My 260Z Rebuild

[s2k_adz]

Thanks guys, really appreciate your help!

I have taken quite a few photographs which should help, but I'm sure, nowhere near enough! Wyn and Rich, give me a few months and you might be getting some Emails asking for photos of different areas!
I do have the 'How to Restore your Z Car' book as well to fall back on

Gary, how much do you want for it mate? That would be brill! I need to come down and have a look at your car ASAP but work has been mental this week! I'll give you a ring over the weekend and hopefully we can sort out a time for me to pop down! I'll roll it in to a visit to NJ!

Now, I need to decide on a colour and if I'm having arch flares or not!

 

[s2k_adz]

Hey guys!

I have quite a few updates to report!

The new roof skin is on, which looks awesome! The front skuttle has also been cut off and the new one repaired to go on. The guys found rust under the shuttle behind the dash which has now been welded up too

The rear valance has also been repaired using some of a repair panel I bought. Its hand made and to be honest I was less than impressed. I ended up using about 30% of it as the pressings were wrongly placed, too deep in places and too shallow in others and the exhaust cutout was in the wrong place. Anyway, its all on and looking much better than the rusty one!

Also, I bought myself a 350Z Roadster! I'm a true Z car fan now!

 

[s2k_adz]

A few updates guys.

NJ have been working on the shell on and off for the past few months now and they are making some progress

They have repaired and fabricated a few sections of rust around the windscreen under the dash, floorpan, the front strut area and front wheel well.

Drivers Floorpan

Attempted to keep the patterning standard on the fabricated pan.

Under the dashboard area. This all needed to be jigged up with the steering column as it was around the column mounts.

Front crossmember repairs:

Bonnet mount and front of air tubes fabbed up and on:

New outer front suspension turret skin:

 

[s2k_adz]

The front of the outer sill was cut off as it was rusted to reveal this behind:

This is currently being repaired!

Front sill repair done:

Various repairs in the front wheel wells:

All in all its coming on well. Rear arch repair panels have arrived from MJP and look substantially better than the rear valance I received. I think I have decided to keep the car standard without the wide arches on it so these will be going on in the next week or so. In the mean time the guys have started the front air tubes as these are pretty deeply pitted with rust.

Always interesting going up to NJ though purely to see the other cars that Nick and the guys are working on!

Cant wait to get it on the road now! Colour suggestions needed! I want it a standard Datsun colour but not white or red! I am really liking the Lime Green but I see Terry has painted his that colour!

 

[grahamjc]

progress is looking good, lots of little repairs - same as mine. Good luck with it!

 

[andrew muir]

Rust and holes in all the usual places!!
Make sure they take all that surface rust off as well and zince primer it all or it will come back again!!

Good luck

 

[s2k_adz]

Cheers guys!

Graham - are you doing the welding on yours yourself? I half feel like I should have had more of a go but I do feel these guys are doing a MUCH better job than I would have!

Andrew - Once all the main repairs are done its getting blast again with a more aggressive media to remove the surface rust, then zinc primed. I definitely do not want it coming back!

 

[morbias]

Lots of progress going on there

Maybe it would be prudent to replace the sills in their entirety though given the amount of rot in the doglegs?

When I did mine I had no idea whatsoever of the horrors contained within, it was a bit of a shock!

edit: colour wise, no-one seems to go for the browns or greens any more, or silver for that matter. I am quite partial to the 'baby poo brown' colour but no idea what the paint code is. If I ever re-painted my car I would probably go for the silver it was originally, at the time I chose white because it was easy and I had no confidence in my bodywork skills (or lack thereof), but in my opinion these cars look so good in silver.

 

[s2k_adz]

Morbias - I have suggested this to NJ but they said they are certain there is no rust in the main part of the sill. You can see inside the outer sill from inside the car through the large holes. The front and rear of the sills have been removed too and I also can't see any rust inside.

I do see what you mean re where the dogleg meets the sill though. I will ask again to be sure though. I would prefer to get all this sorted now than it have it all come back!

 

[atomman]

Good to see that is coming along, I've been meaning to call up in mine to have a look when I get the chance.

As for colour my vote goes for 'Grand Prix Maroon' not sure if that's a ZG colour only though

 

[s2k_adz]

The car is really coming along now guys. The welding is nearly finished and it will soon be blast a second time to remove the last of the rust and then etch primed.

 

[nospark]

Good work Adam. It's going to be a properly sorted car when done. I don't want to sound mercenary but you will have comfort in knowing that you would get your money back at the end of the day. As you know the price of z's has gone nuts since the time you first trailered this car into your garage. Obviously you have good documentary photo evidence of a sorted RHD car restoration. I can't recall if the original engine was the car. Would be a bonus if you've got matching numbers as well.
As for colour (from your pm), I think an original Datsun period colour is the way to go. My car was leaf green in 1972, then white now BMW metallic blue.....so I'm letting the side down.
No doubt it will be on the road in 2016. In the meantime have you thought of finding a lockup garage near to your home when its done? Don't want to leave it on the street

 

[johnymd]

Looking good. What media did you use to strip the car as it looks to have been very gentle on the metal.

 

[candy red]

Looking really good great to see your pic of the repairs being done as will be starting my 260z soon keep the pics coming

Derrick

 

[datsfun]

Excellent progress...

 

[s2k_adz]

Cheers guys!

Gareth the car will be kept in my lockup that you came to for now until hopefully I get a house with a bigger garage late next year or 2017. I will definitely be painting it a Datsun original colour. I dont want anything modern. Also I still have the original engine to go back in

johnymd - It was originally blast with plastic beads. I chose this because as you say it is super gentle on the metal. It also leaves all rust visible so then it can be completely cut out. I will reblast the shell in a causer grit before paint to remove any other light surface rust.

 

[Ped]

Its going to be a really nice car when its done. Its all about the prep. As for colour it really is a personal choice, but as you say you should keep it an original - and year correct colour for good measure.

Looking forward to seeing more pics!

 

[s2k_adz]

Keeping it a Datsun colour is no problem, but year correct isn't as easy in terms of the colours I like!

 

[Dave B]

Looking good, seems to be coming on very well

 

[s2k_adz]

Car is now fully welded and in for paint prep!

Still not decided on a bloody colour! I have about a week left until they are ready! I'm thinking a pale 240Z yellow at the moment....