major ZX depression
 

Okay, so I bought this '79 280ZX that had a lot of california time, so I figured rust wouldn't be too much of an issue. I got it from my brother in law, for a decent price. ($2500, with not one mechanical error, made the smoothest drive home possible) The car inside though was a worn, so after about a month of driving it I got tired and decided to restore it. This has been a lot more severe than I ever thought possible. I gutted the interior thinking it was just the inside, because all of the outer body pannels are sound. Today I went to jack the car up and put it on stands, so that I could change the oil, gas, and bleed the breaks. (hadn't driven or cranked it in about a month, due to money problems) I could barely get it up because it seemed like everywhere I put the jack I bent metal. I am guessing every bit of flooring underneath that car is going to need to be replaced. I don't really know, but I also don't have a lot of cash to throw around. I guess what I am wondering is this. Should I just give up and sell the car? I know that most Z's can't be in perfect condition, and not everyne can be rich, so I don't know what to do. This car is really starting to drag on me, and it's already lost the carpe

You're not jacking the car using the floorboards are you? Just wondering cause that's not where you want to put the jacks at. You put them on that little thin "railing" that goes along the side of the car underneath the door. If you try to jack up the car with the floorboards you'll bend the frame and ruin your boards.
John 82ZXT

My 81zx does the same thing. I tryed jacking the car, I jacked it from the beams and the bottom of the car is to damn rusted that the jack just bends right into the floor. I think I might take the car to the junk yard but I need to think more about it. The car even runs...

the best pace to jack the car up is on the cross member right under the engine.. and thats where you want to put your jack stands too... thats the srongest part of your car...

The cross member works best front and rear dont use the frame if possilbe. On my 78 it isnt an issue but my 81 does not like the frame jack idea at all.