My Z project is underway

[J P D]

Hey guys, right now im "career changing" so it gives me plenty of time to get started on my car. Here are some pics of how my car looked when i bought it.

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=8408

The car is pretty clean with only minor surface rust in spots. frame rails, battery tray, and floor pans are all solid as a rock but it has its share of dingers. I just drained all the fluids and probably gonna be takin out the motor and trans tomorrow. I dont exactly know what all im going to do to this car but i am gonna take it down to the shell and get the body perfect and go from there. Im really in no hurry to get it back together so im gonna take my time and do everything right. Ill keep you guys posted as i tear it apart.

[Fun_in_my_z]

Thats the hardest part getting started. Man i want to go driving!

[=Resurected280=]

Nice Car!!!! Thats way better than the starting point than I had, keep us posted and good luck!!!

[J P D]

yeah its a great starting point. if i do anything half assed to this car the Z gods will probably strike me dead.

[EScanlon]

....snip...The car is pretty clean with only minor surface rust in spots. frame rails, battery tray, and floor pans are all solid as a rock but it has its share of dingers....snip... gonna be takin out the motor and trans tomorrow. I dont exactly know what all im going to do to this car.....snip..... Im really in no hurry to get it back together so im gonna take my time and do everything right....

emphasis mine.

So let me get this straight. You are planning on taking apart an otherwise clean car with minor rust and a few dings for the enjoyment of taking it apart? And this without a plan? And you're hoping to do everything right?

JP, I'll be blunt. I can see your classified ad 5 years from now:

"Series I 240Z, WAS in excellent condition needing minor rework, now in pieces all over my garage and my friend's garages. Pretty much all the pieces are there (I hope), started to "restore" it but ran out of time and money. This is definitely a project car for someone who has the inclination to pick up where I left off. Best offer over $500 takes it. Will not ship, pick up only, bring 2 trailers, one for car and another for all the parts I've got stored everywere in boxes."

Or in another manner of speaking....

ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FRIGGIN MIND?

Take that car, go out and drive it for a couple of thousand miles.

ENJOY THE RIDE!!!

Then and only then, start fixing things.

Don't misunderstand what I'm telling you. It is natural to want to take a car apart, and "restore" it to your dream of perfection. The sad fact though, is that there are so many owners out there that with all the best intentions in the world started to do just that and ended up with parts cars.

This is such a common occurrence with new and enthusiastic owners, and this club is no exception. I can probably name more members off the top of my head who've garnered more garage time between them, than the short term lot at O'hare. Don't fall in this trap....IF IT AIN'T BROKE...DON'T GO FIXING IT!!!! I can't say this emphatically enough.

I understand your wish, and I want you to understand that it is a LOT premature. So I'll repeat myself, drive the car, enjoy the ride, get to know it's individual characteristics, tune yourself to "listening" to her, THEN and only THEN start fixing.

You'll be hundreds if not THOUSANDS of dollars ahead, a gazillion times more satisfied and what's more, you'll at least have put some miles on her.

If on the other hand, you are intent on tearing a car down for the sake of tearing it down, I have one that I'll trade you and toss in money to boot.

Just my 2¢

Enrique

[J P D]

ok, i knew it wouldnt be long before a post like this came up. I fully understand were your coming from. Let me first start by saying the car is in good shape, but maybe in the pictures it appears alot nicer than in person. there is "minor rust" now that could soon turn into a problem, the body is so wavy from dents it looks like a bad bondo job. suspension is shot. the engine is on its last leg, very bad compression, trans grinds terrible and when i drained there was metal flakes in the fluid. oh and nothing electrical works. this car IS in such nice condition otherwise that it would be a waste of a straight body to leave it how it is, also the fact that it isnt really drivable. now onto the other point that i dont know what im doin. I have restored/built up my share of cars including a 67 falcon, mr2t, 911tt, 74 tr6, i helped my unlce restore his 77 280. then there is my brothers charger. Not only have i been working on cars for as long as i can remember i also have fairly good organizational skills and lots of resources as far as body work/machine shop...i dont think there has been a time since i was born that there wasnt a car in pieces in my garage. thanks for the concern though. most ppl dont realize what they are getting into but i have been there plenty of times before and would not have started this project if i wasnt 110% sure i would be able to finish. later

[DatsunZsRule]

Well if your Z does have all the mechanical problems that you mentioned along with MINOR rust (don't want to ignor rust ) and you have the funds then I agree it's a good idea to restore her to her former glory.

"Im really in no hurry to get it back together so im gonna take my time and do everything right." Good man Thats the key right there. Thats the kind of thinking that will reward you in the end.

Best of luck

[EScanlon]

...snip...most ppl dont realize what they are getting into ...

This is why I jumped on it.

Not knowing your background, all I could go on was the low number of posts and new membership. That led me to believe that you were another young individual with a head full of dreams, no money, and worse, no concept of what it actually takes.

I too have worked and refurbished a dozen or two vehicles (I've lost track), and I can tell you that there are times that it would be easier to just give up. Sometimes progress can actually seem to be regression before you start seeing results, then real life creeps in and you have to postpone stuff for .....

