1974 Datsun 260Z

[ol boy]

OK, so here is a little background information on this car and project. The owner has had the car since 84 when his Dad bought the car for him to take to college. It was a nice little 74 260Z that was his daily driver up till 91. A couple years later, his Dad passed away. He put the car away after his Dad had passed with the intention of some day being able to restore the car the way they always talked about. Last fall we decided it was time to start her transformation. Over the next several months I will post the progress and details of this project from start to finish. If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free thanks.

[ol boy]

This project will be a complete rebuild to all components to meet or exceed OEM specifications. Drive train will be swapped from a Chevrolet corvette.

Owners requests:

Must retain original appearance. No body modifications or body kits. Paint color to be original or very close variation.

Must out perform original performance in acceleration, handling and braking.

Must remain manual transmission.

Must retain original clutch peddle feel.

No fuel injection.

[Possumrida]

Interesting!
I'm your guy on OEM Vette parts!

[ol boy]

I have actually gotten a couple parts from you already. The last was the little L shaped bracket on the starter for a 79.....I am sure you probably won't remember, but I will make a point to stop back by soon and reintroduce myself. Actually, there was a guy in there at the same time I was with two huge Great danes...you might remember that.....LOL.

[ol boy]

Ok, here is what I brought back to the garage.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/starting260Z007.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/starting260Z025.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/starting260Z004.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/starting260Z014.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/starting260Z026.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/starting260Z019.jpg

[ol boy]

So then she comes down to bare bones........

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastingand5.jpg


http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/55pictureaug08b019.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-1.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-2.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-3.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-4.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-5.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-6.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-7.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-8.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll258/OlBoy55/Z%20car%20restoration/Z%20car%20Restoration%20disassembly/datsunpicturesaftersandblastinga-9.jpg

[mean green lx]

........not a fan of those cars,but i'm all for the reasons behind it.

[ol boy]

........not a fan of those cars,but i'm all for the reasons behind it.

Another cool part is that he now has a ten year old son who loves this car and he is as jazzed about the build as Dad is.

[mean green lx]

thats a good thing lol,future prom transportation?

[Possumrida]

Lol, Awesome build! Can't wait to see it done. This sounds bad, I remember the Danes, prolly couldn't pick you out in a crowd though. LOL. Stop back by, even if its just to say Hello!!!!!

[thunderbolt64]

Looks like a good build going there. Keep up the good work.

Meangreen has a little project he ought to put in the project section.

Ol'boy, how do you work out the cost of a build like this for a customer. $/hr or has a set price been negotiated? I'm guessing $/hr.

[ol boy]

We meet and review progress about every other week, I have worked a special $/hr rate for him because it's a long term project.

[thunderbolt64]

I would say $/hr is about the only way to keep yerself covered. There are always unforeseen costs in these projects. I used to add 15% extra to my budgets when building something, but that appears to be a little on the light side.

[ol boy]

I would say $/hr is about the only way to keep yerself covered. There are always unforeseen costs in these projects. I used to add 15% extra to my budgets when building something, but that appears to be a little on the light side.

Yeah, it seems that everyday I find something that I have to either fabricate or make work from something else. With a swap of this magnitude there are always complications that have to be conquered. But that's part of the fun.

[thunderbolt64]

True. Thank Gawd 2.3 to 5.0 swaps for Fox body Mustangs are pretty straight forward.

[ol boy]

Sorry for the delay in progress, I will post up some new progress pictures soon,

[thunderbolt64]

yeah, hurry up!

[Drewstang]

Good Lord, that thing was ran hard and hung up wet. I see lots of previous body work on those panels. This thing will be pretty sweet when its done.