Hey guys,

Just finished the brakes and suspension on my 74 260z. And trying to figure out what I want to do. The ultimate goal, however long it will take, is a chevy engine swap with a very nice daily driver and take to shows a lot.

I have some transportation whenever I need it right now, but that could change and I might need the Z... but thats not a definite.

So some things I was thinking about was:

1) Pay to get car tuned, and the drivetrain lubed and stuff so car can be driven daily. Then do bodywork.

2) Or start stripping the car to start working on the bodywork.

I just can't make up my mind...

If you have driven the car, enjoyed it for a while then go ahead with the body work, but if you have only just started the work, drive the car and spend some time enjoying the driving of it, then work on the body work later in the year.

Have it tuned up and do the body work one panel at the time, that way it is still on the street if you need it, but progress is being made.

Will

If I get it tuned up and drive it daily, but do bodywork at times.... Can I still strip it to metal for the bodywork, and drive it? I'd need to put something over it after each time I work on it right, so it doesn't rust? Just use spray can primer or soemthing?

Yes, you need to cover up the bare metal. Don't use just a primer. It is porous by design. Get a cheap rattle can "enamel" paint and cover up the primered panels as you go. Think of primer as a sponge. Would you tape a sponge on to the bare metal and then drive around. I know that is extreme but, it makes the point. Remember that you are going to sand this paint back off as you get ready to paint.

I've heard of something like pickle-z, or something? Is that something I could cover up in between? Its not like I'd be driving it everyday, maybe 3 times a week max. Or POR-15?

Do not put POR on the shiny side as a temp finish. It is hard to sand. The longer it sets the harder it gets and paint will not stick to it with out using tie coat primer from POR. There are several brands of phosphoric acids that you can use but, you still need to paint it. The pickling is to stop rust and you need to do that as well anywhere you sand through to bare metal. Truly the best thing to do is paint it with an enamel paint.

Sounds like I got my answer.... so prime and paint with spray can?

Jim is right. Pickle-x 20 is for STORING metal. It's a surface coating, but not like a paint. It's basically like watered down Ospho. It contains phosphoric acid, but it's less concentrated so you can treat rust without having to wash it off. That is a great feature, but it doesn't coat in a such a way that you could actually subject it to driving.