Project "Down under" 240Z - (RB25det)

bigh

Club Member
So over the last week or so we have started,, to look at the sills on the car.

I ordered some new 'funky green' inner and outer sills from Klassicfab VintangeJDM, some months ago.

Once the paint was stripped and the filler removed, we could see what was beneath. Inside the rear wheel arch and sill, there was plenty of fibre glass and filler.

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This is what lay beneath!
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Leaving us in no doubt that both inner and outer sills would need replacing.

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Rear section
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Rear sill & Seat belt mounting point compromised.

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Before removing the sills, we made a brace from 1"x1" x 1/8" steel angle and fitted it between the door hinge and door latch, to stop any movement or deflection in the body.
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With the sills now off, we then set about offering up the new inner sill, more of that in the next few days.
 

bigh

Club Member
Wow its been a while!

Work has been progressing, albeit like most projects, things always seem to take longer than you first imagine. Plus the usual curve balls that get thrown at you in life.....

Anyway all of the rotten sills, inner and outer have been cut out and new ones put in their place. Along with new dog legs, a few patches on the floor pans, and the original floor rails removed straightened out and re fitted.
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The rear quarters on both side have been cut out and new panels fitted, along with removing the roof skin/sunroof and a rust free replacement carefully removed from its frame and even more carefully fitted to the car.
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bigh

Club Member
All of the underside of the car was stripped back to bare metal, sanded with 80> 240 grit and painted in 2k Upol Epoxy Primer. That is one job that I will never under take again! We lost track of the hours that went into that process.

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The front frame rails had rust under the reinforcement sections on both sides, the plates and metal was cut away and new metal welded back in place. Whilst we were there we also fitted the AE reinforcement bars. The inside of the rails were solid, so we teated them with Hydrate 80, and they will be sealed with dinitrol cavity wax at a later date with the rest of the car

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Carbon goodness arrived from the US a while ago, so we could mock up the arches, and get the angle grinder out...

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bigh

Club Member
The front bonnet/doors and hatch were sand blasted sometime ago, revealing lots of small dents..... so plenty more fabricating of metal, filling and blocking ahead.

On the drivers door we removed the skin, got to work with the hammer and dollies and made a significant difference to its appearance.
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Ian

Club Member
Looks be be progressing well. So many hours needed to do a job like this. Have you been keeping track of the amount of hours you spend on it?
 

uk66fastback

Club Member
Looking great. It is hours and hours of planning, head-scratching, more planning, fabrication, welding, filing, sanding, head-scratching (repeat etc etc). But you’ll get there in the end and like Ian and his car, know it’s been done to a high standard.
 

Ian

Club Member
Thats a lot of hours. I never kept track of mine, wish I had. All I know is the hours put into the current restoration which is currently 534 hours.
 

Gaz 300

Well-Known Forum User
Just catching up on your new build Howard and its a lot of hard work but I know it will be an epic Z when finished. Watching with interest mate.
 

bigh

Club Member
Finally.... the car is very nearly ready to go to paint. Just a few small jobs to do
 

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uk66fastback

Club Member
Looking good! I couldn’t work on a freshly painted car in that garage though - it looks like things are just waiting to fall onto that paint …!
 

bigh

Club Member
Looking good! I couldn’t work on a freshly painted car in that garage though - it looks like things are just waiting to fall onto that paint …!
Haha ... yes it is a constant worry. If weather permits it get pushed out onto the drive. to work on.
 
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