Fixing 240Z with hacked-up frame - good idea?

You can probably tell from the posts I've been making recently that I've been feeling the hankerin' for another car.

There are two 240Zs in the island. One is being restored by a dude who runs an import shop, one looks a bit riced-out and had its frame hacked up in an attempt to swap some kind of V8 into it and has been sitting in the owner's front lawn for the last decade or two.

It's the second one I'm thinking about.

Let's assume a worst-case scenario, say the "rails" were cut and there is a big gaping hole in the firewall. Could it not be fixed up? Nothing some welding and maybe some reinforcement can't fix right? People have been saying it's a lost cause but I can't help but think they may be full of E36 M3. It's not like it's rusted to swiss cheese (AFAIK).

If this isn't a terrible idea I'm open for drivetrain swap suggestions, but again stick to common Jap engines maybe 2.5L and under because that's what we have to work with here. I know an S2K swap would be good but there are none in the junkyards. IS300s with their 3SGE BEAMS powertrains aren't too hard to find.

You can find a good low priced Z roller for cheap that hasn't been hacked up. I wouldn't suggest going with option number 2.

1's definitely not for sale I'm confident I could convince the owner of 2 to sell, not like he's doing anything with it.

Isn't the 240Z unit body ?

They are, unibodies still have "rails" incorporated into the frame that give a lot of the strength, even if they're just folds in the unibody.

GameboyRMH wrote: There are two 240Zs in the island.

To me it sounds like there is one 240Z and one pile of metal roughly shaped like a Z-car.

Anything is fixable given enough time, energy, money and talent - look at some of the bathtub Porsche resurrections basically rebuilt from a VIN plate. But is this car worth the effort?

If you HAVE TO HAVE a 240Z, maybe. If you are just looking for a cool project, I'd keep looking.

Is it worth the effort overall? If it's restorable the restoration could easily pay off (lightweight RWD cars are EXTREMELY valuable here - rusty shreds of a KP70 frame recently sold for $7.5k), the question is if it's possible and if I have the money.

If it's free... Doesn't sound like something to buy... After all, it is a hacked up car. so why not?
If nothing else it would be a learning experience... Its not like you can hurt the car...

Is importing a Japanese car an option for you?

As for drivetrain alternatives, the Nissan RB-series is a documented swap. Decent power, cheaper than a 3SGE, nice sound, keeps it a straight 6 etc.

Luke wrote: Is importing a Japanese car an option for you?

Oh my life would be awesome if so, but they have to be 5 or less years old and there's a 100%+ import duty...thus the high value of the good stuff that's already here.

A Nissan RB swap would be another difficult one to find in the junkyard. There are less than 5 R32s & R34s together, one Silvia and just a few Pulsars (which are FWD/AWD - the trans is the real problem).

N Sperlo wrote: You can find a good low priced Z roller for cheap that hasn't been hacked up. I wouldn't suggest going with option number 2.

Yeah but where he's at, there's only 2 to choose from

Pics? They would help, for sure.

I would expect that new rails are available. How comfortable are you with the work required to install new rails?

Keep in mind that most of us figure out after the first try, how to do it properly the next time.

As an aside, how come some people know where you are located while it is not obvious from your post? I am going to guess Australia?

Luke wrote: Is importing a Japanese car an option for you? As for drivetrain alternatives, the Nissan RB-series is a documented swap. Decent power, cheaper than a 3SGE, nice sound, keeps it a straight 6 etc.

keep in mind, the sump and pan would need to be flipped due to the cross member, which will run up the price, but is otherwise a direct bolt in job. I have all the wiring info.

I just wouldn't pay more than scrap value for the car. Got my S13 roller for 100 Washingtons.

NOHOME wrote: As an aside, how come some people know where you are located while it is not obvious from your post? I am going to guess Australia?

He's talked about it before. He's in Barbados.

Its too bad you cant get any of the piles of them in california in the junkyards going to the crusher with nothing really wrong with them, certainly no rust.

And there's no shortage of cars or parts in Australia! Still major expense in importing parts though.

Also gonna try to take some pichers on the weekend.

Rather than patch, I would replace the frame rails. Careful measuring and patience with the welding and it's pretty straightforward. The real qustion is; what skills do you have and how much you can spend?

Keep in mind this is a unibody, replacing the "rails" would require the whole car to be cut to ribbons, patching would better maintain structural strength even if it means beefing up the frame with extra metal.

I'd spend whatever it takes over the years, but to put a practical number on this let's cap the chassis repair at $2k and other repair (powertrain swap, general fix to roadworthy state, rattle can paint job) at $4k. Mind you labor's a good bit cheaper here.

I can do general wrenching and basic bodywork.

GameboyRMH wrote: Keep in mind this is a unibody, replacing the "rails" would require the whole car to be cut to ribbons, patching would better maintain structural strength even if it means beefing up the frame with extra metal. I'd spend whatever it takes over the years, but to put a practical number on this let's cap the chassis repair at $2k and other repair (powertrain swap, general fix to roadworthy state, rattle can paint job) at $4k. Mind you labor's a good bit cheaper here. I can do general wrenching and basic bodywork.

I don't even want to ask what the cost to ship and taxes + register a runner from the states or elsewhere to there.

It's not legally possible since it's more than 5 years old (only exception might be with a motorsports exemption, which would also exempt it from most duties, but then the government would seize the car if it wasn't being used for racing, and it could only be sold to someone who would use it for racing...nasty thing to have hanging over your head).

But like I said in the RX8 thread, the dealership says it's about $100k to bring in a new Toyobaru. So if there were a "new" 240Z available for the sake of argument, the price would be scaled similarly.

You can buy inexpensive repair parts to fix the rails on the car there.

Check them out here:

Bad Dog parts

They make rails that weld on OVER your existing rails. This should be exactly what you need.

IMHO, I think that an early Z car is the best option that you've throw out here. You can get all kinds of parts new, used or reproduction and most vendors will ship to your location.

Oooooh I like! This helps immensely!

GameboyRMH wrote: Oooooh I like! This helps immensely!

I thought you'd like that. The guys at hybridz.org have nothing but good things to say about these parts. I am planning on using a set on my '75 280Z over the winter.

Ah, Barbados...Now I get it as far as cost goes. I know a person there that brought a Mitsubishi Evo in about 10 years ago. I could not believe what he spent. Also could not believe that the ice business was so lucrative that he could afford it!

I also know from some other Barbadian friends that people get pretty resourceful about keeping cars on the road.