240z Operation: SPARKLE SPARKLE

Stage 1.0 The start of a magical friendship 19/04/12

It was 8PM, raining quite steadily among the darkness. Seeing my new partner being lifted on to the pickup slowly, safely was reassuring. Perhaps not so reassuring for the owner who witnessed it, as he stood whispering under his breath how he was sad to see her go and that he wished the best for me. His comments only seemed to positively reinforce my already strong will to transform this fairlady into something incredibly sexy.

 

With the truck heading off before my friend and I, we started to make our way back to the car. I bid farewell to the previous owner and away we went back to my garage. Arriving at around 8:45PM, the truck driver was waiting patiently, he made a few comments that he has seen a few 240 in his time and that this one looked like it was in good shape for a restoration, beautiful cars he added. I was inclined to completely agree with him. After reversing her down on to the driveway and a few subtle heaves into the garage, she sat quietly and for a short moment, I was completely overwhelmed with relief. Finally, the seed has been planted and now begins something that I will never regret.

 

Funnily enough, the first thing that came to mind, was my atrocious garage. I won't start work on the car until I get that done, a quick trip down to Bunnings and a few hundred dollars should get the job done.

Stage 1.1 They say cleanliness is godliness 20/04/12

Looking at the garage, with dead shrubs and empty boxes from the past christmas, I knew deep down that unless I did something about it, I was going no where with the fairlady. It also occured to me that I had absolutely no parts at all. This called for a quick trip down to Bunnings and Supercheapauto! As I walked through the aisles completely overwhelmed by everything, I tried to get back to the basics and think about what a car needs most. So I went straight for a tool box, straight for a work bench and some gloves--however, getting a little carried away I ended up picking up a lot more than I bargained for. Cha-ching! But that's okay, I work pretty hard and no one ever said this was going to be cheap. Supercheapauto managed to spoil me with a couple of car stands and an engine crane, as well as a can of WD-40 and Degreaser. Why do I need degreaser? I don't even know, but I bought some anyway. It was on special.

 

Heading back home and right into it, I bribed my little brother with a meal from Mc Donalds to help me clean out the garage, hired a skip bin and after four hours of intensive sweeping and a little handywork on the workbench construction, I created a new second home. Needless to say, today was productive. Sadly no work was done on the car, but I'm sure she was happy to have a nice clean room.

Stage 1.2 Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. 21/04/12

Sitting down on this quiet Saturday, nerf gun at my side as I await any unexpected rivals trying to take me out for my new car. I think about what work I need to do to bring the car back from the dead, a little direction always helps. But to save myself complications, I'll break it up in to two categories; Short term and Long term goals.

 

Short Term:

• Minor rust repairs around the body
  
• Complete restoration internally (sound proofing, dashboard, seats and carpet)
  
• Chassis straightened
  
• Upgraded suspension
  
• ZG flares and rota rb-r wheels (because Watanabe are EXPENSIVE)
  
• Revert engine back to turbo and get it running
  
• Get it registered!
  

 

Long Term:

• Major rust repairs; possible sandblasting
  
• Chevrolet Orange paint job
  
• Re-machined engine, bore out, forged internals all that pimpin' shiz
  

looks like a great base 

[Reserved for future posts, keeping it organised to page 1 -- Don't hate me mods!]

Looks like a nice original car. Very rear to see them that good. Good luck with her.

Thanks guys, this is all new to me. But I'll certainly be keeping an open and vivid mind through out the process.

I had to laugh.  You shop like me!!

A healthy room creates a healthy workplace.  She will be much happier in a clean room and so will you.

Look at getting a decent air compressor as soon as you can.  You wont even realise how helpful they are until you get one.

Bunnings and the like do shelving/bench kits some of which are good and sollid.  They then bolt together for better strength.  I think that setting up the shed can be as much fun as working on the Zed.

