Great stuff! What percentage of the lower half of the car will be original metal by the end?
What will be the VIN Derrick - CR.1?
Hi Mike, thanks for your comments, as for what will the percentage of the lower part of the will be original i would say about 20% as you can see I'm replacing the floor panels both sides,new chassis rails,floor rails ,outer sills both sides, rear arches inside and out,rear valence,rear lower quarter panels both sides, and will be cutting out the rear floor and retting a new wheel well ,new slam panel and bodywork should be about there apart from a few small non structural repairs not too much to do :lol:
OH i forgot I've got to cut out the bulk head and replace with a rust free one that i acquired
Should keep me busy for a while
Derrick
It's so easy to underestimate the work when buying these cars. I did when I bought my first Z.
And we have both restored cars before!
What I would add though is that as long as you don't give yourself stress it is quite therapeutic to cut out rot and replace with good metal and save the car.
However the car will only ever be a 'patched-up' car and so will not have the monetary value of a rust-free (as it came out of Japan) car.
From my own experience when you have worked on a car like this and know it inside out (literally) it means a lot more to you because you feel an attachment to it. My very original rust-free Datsun that I sold recently never really felt like mine, the same with my 370. If cars don't require any input from you then you can't leave a 'mark' on them.
Bit deep for a Tuesday morning but I'm trying to encourage here.
Have you got the whole front panel out at the mo Derrick? Looks that way from the photo. You are very thorough.