Andrew's 1972 240

[gav240z]

The colour looks superb. Great to see the original hue. Clear coat makes it really pop, although not strictly original to have clear I think it looks good.

[andyk_79]

The colour looks superb. Great to see the original hue. Clear coat makes it really pop, although not strictly original to have clear I think it looks good.

Thanks Gav. I rethought the colour a few times but every time I ended up thinking of the factory colour code sticker (that I hope is still there but doubt it). They didn't talk paint types with me but I wouldn't have had an answer for them anyway.

[GongZ]

... factory colour code sticker (that I hope is still there but doubt it)...

 

Reproduction paint number stickers are available, eg.;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-240Z-Paint-Code-decal-/291705017919?hash=item43eaf9563f:g:5lsAAOSwBLlVbLPn&vxp=mtr#shpCntId

 

[Brabham]

Looks good to see the original color, leaf green is pretty rare. Paint will be clear over base which is necessary for a metallic, don't need clear for a solid. More durable in the sun than acrylic. All downhill from there.

 

Cheers

[Classicman]

I'm not usually a fan of green, but that looks really good!

[dat240z]

Looks amazing mate! Loving another quality green Z out there   

[jeff43]

I love paint booth pics. Very envious, looks fantastic. A car painter friend of mine has said to me on many occasions that any colour will look fantastic as long as the prep work is good. I reckon they got the prep work very good in this instance and the colour looks fantastic as well. Good job, it must feel awesome.

[PB260Z]

Looking very very nice.

[CBR Jeff]

I like the green. It's going to look stunning on the road.

[Sirpent]

Big thumbs up Mate, Looks great.

 

Funny, this was my cars original color and I always hated, but I guess with age it grows on you and have to say it looks the goods 

[EJ101]

yeah I have to give that 10 out of 10.  Looks great.

[andyk_79]

Bodywork is finished.  Final buff etc was Thursday.  Is now with a shop to finally fit up the Fujitsubo exhaust and headers (they'll do it super quick on the hoist compared the 3 days of constant swearing it would take me in my tiny garage at home).  It's then off to the trimmers to get the interior sorted, a sparky to get the electrics sorted and I'll need new tyres.  A few bits and pieces I am sorting out/finishing off while that's going on but hopefully blue slip is only a couple of months away.

 

Beyond blue slip there are things I will want to restore/replace otherwise they'll annoy me:

 

-pitted door handles

- crappy modern style stereo (this is definitely NOT going back in the car)

- bumper rubbers and over-riders

- clean/paint/polish the wheels

 

The when funds are back up it's on to the engine work.........

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MichaelT]

Very nice and inspiring!

[260DET]

Very nice, colour looks schmick. Has the 'cracked' door fallen off or otherwise self destructed yet 

[Sirpent]

Congrats Andrew

 

She looks the goods and I'm sure you will do your remaining bucket list of tasks the attention and finish they deserve.

 

Well done Buddy

[PB260Z]

Hi Andrew

 

Looking really good, are you sticking with the standard rims ?

 

Cheers

PB

[andyk_79]

Thanks all.

 

Pete - yeah sticking with the 260z rims on it for now. I keep looking at wat lookalikes for it but funds are just about depleted! One day I want either gunmetal or matte black rims....

[andyk_79]

Small update.  The fettling on the Fujitsubo exhaust (mentioned here: http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/12239-fujitsubo-legalis-r/page-2?do=findComment&comment=177270 ) is done.  The trimmer has started work on getting the interior back together, so all going well I should have the car back next week.

 

Last jobs left for rego will be new tyres, getting the buggy lights sorted and getting the speedo cable re-attached/tested (for some reason it was not attached when I got the car and I suspect it may mean the cable is damaged).

 

It's been an expensive process to outsource so much of the work but it has meant I'll get the car on the road A LOT sooner, in better shape than I could have achieved and with my sanity and family life much more in tact ! Otherwise I could have been here in 5 years time still wishing I had a roadworthy Z to go for a drive in....

