Hello, My name is Bud DeWolff. I am sure I have to be the oldest at 80 years old but I am still working as an Architect. I have an international practice and I am currentl designer a research center on top of a mountain in Amman Jordan

As a designer I have always admired the classic lines of the 280ZX 1982. I bought it in 1982 in celebration black My two sons urged me to buy a corvette at that time. They each bought one. I did not buy one but stuck to my 280ZX. It is still mint with only 26,000 miles on it and saw no snow up here in Fairport New York.

Of course their vettes are worth lots more than my 280ZX. but I still cherish the beauty of this great car.

It is all original except I discovered that that at each corner of the hood it has rusted from inside out. Not bad but not pleasing. I do not understand why. All other parts are perfect. My collision expert says that I should replace the hood with a used replacement hood rather than body repair the corners. It seems to me that it is better to repair the corners and that way I still have the original hood and it has to be cheaper.

Any comments?

I congratulate all the members to your allegiance to the Z cars.

Welcome to the club, Bud!!!

Welcome to the forums Bud!

That seems like a very odd area for rust to form. On the corners of the hood, closest to the cockpit? I've seen a little rust develop on some Z cars in that area, but that was from taking the hood off the car, standing it upright and leaning it against a wall. But after you description of originality, I think that is hardly the case. Possibly condensation that developed in the cold winters of New York?

I'd imagine a new hood would be better... Getting a good alignment on these hoods are hard enough. You could get new metal welded in and sanded down but that involves repainting anyway, so might as well get a new hood and save your old one Just my opinion anyways, others may differ

Edited November 30, 201014 yr by spitz17

Glad to have you as part of our forum - welcome!

I have an international practice and I am currentl designer a research center on top of a mountain in Amman Jordan

It is still mint with only 26,000 miles on it and saw no snow up here in Fairport New York.

So you work in the Middle East but your car is in New York?

Edited November 30, 201014 yr by sblake01

Hi Bud:

Can you Post a couple pictures of the rust damage? If we can see it - we might be able to offer better advice as to the best method of correction at that point.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Boy you guys are quick to respond. Your great, To answer yes I live in upstae New York but I travel to the Middle East for the Project I am designing. I have also desined four hospitals in Iraq but the MInistry of Health is so corrupt they never got built. I lost a lot of money on that. I like the Middle East but they never seem to take responsibility for their actions.

To Spitz 17 I may not have explained where the rust is at the corners, It is at each corner at the hinge of the hood,That is the location at adjacentm to the bumper.

The car is pristine escept for that. I will post some images. I just would like to keep the car as original as possible. I can get a used hood for $400 plus shipping of $200 and then have it painted and replaced for about $300 to $400 which totals about $800. The body repair would be about $500 to $600 but I would still have the original hood.Everything else is still factory original.

Thanks for your comments. I am new to this so please be patient with me.

I have to leave for London end of the week so I might not be able to respond for awhile.

Graywolff "Bud"

Hi Bud. The hood would rust in that area because thats where any water would sit after washing. I thought I was a Geriatric Zedder at 67 but i'm just a puppy.Good on ya.

Travel'n Man is offline Report Post Reply With Quote

That is one great picture of your Z car Travel'n man The backgroung brings out the lines and the blue water compliments the color of the car.

Superb!!!

Thank you Olzed for your comments. My collision expert says that I shouild not repair the corners as it is like cancer in those corners. He says to buiy a replacement hood.

What do you think? Any comments from others?

I think I would be guided by your repairman Bud. That is providing you can actually buy a different hood. The two front corneres are where the hinges are so there needs to be some good metal in that area. You would be happier in the end with a new hood in my opinion.

Brian.

... I discovered that that at each corner of the hood it has rusted from inside out. ...

Emphasis mine.

What rust you are finally seeing breaking through to the outside of the car is but a small fraction of what you would find if you were to open up the space between the support metal and the exterior skin.

Like an iceberg, 90% of the rust is on the underside (inside) of the sheet metal.

Translated, this means that by the time you replace the rust on the skin, the support, and the reinforcements at the hinge area.... you'll have spent MORE for the repairs than a new hood, painted and fitted would cost.

A properly efffected replacement won't necessarily be noticeable to most people and should not inordinately devalue your car.

FWIW

E