260Z Project - 260Z GT-R

Ian

Club Member
I got my floorpans from Mike at MJP, imported from the states. If u have the bulge in the tunnel they will not fit, I went through this with Mike at the time, do check with him. It took a lot of mods to make them fit. Have a look at the image on the Motorsport Auto site, the floor pans are identical in each side, urs is probably narrower in the passenger side.
You are correct. Did they fit except for the area with the bulge? Because if they were close to the right shape it would probably be quicker than making them from scratch and quicker means cheaper.
 
Last edited:

Turn & Burn

Club Member
You are correct. Did they fit except for the area with the bulge? Because if they were close to the right shape it would probably be quicker than making them from scratch and quicker means cheaper.
Few pics attached, they’re about 65mm too wide and have a channel that isn’t in the 260z floor. Given a few hours with a mallet you’ll get them in, I did.
 

Attachments

  • 8527AE62-3983-4E0B-B4BD-6E7A06D09A48.jpeg
    8527AE62-3983-4E0B-B4BD-6E7A06D09A48.jpeg
    164.1 KB · Views: 66
  • D0838AF3-772E-486D-B35A-5D7CA0862F0C.jpeg
    D0838AF3-772E-486D-B35A-5D7CA0862F0C.jpeg
    193.1 KB · Views: 63
  • 90926034-465B-480D-B192-D3301DDF5C9D.jpeg
    90926034-465B-480D-B192-D3301DDF5C9D.jpeg
    133.8 KB · Views: 61
  • 4EF9CF6F-CE6D-4229-805B-37D8C687FACC.jpeg
    4EF9CF6F-CE6D-4229-805B-37D8C687FACC.jpeg
    319.2 KB · Views: 60
  • B837CD98-93E6-427F-A48C-349DA8213DE7.jpeg
    B837CD98-93E6-427F-A48C-349DA8213DE7.jpeg
    262.5 KB · Views: 60

johnymd

Club Member
Ian - I think the prices you mention are about right. A friend paid around £1500 for a shell to be carefully stripped to metal in the correct dual media way. You may find cheaper but most of us want a good job and that takes time.
 
Ian - I think the prices you mention are about right. A friend paid around £1500 for a shell to be carefully stripped to metal in the correct dual media way. You may find cheaper but most of us want a good job and that takes time.

that’s a lot! A local specialist here is well over half that, that’s using expensive media
 

Ian

Club Member
Few pics attached, they’re about 65mm too wide and have a channel that isn’t in the 260z floor. Given a few hours with a mallet you’ll get them in, I did.

Thanks for the photos, thats really helpful.




Ian - I think the prices you mention are about right. A friend paid around £1500 for a shell to be carefully stripped to metal in the correct dual media way. You may find cheaper but most of us want a good job and that takes time.
It was certainly done well, had quite a bit of filler to remove in places also. Not sure how much the zinc phosphate coating applied after blasting costs.

Its done now anyway so no point in worrying. The prcies from Resto shack will not be the cheapest, could have got my local bodyshop to do it for half the price, but it would also only have been half as good.
 
Last edited:

uk66fastback

Club Member
How many different prices did you get for the work before it went to the UK? I find it hard to believe there is no-one where you live who could have done it. Seems you went from one extreme (local) to the other (in a different country)!
 

Ian

Club Member
So, my initial off the top of my head reaction that it would add about another £10k on top of the work and repairs I knew about/wanted done was about accurate. Looks like it will add about £9000 including the panels, labour and VAT extra for the repairs. I always add extra so I'd say it could be close to £10k. Beetween the repairs previously known, the unknown ones, my modifications and to get it ready for bodywork and paint its estimated for 280hrs of labour.

I still believe its no more expensive than re-shelling though. When you consider a decent shell will be about £5500-£6500k, it would then need stripped, blasted, coated and then would almost certainly require some rust repairs (could even be hiding bad damage or repairs if you get unlucky) plus the chassis modifications already carried out on my car.






How many different prices did you get for the work before it went to the UK? I find it hard to believe there is no-one where you live who could have done it. Seems you went from one extreme (local) to the other (in a different country)!
Quite a few, but I didn't go with the cheapest, I went with who I thought would do the best job, there were two more expensive, but there work was no better or worse. Just handing your car over to any shop without checking their work quality first is how you end up with repairs like those seen on mine.

There was a about 3 places who could have done the work here, one was about double the price, one I would have had to wait well over a year before they could even start the project and the other may have done a very good job for less cost but I couldn't be sure his work was as good, especially considering I have quite a lot of fabrication required with some of the strengthening mods I am having done. I think he was probably pretty skilled but his facilities were lacking a bit.

There were of course plenty of local body shops, but what you see on my chassis is what often happens when you get a normal body shop to do a restoration. None of them would have a chance of being able to do the panel work now required on mine, they would rely heavily on filler.

Its still the same country technically, just a different jurisdiction.
 

Fastededdie

Club Member
I guess I'm just not meant to be doing such high level car projects.




I guess a 280Z shell would be very close to this? can't be a 240 as then my fuel tank, intercooler, radiator, diff, front brakes, hubs, engine and gearbox mounts and a lot of my very good condition interior wont fit.

Unfortunately I've just spent over £6k on this shell to get it to this point (not including previous work) and any new shell would cost the same to get to the same point, minus the transport as I could get it sent here direct. I'd still need to factor in the shell itself and the shipping costs though. So thats got to be £10k at least without including the stiffening it would need like the current shell has bringing the cost to over £12k.

So thats £12k+ on a new shell or £12k extra to spend on this. Am I as well just to get this fixed as best as possible, at least Resto Shack will be able to sort most of it.
Been there with my Jensen Interceptor 2.5 years of hard work and a broken heart at the end £££. The love of cars for you, dreams shattered. Never never give up. There are some cheap frames on ebay, maybe! I wish you luck
 

Ian

Club Member
Panels look decent


IMG_3232.jpg



IMG_3231.jpg





Metal work should be starting soon, will be good to see progress.

 
Last edited:

tyroguru

Club Member
Yeah, thanks for posting these photo's Ian. I was taking my drivers side dog leg apart tonight and started on the sills so the more quality pictures I've got to look at the better. Your car is going to look fantastic!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ian

Ian

Club Member
That seatbelt mounting might actually do it's job now.
Its certainly a lot stronger now.



If you guys like the photos I'll keep posting updates. Its good for me to look back on and it might be useful to ones who are doing or thinking or doing a resto. Plus when you see parts like which are hidden it makes you think if you are doing a full restoration its probably worth cutting some inspection holes in such areas to make sure there is no hidden rust before you move on.
 
Top