Officially a 240z owner!

[Zak's Z]

Is picture 003 the rocker panels? It shows rusted off metal, but I'm not sure what angle you took the pic from?

[Cutlass372]

the floors are real solid. one of the pictures is tskin from the rear wheel looking forward. The area behind the doglegs are rusted out.

[Carl Beck]

Looks like a very good Z to start with ... it could be a real beauty when you are done..

I agree with 240znz - get brakes, get it running and drive it for a while. Then decide what to do, and in what order.

Personally, I'd take it apart - get the body and paint work done... then work on the suspension etc. Nothing keeps you going like a car that "looks" like it deserves drivetrain and suspension improvements. Besides, they are all bolt on items that can be easily done, after the body/paint - and you would not wind up with over-spary from the body shop on your new suspension parts, or engine...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[BRE-240Z]

A lot of us have been through the same process you're about to start; you'll learn a lot from the archives here and also from asking questions as you go along. My approach with my car was to get it into into good running condition, and then go through the suspension, brakes and steering. If you think that you'll want to go with more horsepower, plan for that from the start by going with some bigger brakes, maybe even four-wheel discs. After the car is safe and you know it inside and out, start disassembling and fixing any rust that you find.

At that point you can make horsepower upgrades, and you'll know that the car is safe enough to handle it. And then you can paint it and make it pretty! Just be aware that the cost is likely to be more than you think, and it will inevitably take longer than you are planning right now.

In the end it will be worth it. Be patient and stick with the plan...the important part is to have a plan!

[DeesZ]

Welcome! Another Pennsylvania car... that's fantastic. I'm only 1.5 ~ 2 hours away.

My best suggestion for your long term success and pleasure is to re-read post #15. Carl provides good advice. IIRC from another post, you plan to do most of the body work yourself. That will keep you within reasonable cost parameters and give you the opportunity to get to know your car very well. You will then be better familiar with what you really wish to do with it. You may be very pleased with the car in a 'stock' condition. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

[Montezuma]

Congrats from a former PA kid who departed for the left coast 25 years ago thanks to the U.S. Navy. Like I said before I got a 73 from Springtown PA. I got a ton of parts for these things and can help you out the ignition. I got some good working ones, one slightly used.

[76Datsun280z]

Congrads on your new car! They are a lot of fun!

[Cutlass372]

PM me about the ignitions. Depending on what you would want I'm interested. I would need the keys and stuff too obviously. Its either through someone like you or an autoparts store like NAPA. I'd much rather support the Z crowd though.

[7277]

nice car cutlass! as above, drive it around a while then see. keep in mind that the few weeks you spend with the car 'as is' will pay off in fixing the stuff that needs attention most (brakes). no rush. just hang with it then decide.

as 240znz says put a realistic cost next to each mod you want to do. price yuor parts first....the add 20%..why you may ask?......just because! IMO

p.s. if you need a drivers side replacement seat and backrest foam (foam only) let me know. i have an extra set.

[cunniwj]

Congrats, Welcome to the Z family. Looks like you have alot of work ahead. It's going to cost $ and your time but don't give up. It will take awhile until it's where you want it but in the long run it will be worth it.

[Cutlass372]

Thanks everyone. I took the wheels and tires off today and did some more inspecting of the car. Right behind the passanger spring and strut assembly there is a trapezoid shaped piece of metal. I pushed on it and my finger when right through... There are 2 bolts going into this piece that hold on the lower control arms I believe. All the metal around it is real solid cause i poked around with a screw driver, but just that piece will need some replacing. I think im going to need to pull off the fenders to fix the front rocker panel area because that too was soft enough to push through. I checked pretty much the whole car today for extra rust and suprisingly didnt find much more then I suspected. Rockers need a decent amount of help, lower front fenders, hatch sill, and that piece behind the springs.

[Weasel73240Z]

Make sure when you fix the front of the rockers, you run the cowl drains out through a tube. There are some pics in my gallery of how I did it. Those areas (and the backside of the front fenders) rust out because the cowl drains right in there, so it fills up with leaves and dirt. Don't want to fix it now, just to have the same cycle start again.:beard: