The restoration has begun

[zed2]

I have owned this 240Z since 1987 and decided it is time...

Edited May 20, 2009 by zed2

[Bonzi Lon]

You do have a project. By the way, those wheel covers (hub caps) are worth some nice coin. Do a little search on "D style" wheel covers/hub caps for further information.

Good Luck, keep us posted on the progress. What is your intended color?

Bonzi Lon

[Carl Beck]

It certainly looks "restorable". Pretty early car too.

Take your time and enjoy the process...

BTW - The tires look like they have been on the car since before 87? I think I have a set like that..from the 70's.

best of luck,

Carl B.

[five&dime]

Wow!!! Quite a project. Looks to be very straight other than the wheels arches.

Reminds me of my dad's current resto Take a look sometime. The safari gold will grow on you. If done well it is an absolutely beautiful color!!!

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25643

Excited to see your progress. We need more of these types of threads with the build process and technical info.

[zed2]

The color will remain the 920 code. I am defering to my painter to determine the proper paint match and number of base & clear coats.

The tires are 175/80-14. I had a very difficult time locating the OEM size. I have six Bridgestone RD-150 and three Toyo Z-1 tires (all spare tires that have seen little or no mileage) sitting in storage waiting for the completion.

I have been accumulating parts for this project for 21 years.

As the car sits now, the only non-oem parts on it is the muffler, tires, seat covers, windshield and radiator. The a/c was dealer installed. The rust was added after retail delivery ;-)

[five&dime]

I believe my dad has OEM exhaust he may try and sell.

One piece of advice that may bring up quite a bit of discussion. I believe these cars had single stage paint jobs. I would NOT go back to the single stage. This color will look incredible with base/clear as you mentioned but will not be the stock process.

[zed2]

My painter said that the improvements/EPA mandates in paint technology precludes him from appling anything other than base/clear. I have know him for 12 years and he operates a legitimate business. (He repainted the front facia of my 300ZX 12 years ago, and it still looks great to this day!)

[zed2]

New photos...

[zed2]

New photos...

[zed2]

More photos...

[Diseazd]

Unbelievable! Now you know why Carl says pay up for a rust free car.......restoring an early Z is Plano expensive. Great job so far.

[zed2]

I did not want to take any chances that rust was hiding, so this is the only way I could be sure.

Edited June 28, 2009 by zed2