BRE Lookalike

[SeanDezart]

Oh just about everything :lol:

This guy must be rich by your definition :

Keep up the good work, my first 240z took 3 years of welding replaced every panel on car except bonnet and valance above wiper motor, replaced the inner wings (phew) that was a pain getting right, both inner and outer sills, both sill returns, complete floor, rear suspension turrets, spare tyre well, half of the bulkhead, both air tubes,doors and tailgate sought from the USA, and almost all the box sections on rear of car that holds the suspension on were also rotten, on hind sight i should have steered clear of a z this bad, but when i bought it a bit nieve i thought 6-12 months and ill be driving it no problems, but once i stripped it down to bare metal reality hit me big style, walked into the house and the wife said whats wrong, i replied there isnt any metal left to weld to, the car is rotten, but im not one to back of from a challenge and after 3 years and lots of ££££ finished it, and then sold it 6 months later simply because the car was lethal, not in a bad way but it was ridicoulously fast, exhaust always said thrash me and i did, i thought i cant help going fast in this car stuck to the road like glue and talked sweet music, if i dont sell it ill not see my next birthday, so we parted company, roll on 6 years and more maturity and the urge for a zed returned, but i did not want another basket case, just thinking about the work i did to my old one gave me heart palpatations, so i searched the usa for a nice clean rust free??? example not needing any work, i bought a stated completely rust free 240z with a 5.4 chevy v8 installed (allways wanted a v8 240z) upon getting car shipped to the uk, (yes it was nice) but not rust free dispite being in florida all its life, i had to replace 3 very small patches on floor 3" square, and both the sill returns had very slight rust, but i knew if left they would only get worse so out came the grinder and sorted that, then saw some slight surface rust under the fuel tank nothing serious? i thought if im going to do it ill do it right, so jacked up the car to 2 feet in air removed all suspension pipes etc and completely stripped underneath car and up to door level to bare metal to check for rust only very slight surface rust in places, so completely shotblased car then sealed it all, but when i came to touch up the metalic paint i couldnt get a match, sod this i thought out came the engine, stripped down the car and resprayed the whole car in 110 red (my favourite colour) not a bad job first one i have resprayed gave myself 7 out of 10, then the wife politly says i thought you bought this car because it did not want any work? bless them for pointing out the obvious and hitting below the belt, but if a jobs worth doing then its worth doing right, so all i can say is carry on when its finished every one will stand and stare at it, ive lost count of the people who say what type of car is that ,or i bet that car is fast, or not seen one of those for years, and with being a V8 the exhaust note is pure heavenly music worth all the time and effort, so i say keep chipping away at it, rome was not built in a day but when completed was an empire that could not be rivalled regards heath.

Also the proof that a US shell is the right choice and none of them are 'rust-free' - there is no such thing.

 

[vpulsar]

Also the proof that a US shell is the right choice and none of them are 'rust-free' - there is no such thing.

I know you find it hard to believe but some people like spending hours and hours of their free time welding rusty cars back together, Some restore them back to near perfect condition and some others just want a good solid car at the end of it that they can enjoy their hobby in,

For the people who want some perfect trophy Queen then yes you're right a US shell would be a better starting point, But just because someone else does it the hard way it doesn't make them wrong!

Once I've driven mine around for a year or two I'll probably get some proper floor replacement panels instead of the steel plate used at the moment, But in the mean time it wont stop me enjoying it for what it is.





Rob

 

[SeanDezart]

For the people who want some perfect trophy Queen then yes you're right a US shell would be a better starting point, But just because someone else does it the hard way it doesn't make them wrong!

A stronger shell too for track-day cars, race and rallye shells - it's not just about pampered garage tart-ups !

ps doesn't make 'em right either !

 

[vpulsar]

A stronger shell too for track-day cars, race and rally shells - it's not just about pampered garage tart-ups !

ps doesn't make 'em right either !

If a shell has been properly repaired it can be just as strong if not stronger than an original US shell, When I've repaired my own cars in the past I always seam welded everything as I went.

If you want strength then add a bloody roll cage my friend .

On this car I've had the wishbones/arms seam welded after they were blasted,

Oh and not everybody intends to use their cars for track days etc etc, I will be using mine but I've added strength where ever I can.



Rob

 

[rhanagar]

