So what's the most extensive restoration any of you have done on a zx? What's the worst shape she was in?

 

LWW, Shady280, and I (plus others) have all done complete restorations from the ground up... not cheap, nor particularly fun. I'm into my car $15k-$18k right now:

-new quarter panels
-new rocker panels
-new hood
-new fenders
-new floor boards
-replaced roof
-all new suspension
-turbo (L28ET) motor rebuild / swap
-new wiring / electronics
-countless other things that I have posted here and on cardomain.

 

^ Pretty close to above, yes its not cheap, yes its cheaper to buy one in good shape already lol. Shape? There was none. Rusted out rear, you could do flinstones run trough the floor easily with help of a passenger too! Rusted out sides, rusted frame, rusted towers. Engine in mediocre shape. The state of it now, pretty decent

 

Well that gives me some confidence. I'm not Flintstoning it yet but the whole underside is rusted to hell and the frame might be weakened. I'd like to restore it all but I'm having second thoughts about parts availability. Also I'm trying to figure out a cheap welding machine to start off with and get me through most of the welding I have to do. (Does anyone have a useful link to one? TIG, MIG?) I have a body guy but I'd like to get guidance from him and do the work myself.

 

A "good" welder isn't cheap... and you definitely don't want to learn on a crappy welder (crappy = $120 Harbor Freight flux welders).

MIG = Metal Inert Gas (wire feed), affordable equipment, fairly easy to master.
TIG = Tungsten Inert Gas (electrode & filler rod), very pricey equipment, difficult to master.

I took a 6mo welding course in my auto collision repair classes, then bought a used MIG w/ stand & gas tank for $400 for my garage.

FYI, we have discussed welding in detail in other threads.

 

Ok, yeah I'm in Pennco Tech for Auto Tech so we don't deal with welding to much, we have the machines there for body so I can get some practice in. I shouldn't of said cheap...maybe starter is a better word.