Hello, I am a new member to the site. I am interested in buying a 240z to restore. I am a novice as far as auto restoration goes. I was wondering if one of you out there could give me a start in the right direction. Is there a year (70-73) that would be better for a novice? The book reviews on the site were helpful, I am planning on acquiring some of the titles. Any advice will be much appreciated.
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240z Questions
- Thread starter tbomke
- Start date
Russ
Club Member
Be aware that structure is everything. No model between certain dates would be easier to restore that another, but some won't need road tax. Auto restoration isn't something you can just learn, it takes years of experience and practice, it's a real craft so don't expect to spray anything straight away or weld <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='
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Also be aware that replacement body panels are either rare if not impossible to find or generally expensive. As the good man once said structure is everything <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
Never rush something or do it on the cheap if you want to do a quality restoration, if you say well my restoration budget is x and its gotta be on the road in 6 months it's probably not the best idea as this is how projects go wrong. If its gonna be your main form of transport make sure you like walking <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
Other than that it can be very rewarding, the book I reviewed restoration from the ground up is a good read, probably best you read it before you buy a Z to get a better feel for things, haynes car bodywork repair manual by lindsay porter is ok, gives you the idea of pretty much everything, but a lot requires expensive equipment or a real skill that has to be taught to you so you won't be able to rely just on that.
Well anyway that's my 2p, have fun, post pics and if you get a 240z before me I will be very envious <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>
'> Also be aware that replacement body panels are either rare if not impossible to find or generally expensive. As the good man once said structure is everything <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='
'>Never rush something or do it on the cheap if you want to do a quality restoration, if you say well my restoration budget is x and its gotta be on the road in 6 months it's probably not the best idea as this is how projects go wrong. If its gonna be your main form of transport make sure you like walking <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='
'>Other than that it can be very rewarding, the book I reviewed restoration from the ground up is a good read, probably best you read it before you buy a Z to get a better feel for things, haynes car bodywork repair manual by lindsay porter is ok, gives you the idea of pretty much everything, but a lot requires expensive equipment or a real skill that has to be taught to you so you won't be able to rely just on that.
Well anyway that's my 2p, have fun, post pics and if you get a 240z before me I will be very envious <img src="http://www.zclub.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='
'>zedhead260
Well-Known Forum User
I'd import a rust free example in from the states and convert it to right hand drive. I'm sure that once you worked out how much it would be to weld up that rotton UK car and replace it's panels, it would probably balance out.
The only problem is interior. US cars suffer because of the heat. Finding a good rhd 240 dashboard is probably harder than a 260 one. Interior wise, it all depends on how much of an originality buff you are. Reproduction interior is available from the states as far as I am aware, probably costly. Zeds just ain't cheap cars.
The only problem is interior. US cars suffer because of the heat. Finding a good rhd 240 dashboard is probably harder than a 260 one. Interior wise, it all depends on how much of an originality buff you are. Reproduction interior is available from the states as far as I am aware, probably costly. Zeds just ain't cheap cars.