Ok, I'm back. Couldn't stay away...

[justaZcarguy]

I have to say that is a bit scary. The damage on the outside is not quarter sized for sure, more like dollar bill. I hope that the damage on the inside is not as severe, but I would be suprised if it's not...

I know for sure that I don't plan on removing the rear quarter as I did this on my first z years back. Yes, that was a pain in the BUTT.

What are the fixes out there for this? This does not look as comprimising as a frame rail, but never the less, not a good thing I am sure.

I don't think this will make me pass on the car, but I do want to know what I may be in for.

I don't think that it is going to effect the drive-ability / safety, but please chime in if your opinion is different, I know just enough to be dangerous :hurt: .

Or at least that's what I'm told...

:stupid:

Have a great night!

~Brian

[DatsunZsRule]

Welcome back man,

Those pictures of your accident is enough to make any Z nut cry Glad to here someone is fixing her back up to her former glory

About your rust issues on the Z your looking at- First of all, how much is the guy asking for it?

[Arne]

Brian, I'll guarantee that there is more damage behind the dogleg. Plus there's the inevitability that if one dogleg is bad, the other probably isn't very far behind it, but you can't see it yet. Those doglegs rust from the inside out.

Truth is, even here in Oregon, any car you buy in that price range (yes, I've seen the seller's ad for the car you're looking at) is going to either be rusty, have serious mechanical issues, or more likely both. I've got one for sale here in Springfield, it's quite nice mechanically, but like yours, needs rust repair. Non-rusty cars out here - when you find one - start at around $4000 minimum, $5-6000 and up is more like it.

Would that stop me from buying it? Not necessarily. Especially if I had the skill set to fix it myself, or if that was the absolute limit my budget would stretch to cover. But believe me, I know from experience. If you have to pay other people to do your rust, body and paint, you are far better off waiting and paying more up front for one without the rust. BTDT. Now trying to clean up the fallout.

[justaZcarguy]

We are arriving at that, I know that it is a decent deal, and the previous owner is being somewhat picky about who it goes to.

I'll take that as a compliment.

There has been some serious thought put into it, the coupler, the dizzy, the bushings, updated fuseable links, NOT CHOPPED SPRINGS (dammit I hate that), steering knuckles bla bla bla.

So I just want to continue the legacy.

I think that it's worth what we have arrived at... And I will comment more on that after the fact, I am not side stepping the question, I just don't want to speak out of line.

I do know that it's tough to find an early Z (espically on the west coast) that is rust free, and when you do they are rarely under $3k. So I guess there is a balance there.

In the long run I will plan on repainting the Zed as there is crows-feet in the paint in spots, but that is long term, the paint is not that bad and I have driven worse that is for sure. (Beandip, you stay outa this or I'm gonna sik Ozzzy on you... )

Ok, your turn.

I have no idea what that bunny is for.

~Bri

[Arne]

Ooh! Don't get beandip started on spring cutting right now, that's a sore subject!!

[justaZcarguy]

I do have the ability to fix it and this is the first time that I will have a Z that is not my daily driver, not that it won't be

I think that it is a good investment and I've seen worse. Heck, I've HAD worse.

As long as the frame rails are in tact that is the main concern.

I brought the 510 home tonight from the shop, I have to admit, that is a hard car to part with. That thing would tackle the corners like the dukes of Hazzard.

Minus the dirt and whoo-who's.

What can I say, I guess I'm still a Z car guy.

~Brian

[Mr Camouflage]

Welcome back

FYI - Do not let the tow-truck driver winch from the rear tow hooks. Up righting the car, with full force upon the winch, the bolts broke, the winch came at us with a vengence and the hook / strap / bolts struck the top of the tow truck obliverating the overheads.

Would those be the tie down hooks that were supposed to be removed by the dealer, because they aren't strong enough for towing, just holding the cars still on the ship over?

[justaZcarguy]

Yea, I was not down there when he hooked the cable on...

That was a near deadly mistake. Had that thing caught someone on the way back up it would NOT have been good.

You should have seen the overheads on the tow-truck, the plastic was no match for it that is for sure.

I've been around these cars for a bunch of years and I never knew that those were to be removed from the dealer, you sure see a bunch of them still on...

Well, you learn something new every day, eh?

[240znz]

Weather you get the dogleg fixed or not is a matter of opinion. You've been here long enough and I'm sure all those threads regarding the strength of the S30 is in the unibody design have come flashing back by now.

If you are going to the trouble of getting a paint job, then I'd bite the bullet and do it right first time. Of course it depends on how long you want to keep the car but you know that the ugly rust monster never sleeps.

That section behind the dogleg consists of three panels. The outer sill, inner sill and internal wall rising up behind the seat belt mount. If you have a dollar size patch of rust, then as Arne suggests, the other side is probably gone to.

I'd purchase both dogleg panel steel patches and have someone whip those sections out so you know what you are looking at before you commit to paint. Not trying to scare you here you know, but we've all been there, buying these things knowing full well that there are some issues and hopelessly hoping/praying that the rust is going to easy and cheaply fixed. Whatever you think you can repair it for, add another 50% to be reliastic. 20% of the purchasing reasoning is emotional, especially if you used to have one.

[justaZcarguy]

After 2 hours on a tow truck, the beast is home.

And holy cow was this a buy.

The previous owner really did his homework, I gotta say.

I'll start from the front I guess...

Nice front air dam, with some thick rubber routing the air to the radiator. The radiator is new and appears bigger than stock. Lighting is Hella H4 behind the clear ice cream scoops covering the lights, which I have not decided to leave on there or not.

The 3 screw SU's were just completely gone thru by Z-Therapy right before the car was parked.

The rack bushings have been upgraded along with the steering coupler and has the shortened steering knuckles.

Black box Dizzy, internal reg'd alternator and the fuseable links have been upgraded to real fuses.

The door panels are uncut and near perfect, heck it even has the original Hitachi radio and a perfect heater control console.

It has aftermarket springs on it, red in the front blue in the back.

Borg Warner 5 speed out of an 81-83ZX along with the 3.90 diffy.

Thicker bars front and rear with poly busings.

Jeez that's enough for now.

Thought that I would let you know that it's here and now I can say that I am OFFICALLY back.

After sitting for 6 years, it seems to run great.

Yes, I changed the oil...

Enuf for now, hope everyone is well!

~Brian

[DatsunZsRule]

Well Congratulations man