Where to start...

[este]

I have posted a few questions so far and I like the place as far as getting true and reliable information!! much better than otehr forums I have been to...

anyway.

I am needing to know what would be the best place to estart the restoration on my car! it is a 1973Z

here is a pic:

nice eh?...well its starting to not sound so nice ha ha

If you search on my other threads there are some serious rust issues!

my sway bar is completely loose on the passenger side as it as rotted off bracket from the frame rail.. (frame rail kit here I go)

As it stands the car will need heavy restoration, that much I know, I can only be glad this will not be mny daily driver! Im wanting to know whewre should i start my project!!

For one the rust seems like it should be my priority

the engine runs good once it starts in the morning it fires up right away everytime so far.

The brakes need some work, I replacedthe master cylinder but the booster may also need to be replaced.

Plus the interior is kinda bad Im waiting for a squirrely to pop out on my everytime I get in the car (it wouldnt surprise me)

so my question is where do I start!! I have worked with hondas but never on anything that needed to be restored, so any help would be appreciated!

BTW: here are my picture thread in case you need to see the pics!

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16006

thanks in advance!

Esteban

[beandip]

There is a book that you must find. '' HOW TO RESTORE YOUR DATSUN Z-CAR '' by Wick Humble . This and a Nissan shop manual . These two books will be vary important to the success of your project. Also there is a site of interest to you geocities.com/zgarage.2001/ I found my copy of resstore at Amazon.com 4 yrs ago I think they may still be in print. It's a Fisher book

[este]

thanks for the hint

[Coastieee240z]

Nice lookin though...hehe Hey ?! Are you hunting monkeys with those fog lights ?? They seem to be aimed a tad on the high side...could be just me though :lick: I haven't read the infamous black book yet but I've seen what beandip's refering to and as he states there's one on amazon currently probably on ebay too which I would check first Amazon seems to be higher priced . Anyway I would think going after the rust would be the main priority to stop it before it gets any worse at least that's how I approach it, luckily I was blessed with little rust on my current z. :bandit:

[texasz]

este, I have yet to see in any post where you indicate where in Texas you live...it's a BIG state. You may want to update your profile with this info so you will never be asked again.

[este]

oh yeah...

Hoouston, Texas.

the car was in someone's backyard in Bellville Texas between Austin and Houston.

The fog lights are huge but they are pointed up because of the flat bed that got the car home. ::

[sblake01]

I'm sorry Coastiee240z but I'm going to have to invoke the ignore list on you for that blue text. I don't know about anyone else but it's kind of hard on these 54 1/2 year old eyes.

[Brett240]

este,

if your sway bar mount has russted away get the thing on a flat bed straight to an autobody shop and have the rails and all suspension mounting points thouroughly examined by a professional. If the sway bar mount is gone then more important areas might be one their way to coming apart (suspension mounts, crossmembers, everywhere where big bits are bolted to the frame etc)

the first thing you want to do on a resto is make sure you are starting on a structurely sound car!!!

Then fix your brakes.

[Coastieee240z]

I'm sorry Coastiee240z but I'm going to have to invoke the ignore list on you for that blue text. I don't know about anyone else but it's kind of hard on these 54 1/2 year old eyes.

Well...sorry to hear it...do as you must but this is a trademark of mine...I'm one of the only ones that does this...just don't go wander over to Got-Z if you're afraid of the blue text as we have no ignore option and I've been there since November of 2003 and there are 8,581 blue posts currently floating about

P.S. I guess you're lucky I think the bright blue text is hard for these 27 year old eyes and generaly looks like crap against the background

[ncz]

Este, I feel your pain. I am at the same point with my 73. It seems the choices are go for broke, build a rotisserie, strip everything off and start with the sand blaster and welder. The flip side is to leave it on rolling bits and kind of work fromt the top down. One way gets you back to driving quicker but the other is more complete. I'm new to the web site also and when I read some of the advice from these guys it makes me want to do the whole resto. I'll be reading more replies to your thread. I want to use this as a good learning experience and but I also want to get the car back on the road. I have some rust on one rocker panel(probably both!), passenger floor and under the battery tray. I missed the other bad spots. Welder is here and new compressor and glass beader are on way(if wife doesn't get wise). These guys on the site have a lot of experience and have helped me already, keep posting and let us know where you go!