JagerTex's '67 1600
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2018 2:19 pm
The time has come to start my build thread. Having just acquired my 1600, ideas are flooding through me - and reality is beginning to set in. This project will be considerably long term. The main motivation is to get her on the road (and keep her there) as quick as possible - and then to piecemeal my restoration. Every week will be focused on small parts (rather than taking the whole thing to bits all at once). This way, she should only be down for a couple days at a time and I get to enjoy driving!
This is a smiles-per-gallon project. I doubt very much this will ever be a show worthy car, though I intend to make it cohesive, durable, and as pretty as my abilities allow. Likely (2-4 years down the road), there will be a SR20/5speed swap. I intend to perserve the spirit of the car, and am not after a purist-OEM spec restoration.
Depending on price and availabity, I may look into a rear subframe swap around that time. IRS, LSD and more readily available gearing options would be most welcome. (I previously cobbled together an absolutely fantastic Frankenstein rear axle for a previous 280z project... 408ci LQ4 + 4l80e trans going back to a Ford 8.8 IRS out of a mountaineer... Other than shaving the axle down, I wound up with stronger, cheaper, off the shelf parts.
Many things are in better shape than I expected, some are worse. Thankfully, nothing structrual appears to be in dire need, surprisingly, seats, carpet, door cards and dash are in pretty great condition.
Trunk, floor boards, inner fenders/rockers and inner doors have at most some light surface rust (with two small spots showing scale, though that may simoly be dirty heatshield flaking up). Coming soon: wirewheel, metal prep and POR15! (Probably some dry ice, gasket/paint scrapers, bruised knuckles and cussin' too). Depending on how patient I am (or not), I might just bust out an old towel and a halogen lamp.
The chrome leaves something to be desired... As does most of the weather striping. Would refinishing all of the chrome in a black chrome powdercoat (or the mercedes satin-black-gold) be anathema? The car will eventually be refinished in a dark gray, dark metallic or possibly even a deep root beer brown metallic. Im aiming for a subdued/classy finish (i.e. deep gloss and muted color) and have never been a huge fan of chrome paired with most colors (save for say, dark blue)
Also factored into all of this... I spend time over money where I can. If I can make it look good, function correctly, and perhaps improve over original bits... Ill be far happier than shelling out stacks of cash and have a sense of accomplishment to boot.
Pictures to come in the next post!
This is a smiles-per-gallon project. I doubt very much this will ever be a show worthy car, though I intend to make it cohesive, durable, and as pretty as my abilities allow. Likely (2-4 years down the road), there will be a SR20/5speed swap. I intend to perserve the spirit of the car, and am not after a purist-OEM spec restoration.
Depending on price and availabity, I may look into a rear subframe swap around that time. IRS, LSD and more readily available gearing options would be most welcome. (I previously cobbled together an absolutely fantastic Frankenstein rear axle for a previous 280z project... 408ci LQ4 + 4l80e trans going back to a Ford 8.8 IRS out of a mountaineer... Other than shaving the axle down, I wound up with stronger, cheaper, off the shelf parts.
Many things are in better shape than I expected, some are worse. Thankfully, nothing structrual appears to be in dire need, surprisingly, seats, carpet, door cards and dash are in pretty great condition.
Trunk, floor boards, inner fenders/rockers and inner doors have at most some light surface rust (with two small spots showing scale, though that may simoly be dirty heatshield flaking up). Coming soon: wirewheel, metal prep and POR15! (Probably some dry ice, gasket/paint scrapers, bruised knuckles and cussin' too). Depending on how patient I am (or not), I might just bust out an old towel and a halogen lamp.
The chrome leaves something to be desired... As does most of the weather striping. Would refinishing all of the chrome in a black chrome powdercoat (or the mercedes satin-black-gold) be anathema? The car will eventually be refinished in a dark gray, dark metallic or possibly even a deep root beer brown metallic. Im aiming for a subdued/classy finish (i.e. deep gloss and muted color) and have never been a huge fan of chrome paired with most colors (save for say, dark blue)
Also factored into all of this... I spend time over money where I can. If I can make it look good, function correctly, and perhaps improve over original bits... Ill be far happier than shelling out stacks of cash and have a sense of accomplishment to boot.
Pictures to come in the next post!
