Hi All,

Last year I was lucky enough to become the 2nd owner of a 1972 240z from NoCal. My car at the time did not run but it was supposedly rust free and complete. The interior was replaced at one point in time and the car was maintained as a DD, definitely not a show car.

I originally tricked my wife into letting me do such a thing with the promise that I would "do all the work myself"....

After much agonizing I was able to get the car started and I was able to take the front suspension apart. I also bought a rebuilt engine and assorted parts.

Here is a link to my intro post with pics of the car as I got it.

http://forums.ctzcc.com/viewtopic.php?t=3661

Then I saw and drove(!) Frank T's car and I realized that I just didn't have the tools, experience, workspace or time to do a quality job.

Fast forward to today. My car is currently at Vinny Bedini's workshop. The old engine was scavenged for parts and the front end was completely dismantled for a much needed paint job. The car will essentially get a complete restoration which I will detail here over the next few months.

I think the pics tell the rest of the story for now:

Hey Marc,
Welcome to the resto forum, you have a great looking car. With a starting point in this excellent condition, your effort should be a very rewarding process. Keep those photo updates coming.

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Jim Arnett
Richardson, Texas
HLS30-15320 12/1970 (original owner)
ZCON 2015 Gold Cup - Street Modified class

Congratulations on your Z project! You are in store for many rewarding experiences for sure.

I restored my 1970 240Z from the fall of 2006 to the summer of 2008. Here is a link to pictures of the project:

http://www.zccr.net/main/modules.php?na ... itemId=899

If I can offer any advice, DO NOT cut corners (it will bite you later on), TRIPLE your budget (do what you can when you can), DON'T put old parts with new parts, DON'T HEDGE (do it NOW, it will never be easier) and TAKE lots of pictures (to help with reassembly and later to reminisce!).

Feel free to ask questions at any time, good luck!

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John Taddonio
1970 240Z
1977 530Z
1984 300ZXT
zcarnut@hotmail.com
FB: Zccr zcarclubofrochester

Hey Marc. You're in good hands with Vinny. Perhaps my Z will join yours in his shop in the early spring, as my Z is overdue for some Vinny time.

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Colin F. Gentle
1970 Datsun 240z #11137

Thanks everybody for the support. I will keep y'all posted throughout.

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178

I just got a few more pics of the restoration.

Vinny took the suspension apart, took it back to bare metal and then restored it.

I have decided that I want the car to be dark red... I think...or black. Does anybody have color codes handy? I need to make a final decision so that the engine bay can be painted before the new engine and stainless steel brake lines, etc go back in.

Also, the car is supposed to be finished in a month....!!!!

(Thanks to Flashback for the pics.)

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178

Also here are some pics of the rebuilt L24 engine that is going into the car:






I took Clive's recommendation a while back and also picked up a 5 speed tranny. That is going in as well.

More later.

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178

Yes, you're gonna be happier with the 5spd than you would have been with the 4spd. Makes for a much more relaxed road trip.

You were absolutely BLESSED to get this car, sight unseen, in as rust-free condition as it is.

But I've already told you that several times, huh?

You are going to have a really fun summer playing with this car.

I agree, there's nothing more satisfying than seeing these cars slowly returning to factory new appearance. Seeing the new black chassis parts and clean engine compared to the the first photos is what this is all about. Ha!

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Bryan Little
Datsunzgarage.com

1970 240Z - enhanced F54 L28 w/P90, Weber DCOEs, 4:11 R200, Nissan T5 5-speed

Frank,

Don't I know it buddy! I consider myself very blessed. I still remember after I finalized the deal with the PO it hit me that I knew nothing about Z's or restoring cars. I frantically started searching the web for a car club because I knew I needed help. And then whammo I found the CTZCC. I consider myself lucky all around!

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178

Thanks Bryan you are right. I love transforming old bones back to new.

So after much back and forth my wife and I decided on this as the color for our Z...

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178

Now, if Flashback were that shade of blue, I'd leave it that way.
(Jealous).

After being sick all long weekend with 1 flu and 1 stomach virus I am
feeling well enough to try and tackle this color challenge.

I need to find a way to match the blue paint in the pic with a color code.

I need to do this now so that the engine bay can be painted prior to reassembly. The body will be painted later.

I am going to try to contact the owner of the car in the pic if I can track em down on the web as a start....

I also plan to stop by my favorite body shop here in Long Island to look at paint chips...

Anybody ever done this before? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Marc

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178

Yes, but not directly.

Believe it or not, I got some pretty good ideas by visiting the paint section of my local Home Depot. I know this is house paint, not car paint, but you get to mix & experiment with some pretty interesting colors, and take the samples home with you for free.

Walking into a body shop with a pocketful of paint samples and discussing how close they can come, is better than walking in empty handed and trying to verbally describe what you want.

(HINT: Go alone. Families don't entertain themselves well in Home Depot . They break things and buy riding lawnmowers, spa tubs, ceiling fans and refrigerators you really don't need while you're busy collecting "free" paint samples).

Frank, I always go alone... that's enough aggravation for me.

I wish there was a Home Depot for car paint because I have to match the color across two paint systems.

Let me see what I can find on the web. I can't be the first person with this conundrum...

Thanks!
Marc

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1972 Datsun 240z #88178