out there should i used the eastwood rust converter or should i use another product
#18
That's great work. Saving a Z-car is a worthwhile project. Keep us posted.
Although I haven't used it personally, a good friend of mine restored a 1963 Mercedes 190SL and used POR-15 to help out with the rust issues. First time out the 190SL won Best In Show at an international 190SL show. It's a beautiful car, took him eight years to restore.
Anyway, if he says it works, I believe him.
There are lots of reviews on the web for the POR-15 product, check them out and make your own decision. I think the Eastwood product would work but having something to compare to always helps.
Although I haven't used it personally, a good friend of mine restored a 1963 Mercedes 190SL and used POR-15 to help out with the rust issues. First time out the 190SL won Best In Show at an international 190SL show. It's a beautiful car, took him eight years to restore.
Anyway, if he says it works, I believe him.
There are lots of reviews on the web for the POR-15 product, check them out and make your own decision. I think the Eastwood product would work but having something to compare to always helps.
#20
You still have a lot of work to roll that piece to the radius of the roof.
Top and front side.
That is the one spot I would have a pro do.
The windshield gasket area needs to be perfect as well. Otherwise you are looking
at a leaking headliner.
Top and front side.
That is the one spot I would have a pro do.
The windshield gasket area needs to be perfect as well. Otherwise you are looking
at a leaking headliner.
#21
Rolling sheet metal
Hey thanks for the comments, and hey can you please give me an advice on how to do that, i been looking online and when i look on how to roll it, they usually do it with flat sheet of metal, thanks for the help
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