Okay, I need some recommendations:

 

Does anyone have a good northern NJ resource for welding in new floors and possibly rails? I want to start looking into places now, because I want to have the place selected by the time I'm ready for the work to happen. I have considered learning how to weld and doing it myself, but this is something I think I want a pro to do.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for body shops who can media blast, epoxy prime, and paint the car? I've been looking into soda blasting because of the thinness of the metal, so I'm also looking for feedback on what people have had success with in that area.

 

I'm also looking into doing the blasting myself. Looks like Harbor Freight has a unit for < $100.

Edited May 28, 20159 yr by Matthew

Blasting pots are great if you have a large air compressor.  I've got a small 20 lb one that I shoot glass bead and baking soda through with a 60 gallon 12 CFM @90 psi air compressor, I have to quit every 10 minutes and let the compressor cool down and drink a beer or three.  Makes one hell of a mess too.  I'm buying a cheap igloo shaped tent with a floor so I can get in there and be able to reuse some of the glass beads, 50 lbs cost $32 at Tractor Supply, $42 at Harbor Freight. 

 

I couldn't imagine doing a whole car in my garage, it would make a HUGE mess.

 

Have you found Grannynot's rotisserie rebuild thread?  It's a good read.

 

here it is, http://www.classiczcars.com/topic/45430-240z-rebuild-restoration-right-down-to-the-shell/

 

read post #16, $3,600 quote for sandblasting and chemical dip.

Edited May 28, 20159 yr by siteunseen

My local blaster does everything from cars to blasting paint off old buildings. I think he charged me $950 for a 240Z. He has a tow behind rig with a diesel compressor. He used sand on my car and it came out fine. You will not have good luck doing this at home. It takes ALOT of air like over a 100 CFM to do a good job. The way it was explained to me, it is about air volume not pressure. He keeps his pressure pretty low like 70 psi and lots of volume and media. This keeps the metal cool and prevents "work hardening". He also never blast straight at panels always at an angle. I have a fairly large home air compressor 60 CFM or so and a 90# pressure pot. I use it for little stuff, but Site is correct it makes a huge mess and is a pain. Normally if I can't fit it in the blasting cabinet I think about farming it out. Charlie Osborne's floor boards work pretty good but I reworked them a little to make them fit more like OEM. Cheaper to sub it out than buy the equipment and do it yourself. Don't get the idea you can do it with a cheap 100 Amp welder; it will just frustrate you.

Blasting pots are great if you have a large air compressor.  I've got a small 20 lb one that I shoot glass bead and baking soda through with a 60 gallon 12 CFM @90 psi air compressor, I have to quit every 10 minutes and let the compressor cool down and drink a beer or three.  Makes one hell of a mess too.  I'm buying a cheap igloo shaped tent with a floor so I can get in there and be able to reuse some of the glass beads, 50 lbs cost $32 at Tractor Supply, $42 at Harbor Freight. 

 

I couldn't imagine doing a whole car in my garage, it would make a HUGE mess.

 

Have you found Grannynot's rotisserie rebuild thread?  It's a good read.

 

here it is, http://www.classiczcars.com/topic/45430-240z-rebuild-restoration-right-down-to-the-shell/

 

read post #16, $3,600 quote for sandblasting and chemical dip.

Site,

You have to remember those are Canadian prices, we get over charged for everything up here.

I'm sure an American shop would give a more reasonable price.

Chris

Edited May 28, 20159 yr by grannyknot

Today's project time was spent at the DMV getting the title transferred. It only took 2.5 hours of line waiting, 15 minutes of standing there while my assigned bureaucrat talked to her colleague about how much her other colleagues suck at their jobs, and 5 minutes of actual processing. New record for me at that particular branch.

Edited May 29, 20159 yr by Matthew

New record short, or new record long?

 

From my experiences at the PA DMV, it could go either way...  

I wish you were closer. I have a blaster local to me who can do an entire car and I've replaced many floors, etc. on Zs.

 

Captain O - PA DMV? Why not use your local notary place? Unless I pick a bad time I'm done in less than 20 minutes.

 

Quick story: Back in Jan I had to go to our local PA DMV for a new photo license. I ran over after work and there must have been 50 people sitting around and waiting. OMG! I signed in and on my way to a waiting chair my number was called. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes total. I can't imagine what those 50 people were thinking as they watched me leave. :-o

 

Chuck

Chuck, I hear ya. I usually just use a local notary. I only went to Harrisburg once because I had three things to do all at once and I was in a real hurry for one of them.

 

It was way cheaper to burn the gas to drive to the PennDOT hive than to spend three times the notary fees, plus I walked out with what I needed. Yes, I had to sit in that big smelly room and I wouldn't have done for just one item, but since I had three....

 

I also burned an additional extra couple hours and took the guided tour of the Capitol building while I was in the area. I tried to turn the day into a tourist "experience". 

 

PS - What's it cost to blast an entire car at your guy?

Edited May 29, 20159 yr by Captain Obvious

Ron Coover in Shippensburg is the blaster (717) 532-6540. They also do body and paint. We've used him for smaller things but he has a large building for blasting. I'd guess about $500 to do a car.

 

Chuck

I would guess, he's about to get very busy. I can hear the wheels turning in the Captains' head or is it from the collective minds from the readers anywhere remotely near PA.

Thanks Chuck. I've been concentrating on reliability and just getting stuff to work properly, but one of these days I should try to make my Z look better.

Nice find! Sounds like you've got some plans brewing.

 

I also have a '73 I picked up a few years ago. The seller delivered mine from NC to GA, not quite as far, but still quite generous. 

 

Check out my thread; I started with the engine, and am now finishing up a rear suspension rebuild.