Graeme - CZ
Club Member
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1973 Datsun 240z (L28) US import restoration
- Thread starter Graeme - CZ
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Graeme - CZ
Club Member
With the engine in situ?
Graeme - CZ
Club Member
Yes, no alternative. Don’t have the space, nor the equipment. And I wouldn’t go to the expense of taking it to a place to have them pull out the engine and paint it - not worth it for part of the car rarely seen IMO.
uk66fastback
Club Member
Interesting. Is the rad coming out? If you haven’t got a hoist then it has to be done with the engine in obviously. If you prepare it as well as you can, it’ll look okay when done.
Graeme - CZ
Club Member
Will keep you posted with some pictures of progress. The tricky bit will be around pipes coming out of the firewall and around the brake servo etc, none of which I am removing. Removed all the minor pieces of equipment. The main areas you see are the wings, and they are easily accessible. I'm happy the job won't be perfect, just much better than it was before. In part, i am doing this while the carbs are already off and away being refurbed, so nothing else to do on the car right now.
Graeme - CZ
Club Member
No. By loosening off the bolts, it will shift forward 1cm on the flex of the pipes. That's enough to get access where i need to. The rest will be masked off. I'll be happy with Ok. I'd sooner drop money in other areas, such as upgrading the brakes.
uk66fastback
Club Member
You sure?! There's always something! Engine bay will look good. Any areas like the rad where you can unbolt it slightly as you say so it looks like it was out, will improve the final work.
Just open the bonnet and throw matt black in there like Yanks do!
Graeme - CZ
Club Member
That is exactly it Rob. I was just going to hand paint it with hammerite; but thought i'd make a little more effort. Matt black - brilliant.
toopy
Club Member
I hate that about American cars, nice shiny paintwork on the exterior and then you look in the engine bay........ god no! it doesn't matter how bling the engine is, it cant distract from the automotive black hole surrounding it
uk66fastback
Club Member
A lot of US cars have black engine bays from the factory - they're not all painted that way years later. Every stock classic Mustang I've ever seen has a black engine bay ...
toopy
Club Member
Any idea why it became a 'thing' over there? I just don't get it, can't be for aesthetic reasons surely!
'cos it's easy.
SacCyclone
Club Member
My biggest complaint about Z cars and mostly seen in the states, a black engine box.
Yes, many Chevrolet and Ford muscle car engine boxes were painted black from the factory but not so for Dodge, Plymouth, and Chrysler.
Some where along the way a lazy chap thought why not paint the engine box black on a Z car, or Mopar for that matter. It is just wrong.
Nice to see that Graeme has gone the extra effort and painted the box body color.
Mike
Graeme - CZ
Club Member
Graeme - CZ
Club Member
Quick update...
Graeme - CZ
Club Member
Slowly but surely, the carbs are coming together. Hoping the car will be back on the road not long after easter...
Bazzateer
Club Member
