Oops I did it again.

[Nigel Mulvey]

Hi guys,

Well I have finally found (and bought) my project car. I have just purchased a 1977 260Z manual with an L28/N42 combination.

I had originally planned on modifying the 240 but it's in such good original condition I haven't got the heart to bastardise it. I will keep hold of the 2+2 for a while as a parts car but I don't think I'm going to need much off it, so I MIGHT part it out - I'll let you know when I have done an inventory.

The new 260 is a little on the shabby side, but there doesn't appear to be any rust where it matters. The wings and doors are solid and there is the usual rot around the hatch lid. Two owners ago a new dash was put in and the last owner had it in his garage for two years.

I plan to get it stripped to bare metal to really assess the damage and take it from there. The next purchase is a digital camera so I can post some photo's and set up a project site.

Just got to find a way to tell the wife .

[Dazza]

Hi there Nigel,

If you manage to survive informing the better half of your new aquisition, it would indeed be great to see some pics posted of your progress.

Cheers

Dazza

:beard:

PS:

Why is it that the female gender try to constrain our creative instincts with matters automotive ??

[Arizona240z]

Nigel,

Let us know what the wife says.

I'm currently in negotiations with my wife to let me pick up a 73 on the cheap. The body is in pretty tight but the interior is completely thrashed and although the engine looks clean, parts are missing so I can't crank it up. It's so bad it has taken me 2 days just to decide that I was willing to take on the project....... now I have to negotiate....... eeeeer convince the better half that it wont sit and rust.

And no, I'm not telling where it is until I lose the battle.

Dwight

[Alfadog]

Congratulations!!

Show us some pics - of the other cars too!

[beandip]

If you are looking for a parts car thats one thing but if you are looking for a project, believe me get the cleanest rust free car you can afford. To restore one that is rusted and or needs body work and paint and just a little tlc. can get vary expensive. Interior parts are not cheep if you want the car to look stock. And even if not it is not cheep . Paint is going to be at least $1300. for a real good job and that is not with any body damage. With a good paint job the bumpers if now really sharp will look shabby as well as the trim around the windows , and then the interior , an so on an so on an so on, find a clean driver with no rust and go from there.

[Nigel Mulvey]

The wife now knows and 24 hours later I'm still in one piece.

I have looked at plenty of potential project cars over the last two years and they have been either too good to strip down (like my immaculate 240z which I picked up for only AUS$4,500) or like some dogs I saw recently that looked more like filligree jewellery for ridiculously inflated prices.

Maybe I was spoiled when I found the 240 for such a good price. Sportsclassic in western Sydney sells shells for around $2,000, I looked at those and they still needed a lot of work this recent purchase appears solid under the battery tray and along the frame rails, there is no rust in the wheel wells or at the base of the rear hatch. The car has already been dismantled to a degree as the previous owner had intended to restore it but ill health prevented him continuing.

There has been some filling done in certain places and there is some pinhole rust at the bottom of the doors, the only apparent major rust out is at the front of the body where the bonnet (hood) hinges attach (or at least used to) I'll just cut the metal I need from the 2+2.

I appreciate the benefits of getting the best car one can afford for restoration because of hidden costs, but I sometimes wonder wether we are kidding ourselves if we think we are going to find rust free z's on every street corner.

I don't know how things are in the US but there are not many z's left in Australia at all and I think it's up to us enthusiasts to keep Mr K's dream alive - just look at Mr deGroots immaculate rebuild when he started:

http://www.usq.edu.au/users/degroot/240z/

[Alfadog]

Now I really want to see pics - to see how much of a deal you got with your 240!

[dohc]

Well done on finding a nearly rust free Z! I've been looking for a fair while now and other than a stack of the 2 + 2's I'm really struggling. As you said, their either over priced crap or too expensive for a project car.....

If your parting out the 2 + 2 though, my daily driver needs a few interior fixments to finish it off...

Cheers, and good luck :classic:

R.

[2ManyZs]

Congratulations. On the car and your survival instincts.:cross-eye

If you guys keep it up I will have to change my username or buy more cars.

Let us see some pics when you can. :classic: