Where to start

[onuthin]

Heh Guys it's been a while since I have posted on the club but I have been real busy getting ready to start my restoration.I wanted to make sure I had all I need so I wont get distracted so I took a mig welding class and got me a welder.I picked up every tool I can possibly think of and have 3 large buildings to work in. I designed and built what I think is the perfect rotiserie.I spend at least 3 hrs A night welding and perfecting my hap hazzard ways of doing things and to quit taking short cuts.It is time to quit stalling and start working on the cars. What I can't decide is whether to start on the worst one for practice or jump onto one I want to keep? I have stripped several for parts and now I have 3 series1 and 3 series2. I read all the work and effort the members put into the cars and I get cold feet when I try to decide where to start.I just hope I can do half the job you guys do.Any suggestions on where and how to start would be greatly appreciated.I have the books, tools,parts,room,time,and money, I just lack confidence.

[Wobbles1971]

Sounds to me like you've already done one heck of a job "starting". If confidence is all your lacking I think you should reflect for a moment of how succesfully you have already prepared for the work you have ahead, that in itself shows you are on the right track.

[webdawg1]

I guess I'm more or less doing the same thing...Getting all the major stuff in hand I'll be needing to do the job the right way. (I.E. - MIG welder, Misc. Air tools, Plasma cutter, Rotisserie, Air conditioner/Heater for the garage)

I'd say the body would be the most important part to start with. Everything else ties back into the body...period. In the mean time I'm doing what I can as far as refurbishing what parts I can do myself. Other parts (Gas tank, valve cover,engine) are sent out and redone as I can get to them...

Just going to take some time and money....lots of money.....

webdawg1

[BD240Z]

Ronnie,

It sounds like you've got your bases covered. You're acquiring the equipment, you have a large enough area and the desire to create something special!

I'm 90% done with what you're just starting. The body on my car is prepped and ready for painting. After that all I have to do is reassemble the interior, install all the body panels, reinstall the glass with a new weatherstrip kit and I'm on the road.

I took the approach the show "Overhaulin" uses. I stripped the car to a shell and sent out everything that required some sort of repair/rework, (gas tank, radiator, bumpers, radio, powder coating the suspension parts, plating for the hardware, etc.).

When I disassembled the car, I was very anal about labeling everything. I used many, many, totes, plastic containers and zip-lock bags and because of this reassembling the car has been stress free. I recommend you do the same. The only pain was cataloging all the fasteners so I could identify them when I got them back from the plater.

Once I got the car down to a metal shell, it was easy to address any rust issues with sandblasting/welding/grinding. I was amazed at how light the shell is once it's stripped of everything. You've got a rotisserie which will be VERY handy for this job.

The best piece of advice I can give is to be patient and take your time. Be prepared to walk away from the car and take a break for awhile, (couple of weeks or more) if you begin to lose focus and start taking short-cuts with the work. I also would work on the car you want to keep.

Good luck with your efforts, update us with pictures as you go.

Bruce

[wfl_colorado]

Man, I wish you were in Colorado. I would help and get on my own restoration that I have put off for several years and finally bought another Z, just so I could drive one in the summer.

Sounds to me like you have all the tools, etc. Dig in and have fun!!

[zman112233]

I personally would start on one you don't intend to keep. Running through a couple of dummies it will be old hat by the time you get to your keeper and you'll feel alot better about your job. BTW, I'm by no means an expert. Just my opinion

[ktm]

You need to just jump right on in with both feet and get to work. I am not doing nearly the work you are doing. I call my work a driving restoration. I am driving it and restoring/refurbishing/modifying it as I go along.

I was rather daunted at the prospect of tearing into my front suspension, rear suspension, transmission, engine, etc. at first too. However, once you start turning that first bolt you begin to realize that these cars are rather simple. As long as you document and label every part you remove, your reassembly will be, as Bruce said, stress free.

My car is back on the ground and driving after being on stands since July. I just bought a complete L28ET engine, ECU, harness, etc. and plan on doing the swap later this year (July/August time frame) after I finish up my reading and part collecting. My confidence has grown significantly after all of the work I accomplished. As the Nike ad says, just do it.