Latest Lost Cause Project: 1979 Z28

[Midnightmoon]

Made a deal this evening on a '79 Z28. The good, it's overall solid with just a couple of spots of rust on the driver's side floor, and a small area in the truck pan. Body seems to be otherwise decent. Interior is all there and fairly good. Glass is clean and clear with no cracks or damage including the T-Tops. Decent reman TH-350.

The bad...puking antifreeze out of the exhaust like a fire hose. Wiring is a mess to the point that I'm probably going to start from scratch. This was a car out of an estate where the owner passed away mid project. Not 100% sure of what I got myself in to. But, the bones seem good and there are enough decent aftermarket parts on it already that I can sell some things off and recoup most of the purchase price if things turn out to be worse than I suspect.

Anyway, here are a few pics to start with. I'll get more after I get it home this week and start seeing exact how big of a mistake I just made.

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[Midnightmoon]

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[ChuckN]

I like it. Sounds like a good project- I’d love a Z28 from that era.

 

[MaicoDoug]

Head gasket leaking

 

[TotalyHucked]

Nice! I like those late second gen cars, done up right they look really good

 

[Midnightmoon]

Head gasket leaking

Yes. But doesn't seem to be in the oil.

 

[MaicoDoug]

There is a test to look for hydrocarbons in the cooling system using a changing color chemical that is in a test bottle that connects to the radiator's fill port. Also a leakdown test works, just don't over pressurize the system while watching the leakdown gauge. Eventually the leak will stop when 2 things happen, 1) you run out of cooling fluid, & 2) the suspected head gasket reseals it's self, but not totally. The engine will still overheat. Could be a crack in the head also. Either way the tests mentioned need to be preformed to prove out the common expected areas of gasket/head failure. The only way excess cooling fluid gets to into the exhaust system is past one of the two situations mentioned above.

Good luck, you'll get it. Bad news before the good news.

 

[WFO]

Nice! I like those late second gen cars, done up right they look really good

Me too
I like the 67s best, but I think the gen 2s are the best looking, except for the goofy bumpers on the 74-77 ones.

 

[Drauka99]

Kevin Tetz has a good video on reshaping the seatbelt pockets on the rear seats to allow for some pretty wide tires with no other modifications. If that's something you are interested doing on this at some point.

 

[Strick]

That looks like a great car to start out with. There are many clues that point to it being a '79 Z28 for certain. I love that deluxe interior in red along with the 5-spokes red as well. It has 80-81 fender pockets but the scoop and front grille are 78-79; the squared dash tells that it's not a 78 as well. Looks good to me overall, I wish you well with the engine cooling system issue and hope to see more pics. I love those second gen F's...

HS

 

[Midnightmoon]

That looks like a great car to start out with. There are many clues that point to it being a '79 Z28 for certain. I love that deluxe interior in red along with the 5-spokes red as well. It has 80-81 fender pockets but the scoop and front grille are 78-79; the squared dash tells that it's not a 78 as well. Looks good to me overall, I wish you well with the engine cooling system issue and hope to see more pics. I love those second gen F's...

HS

Absolutely. I'll make sure to keep up with the pictures as this progresses. Speaking of those front fenders, I'm scratching my head as to why they were replaced when the rest of the car is so rust free. I'm guessing it was hit up front at some point but I couldn't find anything specific to confirm. Either way, I'm in this car at a very reasonable price point and I'm not too concerned.

 

[Catbox]

Looks like a fun time for sure.

 

[brooksman9]

Do love a 2nd gen F-body. Have a 73 now and have had several others. Although for some strange reason I am wanting a 1st gen now.

 

[bucket]

Absolutely. I'll make sure to keep up with the pictures as this progresses. Speaking of those front fenders, I'm scratching my head as to why they were replaced when the rest of the car is so rust free. I'm guessing it was hit up front at some point but I couldn't find anything specific to confirm. Either way, I'm in this car at a very reasonable price point and I'm not too concerned.

It could be that the fenders just had the normal rust at the bottom. Or like you said, maybe hit in the front. The front bumper cover kind of suggests that too, with it's chrome bezels that should be black on a Z28.

 

[Strick]

Most of these cars have hard lives. I have five 70-81 F’s and they all suffer from the usual dents on top of the fender to hood area and the roof as well. These cars were the “hang-out” back when there was no social media and urban sprawl. Wherever the car was at is where the party was. You can find many pics of kids sitting on the hoods, roofs and anywhere else on vintage metal; regardless of make.
F’s get a second-helping of that as many folks get these and immediately get to hot-rodding or “souping” them up. I have seen many an elbow and forearm draped across the fenders of these jewels. @bucket also pointed out that these bodies have the tendency to rust on the lower apron of the fender.
What you have posted in the pics sure looks like a great car to start out with and again, keep us posted with pics.

HS