Avocado Green 1972 UK RHD 240z Project

Rushingphil

Club Member
Give them a few whacks and sort them out!

Well... carefully placed whacks with a hammer and dolly and get yourself a stud welder gun. Then you can use a slide hammer to coax the dents out.

Those floors look really good for a UK car, as has been noted. There's a real contrast between their cleanness and the state of the dogleg/sill return next door!

Replacing the underfloor supports is an option if you want to get the rust out the seams, but FYI, the ones like those from Andy Plant/woody are lower profile than the factory ones, which means the triangular gusset piece under the frame rail behind the tension/compression rod brackets at the front will need some modifications to create a smooth transition. My next Dixie update will show what I mean on this, as I had to add a new gusset to the new right frame rail, which I ended up making from scratch versus using the APS one (which was completely wrong; I think Andy may have altered the design subsequently). On the left, where the original chassis rail and gusset are present, I've got to replace part of the underside of the gusset to make it shallower to connect to the APS floor support.

Many thanks for the advice regarding the floorpan and floor support rails - I look forward to seeing your next posts.

I think my floor support rails are fairly solid - it's the floorpan itself above the seem that I think has rusted through. But I won't know for certain until I cut them off :conf2:
 

Healey 12

Club Member
Hi
Mark has found it for me and is going to check it over for splits . That would be very kind and helpfull . Time and cash never go hand in had in the right amount . Good luck with it the work you have done so far is a great standard .
DC
 

Rushingphil

Club Member
Hi
Mark has found it for me and is going to check it over for splits . That would be very kind and helpfull . Time and cash never go hand in had in the right amount . Good luck with it the work you have done so far is a great standard .
DC

Thanks,

Just let me know :)
 

tomsdc2

Club Member
Give them a few whacks and sort them out!

Well... carefully placed whacks with a hammer and dolly and get yourself a stud welder gun. Then you can use a slide hammer to coax the dents out.

Those floors look really good for a UK car, as has been noted. There's a real contrast between their cleanness and the state of the dogleg/sill return next door!

Replacing the underfloor supports is an option if you want to get the rust out the seams, but FYI, the ones like those from Andy Plant/woody are lower profile than the factory ones, which means the triangular gusset piece under the frame rail behind the tension/compression rod brackets at the front will need some modifications to create a smooth transition. My next Dixie update will show what I mean on this, as I had to add a new gusset to the new right frame rail, which I ended up making from scratch versus using the APS one (which was completely wrong; I think Andy may have altered the design subsequently). On the left, where the original chassis rail and gusset are present, I've got to replace part of the underside of the gusset to make it shallower to connect to the APS floor support.

I used some of Andy’s panels a while ago and had a similar issue. The problem was with the floor panel not having the bend upwards at the front as per factory. The stiffener was the same thickness as the original, however due to the upward bend on the floor at the front being needed I had to section the stiffener to make it meet up with the front leg and tweaked floor properly. I’d still recommend even though some fitting is needed. Sounds like you might be chasing the wrong problem if you didn’t get the bend put in to the floor panel. The kfvintagejdm ones seem to have this sorted now so there’s another option there.
 

richiep

Club Member
I used some of Andy’s panels a while ago and had a similar issue. The problem was with the floor panel not having the bend upwards at the front as per factory. The stiffener was the same thickness as the original, however due to the upward bend on the floor at the front being needed I had to section the stiffener to make it meet up with the front leg and tweaked floor properly. I’d still recommend even though some fitting is needed. Sounds like you might be chasing the wrong problem if you didn’t get the bend put in to the floor panel. The kfvintagejdm ones seem to have this sorted now so there’s another option there.

Interesting - I see what you mean, re: the kfvintagejdm ones and the curve. They are probably the only floor suppliers getting that right then! Bit late for me to deal with that though now my APS floors are in. It would help explain the degree of cutting and faffing to get the outside front corners to fit nicely though. Essentially, the floors should be lower/deeper at the front and thus the floor supports would line up with the gussets.

Wish I’d figured that out before I installed the floors...
 

Rushingphil

Club Member
Last week I mentioned that the car was going to a Restoration Specialist to get the front right chassis rail pulled back into shape....

240z on Car Transporter going to Everyway Solutions.jpg



Arrived safely at the Restorers - Everyway Solutions. I used them many years ago and they still have a great reputation :)

240z at Everyway Solutions before fire.jpg
 

Rushingphil

Club Member
Had a call from Everyway Solutions this afternoon, and it wasn't good news...........................................................:eek:
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Bloody hell! What a shocking thing to happen. Feel sorry for the owners of cars they couldn’t get out ... (and the cars themselves).

Do they have an idea of the cause yet?
 

Rushingphil

Club Member
Bloody hell! What a shocking thing to happen. Feel sorry for the owners of cars they couldn’t get out ... (and the cars themselves).

Do they have an idea of the cause yet?

Yes. I feel so sorry for everyone involved. There was some very nice cars in there.

Freshly restored Lotus Esprite
Freshly restored MGA
Almost completed rare Porsche Karman Ghia
2017 M3
350z
VW Caravanette
Lots of rare, NLA parts for Jensens etc............

One of the guys who managed to push my car out has been hospitalised for smoke inhalation - I think I owe him a few beers :cheers::cheers:
 

Rushingphil

Club Member
Thanks all.

Yes, so happy for my car and thankful that the guys got it out.

I believe it happened first thing in the morning, I guess as they opened up.

It made the local ITV news as it closed off the main road to the West of Southampton.

The fire brigade have stated that there was nothing suspicious, but of course the investigators will be in first thing.

Just need to see if they can find a temporary work unit whilst theirs get rebuilt.
 

Paul_S

Club Member
That's really sad to see. I'm very glad to hear your car survived.

I just realised this is the same fire I heard about at the West Way Nissan dealership in Southampton today.

West Way Nissan.jpg

West Way Nissan 2.jpg
 

MaximG

Well-Known Forum User
Phil I’m glad your car was one of the lucky ones.

Most importantly I’m glad no one was seriously injured.

I hope they are able to rebuild there business, it’s difficult to find good people these days.
 

peter_s

Club Member
Oh man... glad to hear that they got your car out!!

It's devastating to think about someones livelyhood going up in flames like that. I hope they manage to keep their business running
 
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