uk66fastback
Club Member
Great stuff, Mark. I’ve just had my old fuel tank out as well. Not a lot of fun to put back on your own!
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Just bought our first Z (240Z)
- Thread starter Woody928
- Start date
Thanks Mike, absolutely not. Thats why I eventually called my dad in to crawl around on the floor with me
Thanks Tony, it's getting really close to being road ready again for summer! Very glad to hear you say that as I've just lined the fuel tank on my bike with it. I had a restoration company really try and talk me out, because the tank was a state compared to the Z but it looked a really good option and fingers crossed will be great.
Mark N
Club Member
I used POR15 on mine which gave a very smooth finish despite being applied by brush and is extremely durable when compared to some other paints.
Honestly, I think for longevity purposes this would be a far more durable finish from what I've heard. That looks like you did a really nice job!
uk66fastback
Club Member
Good old Hammerite here!
Mark N
Club Member
I used the POR15 degreaser and surface prep first.
The paint takes a bit of time to dry but is very chip and scratch resistant once it cures.
I was really surprised how well it applies with a brush, the brush strokes pretty much disappear after a few minutes but it doesn't seem to run.
It's not that cheap (especially when you factor in the degreaser and surface prep) but I would certainly recommend it based on finish and durability.
Bazzateer
Club Member
Proper "old Hammerite" or the new stuff that's barely half as good?Good old Hammerite here!
uk66fastback
Club Member
It's okay, I gave it two coats!
I was going to get it powder-coated but then thought it isn't a show car so I might as well do it myself. I've got some of the stuff that Woody used and maybe should have used that, but it's hidden away under the car so it's fine ...
Mark N's does look good though ... but you meed your sunglasses ...
I was going to get it powder-coated but then thought it isn't a show car so I might as well do it myself. I've got some of the stuff that Woody used and maybe should have used that, but it's hidden away under the car so it's fine ...
Mark N's does look good though ... but you meed your sunglasses ...
So the car is finally road worthy again 
A couple of minor hiccups along the way but what's new. With everything all plumbed in the electric fuel pump kicked into life first try and seems to be working a dream, it was a big relief to watch the fuel pressure regulator fill with fuel for the first time. Sadly having reached the fuel station and brimmed the tank I spotted that there was a leak, as it turns out the factory brazing on the fuel return hardline into the tank had failed and was leaking.
30 minutes and an arm covered in fuel later I'd got enough fuel out to stop the leak, cleanup the area in prep to repair with JB Weld steel stick. Thankfully so far it appears to have done the job and I've touched the paintwork back up after the fuel tried stripping it. Car back on the ground and its done a couple of test outings where its been running nicely.
IMG_4870 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5342 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5483 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
Next slight hiccup is that the OEM front valance setup clearing sits slightly further back than my fibreglass replica did so I now have tyre rubbing issues at full lock. Time to book the car back in for a wheel alignment and dial the caster back slightly to give me full clearance back. That said, it seems to look the business and I've now got my new Blem indicators fitted up too which look the business. With some decent weather the car finally got its first proper clean of the year and is thankfully looking more respectable again!
IMG_4696 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5149 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5281 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5328 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
A couple of little extra touches have been added too, I've been given a lot of stick for my very tired looking bonnet badge so the old man finally decided to pick one up from the USA. It looks sooo much better now! A shame they're so plasticy though, it looks like it should be a solid metal piece. I'm not sure if any ever were?
IMG_5479 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5482 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
Finally, some big credit to my dad who came up with an executed a great little mod. Having lost the cabin airflow pipe through fitment of the MJP airbox he's wanted to come up with a solution to get airflow back into the car for summer. Having raided the merlin motorsports parts catalogue he's used some ducting which has been stepped down into the groove and added a lovely looking aluminium trumpet out of the spare bulkhead cutout to ram feed cool air into the cabin. Having tested it out last journey, its really done the job and looks pretty smart so happy days.
