Datsun 260z +2 Newbie

[Grizzlygriz]

Evening Ladies & Gents

I bought my 260 4+ years ago. Came as a complete car. Over time I have taken bits off in the hope that eventually it will make its way to a body shop to get repaired and back to me so we can start the bolt on process.

I will add the photos below. You will see it is EXTREMELY rusty. I simply cant scrap it and want to get this back on the road. The amount of people that have said they have scrapped better cars, it makes me sad.

Any help or info would be greatly appreciated. It is my first build i have ever done. And boy, what a hard one to start with.

Hopefully soon i will be able to update you all with where its going.
at the minute the only plans that i have for it is a VQ35HR. Coming from the 350z. I'm unsure on most of the other stuff. Yet again, any advice would be great.

Ciao.

 

[Grizzlygriz]

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[Turn & Burn]

Hmm! Reckon you’ve got your work cut out, there’s a few of us who’ve rescued cars from similar situations so anything’s possible. Have you got yourself a mig welder sorted yet? What’s the availability of 2+2 panels like?
Ps I’ve got a really good rot free hatch for a 2+2 looking for a good home!

 

[Mr Tenno]

If your plan is to take it to a body shop then you'll definitely end up paying more for the work than a finished car is worth. Might be worth just saving money for a less rusty car, they are around for 2+2s.

 

[spitdigger]

Good luck with that one.
I have a front panel/rad support, it's far from perfect but a lot better than yours looks. Subject to the various restrictions you are welcome to it if you can get it from E Suffolk

 

[Grizzlygriz]

If your plan is to take it to a body shop then you'll definitely end up paying more for the work than a finished car is worth. Might be worth just saving money for a less rusty car, they are around for 2+2s.

I did think about just getting a clean one from the US and changing everything over to make it RHD. So that may be the best option.

 

[Grizzlygriz]

Good luck with that one.
I have a front panel/rad support, it's far from perfect but a lot better than yours looks. Subject to the various restrictions you are welcome to it if you can get it from E Suffolk

Much appreciated. I may take you up on that offer

 

[Grizzlygriz]

Hmm! Reckon you’ve got your work cut out, there’s a few of us who’ve rescued cars from similar situations so anything’s possible. Have you got yourself a mig welder sorted yet? What’s the availability of 2+2 panels like?
Ps I’ve got a really good rot free hatch for a 2+2 looking for a good home!

I have everything here. It came as a complete car. Just rusty as shit and needed a full overhaul. Oooo send over some photos buddy.

 

[SeanDezart]

Hi and welcome.

You've picked probably the most complicated car to fix for sheer lack of second-hand parts available - new panels and trim just don't exist. On top of that, there is an enormous amount of work to do and if doing yourself, you're going to have to remain very motivated and there will come several moments when you want to give up ! At the end, the cars' value (today) with a swapped engine might be worth somewhere around £15k max.

As a club member to club member, I would advise you to take a few days off and think hard about it, your budget and how long you want the project to last before driving.

 

[status]

Scrap it ,although the 2+2 is probably the rarest of Zeds you might be better as you said importing one and swopping over or even better a 280z which is a better car to drive than a standard 240/260,panels are harder to get hold of although me and a mate have some which we might be parting out next year as we broke his car up about twenty years ago as floor went but everything else was ok,I’ve still got the wolfrace wheels round my house