280zx in for sill repairs

[Ped]

Dropped off the Zed at a restoration welders today. He came recommended through a mate at another club. I have seen his work which is pretty tidy.

The car failed its MOT on nearside sill (section pictured offside), but both are being done just for the MOT, to get it passed. I want a bit of use out it this year.

I am not getting these properly resprayed just yet as I am going to get a couple of small repairs to the front wings and corners. I picked up the wings from Huw over in Bristol (thanks Huw!), and am hoping to collect the corners this weekend from Bishops Stortford. Once I have all the bits will get the front end sorted out and just the bottom of the car sprayed.

The welder was surprised how solid the car is, its just a bit frilly here and there around the edges, but otherwise very solid.

Hope to get 'Stage 1' back by end of the week.

 

[Huw]

Was good to meet you the other day Peter. Hope the sills get sorted to your satisfaction so the car can get its MOT. Cheers

Huw

 

[Ped]

Was good to meet you the other day Peter. Hope the sills get sorted to your satisfaction so the car can get its MOT. Cheers

Huw

Cheers Huw, good to meet you, and thanks again for your help. We ended up going to see the SS Great Britain, it was really good!

 

[Ped]

Stage 1 complete

Got the Zed back this afternoon just need to get it retested on the repair.

The nearside was a bit worse than expect (as usual...).

Note the yellowy colour and brown drips of the wax oil from way back when. It just couldn't get to that piece between inner and outer sill, hence the rust.

Here is the same side repaired and in zinc primer, but not filled or sealed. Note the cavity wax dripping out the bottom...

Had this can of good quality cavity wax knocking about, so got the welder to give it a soaking!

The offside was not as far gone, just the outer sill was going.

Once it has been sealed, filled painted and stonechipped to previous black line it will look great. May rattle can this for now, not decided yet. It is not looking too shabby anyway...

I now need to think about the next stage 2, how far do you go? I have 'new' pattern wings mentioned earlier and the plan is to repair the large rust bubble by splicing in a repair section...

The front corners will be binned in favour of the second hand ones I will be getting, hopefully fairly soon, from Chappers via Ian Pattmore ... the front valance is surprisingly sound so will only need minor repairs, unless I get offered a better second hand one.

The upper join on the wing between the two panels (on both sides or the car) will be donated by the pattern wings.

The bottom of the outer door skins needs attention, a small bit of bubbling here and there, but not bad.

The inner edges of the wheel arches have some surface rust so hope they can be tidied up as is, if not the restorer said he can make up a repair stip and attach it to the edge.

Once stage 2 is complete will get the bottom foot (below door trim), and front end (blue paintwork) resprayed and blended in. I suspect I will end up with having all the blue redone, but sweating over how much it will cost. Not after a show winner just want to get it to a nice usable standard.

The inner edges of the wheel arches have some surface rust but if they are reasonably sound will treat rust to stop the rot and keep it under review.

None of this is set in stone, will need to play it as it come, but where do you stop? But in the mean time I will have an MOTed car for the summer.

 

[niroshann]

Nice looking ZX! Good to see it being treated to a nice rust repair job!

 

[candy red]

Looking good matey