I'd like some input...

[Carl Beck]

Esteban ask:

....snipped...

I see lots of surface rust in the underbody pics but Im no expert and I want to know if im really screwed! also this is my first restoration project and I knew the car would need it I just want to know if it is as bad as it seems.

....snipped...

Hi Esteban:

For five hundred bucks, I'd have bought that car in instant. If the rear bumper is as good as the front one looks... then the wheels/tires, early SU's and bumpers are worth the $500.00 you paid for the car.

Looking at the condition of the metal in the front suspension, as well as the place the frame rail is eaten up - my guess would be that the car sat in salt water at some point. (aka a flood car). I'd afraid I'd have to agree that the car is a lot cause for anyone other than a highly experienced auto body man, with lots of metal working skills.

I wouldn't start a restoration project, nor even a refresh project with a unibody in that bad a condition. I would use that car as a parts car only.

As someone already mentioned, its the rust you can't see.. but given the rust damage you can see, I'd bet the rockers are ready to rust through, the doglegs are ready to rust though etc. I'd also bet that when you pull the front fenders off, you'll find damage to the firewall as well.

Living in Texas, I would shop Texas, NM and AZ until I found a solid rust free unibody on a 240-Z. Even if you had to pay $4,500.00 for it... it would still cost you far less in the long run, than trying to stop the rust you have, and fix the damage already done to the parts car. Even then, you run the risk that all other panels in the car will rust though shortly after you've repaired and repainted the car.

If this is one of your first "restoration/refresh" projects... it is very important that you be able to make good progress, without getting totally discouraged. That means it is even more important to find a rust free, very solid body to start with. After you have restored five or ten of these cars, you will be ready to tackle major uni-body work.. but I would not recommend you start out on one.

The bottom line is... my best advice would be to hold the parts car and keep looking for a solid car for your "project". You are living in an area where it's quite possible to find solid 240-Z's if you spend the time looking.

good luck,

Carl

Carl Beck

Clearwater,FLUSA

http://ZHome.com

[alg]

Carl Beck has some good advice.

Back in 2001 I bought a 75' 280z from this guy for about $150CAD because the car had been stored on his property for 5 years and then abandoned by its owner. This car was infact an unfinished project and was not run in all that time.

At a glance the car looked almost rust free but after my dad (master mechanic) inspected the car properly and showed me all the rust we decided to look for a better car. Hell there was rust all over the damn place. Edmonton roads (salted in Winter) are not forgiving to Z's.

Its your decision, and you should make it wisely. Just my 2 cents.

Good Luck,

Alex

[este]

Thanks for the input.

there is a guy here in town that has about 20-30 70-73 Z's in his back yard.

he offered to get me a rust free shell for 600.00 so I may just take him up on it.

only time will tell.

thanks for the answers and sorry to be pestering with questons!

[zorro]

Hey we all had to start sometime some place, the only way u learn is by trying and asking those who know, happy hunting este!

[Carl Beck]

Esteban wrote:

>there is a guy here in town that has about 20-30 70-73 Z's in his

>back yard. he offered to get me a rust free shell for 600.00 so I

>may just take him up on it.

Hi Esteban:

Send me that guy's name and contact info...!! I'd like to talk to him!! Anyone with 20-30 240Z's in his back yard is my kind of guy.

Carl

beck@becksystems.com

[este]

edited because I dont know the policies on posting any business info and I dont want to get in trouble.

Carl: I'll sent you an email.