newbie here
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newbie here
hey guys... new 79 280zx owner here... just wanting a few pointers.... this car is a bad victim of severe frame rot and a few other good rusted area. the engine and tranny are in good condition and can be brought back to life. I know this is going to be alot of work... that is why i only have this as a project car and not my daily driver (which is an 85 mkII supra). I am planning on taking out everything.... from the interior to the suspension.... from the engine to the gas tank.... and try to breath life back into the body once again. I was owndering if anyone here has any pointers about doing the frame work my self and do you think it will be worth it in the end... also ..what kind of improvements i can make on anything on the car to make it cheaper and better in the end. here are a few pics..
http://community.webshots.com/user/onephatcracka
http://community.webshots.com/user/onephatcracka
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 646
My friend wrote an article about a ZX that was brought back to show quality
after a major fire. It all depends on how bad he subframe is on your particular car. If the rust looks bad now just wait until you start stripping stuff on it and see whats underneath the paint and undercoating. It can be brought back , but it all depends on how much time and money you want to put into it.
You also might be able to find a ZX with a bad motor and a good body and subframe for much cheaper then restoring the one you have .
Mike
after a major fire. It all depends on how bad he subframe is on your particular car. If the rust looks bad now just wait until you start stripping stuff on it and see whats underneath the paint and undercoating. It can be brought back , but it all depends on how much time and money you want to put into it.
You also might be able to find a ZX with a bad motor and a good body and subframe for much cheaper then restoring the one you have .
Mike
Originally Posted by onephatcracka
hey guys... new 79 280zx owner here... just wanting a few pointers.... this car is a bad victim of severe frame rot and a few other good rusted area. the engine and tranny are in good condition and can be brought back to life. I know this is going to be alot of work... that is why i only have this as a project car and not my daily driver (which is an 85 mkII supra). I am planning on taking out everything.... from the interior to the suspension.... from the engine to the gas tank.... and try to breath life back into the body once again. I was owndering if anyone here has any pointers about doing the frame work my self and do you think it will be worth it in the end... also ..what kind of improvements i can make on anything on the car to make it cheaper and better in the end. here are a few pics..
http://community.webshots.com/user/onephatcracka
http://community.webshots.com/user/onephatcracka
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yea.... i thought that would probably get me a better idea of what it will take. I'll post pictures at some point to show my progress and more details of the car. Who knows i might be selling some orignal 280zx parts if it comes to it. I tried to find a donor car for the engine and tranny, but it's pretty hard to find one on the east coast near PA. Does anyone know of any around here?
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 131
From: Southside of Atlanta Georgia
Good luck with your project, replacing the frame rails is lots of work but would be great knowing you did all the work yourself. Depending on what you need to replace there are a couple of places to find parts. Zedd Findings @ Datsunzparts.com and I think the zbarn also has rails and replacement floor pans. Zedd's stuff I have heard was top notch and a good fit.
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If you want to go the hardway, put it to your garage and then start welding... And like you said it is going to be alot of work!! But because its not your daily driver go for it. Thats how i decided too 
And if you dont count the hours its the cheapest way too... Here is one picture of my ZX at the moment, as you can see there's a very long road ahead for me too!
And if you dont count the hours its the cheapest way too... Here is one picture of my ZX at the moment, as you can see there's a very long road ahead for me too!
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 532
From: Houston Tx. Cleveland Tx. New Caney Tx. and every other Tx.
One thing you can do to make it cheaper in the end is put a chevey v8 in it. also change the placement of the engine for beter handle that may mean fabricating your motor mounts but every last peac counts. I know these things because I have restored a zx also and it is great.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 136
From: Virginia Beach, Va
Originally Posted by FastZ
Just think of it this way, you fix this one and it is one less z in the junkyard. 
We all like to see that now don't we. It is all up to you man.
We all like to see that now don't we. It is all up to you man.
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