Russell's 260Z 2+2 Restoration

Russell

Club Member
My 1975 2+2 was restored back in the early 90's by the previous owner, it had little use until 2012 when I bought it and has been stored inside and only got wet when being washed or caught in the rain when I have been out in it.

At the time it had a new roof skin fitted which has now begun to rust around the seams, the bottom of both doors are completely rotten now and there are holes in the scuttle panel where it rests on the metal support underneath.
The paintwork is a bit shabby in places so I have made the decision to get all of the rust addressed and the whole car painted.
I have a new (well no holes in it) scuttle panel, a pair of solid doors and a new frp front spoiler on the way.

It goes into the body shop on Monday and I will use this thread to document the process.

When the body work is done, I am planning on replacing all of the 40 year old rubber weatherstrips so it looks fresh. It looks like the only place I can get it for the 2+2 is from Zcar Depot in the US. Although the prices are fairly reasonable, by the time I have paid shipping and HMRC have had their cut it is likely to become an expensive option.
Can anyone here with a 2+2 that have replaced theirs shed any light on the options?

Anyway, here is what it currently looks like, this was taken the year before last as the Basingstoke Festival of Transport.

 

toopy

Club Member
With regards the rubber/weatherstrips etc, i would speak to MrF first, the import costs and tax etc are less overall when buying from Mike as you are part of a much larger bulk order which helps with the import costs etc

Ive bought stuff myself direct, which initially would appear cheaper, but have been stung for unexpectedly high import costs :unsure:

Unfortunately for now, MrF, is still in hospital i believe
 

Farmer42

Club Member
Bought a rear windscreen rubber for my 2+2 from Motorsport Auto back in Jan 2015 (part no 341002) costing $62.95 as part of a larger order. As Toopy has said, I then got stung for tax and shipping costs which bumped up the price significantly.

The front is the same as a 2-seater. As for the door seals, you cant get the 2+2 which is an all in one strip that goes round the rear quarterlight aperture so I got some weatherstrip from Woolies (large bead - Cat no 266A) and cut my own to size. Cost about £40 & fits nicely. You should be able to get all the other weatherstrip parts.

Be careful when you remove the chrome trim around the rear screen as you can't get that any more for a 2+2 unless you can accept that cr*ppy plastic beading stuff.
 

Russell

Club Member
Thanks for the replies, I see that Mike is still in hospital so didn't want to bug him.

I have a friend in the US who would be able to post it for me but looking online, customs will still charge me even if it is shipped as a gift.

The body shop specializes in classics and I am getting their guy to take the front and rear windows out, I will strip the rest.
 

Russell

Club Member
Good luck Russell not enough 2+2 on the road.

Luckily it is still on the road, only a few advisories on its MOT last week and will only be off the road for about a month.

It was registered 1976 but I have a letter from Nissan Japan saying it was built in 1975 so I will be in the Post Office tomorrow getting it changed to a historic vehicle.

Will make it even cheaper to keep on the road. £50 a year for an MOT and £100 for insurance makes keeping it on the road a no brainier even if it doesn't get out much!
 

Farmer42

Club Member
It was registered 1976 but I have a letter from Nissan Japan saying it was built in 1975 so I will be in the Post Office tomorrow getting it changed to a historic vehicle.

Will make it even cheaper to keep on the road. £50 a year for an MOT and £100 for insurance makes keeping it on the road a no brainier even if it doesn't get out much!

If you are looking for Tax exemption, it has to be built before 1 January 1975. Just fell into that trap myself today as mine is May 1975 so it is costing me £230 per year & I can apply after Jan 2016.
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
That doesn't sound right - cars built before 1 jan 75 could register last year for historic status. I'd expect this year cars built before 1 jan 76 can become historic...
 

Russell

Club Member
Yeah this year it is for cars built before 1 Jan 76 as its a rolling 40 years.

It rolls over on 1 April each year so go in today and try again.

I will be in the post office at Lunch time so will let you know if I have any issues.
 

Farmer42

Club Member
You are right.

The website has now changed it to 1 Jan 76 so it appears that I was too quick off the mark getting it taxed yesterday. Trouble is, I needed to drive the car today and didn't want to take the chance of Mr Plod pulling me over. Glad I am paying monthly so I didn't hand over £230 which I will no doubt have had to wait months to get back.

Heading up the Post office now.
 

Russell

Club Member
I went to the post office but their system was down and the guy was convinced that he couldn't help anyway.

I taxed it online anyway and am going to send my dating letter and V5 back to DVLA as it is so they can change it.

