Blue LHD resto

[johnymd]

Picked up the first of my Cali purchases today so thought I'd start a thread to record its integration into the uk zed community.

Quick background on the car. Spent all its life in California. Never been painted but probably should have been a few years back. Paint has been burnt off by the sun in quite a few places and the previous owner has put grey primer over the bare metal. The panels all look super straight and panel fit is great all over the car. Terry took the car for a drive while I collected the second and gave me the thumbs up when I got back.

Now the bad bits: the underside has been bottomed out on a number of occasions and the cars has been jacked up in all the wrong places too many times. There is a small amount of rust to deal with on the floors and a bit under the battery tray but that's about it. The interior needs a good clean, dash needs repair and seats are worn. Needs a full weather seal kit (as with all Cali cars) along with brake hoses, fuel hoses and a few bushes underneath.

So, what's my plans for the car? Start by addressing all of the above and fix a few leaks underneath. I'll then take all the primer bit back to metal and etch primer to seal them. Then deside wheather to paint or not. Get the car mot'ed and uk registered.

 

[AliK]

Lovely panel fit despite the challenges you mention Johny!!

Is that a harrington stainless steel bumper on back?

 

[asbojohn]

Not unlike mine when it started out.

Are there any cars left in California now or have you got them all?

 

[SeanDezart]

Picked up the first of my Cali purchases today so thought I'd start a thread to record its integration into the uk zed community.
Get the car mot'ed and uk registered.

So the cars' future is decided -taying within the UK and LHD ?

 

[johnymd]

Maybe I should of said European community. I may convert one to RHD but at the moment I quite like the idea of keeping them all LHD.

Nothing's set in stone Sean.

 

[grahamjc]

Nice project there for you..... how many do you have?

Looking forward to the progress

 

[johnymd]

That's 7 now. 6 240's and a '74 260.

 

[zNathan]

John is planning on creating a monopoly and driving the prices up ready to sell

 

[SKiddell]

Are we seeing the birth of the Essex "Z" mafia....don't upset them otherwise you'll wake up with a pair of flat tops next to you in bed.......

 

[SeanDezart]

Maybe I should of said European community. I may convert one to RHD but at the moment I quite like the idea of keeping them all LHD.

Nothing's set in stone Sean.

Exactly - keep the options open but there will be THAT moment when you'll need to decide :

LHD for no extra work and parts cost for a wider and emerging market or RHD to appeal to the limited but higher valued UK market although the resale value of conversions is open to debate and much discussed here.....

Are we seeing the birth of the Essex "Z" mafia..

There has always been a strong Datsun presence in Zessez - can we call it a rebirthing ?

"Rebirthing-breathwork is a type of breathwork proposing to cure disease and :

For disease read rust and for pain read withdrawal symptoms thumbs:

 

[grahamjc]

That's 7 now. 6 240's and a '74 260.

Keep driving the prices up please does wonders for my 1

 

[AliK]

Are we seeing the birth of the Essex "Z" mafia....don't upset them otherwise you'll wake up with a pair of flat tops next to you in bed.......

Brilliant!!!

I was thinking "a pair of flattops fitted to your z!!!!"

 

[SeanDezart]

Brilliant!!!

I was thinking "a pair of flattops fitted to your z!!!!"

Are all Essex women flat-chested then?

 

[johnymd]

IMO Essex will always be the epicentre for zeds in the uk. Mainly because mike lives here.

Anyway, back to the blue zed.

Spent the afternoon at Terys, listening to the voice of reason and coming up with a plan for these 2 cars. The blue one needs a bit of work so I'll get on with that myself, starting this Saturday with the floors.

 

[SeanDezart]

Spent the afternoon at Terys, listening to the voice of reason and coming up with a plan for these 2 cars.

So, what's The Voice say ?

One day Mike will retire....

 

[johnymd]

Sean - the problem I have is my love of zeds is so great that I don't want to sell any and only think about how to improve them. The word of reason says I need to sell a few. The black one has to go.

 

[SeanDezart]

Love or not - you can only drive one at a time.

Maybe an all-out track Z and a road car would suffice ?

 

[grahamjc]

Love or not - you can only drive one at a time.

Maybe an all-out track Z and a road car would suffice ?

Now thats a good idea.... each designed, modded and continuously tweaked for its purpose

 

[SKiddell]

Or 1 for each day of the week

 

[SeanDezart]

Where do you spend your week ? Yours is holed up near Derby in a lock-up blocked in by a pile of old parts :

http://zclub.net/forum/showthread.php?p=233295#post233295