Being on an extremely tight budget and also wanting to get my current project on the road I am having to take my time over things. I want it to be a proper job where I don't have to worry about things falling apart later on. As you can see from my thread (link in signature) a great deal of time and effort is going into it and I am sure that people here would be able to do what I am doing far far quicker due to greater knowledge, however I am in the situation where I am having to wait to save the money to get the bits I need. When you consider I am stripping the engine down and replacing things like all the gaskets, getting the heads skimmed, polished, and ported. Injectors cleaned, proper head gaskets (fel-pro being the choice in mind), turbo reconditioned, then there is all the extra money I am spending on things like replacing cable conduit, paint, paint, more paint, carb cleaner, wire brushes, tools, cable ties etc etc it all adds up. However as stated it is by no means a perfect job. That would mean me having to strip the car completely. Take everything out and spray it up with nothing in the engine bay etc etc. Instead I am hoping to get her on the road again by next summer. To do that I am having to ignore certain areas, one being under the cruise control servo. Its not rotten or anything but it cannot be seen and I am happy leaving it until later when the car is on the road. There are areas under the car that need some cleaning, but again nothing that cannot wait. I am undersealing where I can and when I can. If I really wanted to get her to the stage I would want I would of stripped all the running gear out of her and cleaned and painted it as well. A lot of people would of sent parts away to be powder coated. This again is something I just cannot afford so its all been done with spray cans in the garage. Its all a matter of cost, time, skill, and quality. When/if people on here see it I am sure they will pick holes in what I am doing and have comments both constructive and critical.
In the end I will be over the moon when she is on the road again fully taxed, MOT'd and insured.
Conclusion:
I think both Sean and vpulsar have valid points but its all a matter of personal circumstance. Things can be done on the cheap and last for years. Whilst not being perfect and extremists would disapprove. For the everyday driver who just wants to get in car and drive with a big grin on his face its all you need to do. If however you are in the position where you can take the car back to factory (or better) condition and you have the resources to do so then go for it if you want.



Just my 2p's worth

 

[vpulsar]

Conclusion:
I think both Sean and vpulsar have valid points but its all a matter of personal circumstance. Things can be done on the cheap and last for years. Whilst not being perfect and extremists would disapprove. For the everyday driver who just wants to get in car and drive with a big grin on his face its all you need to do. If however you are in the position where you can take the car back to factory (or better) condition and you have the resources to do so then go for it if you want.

Just my 2p's worth

Don't encourage him , Just tell him that he's WRONG WRONG WRONG:lol::lol::lol:.

I'm with you on this subject mend make do and enjoy .





Rob

 

[SeanDezart]

.........But I still quite like the car posted in the link.....

Yeah, I quite like it too so what IS your problem - can't we rationally discuss things now Mr Though-Police Bobby-Robbie ? People can't comment on YOUR comments but YOU can upon mine ? Christ, I hope your kids have left home....

My fist Z was not rusty but was quite rough if I'm honest, But I loved it and it went and handled well, Back then I could of never of afforded to do what I'm doing now. And I would of never got my love of Z's if I hadn't owned that old doggy one.

A lot of cars are saved for the future by those people that manage to keep them going on a tight budget when they were not thought of as classics

A lot more cars would have been better saved if their owners had merely dry-stored them in a council lock-up instead of running parking, (and exposing them) on a shoestring budget BECAUSE they weren't thought of and valued as classic cars ! Any mine was doggy (you've seen the photos above) and I chose to have it restored.....but not twice !

Like I said, life is choices, I chose to spend my money that way.

If a shell has been properly repaired it can be just as strong if not stronger than an original US shell.............Oh and not everybody intends to use their cars for track days etc etc, I will be using mine but I've added strength where ever I can.

This is too easy......so, not everybody uses their cars for track-days....and not everybody perfections their cars for concours events, not everybody can afford to have a proper restoration......that leaves who ?


Do you have a chip on your shoulder because some people HAVE spent loads of money on cars that aren't worth half what they've spent ? Do you think that those people care about the value of thier Z anymore or less than you ? It's been stated here but I'll repeat it "it doesn't matter what states the Z is in so long as it's being used".....it's just that some will last better and longer than others - you pays yer money......and you get what you pay for !

 

[vpulsar]

Yeah, I quite like it too so what IS your problem - can't we rationally discuss things now Mr Though-Police Bobby-Robbie ? People can't comment on YOUR comments but YOU can upon mine ? Christ, I hope your kids have left home....

You can comment on anything I say my friends, I'm a big boy and have a very thick skin, I think you'll find it's you that needs the last word on every thread , I did say we would have to agree to disagree but you felt the need to carry on .

Do you have a chip on your shoulder because some people HAVE spent loads of money on cars that aren't worth half what they've spent ?

No chip I'm afraid because I'm one of those people, I spent 67k over nine years building my pulsar including £9500 buying it in the first place, When I sold it in bits I made back only 22k, So I don't build cars to make money sunshine .

Lets just accept that on this particular subject we will never see eye to eye and move on.


Rob

 

[SeanDezart]

But I still think you're wrong on this subject, I guess we will just have to beg to differ

Don't encourage him , Just tell him that he's WRONG WRONG WRONG:lol:

You can comment on anything I say my friends, I'm a big boy and have a very thick skin, I think you'll find it's you that needs the last word on every thread , I did say we would have to agree to disagree but you felt the need to carry on .
Lets just accept that on this particular subject we will never see eye to eye and move on.

Ok, let's move on.

 

[Russ]

This throwaway culture, terrible, restore and repair is the way forward

 

[Rob Gaskin]

This throwaway culture, terrible, restore and repair is the way forward

Russ ssshhhhhhhhh! I only asked if anyone liked the car and look what I got

 

[Mr Ex]

Russ ssshhhhhhhhh! I only asked if anyone liked the car and look what I got

Yeah!...yer got the f - - - ing truth, looks ok from a distance but lift the bonnet or look inside then it's ........................................................................................................

 

[rhanagar]

pmsl ... and now the thread continues