My Restoration Project

[240tom]

Hello All!

I signed up here last September when I found, and bought, my 1971 240Z, and I have been an avid reader of this site ever since. I'm one of those guys that keeps quiet until the light at the end of the tunnel starts to show, and I haven't been posting anything about my project over the past year. Still, I couldn't have made the progress I have without all the information I've gotten, mostly from this place. My car was in terrible shape; in hindsight, it would have probably been considered a parts car by many. Ignorance was bliss, because even though it has been a lot more work and expense that I anticipated, it has been worth it. I'm glad I didn't know enough to part it out! She had been sitting outside for fifteen years when I found her; I wish I had taken pictures before I hauled her to my garage. Anyway, here is what she looked like a year ago.

She was originally painted 920 Orange; the guy I bought it from was the second owner, and he says he bought it from his college roommate, the original owner. He said it was the first 240 registered in Tennessee, but I have no idea if that is true. Its build date is 11/70, and surely there had already been some of these here by then. He had gotten frustrated with it in 1998 after spending a good bit of money on a paint job and tuneup, only to have someone run into the car in front of his store where he had parked it. The damage was minor, but he hauled it down behind the shop and left it there. The passenger floor pan was just about gone, and the driver side was bad too. The dash was badly cracked. The engine (matching number!) was frozen and I couldn't get it free. The driver seat was torn up and rotten, and the passenger seat wasn't much better. The carpet was mostly gone or rotten. The good news was that the frame was straight, the vinyl was in decent shape, and no one had molested the radio or dash or electrical harnesses.

I have a friend who does bodywork and paint as a hobby, and he agreed to fix the rust and paint it. I took the frozen engine to Tim Pitts, of Performance Tuning, because I knew he had serviced the car for the prior owner and would know about it. I had the great luck to know Roger Schmidt, of the old Z Barn fame, who lives a couple of miles away from me and who is probably tired of my questions, emails and visits to his place! He gets one of the first rides when she's done.

I'll post more pictures over the next few days or weeks showing how things went this past year, and how things continue to progress. She's almost ready to fire up (I'm taking her back over to Performance Tuning for that) and start road testing. I'm almost done with the interior, I hope my fuel tank job works, and I hope that pertronix ignition works. I do have all the wiring harnesses back in, the dash is done and back in, and most everything electrical seems to work (except the damn clock); even the auto-tune on the old AM radio still works! Thanks for all the support, even though you didn't necessarily know you were helping me!

Edited September 30, 2014 by 240tom

[rossiz]

wow - looking forward to the "after" pics

[240tom]

Here are some more "before" shots, rusted out floor and engine.

[siteunseen]

He did a complete paint job. Probably had the motor out too. I'm new to the 240s too and will be anxiously watching for your post.

You scored, 1970!

[grannyknot]

Tom, good on you! I did similar rebuild a couple yrs back on a 3/70 240Z.

Really looking forward to more pics.

I don't think my rust was as bad as yours, keep going.

Chris

[EhlersRS]

Tom,

Thanks for seeing the potential in this car and bringing her back to life! Judging from the photos, your car has less rust damage than mine, but my car has a better interior. It's also great you were able to save another Series I car. By the way, how is Roger doing these days?

Robert S.

[240tom]

Thanks Robert! Roger is doing great, he's busy playing keyboards and being a roadie these days, when he isn't helping me out. He looked at the car early on and said that he believed it was very restorable, that the frame was straight and no serious rust on it. He got me NIB two factory fenders he still had, and also cut me both rear quarters from his graveyard. Too may other parts and advice from him to list! Here's a few shots of her on the rack with new floor pans.

[HaZmatt]

New floor pans are lookin good!

[Carl Beck]

Your friend that does the body and paint work - did a really nice job on the floorpans. That's a real good friend to have when you undertake a project like this. Keep the photo's coming …

Carl B.

[240tom]

Thanks, Carl, He's been invaluable, and of course the pans are from Charles Edmondson. BTW, I'm having a difficult time registering on the IZCC site. I submit but I don't think my info is getting through.

[EhlersRS]

Thanks Robert! Roger is doing great, he's busy playing keyboards and being a roadie these days, when he isn't helping me out. He looked at the car early on and said that he believed it was very restorable, that the frame was straight and no serious rust on it. He got me NIB two factory fenders he still had, and also cut me both rear quarters from his graveyard. Too may other parts and advice from him to list! Here's a few shots of her on the rack with new floor pans.

Tom,

I could have used Roger's help when I started buying new sheet metal, but of course he closed up shop a while ago. With the help of some friends, I was able to locate a "new" Nissan hood and "new" aftermarket quarter panels. Both had been stored away +20 years, but never used. I also bought NOS fenders from Nissan. Glad that Roger's doing well and has been a good resource for you!

The photos of the floor pans look great! I look forward to seeing more progress of the work!

Robert S.

[240tom]

Here's some pictures of the engine when I got it back from Tim Pitts at Performance Tuning. The crank and lower end were in good shape, and he had the head rebuilt. We had to hone the cylinders (it was frozen) and Roger Schmidt got us new pistons too. All new gaskets, freeze plugs, timing chain set, waterpump, plugs, wires. Ztherapy carbs. I've put in a pertronix ignition system, new 60 amp alternator with internal voltage regulator and 3 ohm coil. Tim wants me to bring it back to him for the initial "firing up," and it is pretty much ready for that. I'm too afraid to do it myself, although I have gotten everything put back together and the old girl's lights, signals, radio, etc. work. I'll video the actual resurrection!