dgz32 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 I've been looking, off-and-on, for a restoration project for a while. The car below is located approximately 4 hours from me and appears to be straight. The rust, however, is somewhat of an unknown (beyond the pics) as the seller doesn't seem to know much about the extent of the damage. Asking price is $500. Based on this information and the pics below, is this something that might be worthy of an 7-8 hr round trip? Any tell-tell signs that you can see from the pics? Thanks! |dg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetleaf Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Well almost any Z is worth $500 just for parts but depending on your skills, time, money etc. If you can weld and are ready to do a lot of work or have lots of money to pay someone else. That rust seems pretty major, not on the panels but floor/frame etc. If you want something to drive right away I would find something better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoNkEyT88 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 If you have the time and skills to repair rust or the money to pay someone else to fix it, then yes, I would consider it for a track car or stripped out street car. The rust doesn't look bad, and I can't see any on the body, but that interior is completely trashed. Check the floorboards and the rest of the underside for rust. If they are completely rusted out, I'd pass on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgz32 Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Thanks all for the input. I'm good with mechanical and interior stuff, but body work/welding I'd certainly have to have someone else do. I'm looking at another car late this afternoon that's a bit more local. I think I'll put this one on the back burner for now. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 most deff man it has rust like whoa its not worth even the cheapness cus it will cost you bank to repair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatBlack Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 BTW that is NOT a 74 260Z, unless they swapped on the 77-78 Bumpers. [Highly unlikely] Ask him to see what the motor is, the Engine stamp is on the 'spark plug side' of the block, right below the head on cyl #6. That car looks really really rusty. It might be useful for parts [cool spoiler ] if the motor turns over, but it being several hours away would be a deal breaker for me. If this is your first Z and you want it as a project car I'd look elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19762802+2 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 Well from the looks in the pictures it had sat quite a while in tall grass and If its from Atlanta that thing could have major problems underneath. If it was sitting like that in the grass and with the flat tires it would have been lower to the ground. I would say if you just wanted to take all the parts and trash the body, go for it. Otherwise if you were going to try and restore it, it's just junk and possibly would not be worth the money you spend fixing it depending on the rust and damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 most deff man it has rust like whoa its not worth even the cheapness cus it will cost you bank to repairIt does? All I see is surface rust which is no big deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparks280zt Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 if it has that much surface rust do you think the other rust will be minimal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeDM Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 No, I'm sellin my project Z for the same price, and its in way better condition that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipl Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 no, thats really going to require alot of work.alot of patching in new sections etc.unless your a good fabricator and love to weld you probably can find something half as rusted for near the same price..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasper Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 At best it's a shaby parts car. $200.00, and you're doing him a favor by taking it. Too much rust, the critters got to it, etc......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 At best it's a shaby parts car. $200.00, and you're doing him a favor by taking it. Too much rust, the critters got to it, etc......... amen to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilZ69 Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 check for rust man, rust is the number one problem if you are trying to restore a car.its gonna drain your bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgz32 Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 I looked at another car yesterday, several actually, and they were all rust buckets. My dreams of a great barn find are quickly dwindling! I've decided that the best thing for me to do is spend a bit more on the most rust-free car I can find. Interior and engine/mechanical will be secondary concerns. Re the pics above, I guess I was having trouble differentiating the degree of surface rust, like the hood and roof for example, since the car is red. But Edward put it in perspective...how much more eat up will those areas prone to rust be if the surface is showing rust. I just need more patience Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giorgio61 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 By the pics you can tell that car has sat in water above the floor pans many times (settled grass on floor pic and mud marks on flat tires) that means that the rails and floor pans are probably very rusted plus the humidity inside will take care of everything else above the floors like the hatch area. Even as a parts car is iffy, I'd say $150-200 if you need an engine/tranny. Rust rust rust: is the major problem and most and labor intensive restoration task in these cars, the mechanicals were designed and built to last forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stdgrabbag Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 im sure you can find a better car in a less rust prone state for about the same price but shipping might kill that idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowCarbZ Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 It's such a subjective question. Depending on your budget, time and resources the car may very well be worth it. But if this is your first S30 then i'd say pass. Z's have a tendency to show rust in the weirdest nooks and crannies that you'd least expect even when they're MINT on the outside. The fact that this car is that rough in appearance to begin with hints at a nightmare once you start getting into the meat and potatos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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