When is a Z dead?

[malder]

What I thought was merely a moderate rust problem is actually quite severe. Nearly all of the metal from the firewall back to behind the seats is crumbling. I took the car out for a short drive and heard a strange sound. The support that hold the wheel in place (don't know the correct term here) broke off...

So the question is - at what point is the car just not worth fixing?

I love the car, but I know at this point the cost to fix the body would be quite substantial. I know this is a little sacreligious around here, but I'm looking for honest and pragmatic answers. I don't have tousands of dollars to dump into even making the car roadworthy, much less the capital required to make it what I want it to be. The car is worth maybe $1k now? I know I can get more for just the parts... should I just part the car out?

Thanks

_____

added some photos so you can see...

[DougN]

Sounds like getting another Z using the parts from your current Z on it as necessary, then selling the remaining parts is a good solution in this case!

[Arne]

I suspect that in some parts of the country, people might consider repairing that. But here on the West coast there are enough fairly solid cars available that I wouldn't consider it unless it were special in some way. (Low VIN, or family sentimental value.) If you still want a Z, I'd not part that one until you have your replacement in hand, because you will probably have parts you will want to keep.

[xray]

So the question is - at what point is the car just not worth fixing?

Now.

Seriously, the T/C bucket is rotted through, and rewelding that takes some serious expertise, and probably a princely sum of cash. The frame rail is bad, too, decreasing thenumber of folks willing to undertake that kind of repair. The car now likely won't roll correctly with all that caster change, and is DEFINITELY unsafe to drive and experience any kind of collision in. Like mentioned above, find a solid body and transfer what you can. Sell off the rest to offset your costs.

Sorry to see it happen to your Z.. Best of luck in your search.

Steve

[jmortensen]

There are plenty of guys who would fix that, just takes a whole lot of time and patience and a welder. I think your car has been in an accident and damaged the frame behind the TC rod mount. Mine had the same damage. I was able to fix most of that with Bad Dog's subframe connectors. The subframe connector part is kind of superfluous but I was wanting connectors anyway. It did come with the section behind the TC bucket, that would be the important part for you. I think they have replacment frame rails that don't connect the subframes that would help in this situation too: www.baddogparts.com

You might have to have a frame shop realign the TC mount if it's bent and you want it all perfectly aligned. On my car the area behind the mount was bent, but the TC bucket was still in it's proper spot. Regardless, I just cut that off and made my own mount, but I tore into that part of the chassis specifically for the purpose of changing the geometry there. If modification is not your deal, you can buy stock replacement frame rails and all the rest and it takes more know how than cash to finish the repair yourself IMO. You can really go pretty crazy with this stuff if you want. www.hybridz.org is probably the place to look since a lot of those guys strengthen the frame to take the torque of their V8 conversions.

Here's some links to my repairs and similar other repairs:

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=106974

http://alteredz.com/structuralmods.htm

http://www.datsunzparts.com/netscape/summary.htm

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=105755

http://www.musclecarsoforlando.100megs25.com/jeff/JeffsZ/JeffsZ.htm

[Fun_in_my_z]

http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=16124&cat=500&ppuser=5338

Look at this car Malder, I might would have stripped it by now but she is special to me.

Its almost ready for primer. Anything can be fixed if you have time money and know how.

Enjoy the Ride.

[malder]

I have no doubt that it is possible to fix. The car is not special in any way that I can tell other than being a Z.

Thanks for all the responses. I think I'll just part it out and keep an eye out for a nice shell. Maybe build it from ground up.

Matt