Rustoration project

Mr Ex said:
But even buying a US car there is work involved to convert it to RHD & from what I've seen they all need respraying.
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Every resto project needs a respray !!!! usually there is very little other work required on an import bar the rhd conversion providing you get the right car in the first place.
 
Zed-the-red said:
EXACTLY... A project. Thats why I bought it. love the challenge. love welding. Love mechanicals. love taking something that does NOT work and getting it working. BLISS BLISS BLISS... Just think of the fat smug grin I am going to have on my face when the Z rolls out of the garage under its own power.. its probably going to take 6 months just to get it to that stage.. then we have the painting to do..
Satisfaction.. Love it. I will know that car inside and out. I will know every nut and bolt.
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good for you !!!!!!!!!!!! aslong as you are enjoying doing it that is all that matters.keep up the good work !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Mr Ex said:
But even buying a US car there is work involved to convert it to RHD & from what I've seen they all need respraying.
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Trouble is you havent seen many.
Eg my original blue 240Z was imported in 1999 and didnt need a respraythen(or any welding) and 10 years later it still doesnt need welding or painting.
And it didnt need converting to RHD either. I just learnt to drive it as is. And its current owner does likewise.
Its still running its original engine too.
 
This is addressed to Sean.

The problem I have with these US import cars is I think you're skating very close to the wind as far as legality goes, In my mind all you're doing is ringing the car which is illegal last time I'm looked.

After it's done even if you have all the paperwork for both cars is the car supposed to be classed as what it really is a US import or to you try and register it using the chassis number from your welded in bulk head ?, All seems very dodgy indeed to me I'm afraid.



Rob
 
Fair point but only as dodgy as a heritage shell and all the other classic cars re-imported into the UK - MGs, Porsches, VW combo vans - anything - open your eyes to what's been happening for the past 20+ years.

Anyway, in my mind, better a strong clean car than one welded up every 18months for the past 25 years........most of those are less original than a US shell (new wings, floor pans, rad support, sills, doors engine etc, etc).
 
SeanDezart said:
Fair point but only as dodgy as a heritage shell and all the other classic cars re-imported into the UK - MGs, Porsche's, VW combo vans - anything - open your eyes to what's been happening for the past 20+ years.
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The above it a totally different thing altogether, If you import an old classic dub/yank/MGB in most cases you're not trying to pass it off as proper UK car are you, Same goes for the heritage shells, In the case of these Z's and their welded in bulk heads all you're doing is ringing the car, I doubt very much indeed if any of the owners are telling the DVLC exactly what they've done.

And if you do convert a US car and plate it up as the UK donor car then it isn't really a proper UK car is it it's just a fake/copy/ringer so I don't see how it has any value at all. I wouldn't buy one that's for sure, I'd rather have a properly restored genuine UK car personally.


Rob
 
vpulsar said:
The above it a totally different thing altogether, If you import an old classic dub/yank/MGB in most cases you're not trying to pass it off as proper UK car are you, Same goes for the heritage shells, In the case of these Z's and their welded in bulk heads all you're doing is ringing the car, I doubt very much indeed if any of the owners are telling the DVLC exactly what they've done.

And if you do convert a US car and plate it up as the UK donor car then it isn't really a proper UK car is it it's just a fake/copy/ringer so I don't see how it has any value at all. I wouldn't buy one that's for sure, I'd rather have a properly restored genuine UK car personally.


Rob
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Converted my USA 1970 LHD 240z car to RHD (done by me its not hard) and then had it regestered by the DVLA with a new age related number plate using the original vin plate.

No Rust and no Ringer :devil: .
 
Mr Ex said:
But your average man can't cut out the bulkhead to convert to RHD + you need a doner car, which defeats YOUR object of keeping as many Z's on the road as poss.
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You dont need a full bulk head swop to convert to RHD its very easy if you know how.

My RHD parts came from a basket case.
 
Seems as though we have two oposing camps.. My Z will live again.. But NOT as some Frankenstien monster full bodged together in some haphazard fashion.
I will do the best again... I can look forward to the day when I fire it up and shout IT LIVES! Then comes the fun part driving it.. but work has to be done first.
 
pmac said:
Trouble is you havent seen many.
Eg my original blue 240Z was imported in 1999 and didnt need a respraythen(or any welding) and 10 years later it still doesnt need welding or painting.
And it didnt need converting to RHD either. I just learnt to drive it as is. And its current owner does likewise.
Its still running its original engine too.
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No but the ones I've seen & pics, the ones from a hot sunny place have poor paint work (you only have to look at your new red one) & cracked dash.
As for keeping a LHD that for me would be a No No, it's bad enough trying to see round road hogging 4x4s & you can't see through 'em so a LHD for me would be a total wipeout.

Sean is ok living in France with a US import, nothing to change or ring.

And if you do convert a US car and plate it up as the UK donor car then it isn't really a proper UK car is it's just a fake/copy/ringer , I'd rather have a properly restored genuine UK car personally. I agree with vpulsar here. (There are people on here who say Big Sam isn't original coz he has been re-shelled).

I Converted my USA 1970 LHD 240z car to RHD (done by me its not hard) and then had it regestered by the DVLA with a new age related number plate using the original vin plate.Originally Posted by datsun dave. Maybe that is so Dave but there must be plenty that have said nothing to DVLA & as far as Swansea is concerned the old basket case lives on but with converted US shell.
 
My heads ringing because.. I forgot to put my ear plugs in..

Anyway.. Today Sunday. I rose early 6am I was in the garage by 6:01am. Flask in one hand large pot of tea in the other.. I looked at the Z sat on the lift.. Poor old sausage I thought. another few months and you would have been to far gone to save. I am a bit pssd off today. I repaired the inner dog leg and the surrounding floor pan. I was poking around by the front seat mountings and scraped off some more underseal.. Yes on the inside. I found a little hole.. then a bigger one. By the time I had cut the rust out I had a nice 14 x 6 inch hole in the middle of the floor pan 7 inches each side of the front seat mount... I was kicking myself as I should have just cut the whole floor pan out and re done it with a new one.. I still may..a ny way have repaired the section so its nice and strong. I am now rebuilding the front of the inner sills.. I am about ready to fit the sill at last.
I think I should re fit the wing and the door so I can get the gaps as good as I can.. with all the previous reapirs to the car I am hoping I should be able to get them something like.

I have just come in.. filthy and knackered. I gave her a good 12 hours today. Lord knows how much this would be costing if I could not do the work myself!

I smell gravy.. yum.
 
roughly £30 per hour plus vat plus materials! So you are doing well pleased she's coming on and hey get her going then if needed you can throw a new floor in in a year or so if needed! Pleased it's coming on well though.
 
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