I assume they will refund the tax right back to today anyway?
 

jonbills

Membership Secretary
Site Administrator
I have a recollection that the post office should be able to sort it all out in one go, ONLY IF the car is registered before the exemption date. In your case Russell (and mine) where the car is registered after the exemption date, but built before, you have to send your proof off to DVLA for them to record the manufacture date. THEN the post office can tax you as a historic vehicle.
This thread is pretty definitive I think: http://zclub.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24974
 

Russell

Club Member
I have a recollection that the post office should be able to sort it all out in one go, ONLY IF the car is registered before the exemption date. In your case Russell (and mine) where the car is registered after the exemption date, but built before, you have to send your proof off to DVLA for them to record the manufacture date. THEN the post office can tax you as a historic vehicle.
This thread is pretty definitive I think: http://zclub.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24974

That should be the case and exactly as I read it but the guy in the post office was having none of it.

I sent an email in to Nissan Japan in 2014 asking them for the build date and what colour the car was when it left the factory.
They responded with a letter confirming it was built in December 1975 within an hour!!
The email was very apologetic as they could not find out the original colour!

Looking on the V5 there is a section that says you can only change the Tax class when taking the vehicle and to apply at my local DVLA office.
Was hoping I could just update it on the V5 and send it in to Swansea with the dating letter.
Will give them a call when I get the chance
 

Farmer42

Club Member
Was hoping I could just update it on the V5 and send it in to Swansea with the dating letter.
Will give them a call when I get the chance

That's what my post office did. They filled in the taxation class box, stamped it and I signed & dated the form. I explained that I had recently got my V5 corrected by DVLA which required all dating letters etc. & they said that they are unlikely to need all that again as they will have recorded it.

Here's crossing all fingers and toes but not holding my breath!!

Anyway, back to your initial post, hope everything goes well with the resto. We need more 2+2s on the road especially RHD. Keep the pics coming.
 

grolls

Well-Known Forum User
Just for info, the front screen rubber is not the same as a 2 seater but the screen is.
 

spitdigger

Club Member
I was ordering rubbers for mine from Mike a few days before his accident. Mine has the the seperate seals for the door and the qtr light. As they aren't available I have used this rubber
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111646436392?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
Seems to do the job, although until it's actually finished I can't comment on wind noise but it squashes up ok plus you don't need to hire Swartznegger to shut the doors.
Top and bottom door seals are available but for the glass channel I've used Woolies Trim stock number 319, fitted the windows yesterday and seems fine.
Top rubber for the qtrlight isn't available, but with hindsight I should have ordered an extra door top rubber as I suspect that will be the same looking at the perished remnants I have. (The frame off my donor door shell didn't have top seal - earlier or later 2+2 ?)
As for the front moulded seal for the qtrlight I''ve had to go with the best pair I have.
Tailgate main inner seal is on order, but the outer top isn't available and I've nothing of the original so I'm in the dark there.
 

Russell

Club Member
Tailgate main inner seal is on order, but the outer top isn't available and I've nothing of the original so I'm in the dark there.

Mine was built December 75 and has the later rear Brake Pads (I have a set of earlier ones if they will fit yours).
Mine doesn't have the outer top seal or anywhere to put it that I can see?
 

Russell

Club Member
So the strip-down started today and will hopefully be a pretty quick turnaround as the body shop are getting it straight in.

There were no real surprises other than the "B" Pillars or whatever they are called. As you can see, both of them are really rotten...



I don't suppose anyone has any or knows where I could get them from?

The other part was the trim round the roof edges. Where these originally panels? Mine looked like they were until i pulled it off and it was just vinyl glued to foam!
 

MaximG

Well-Known Forum User
The other part was the trim round the roof edges. Where these originally panels? Mine looked like they were until i pulled it off and it was just vinyl glued to foam!

The padded vinyl trim above the doors and windscreen are stuck on, or at least they are on the 240. I thing the A pillar is a separate covered panel on the 260.
 

spitdigger

Club Member
Mine was built December 75 and has the later rear Brake Pads (I have a set of earlier ones if they will fit yours).
Rear brakes on mine have been refurbed with new shoes, seals etc, but thanks anyway.

Looks like I got away more lightly in that area, my 'B' pillars were crusty just below the bottom window fixings but other than that ok. Looks as though likewise you also have some issues under the qtrlight trim.

The tailgate outer sits on the top lip of the opening from what I understand and just comes down the sides a few inches, whereas on my 280 the outers run right down the sides on a lip that isn't present on the 2+2
 
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