IMG_5091 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5089 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
There's still a few minor jobs to get the car back up to scratch when I've got spare time however the good news is that good progress has been made with the engine and gearbox rebuilds which we're hoping to get installed later this year to really transform the car. With the current engine now leaking some coolant from a coolant gallery plug and the oil leak persisting, timing will be perfect. Anyway hopefully we'll get some sunshine and put some more miles on the car again soon.
A couple of minor hiccups along the way but what's new. With everything all plumbed in the electric fuel pump kicked into life first try and seems to be working a dream, it was a big relief to watch the fuel pressure regulator fill with fuel for the first time. Sadly having reached the fuel station and brimmed the tank I spotted that there was a leak, as it turns out the factory brazing on the fuel return hardline into the tank had failed and was leaking.
30 minutes and an arm covered in fuel later I'd got enough fuel out to stop the leak, cleanup the area in prep to repair with JB Weld steel stick. Thankfully so far it appears to have done the job and I've touched the paintwork back up after the fuel tried stripping it. Car back on the ground and its done a couple of test outings where its been running nicely.
IMG_4870 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5342 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5483 by Mark Woodrow, on FlickrNext slight hiccup is that the OEM front valance setup clearing sits slightly further back than my fibreglass replica did so I now have tyre rubbing issues at full lock. Time to book the car back in for a wheel alignment and dial the caster back slightly to give me full clearance back. That said, it seems to look the business and I've now got my new Blem indicators fitted up too which look the business. With some decent weather the car finally got its first proper clean of the year and is thankfully looking more respectable again!
IMG_4696 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5149 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5281 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5328 by Mark Woodrow, on FlickrA couple of little extra touches have been added too, I've been given a lot of stick for my very tired looking bonnet badge so the old man finally decided to pick one up from the USA. It looks sooo much better now! A shame they're so plasticy though, it looks like it should be a solid metal piece. I'm not sure if any ever were?
IMG_5479 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5482 by Mark Woodrow, on FlickrFinally, some big credit to my dad who came up with an executed a great little mod. Having lost the cabin airflow pipe through fitment of the MJP airbox he's wanted to come up with a solution to get airflow back into the car for summer. Having raided the merlin motorsports parts catalogue he's used some ducting which has been stepped down into the groove and added a lovely looking aluminium trumpet out of the spare bulkhead cutout to ram feed cool air into the cabin. Having tested it out last journey, its really done the job and looks pretty smart so happy days.
IMG_5091 by Mark Woodrow, on Flickr
IMG_5089 by Mark Woodrow, on FlickrThere's still a few minor jobs to get the car back up to scratch when I've got spare time however the good news is that good progress has been made with the engine and gearbox rebuilds which we're hoping to get installed later this year to really transform the car. With the current engine now leaking some coolant from a coolant gallery plug and the oil leak persisting, timing will be perfect. Anyway hopefully we'll get some sunshine and put some more miles on the car again soon.
Looking good Mark. I reckon you'll get 'pulled up' for that small front number plate one day.
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
yep. I'll run a stick on on on the lower valance, just pointing directly at the floor, if at all.
Thanks all
Hahaha I don't want a mortgage on anything let alone a piece of plastic!
I'm relying on it, its sold as a legal plate. Classics seem to get away with loads, like stick on plates are 'technically' illegal!
I'm more concerned by the huge gap left by the fact that the grill doesn't extend all the way down... I don't know if the JDM mesh type grill is any better?
Looking really smart Mark! You should get a mortgage and replace all the badges
Hahaha I don't want a mortgage on anything let alone a piece of plastic!
I'm relying on it, its sold as a legal plate. Classics seem to get away with loads, like stick on plates are 'technically' illegal!
I'm more concerned by the huge gap left by the fact that the grill doesn't extend all the way down... I don't know if the JDM mesh type grill is any better?
Mark N
Club Member
A Skillard grill extends all the way down but will need some slats trimmed for the bumper brackets.