Datsun 240Z Barn find Restoration! cont.

[FricFrac]

Matt have you looked at getting parts from Australia? There it tons of stuff over there that hasn't rotted away and they never seem to crush anything. Shipping from Aus to Canada is fairly reasonable so I'm assuming it would be similar or better to England...

[mattbibbey]

I hadn't given Oz much thought actually. Is it a untapped resource? Do you have any good contacts there?

[mossy]

Mate I live in Australia and I don't think there's much left, I even bought doors from the US because I couldn't find anything decent over here. Parts are getting harder and harder to find.

[mattbibbey]

does anyone who has restored a wreck 240Z before live any where near me in Oxfordshire?

[mattbibbey]

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbibbey/4200052278/" title="an almost entirely rust free rear end by matt bibbey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4200052278_14335c77c0.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="an almost entirely rust free rear end" /></a>

I have just uploaded some new pictures, they in "My Z Photos" now.

[HS30-H]

does anyone who has restored a wreck 240Z before live any where near me in Oxfordshire?

Matt,

As mentioned before, you would be welcome to come and see the contents of my garages when you want. Should be some good reference material for you there; One car that's completed a body resto ( painted by Fourways too - a nice job ) and one that's just starting out on one ( a totally stripped body on trestles ), plus one that's pretty much 'on the road'. The car on trestles has some similar issues to yours, but is certainly worth saving - and it will be saved.

I could come to have a look at yours some time in mid January, if that would be convenient with you. I'm in Japan for the first two weeks of the year, and it's a bit cold and dark here at the moment anyway, isn't it?!

By the way, I've looked at the pics you have uploaded and - if it's any consolation - I've seen far, far worse. It's definitely worth saving I think. It can be done. Have faith!

Cheers,

Alan T.

[lubu]

I hadn't given Oz much thought actually. Is it a untapped resource? Do you have any good contacts there?

Which parts do you need Matt? there's a 240/260 wrecking near my house which Ill be giving it a visit soon. Shipping might be a bint though.

[mattbibbey]

Lubu, the problem at the moment is that I'm just not sure what the hell i need exactly at the moment! . Some things that look beyond repair might not be and vice verser! But thank you for the info on that Z in your area!

[J Shara]

Did you try to start your engine to see if it ran right before you started tearing her down, it would be shame to put those nice new webers on and then find out that it has a blown rear crank seal or something.

[mattbibbey]

well it turned over fine, no problems there but it wouldn't start. I'm going to renovate the engine anyway, a friend of mine is a good mechanic with quite a bit of experience on classic engines but not body work. shame . i think the years in that barn have not been kind to any part of the car. As Alan said before, I have faith!

[J Shara]

Yea, from what i can see from your pictures, you car isnt really that bad, i would say that the front structural members of your car as well as the air tubes are about as bad as mine were, as for your interior though, those rats probably trashed it. Also, i had trouble with those damn acorn nuts in the tail lights too, i wound up just pulling them out of the plastic with vice grips.

[mattbibbey]

When you pulled the acorn nuts out, did it damage the plastic? I can't get to some of the screw heads with my angle grinder and I really don't want to put holes in the rear panel, it's one of the few parts that actually good!