pwd

I'm a long time lurker and first time poster after recently joining. I've been impressed by this thread and wish my fellow Texan to the south of me all the best on his Z project! I might be calling you to buy some of your spare parts! I decided to get back into the classic car hobby with the purchase of a one-owner, original paint, Texas bought (and worn-out) '73 240Z almost 4 years ago. My approach to this project has been slow and deliberate on purpose (plus working on my son's truck project took all my garage space and free time!). I may be "preaching to the choir" here, but my approach is to: First, learn as much as possible about the car, car history, car values, literature, parts sources, hard to find parts, services, common problems/fixes, etc.. This site is a terrific resource, since there are so many extremely knowledgeable members here. Second, critically analyze the car, or get an objective car savvy friend to do it for you. The old, "Yeah, it looks bad, but I think it can be fixed" trap can be very costly. Professional bodywork is extremely expensive these days IF you can find someone interested in doing "non-insurance" work. Even if you do it yourself, quality tools, equipment and paint aren't cheap. If the car has "tin-worm" infestation, walk away, it's cheaper in the long run. Third, plan the project in phases and establish realistic cost estimates for each phase, aka "budget." Getting upside down in a project is not good for your mental health, finances, or marriage. The sooner you can know to pull the plug, the better. I use Microsoft Project and Excel to plan the project step-by-step and estimate materials and services in advance (as best I can) before jumping into it. The recommendation to multiply by "3" is a good one if you don't do a detailed analysis. And if you do a detailed analysis then just multiply by 2 instead. ;-) Fourth, be honest with yourself. If you see a project will require more $$$ than the car could ever be worth, forget it, unless the car is a sentimental favorite you'll keep forever. Over the years I've seen many a basket case project up for sale with the description "too many projects", "wife forces sale", "not enough time", or "ran out of money". The last one usually adds, "too many new parts to list!" Case in point - don't invest in parts or services that will sit idle for years while you tinker on something else. You have better things to do with that money, plus, if you decide to pull the plug, you'll have fewer assets to liquidate. Now, if only I can only practice what I preach when I start my Z project!