Datsun cancer, the plot deepens!

"Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger" (drbajones) 01/04/2015 at 19:43 • Filed to: datsun, rust, 280z, save me

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Well Jalops, the fable is true. The rust you see is three times worse in reality. At this rate I'm going to be repainting the whole car! Which is kinda OK with me because the original owner repainted it at one point and did a terrible job. I'm going to be sending a number of small body pieces off for media blasting.

Passenger side hood hinge mount.

My original purpose for buying a project car was to learn new skills. Boy am I learning!

You cant really tell in this picture but trust me, there's lots of little holes in the passenger floor board.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/04/2015 at 19:46

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Just turn it into a Rotsun.

Big Bubba Ray > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/04/2015 at 19:51

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Seeing your rust makes me nervous about mine. I think it's just minor body rust at this point but I'll find out once I dig in some more.

What kind of welder did you get for this? I really want to learn to weld and I might as well start on the Z like you're doing. Do you have any experience with welding?

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 01/04/2015 at 20:05

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Oh my god, YOU'RE STILL HERE!! :D

GOOD NEWS!

briannutter1 > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/04/2015 at 20:44

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Yours is pretty decent compared to most. Recommend a full media blast to find everything. My first '73 was a rustbucket. Turns out the passenger front lower control arm was basically floating in scaly rust..not actually connected...very scary. Had some channel bent for it and replaced the frame rail on that side. had to weld in captured nuts on the top of the rail...what a pain in the ass. Problem being welding new steel to old hi carbon steel is Real ugly. I'd bought a Hobart Handler 110 and that's what taught me to weld when I was 17..circa 1989. Pops and many burns from laying underneath it to get it done. Welding replacement floorpans were ugly as well, so that's also where I learned to fiberglass. Welder technology is much better now, so hopefully you have better results.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Big Bubba Ray 01/04/2015 at 21:40

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Hey Bubba! I bought a 6 month old Hobart 140. It was in perfect shape and they guy selling it wanted a big 220V Miller Matic.

I have experience with arc welding and gas. MIG is like magic, it's much easier but you still have to be careful with wirefeed speed.

Check the below picts out. I just got done cutting this piece out.

I bought a Rotabroach spot weld cutter and a seam separator. I used a 1/8 inch drill bit to place center marks in the spot welds. I wasn't having good luck with a center punch leaving a deep enough divot.

You can see where the cutter tool cut around the spot welds. Then took the seam separator and pried the two pieces apart ever so gently at the front right edge.

Next I took my die grinder and cut the channel on the left and the piece popped right out.

I'll be cutting out all the rust on the inner piece to replace that. Forming the above piece is going to take some time.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > briannutter1 01/04/2015 at 21:41

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I've got a Hobart 140 and I'll be using gas. Hopefully my welds will be pretty.

briannutter1 > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/04/2015 at 21:44

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Yep, I'd look into acid etch or whatever can be done to clean the metal. I wirewheeled it, but in retrospect; the pores still had crap in them and that may have been part of the problem. Let us know how it goes. You're doing the hobby a service by keeping a 240 on the road.

Big Bubba Ray > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/04/2015 at 22:14

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Holy hell, thanks for that in depth response and info! Haha Definitely some tools I'm gonna have to get my hands on when body work time comes around.

Keep the updates coming!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/05/2015 at 05:38

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Big props for getting stuck in :) a lot of people panic when they see lots of rust, but in the majority of cases it's just a bit of graft away from being nice again.

What's your plans for the car? Fix up to stock condition or modify?

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/05/2015 at 10:33

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I will be fixing most everything back to stock. It's a 78' 280z, last year of the S30 body, so it has fuel injection and a 5 speed. I've already done a bit to get it back to stock. Below is the day I got it.

And how it looked before I started taking it apart (note: no more tint and different wheels. Not to mention fixing a lot of stuff in the dash).

I'm probably going to upgrade the shocks and springs since the stock ones on it are quiet tired. Looking at getting some VTO LeMans wheels.

I'm still debating on an engine rebuilt with higher compression pistons, mild cam, head work, exhaust and possibly switching to triple webers.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > briannutter1 01/05/2015 at 15:24

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Good plan on the acid etch. I had looked at getting a product like that from Eastwood. They seem to have a lot of good stuff.

DasWauto > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/05/2015 at 19:56

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Badass. Good on you for going this far, gotta preserve any s30 worth saving. They're great cars. I've got a friend with a pair of 280s, one stock, the other is rough and will get a v8 at some point. I'd like to build one somewhere down the line as well.

I'll have to crack on with my own rust repair on the e30 though. I think I need to get thinner wire (0.025) to have better welds on sheetmetal. With the 0.030 (or 0.035, not sure anymore) wire I'm using now I poke more holes than I'm fixing (albeit smaller ones) if I'm not very very careful.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > DasWauto 01/05/2015 at 20:24

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Are you using gas or flux? I need to go get a 25/75 Ar CO2 bottle.

What areas are you fixing on the e30?

DasWauto > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/05/2015 at 20:59

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I have both available, there's flux in there right now for a different project but I use gas on the car. I'm using 100%CO2 right now, my welder is supposed to be compatible with it and we had a big tank left over from when paintball was popular with our household.

The jacking points (as they are referred to, but you shouldn't lift the car with them) and some small holes in the floor are the areas I'm addressing. The driver's side may become a big hole rather than a bunch of small patches but I'm gonna see if I can get a pre-made piece to replace the whole thing first. I haven't found any aftermarket reproductions yet, only e21 and younger. Right front footwell shows the jacking point in more detail:

The bottom of the front fenders need some work too but if I can pick up a decent set that's rust free or close to it I'm going for it. I'd like to stay away from welding anything that'll be cosmetic.

Damn living in the rust belt...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/06/2015 at 06:04

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That looks surprisingly good on the outside for the quantity of rot on the inside :S

Would you be doing the engine rebuild yourself or getting a 'shop to do it? Doing it yourself would be much, much cheaper and is just a matter of patience and a Haynes manual really :)

Have you given any thought to ditching the 5-mph bumpers? Simplify and add (a lot of) lightness and all :)

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 01/06/2015 at 08:15

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I'll probably rebuild the motor myself. The additional costs for me is just too much considering the painting I need done. I've got the Haynes manual and the factory service manual. I'll most likely send the head to Datsun Spirit to have it ported and a valve job.

I have thought about the 90 pound bumpers. I've found a guy online that sells fiberglass versions...

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/06/2015 at 09:04

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Ooh fibreglass versions would be nice. I'm planning to make a fibreglass front bumper for my Spitfire at some point.

It's definitely well worth the money to get the head ported by someone who really knows their stuff. Bit of a black art :)

briannutter1 > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/06/2015 at 09:59

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You may want to drop by a harbor freight as well. They have a lot of tools that will make the job easier and turn out nicer. Also check out some of the panel adhesives out now....very strong and no warping. Quite a few youtube videos on the process.

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > briannutter1 01/06/2015 at 10:13

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You don't live close to Lexington KY do you? Because based on your comments I need your help! ;) You know more about this that I do.

This is bad to admit but I have a shopping list on my phone for HF...

briannutter1 > Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger 01/06/2015 at 10:14

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Nope, sorry up in Cleveland. send me an email to bnutter@wiseco.com and I'll get you my phone number.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > K-Roll-PorscheTamer 01/09/2015 at 18:27

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Think of me as more of a guardian angel I am still here at least once a week but I rarely comment or make posts.