72 240z help

[Cutlass372]

Hey guys, i'm looking to buy a z car and recently came acrossed a 72. The car is free, but is in need of work. It needs the floors replaced (comes with replacments), and other body work as the car is said to have rust in spots throughout the car. The engine is a 280 bottom end with a 240 head with a cam, carb upgrade, header and exhaust. The interior is disassembled, but i believe he said it is mostly there. I still haven't seen the car so the extent of thr rust is unknown, but I'm sure its not in the greatest shape and the rockers have been effected aswell. The frame is straight and the title is clean. The roof is said to be thin aswell, seems like that would be hard to replace or fix. Does anyone think this car is worth picking up? Can't beat the price of free, I would just need to learn to weld (my dad has a welder and stuff) and start fixing it up. What would your opinions be?

Thanks, Elliot.

[bigoak]

Most likely the math works this way:

Free + Rust = parts car...

Major rust issues on Z's include floors, rockers, doglegs, cowl, battery tray and frame rails. If you have 2 of them gone, most likely they are all mostly gone.

The engine, if done well, may be good (pretty typical enhancements).

Can't beat the price, but if you're looking to get something on the road, you might be better off to start by finding a good body for cheap (increasingly hard) and do the mechanical work (driveline parts are very cheap and abundant).

If you do take it, make sure they won't want to kill you if you part it out.

[beandip]

Cutless , bigoak nailed it . You said the frame is straight . the rotten floor and rockers is the frame . sounds at best a parts car. Replacing the rockers and floor pans is a lot of work. From your description , there maybe some salvageable parts, if you have the place to disassemble and store the stuff. What sort of carburetor ''up grade'' ? If the engine is sound and if he has installed a 5 speed tranny there could be some value. If the engine needs any work pass on the whole free deal. Unless you just want a project to play with.

[Cutlass372]

Well the car is coming with replacment floor pans.. and hopefully the rest of the rust could just be replaced with sheet metal. Not sure on the carbs, he just said upgraded. Apparently the motor is "done", which im assuming means it is fine (probably could use a tune up). Obviously the car would be a project with the rust repairs it needs. I think I just need to see the car in person to really see what condition it's in.

Ps: Dying..

[Arne]

Elliot, BTDT. Unless you can do all the welding yourself, I'd wait for a better car, even if you have to travel to get it. Paying a pro to do rust repair correctly is expensive...

[Cutlass372]

The work would be done by myself, with possibly the help of my father. Already have the tools to do the work (welder, grinders, etc.). I think the biggest thing would be being able to recreate the patch panels to put them in. Other then that I think it would be a learning experiance.

[zman525]

so u guys are sayin my Z is a parts car? :-P

[Arne]

Not necessarily. If it's the only one you have, and you don't mind spending a pile to fix it, then it's a project.

But if you have more than one it might be a parts car.

http://classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28534

[bigoak]

Wait then...oh drat...which one of mine is the parts car then...

[Cutlass372]

Yeah, I was looking for something to fix up while driving it, but then this came along. I figure it's worth checking out still.

[e_racer1999]

Wait then...oh drat...which one of mine is the parts car then...

dude, it's free, TAKE IT.