TheVille

So, what is everyone's experience with automotive restoration and stuff?

I am in the process of rebuilding a 305 chevy small block, it's almost done right now(just have to put things back together now).

I also purchased a 1976 Datsun 280z today. Powertrain is good all around. Im currently looking at bodywork(I know how to do most of it?) and basically a new interior.

I have done a couple frame off restores with my father in law.
The only thing we didn't do ourselves was the machine work on the blocks.

well as for restoration, not alot. But i do manage to keep my old land rover disco road worthy(ie when it breaks i repair it, which if you know land rovers its a full time job).

my experience is watching a car sit in a garage collecting dust...while the motor sits next to it...and saying "eh ill do it<insert later date>"

/glare at chef

Well mlite, what should I pay attention to when it comes to rust on the body?

The interior replacement on this doesn't appear to be very difficult and I could probably get it done in one day if I have all the parts I need for it.

On a 280z pay attention to the area's around all glass as well as the inner wheel wells. And the front fenders, close to the doors. As thats where water likes to drain and sit.
Check your floor pans for weak spots. Remove the carpet/vinyl and tape with a punch, just like you would if you where trying to find a stud in your wall. Weak spots will feel and sound different.
Especially if the car came from your area of the country, due to road salts.

And if you want to put your 305 in something read this http://forums.club4ag.com/zerothread?id=76441

One more thing, when it comes to paint. You can save a little by using a cheaper base coat. But you need to use a HIGH QUALITY top coat.

Many years ago when I was in high school I purchased a 79 vette. I drove it for several years and then when I started working downtown, and was tired of working on in every day/weekend, I put it in the garage. I then had Keye's attitude toward fixing it, so it sat for about seven years. I figured I was going to have to save money and do lots of work to get it back working, so there it continued to sit.

About three years ago and friend wanted to see what it would take to get it running or really just started. Two weeks later I had the registration finished, inspected, and on the roads again. I worked on the brakes and calipers, I installed new parking brake parts (which was not so fun), rearend maintenance, and various other tweaks with fluid and oils. It took a solid two days, lots of fire and beer, to remove the oil filter.

Since then, I have replaced all the carpet (about 90% finished anyway), replaced the seatbelts, painted interior parts and got a new steering wheel. Hand cleaned and polished the wheels, worked on the speedometer, vacuum system for the lights, and other ailing parts due to age. I plan on continuing minor details inside, like the gauges, console parts, door panels, and radio. Outside I'm going to rebuild the card, clean the engine compartment by replacing parts like valve covers. I want to replace all the bushings with polyurethane, maybe some other suspension parts like springs, shocks, and swaybars. Lastly, I'll get it painted soon.

I've tried to break the projects down in to affordable sections to give me projects to due periodically with friends, with the main goal to keep it drivable as much as possible.

I got a good look at a lot of things today.

So, I will be replacing the entire interior sans the dash. The dash is fine. Center console, AC Bezel, Seats, all carpets, both door panels, ignition switch assembly, radio.

I will be replacing all weather-striping and seals on glass, doors, and hatch. I will likely be grinding a lot of the body down the metal and then either bondo or lead filler, depending on severity. Lots of block sanding. This body is not straight, but there are no severe discontinuities. No need to replace metal anywhere.

From the looks of things, the floor pans are not rusted through, the car is from California and Arizona and only recently came to Colorado in the past year I believe. However, due to a failure of the rear hatch seal, there was sitting water around the spare and I don't know the severity of the rust that has occured there. The spare is fine though, so it appears.


based on popular opinion of me and my girlfriend, we are not going for a matching numbers restoration. Since it already has the P90 turbo heads from a 280zx and a 4 speed G-Force transmission in it, there are going to me some minor changes. Not painting it the original color, not putting original seats in it, and we might paint all the chrome window molding on it seeing as there is overspray on a lot of it due to a failure of the previous owner in knowing what masking tape is. But I also just found how to remove it relatively easily, so maybe I won't do that.

New door panels are stupid expensive

MrBlah wrote: However, due to a failure of the rear hatch seal, there was sitting water around the spare and I don't know the severity of the rust that has occured there. The spare is fine though, so it appears.

You will still need to check the stability of the metal in that area.
As I would hate to be driving down the road, and my spare fall out.

The gas tank is below it, and yeah, I know that will be the biggest problem spot it seems. I am just hoping that there isn't a hole in the gas tank and it is just a possible rupture in the fuel lines.

Also, I Craigslist. I found a good enough set of door panels for $110 less than what I was going to pay for a single panel.

Let me suggest getting new tank strap insulators, if ya drop the fuel tank. You'll be gratefull if ya do.
Spent about 3 weeks trying to find a rattle. And low and behold it was the tank strap rattling against the fuel cell.

Cpt._Keyes wrote:my experience is watching a car sit in a garage collecting dust...while the motor sits next to it...and saying "eh ill do it<insert later date>"

/glare at chef

Don't glare at me! It's not my car.

I have little if any mechanical abilities, that stuff skips a generation I suppose because my Dad is a mechanical genius. I've assisted (AKA get me X wrench) my dad on some stuff with our motor cycles.

The car Keyes (hehe car keys...) is talking about is my Dad's 69 Chevelle SS. He's had it pretty much my whole life.

My Interneting skills weren't doing very well this past 2 days. They are now back to normal and I have found lots of many of the few parts I need. For a lot less than I originally thought.

MasterChef wrote:

Cpt._Keyes wrote:my experience is watching a car sit in a garage collecting dust...while the motor sits next to it...and saying "eh ill do it<insert later date>"

/glare at chef

Don't glare at me! It's not my car.

I have little if any mechanical abilities, that stuff skips a generation I suppose because my Dad is a mechanical genius. I've assisted (AKA get me X wrench) my dad on some stuff with our motor cycles.

The car Keyes (hehe car keys...) is talking about is my Dad's 69 Chevelle SS. He's had it pretty much my whole life.

you should learn and fix it