That you have experience....GREAT! I only wish some of the other guys who only wanted to "tweak" this or "improve" that had had some of that. There are several vehicles that have started out with needing some fuses changed and are now in pieces. You get what I mean?

Lastly, you have to admit that the pictures in your gallery can be deceiving. The car definitely does NOT look like a basket case. Hopefully it isn't a long project before you get her back on the road.

Good Luck!

Enrique

[kenz240z]

Hi J P D, it looks like you have a great car to start with for your project Z. Glad to hear you have tackled a few car projects before. As Enrique pointed out, it's easy for a person to get in over his/her head by tearing a car apart without a plan. FWIW, I submit the following:

I'd say the first step would be to determine what work you will do, and what work you will send to a shop. Try to schedule the shop work so that you will have the items that have been sent out back when you'll need them. This could include rebuilding the engine and transmission, body work, chrome work, interior, etc... Then make a list of all the new parts you will need. Purchase as many of the parts as you can up front, so that you don't have to wait for parts to arrive in order to complete any given step of the project. Another option is to purchase the parts in batches. Each batch should contain all the parts needed for the current task.

Buy a good digital camera, if you don't already have one. Take lots of pictures along the way. Get a notebook, too, and make notes as you go. Documenting details as parts are removed and wires are disconnected will save plenty of time & headaches when it's time to put things back together. Never trust anything to memory (I've lost a few brain cells to beer, myself :stupid: ). Buy a box of Ziploc baggies for storing small parts. I like the ones with labels you can write on. Round up a few sturdy boxes or buy a few large plastic totes for storing the filled baggies & other parts.

Anyway, I would suggest repairing the mechanical items first. Pull the engine and transmission and send them out for rebuild/repair, unless you will do this yourself. Tag & label all electrical connectors that you take off.

Start by rebuilding the suspension. Replace the struts, springs, bushings, brakes & brake hardware, drive shaft & half-shaft u-joints. Clean all of the suspension parts, then refinish them with a good black semi-gloss paint. Reassemble the suspension on the car.

With the engine & transmission out of the car you will never have a better time to refinish the engine compartment. Remove everything on the firewall, inner fenders, radiator support, etc... Bag & tag the items you remove. Once the engine compartment is bare, clean it thoroughly. Make any rust repairs that are necessary. Once everything is up to snuff, repaint the engine compartment. Clean and detail any of the underhood items that you will re-use. Then put everything back on the firewall, inner fenders, etc...

If you sent the engine and transmission to a shop, hopefully they will be done about the same time you are done with the engine compartment. If you are doing the engine & transmission work, do it now. Reinstall the engine and transmission, along with new motor & transmission mounts.

Next, move on to the body. Begin by repairing any rust damaged areas. Weld in new sheet metal or patch panels where needed. If you are good with a hammer & dolly, you should be able to remove most of the dents. Use a good quality filler where needed. Once all surfaces are dent free & smooth, prepare the body for paint. This will involve lots (and I mean LOTS) of sanding. A good set of air powered sanders (DA, jitterbug, inline, etc) will save a bit of time, but I like to finish up with wet sanding by hand. Prime & paint the car. If you are not doing the body work, then drive or trailer the car to the bodyshop you've scheduled with to do the work.

Once the body work is done and the car is repainted, it's time to do the interior. If the dash is cracked, repair it, replace it or cover it with a dash cap. Reupholster the seats. Put in a new carpet set. Repair or replace any of the vinyl that is damaged. Repair or replace any of the interior plastic panels that are damaged, including the center console, heater control panel, etc... Deliver the car to the interior shop for these tasks, if you are not planning to do the interior work yourself.

That's it, in a nutshell. Following these general steps should result in a nice looking, nice driving Z car when you are done. Of course, any of the steps could be done in a different order depending on time & money :classic: .

Thanks for bearing with such a long winded reply, and remember, this is just one old buzzard's thought's on the matter. Oh, and keep in mind the five P's: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance!

[sblake01]

...............

That you have experience....GREAT! I only wish some of the other guys who only wanted to "tweak" this or "improve" that had had some of that. There are several vehicles that have started out with needing some fuses changed and are now in pieces............

Enrique

That is so spot on! I realize that this thread is really about restoration but the 'tweak' this or 'improve' that statement is what I'm talking about. How many times have we heard of a member, especially the newer ones, taking a running vehicle, changing or modifying something, for seemingly no real particularly good reason, and ending up with a non running vehicle. Especially the EFI cars. But J P D, you sound like someone who has more than a general clue about what you are doing.

[Fun_in_my_z]

My car runs dose that mean im crazy for cutting it up?

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=16128&cat=500&page=1

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=16125&cat=500&page=1

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=13114&cat=500&page=3

[EScanlon]

My car runs dose that mean im crazy for cutting it up?

No Bill, your craziness has nothing to do with your car.

HEHEHE

I think Rick would say it has to do with handling too many "breats" and "thights". I think it's cause your hat's on too tight.......

J/K

Enrique