Other things to consider are a cheap laptop and a cheap digital camera.  That way you can easily take photos as you go and store them.  You can then refer to these photos when you are re-assembling bits and pieces.  (You can also upload them to here faster  )

A clear coat on the floor will help protect it from spills and the like.  This can help keep the boss happy.

Good luck and have fun.

MaygZ

Needless to say, I'd get a bit carried away in any hardware store! However, an air compressor is definitely next on the list and some shelving of sorts--Round 2, here I come.

Tomorrow I'll be having a crack at lifting that engine out of the bay and starting to cleaning her up on the inside. I've still got to figure out how to remove all the sound deadening and just cleaning up the interior flooring in general.

Needless to say, I'd get a bit carried away in any hardware store! However, an air compressor is definitely next on the list and some shelving of sorts--Round 2, here I come.

 

Tomorrow I'll be having a crack at lifting that engine out of the bay and starting to cleaning her up on the inside. I've still got to figure out how to remove all the sound deadening and just cleaning up the interior flooring in general.

Getting carried away is the best bit. If you're anything like me, and a few others on here by the looks of things, make sure you get enough space in the toolbox and bench for significant future purposes. Nothing is worse than spending $50-$100 on something that is good now, only to have to go and spend $200 to replace it in future with something bigger.

I also highly recommend quality tools. I'm a sucker for Kincrome myself, but buying anything of lesser quality than say stanley or SP tools or similar is really a waste of time, you WILL have to replace the tools, at great nuisance and usually damage to something else as well. Bunnings do some kits, but a specialised tool shop will have a much bigger range. I know the 'Tool Shop' in Osborne park stocks a range of tools called something like Trade Mate that I have a bunch of. Look IDENTICAL to kincrome at 1/3 the cost. I LOVE them to pieces and have been very happy, especially for the cost at only about $5 per spanner. Whatever you get, make sure its Chrome Vanadium (Cr-V) and not just plated chrome either, get forged if you can.

For the floor, really only 2 options: Dry ice and a hammer or a heat gun and a scraper. I did mine with a scraper and it was PAINFUL. I've not tried the dry ice method but hear it works better.

Tomorrow I'll be having a crack at lifting that engine out of the bay and starting to cleaning her up on the inside. I've still got to figure out how to remove all the sound deadening and just cleaning up the interior flooring in general.

Done the dry ice method in a friends AE86, few things to say in my learning process haha:

It's fairly simple.

Rather than spread your 3kg of ice over the entire car, dump it ALL in one spot. Once you hear some cracks, scoop it all up and move it to the next part.

DO NOT hammer the fuck out of it. Use a chisel or a large screwdriver+hammer. you WILL put hundreds of tiny dents in if you decide to get hammer happy.

Do it as though you're prying and lifting the deadener off, don't just smack it head on.

Can get it from welding supply places (BOC or whatever).

Car looks good too 

Great adventure for you.  Enjoy the build.  At least you don't need to buy air horns

Haha! You noticed those three little horns, can't wait to hear them going.

Thanks Whittie and Thriller! Sound advice that I'll be taking on board as I go along, might need to swing past Osborne Park today.

EDIT: Closer inspection revealed a third horn just below them.

This thread will be a little quiet for now, the fairlady has gone in for a blasting, body repair and alignment.

This thread will be a little quiet for now, the fairlady has gone in for a blasting, body repair and alignment.

Already?! I thought that was long term. None the less I hope you enjoy your new found love from a fellow Perthanese Zedder.

Already?! I thought that was long term. None the less I hope you enjoy your new found love from a fellow Perthanese Zedder.

So did I, for about a day. I just decided I would save money in the long run if I just took action now and did everything I could to make her as physically sound as possible. 240z are just too good to go through such a long winded underwhelming process; so straight for the body work from the get-go! As the panel beater takes pictures of her and when I visit the shop, I'll be sure to post them straight up here.

Just saw this thread and wanted to let you know I have HS30-01222 with engine number L24-051609 and I think it is the same yellow(919) or is yours the lime colour. They would have gone down the line together. Looks as though it is a good project to start with.