Datsun 240Z Barn find Restoration! cont.

[ChrisZ]

Why don't you get a Dreml

Chris

[mattbibbey]

i've got one of those as well it's just finding a decent grinding head for it. I've bought some real crap on ebay. Unfortunately soldiering keeps me away from the shops!

[Charlie Boy]

Hi Matt, One of my cars is down in Pangbourne if you want to come over and take a look around a fully restored Z. Possibly if there's no salt on the roads over the next few weeks I could take a drive up to you as well. I would also take up Alan's offer and go over to his garage, I am sure it would be well worth the trip! Also Fourways are good guy's so you won't go wrong with their work.

C

[mattbibbey]

Charlie, is your pangbourne the one that about a twenty minute drive away from me in Abingdon? If so I'd like to take you up on your offer. At the moment it looks like I'm going to have a very busy year haha.

I have heard nothing but good things about Fourways and they've been around doing Z's for a long time haven't they.

[Charlie Boy]

Yeh its that one, will send you a pm with my details.

[mattbibbey]

Right! I've got the rear lights out now. Who ever it was that suggested i buy a Dremel tool.... GOOD advice. It was fairly easy with the new tool. I've also detached the fuel tank and that doesn't look to have any holes in it yet.

I went to visit Charlie Boy the other day to see his Z and WOW, what a Z indeed. So after that I have decided that my Z project will not be a "to original factory" job. This is purely because the amount of chassis work that will be done the car won't be original anymore so what's the point?

To that end, hopefully I can get the body done with what i have in the bank now! Does anyone know where i can get my bodywork stripped down to bare metal cheaply. I had an absurd quote of £1600!!!!!

These are some pics i took of Charlie Boy's Datsun 240Z for anyone who was interested.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbibbey/4314339624/" title="3.1 litre Stoker. Datsun 240Z by matt bibbey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4314339624_0c24357ea6.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="3.1 litre Stoker. Datsun 240Z" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbibbey/4314339618/" title="Interior Datsun 240Z by matt bibbey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4314339618_5617ff7bc3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Interior Datsun 240Z" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbibbey/4314350284/" title="240Z by matt bibbey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4314350284_7d87e3ee9d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="240Z" /></a>

[Charlie Boy]

Hey Matt

I did a google search and came up with these guy's.

http://www.blast-cleaning.co.uk/car_restoration.html

I would stay a way from soda blasting as I think most paint manufacturers won't warrant their paints over soda blasted metal.

Good to meet you.

c

[mattbibbey]

Thanks Charlie, I phoned them on friday and they'll get a quote back to me for monday I suppose. Thanks also for the heads up on soda blasting. I didn't know that and they don't tell you!

[mattbibbey]

I've found a sill panel for sale on one of the other Z club websites and it says it's for a 240Z or 260Z. Can this be right? I thought that part of the car was a different length in the 240 and 260. It's only £100 though so if anyone could help I'd be gratefull.

Cheers

[HS30-H]

Matt,

If it's for a 2-seater '260Z' then it will fit your car. The '260Z 2+2' is the one that is longer, but the 2-seater / coupe versions are all the same.

Do watch out for some of the lower quality 'pattern' parts, which were never as good as the original Nissan-made panels.

[mattbibbey]

Thanks for a lightning reply Alan.

[mattbibbey]

Well sadly, the Army (arseholes) have forced my hand and posted me 18months ahead of time so I'm not going to have a garage! I'm furious with them. So I think I'm going to sell this project. Also I've picked up another rolling resto. Will post some details of that one eventually.