I'm Lucky to be Alive?

[gema]

Hey guys.

A little bit of bad news on the Z progress...rather, a lot of bad news.

I came home from work today and unpacked my new toolset, got some Zero Rust out, and plugged in my heat gun and putty knife to see what was under that undercoating. I put the car up (front right wheel) on the jack, slid the jackstand under the frame rail, and began to lower the jack. The car made the usual creaking noises, then CRUNCH. I put the jackstand right through the frame rail and floorboard. It went through an area that looked like a patch panel to the floorpan, though I had no idea it was in reality a coverup to frame damage, along with all the undercoating. I suppose I'm lucky to be alive as I wasn't under the car and my placement of the stand expedited the snapping rail, but I don't feel so lucky anymore...my Z just became an expensive parts car, and now I have to buy a shell to transplant everything into. The passenger framerail is snapped near the footwell and the T/C rod area also appears to have bent/twisted/broken, and the floorpan is obviously ruined. Drivers side I haven't a clue. Should I bother with taking off the goop and seeing if I can fix it, or would I be better off buying a rust-free rolling shell and putting the guts in it?

Almost crying,

Nate

[Ed]

Nate, sorry for your bad news. I don' t know how available rust free shells are. Or if they even exist?

Depending on how much you have invested it might be worth repairing your current car. That's the beauty of working with metal you can bend & shape it to your specs.

Put your car up and survey the damage. Post some pictures and maybe someone here can give you some suggestions.

[brianglawson]

i say save you good body panels and make a street-tube-chassis make an entire on, that you can still hang sheetmetal and such, basically where you would have a stock z with a tube chassis:):) that would be so great, and you could make it out of lighter material and everything

[abas]

Nate

take heart from the pictures in Grammercyjam's gallery, even cars that would seem to be scrapyard fodder can be repaired. Even really bad rust in the rails and floorpans can be repaired if it comes to it. I suppose the question is what is the rest of the car like? If it is good then probably worth trying to repair it.

Brian

Interesting suggestion. I have considered something like this on my long term project which has a very rusty front end. Rather than try to source replacement inner wings I was considering making up a tube front end, which can be made significantly stronger and lighter than original. ( It is intended to make it into some kind of track car so it would need some strengthening to the front end anyway)

As I haven't done anything like this berfore the difficulty is knowing where to start and with what strength materials.

Andrew

[gema]

Looking at a replacement today, and I called about one in San Diego. No sense in moping about, moving forward is key. I'm a bit hesistant to get under the car, and I don't think it's worth my time to repair. When the rail cracked, the T/C box also 'snapped' from the body. I think this is one I strip of everything and roll to the junkers. I will take pics though, and you all can be the judge. I'm just glad I'm alive to type this morning =D And that my brother, in his sympathies, checked our local (and i mean LOCAL) paper, and theres a '73 for $500! Maybe it's worth my time to check it out.

[Fun_in_my_z]

Well if you will be selling any parts. Keep me in mind:classic:

[Bruce Palmer]

... in finding a body and that is great, but as a side step that won't take any time, post a message on www.autobodystore.com and ask if any of the body type people in your area might suggest a fabricator that could do the repairs.

Man, that "crunch" had to be a sickening feeling..

I'd suggest maybe Zero Rust and duct tape, but I think you're beyond even that....

Try the autobodystore thing. You might be surprised....

[Murph]

Gema: Sorry to hear it. I know the feeling all too well, as a very similar thing happened with my zed car. Basically one chassis rail was broken into three pieces, dodgily repaired, bogged over then sprayed with sound deadener so it all looked good. One month into ownership of my zed the 'repair' broke as I was braking to avoid a kid that rode out in front of me. VERY lucky no one was hurt in that incident.

My advice..... If you do decide to repair it, make sure it's done by someone with experience in restoration of cars, not just the local panel shop.