260Z Project - 260Z GT-R

Ian

Club Member
I know this has exceeded budget and time but this looks so well done. Thanks for posting up your progress Ian.
Thanks. I believe it is as well done as you will get anywhere, certainly as well done as I can afford, or in some cases not afford.

At least I will end up with an entirely rust free car thats both stiffer than stock and better finished and I know I've seen inside every hidden crevice.

Never imagined it would need so much new metal added.




Stunning!
I'm impressed how good it looks considering its still at the metal stage, not even had any lead filler yet.
 

Ian

Club Member
So, well due an update, But I have been busy.


Got the front end metal work to finish. Shouldn't have been too much work. But note the word "shouldn't"


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Found some nice rust around the air intake

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Ian

Club Member
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So, I noticed the rust during the repair job on the front of the frame. So since I clearly must enjoy giving myself a lot of extra cost I asked Dave to open it up for inspection.



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Added strengthening panel for the brace that will be added.

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Ian

Club Member
Which led to this:

I'm pretty over this now. But I didn't see any point in leaving rust here when we got rid of it in every other box section, Didn't want to have rust issues here in 5 or 10 years time as I still plan to be owning the car then. I really should have started with another shell.




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Mr Tenno

Digital Officer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Always really impressive to see the work at this shop.

Since you've chased out the tinworm everywhere else - were the A pillars checked?
 

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Ian

Club Member
Since you've chased out the tinworm everywhere else - were the A pillars checked?
Not fully cut open, but a section either side at the bottom immediately below the a pillars needed replaced, when this was cut out we put an inspection camera up what we could and it looked good so let it at that.

Hope I don't regret not cutting them up fully to be sure, but at this stage the costs are crazy so I don't really want to be spending money where it isn't needed.
 

candy red

Club Member
Not fully cut open, but a section either side at the bottom immediately below the a pillars needed replaced, when this was cut out we put an inspection camera up what we could and it looked good so let it at that.

Hope I don't regret not cutting them up fully to be sure, but at this stage the costs are crazy so I don't really want to be spending money where it isn't needed.
Fantastic work going on there great fabrication skills oh to have all that equipment I know the time and effort in inot only repairing these areas but also getting rid of all the hidden rust I can see why it’s costing so much as I’ve put so many hours into mine and still got lots I need to sort out but you will be happy with the finished shell top job 👍:bow:
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Been off the site for quite some time Ian and just caught up on this thread. Wow!!!!! Such an amazing job as always fella.

You are scaring the life out of me and a few others!!! Just comes to show there is rust EVERYWHERE we can’t see on our cars! 😱
 

Ian

Club Member
Fantastic work going on there great fabrication skills oh to have all that equipment I know the time and effort in inot only repairing these areas but also getting rid of all the hidden rust I can see why it’s costing so much as I’ve put so many hours into mine and still got lots I need to sort out but you will be happy with the finished shell top job 👍:bow:
Yes, one can never have enough equipment, still so much I want for my garage. At least I finally managed to get my high CFC compressor installed this year. So proper paint jobs can now take place.

Big money for all the metal fabrication tools they have and need to do their work well, realistically not something you can justify having in a home workshop.




You are scaring the life out of me and a few others!!! Just comes to show there is rust EVERYWHERE we can’t see on our cars! 😱
Just do what I did before I started this project. Assume since it all looks great that there is no rust and don't worry about it at all. Out of sight, out of mind I guess. Otherwise things get very expensive. And after all, how many restorations remove panels and box sections to check behind, I would imagine most do not and only fix the problems that are visible on the surface.




Drivers side is done. Will be onto the passenger side next week. Hopefully its better or at least no worse than this side was.


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Rushingphil

Club Member
I can't take any credit for that, its all Dave from Restoshacks skill. While I can do bodywork and painting with ease, I'm not skilled with metalwork.



Starting this week. What will we find, hopefully no worse than this side.

Fingers crossed for you, but it's a fair guess that it will be in similar condition
 
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AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
And after all, how many restorations remove panels and box sections to check behind, I would imagine most do not and only fix the problems that are visible on the surface
So I was thinking about this and your awesome work. It really does explain the arguments against acid dipping cars. It’s not difficult to imagine that acid getting into all those sections and never quite being flushed out again.

Following with great interest. Keep up the great work Ian!
 

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
I don't know about acid dipping but dipping in a bath of rust-preventative would be good - shame they didn't do that in Japan when it was built.

This is such an interesting Thread and the sort of restoration that would be done to a rare Ferrari or similar.

Is there anyway you could recoup some money by getting a TV programme made - you know the Car SOS sort of thing or produce a booklet about it like the Franklin Mint car (I bought one of those booklets).

 

richiep

Club Member
One thing to consider with dipping processes is that they usually include a phosphating, rust prevention stage, so theoretically internal rust is converted/stabilised.

Having had my project shell done with a hybrid pyrolysis/dipping process (EnviroStrip), the bigger downside IMO with having Zs treated is the prospect of stripped materials (paint, ash, etc) collecting in internal spaces where it is only accessible if you open them up. Example: see the Dixie thread posts where I cut the rear arches for overfenders. I could’ve easily left the mint arches alone and would’ve been none the wiser about the crud and rust built up inside on top of the seams.

Ultimately, no process - dip, blast, etc - is 100% effective. You’ll only get everything if you systematically deconstruct every part of the car, which is for most impractical. That’s where rust-inactivating waxes and fluids for internal structures come into play.
 
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