Where to start?

[onuthin]

Thanks guy's I will order the book and any other book that is needed.I have the patience to do this because I already have a great daily driver. I took it to my uncles metal shop today and set up a work area. He is going to make me a rotisserie to put it on.Right now the big question is to sandblast,media blast,dip orpaint remover? I read all the threads on this subject but couldn't decide which. they were written a while ago and I didn't know if there has been any improvements since then.If anyone knows I would like to know the pros and cons.Thanks again for yalls input I don't take it for granted.

[26th-Z]

Ronnie,

I think those are the first pictures I have seen of 913th and I am delighted to see she is 907 green with that godaweful butterscotch interior! Welcome to the club! You gotta either love pumpkins or....!

Humble's book is a great biblical text and I'll mention probably the most important thing he says; "make a restoration plan". Make some decisions about what you want to do. Figure your time and finances and tailor your expected results to your estimation of what needs to be done. Every last one of those decisions can be changed, but for now, you made committed decisions. Make yourself a plan. Decide what you want the car to be when you are finished and what you are going to do with it when you are finished. That is my one highest recommendation.

Another good text is a series of articles that were in the old ZCar magazine by Bill Reagan about the restoration of #2545 - a 1995 Gold Medallion winner. Those articles were published in a spiral-bound notebook. I don't know if it is still in print. I see them on eBay every now and then. I would start asking around in your local Z club.

What I believe about low serial numbered cars is that they need to be stock to achieve the highest dollar value. Every now and then, I see a choice car sell for $30,000 and higher. They are usually low mile originals, but I see some Vintage Zs and an occasional restoration reach those levels. Let's face it. An original is going to be worth more, but the way I figure it, my cars will be worth what I have in them when they are finished. My time excluded. I think there is no question that if you adhere to stock in a low number car, you won't loose money. I believe that a stock restoration low numbered car will be worth shockingly large numbers in five years.

Stock, however, is only a description for the direction of the restoration. Really, my cars for instance, are restored. The perceived value is in the quality of restoration. I plan to make some tasteful period modifications to my restoration of 26th because I plan to drive her. 27th is intended as a show car and will get most of the real correct stuff. I have some nifty authentic parts that weren't on American imports and some nice wheels for 26th. But other than that, she is stock correct to November 1969 with the exception of restoration materials like paint, primer, sealer, etc. with the vast majority of her parts restored rather than replaced. 27th will be real stock with emissions and 'D' hubcaps and the braided hoses. 27th will also require the most replacement parts of the two.

My progress is directly related to my monthly allowance from my income. Time is not a priority - so far, it has been three years but so what. While I wait to save up money, I do Z research, read Z books, and go to Z car shows. I originally budgeted $7,500 per year for four or five years, but I have not reached that nor have I pushed for that. I bought 27th out of that budget. 26th will be driven aggressively at club functions. 27th will be shown and rarely driven. I imagine the cars will be sold some day - hopefully as a pair.

That, is essentially my plan. It is based on a belief, a budget, and an expected outcome. The plan changed drastically midstream when I bought 27th, but the basics remained the same. And I guess the only other important thing to mention is that it is your car and you can do anything you like. Have fun.

Chris

[gogriz91]

Ronnie you sly devil. I knew you picked up a couple of parts cars but didn't realize this was the situation you were in.

I've got the Wick Humble book, the Bill Reagan "book", a Haynes manual and the Zclub CD and highly recommend all of them as reference material to help you bound the scope of what you think you want to do and what kind of time, labor, tools and knowledge will be required to return 913 to the living.

The Bill Reagan book can be ordered from the Z Club of Texas and is a true bargain at $10 http://zcluboftexas.org/ (I met Bill Reagan in '95 and got mine for free luckily enough) At the time, I think he had adrenaline for blood and it didn't hurt that he was a TI engineer with automotive skills and a good income married to another TI engineer that indulged him on his passion for Z's. He had found another '70 with a lower VIN than the one he restored and he was essentially going to repeat the process all over again. I got to see that car finished in a video on the Z Car convention in Denver and it was as if it had literally rolled off the showroom floor. Trouble is, he was willing to work 40-50 hours a week on the car which I can't even do when I'm at my paying job! Kinda rough on my self motivation to see the extremes he went to to restore/remanufacture the car.