Rust Repair
 

What are some good resources for repairing rust on my 280ZX? Most of it is just surface rust, but in some places the rust has gone all the way through.

There are some rust pics in here to give you an example: http://loddie.googlepages.com/home

Resources as in knowledge or tools / supplies?

Have you ever done body work / rust repair? It's not fun, nor easy. :D If you want to fix the rust on your car I suggest taking some Auto Collision or Auto Restoration classes, or check out a bunch of How To books at the library. I say this through years of personal body work experience... body work isn't fun and easy. Just letting ya know that.

I'm fully prepared for the suckage, lol. I'll check the library the next time I go by it. Thanks.

Get this one foh sho. eh... just click here: http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/Books/references.html

http://www.books4cars.com/ebay/images/75_134579AE.JPG

cut/sand it til bare metal, fill the holes you created, primer and paint.

With what, body filler? :D

lol, noooo. usually metal work, but if you cant do that, you can always go ghetto and lay fiberglass down. lol.

The PO of one of mine sure felt that way. He had 7lbs of filler into a perfectly sculpted lower rear corner. I kept grinding and grinding looking for the metal there was none, the entire thing was made from bofy filler.

I know exactly how you feel. Makes ya wanna punch him. :D

Most of the serious rust is on the the fenders, might it be easier/cheaper to just find replacement fenders? And if so, are there any differences between years?

79-83 all had the same front fenders. Nissan OEM is more expensive than aftermarket, and MUCH better quality (the holes actually line up, thicker sheet metal, better e-coat).

I guess I'll start looking around for some. Thanks.

Start at your local Nissan dealer for OEM, or call around to local auto body part stores to get quotes for an aftermarket (if that's the route you want to go).

10 years ago I paid about $180 per fender from Nissan. Aftermarket was about $100. I imagine it's a lil more expensive now.

I think he was the PO of mine too. The right panel behind the door, solid filler. Luckily I have family in the business and a 14yr old son who thinks he wants to get into bodywork. We'll see.....:040:

Loddie, did you just post/buy that on eBay? I have a set of fenders and a hood that will take much less work than the ones you have and would be much cheaper than buying new. Shipping could be a killer though.

No, we got it from a guy that works with my dad. Thought it would make a good project. How much would we be looking at as far as price + shipping?

not easy, but i have fun with it. i got pretty good pretty fast. but for as much as the tools cost (definately a lot of sticky sand paper (very expensive) and a good many expensive blocks, then the filler, and possibly a welder and scrap metal), you can sometimes get it done for a price that doesn't look too bad. find a good welder and he can probably hook you up for about $200-300. then you still have fare it.

holy crap did they respray over the rust thinking it would stop or something?

I went to school for autobody and welding. Get yourself a sanding block at a automotive store, a little bigger than a bar of soap. And get some 80 grit, 120 grit, 250 grit, 400 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit and a few cans of grey automotive primer, bucket of water for wetsanding with the 1000 grit

this might take you a good amount of time if done correctly.

Use the 80 grit on the sanding block and start to work on the rusted areas. then move up on the grit number, higher and higer till you get to 1,000 grit, blend in all the paint around the now exposed metal. Use the primer and spray it evenly, lightly the first coat, wait till it drys, spray another light coat, repeat until you have about 3 coats on the area you worked on. sand with 1,000 grit and dip the sandpaper and block in water, continue to wetsand until it is smooth on the area you worked on. you can even go to 1,500 grit but that'd be for when the car is painted and you have just finished on the clear coat. to get out any fisheye and orange peel texture.

It damn sure looks like it.

Let me double check tomorrow, if they look ok I'll send pics, give me a couple of days to get back to you. 30 bucks for the pair, shipping may be expensive. I may even check with my cuz and see if he will start my son out early with a sand and seal before I ship. :023:

Sounds good.

Loddie,
Don't stop looking on my account, we're getting 5-8 inches of snow tonight and I haven't cleared the last 6 inches off of the cover yet. Basically I haven't been able to get pics of the fenders. I want to find out what shipping will be too. That would be the clincher if it were me.

On the topic of rust issues, I am in a dead end tonight, I'd appreciate any help if you can...

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2.../3-23-08-E.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...m/3-23-08D.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...m/3-23-08C.jpg

My friend said he will let me borrow his mig welder tomorrow, and some cutters, so I am thinking about and buying some 3/16" stainless steel sheets at Lowe's. Should I just dive in? Any tips? I've been searching and reading forums on hybrid and zcar and obviously here so...

Have you done any body work / sheet metal fabbing before?