Edited June 6, 2016 by andyk_79

[ScottyB]

Damn I'm digging that paint! Very nice Andy.

[Cozza]

I think you made the right choice Andy. I know hard on the hip pocket but a slow project can easily stagnant. This way your dream is almost a reality.

 

It is looking great. Look forward to seeing it on the road.

 

Mick

[PB260Z]

Hi Andy

 

I agree with what Mick said - you will have the car soon and that will be awesome.

 

I will be very interested to learn how you went about the interior and approx costings (probably not a public discussion though) as the interior is still my to-do list.

 

Cheers

 

PB

[specialp3]

Hi Andy,

 

Could you let me know who painted your car ?? I need some work done and these guys look like they are in Hoyle Ave. Very close to my work.

[GongZ]

Hi Andy - update time?

[andyk_79]

Thanks for the prompt.

 

Well the couple of months I thought it would be got some what delayed!!  I finally brought the car home in October.  After the body shop it went to a nearby trimmer who put in the carpet and vinyl kits I had, recovered and installed the seats with my MSA seat foams and Interior Innovations seat covers (which I had failed miserably at doing myself).  That was around the end of May the trimmer finished.  It then went to a brake shop to sort out the seized soft lines and service the brakes.  They also do mechanical work so they were putting in the Fujitsubo exhaust for me.

 

I learnt a valuable lesson - even if it's true NEVER tell a mechanic you are not in a rush for something to be finished!  The brakes and exhaust got done in the first couple of months it was there.  I posted in another thread but the Fujitsubo system does not fit out of the box on an auto - it had to go to a custom exhaust shop with mandrel bend equipment so that it clears the sump on trans.  After that the mechanic offered that because the factory heatshield no longer fitted, and the throttle return spring mounts are on the heatshield, that they would fabricate something for me for a heatshield, get the spring mounted and get the car running again (it had never really not been running but hadn't been started for a while).  With me chasing them weekly and always getting the same answer (they had gotten busy and there were other jobs that had to take priority) the car sat idle in their shop for a few months.  I ended up on one phonecall just saying to them "Look should I just come and pick the car up?"  to which they replied "Yeah that'd probably be best"...........  They had at least done the return spring!

 

On the day we picked it up:

 

 

Since then I've been trying to spend a couple of hours a week on the car when time permits.  So far have gotten through:

 

• Got the engine running again with some help from my brother
• Installed the "Dave" plug and play headlight relay kit (http://datsun-240z-upgrades.net/product-info/)
• Transplanted some parts in the indicator switch so the hi/lo beam is back on the stalk (rather than through a crappy food pedal switch a PO had installed) and replaced the indicator relay (which turned out to be the source of the indicator issues)
• Fitted up some semi-sealed beam lamps that were parts that came with the car.  This in turn led to the discovery that the relay still switches on the earth side and semi-sealed beam H4 lamps earth to the car body, so when connected they are permanently on !  I'm going to pull the headlight buckets to confirm this (ie test with them not earthed to the car) and then will looked at getting a set of the sealed beam lamps from Toyota
• Replaced the external regulator on the alternator after discovering the alternator was putting out 16 to 17 volts and there was a suspicious bubbling noise in the vicinity of the battery
• Put in a Honda Civic fan (Thanks @CraigZ   http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/14893-datsun-240z-honda-civic-heater-blower-motor-fan-upgrade-ac-air-conditioner/)and finally got the fan assembly installed at the weekend !!  A couple of little things to do but the fan/heater etc are just about then sorted
• Been working on the centre console that was in 2 pieces when I got the car.  I've put in one of those choke brackets that screws into the trans tunnel to get rid of the load on the console.  Console I plastic welded on top and fibreglassed underneath where the break had been.  Have filled where the screw holes had been turned into gaping holes with breakage and it is currently sitting in primer filler waiting on a sand down before final round of primer filler and paint
• Bailey channels replaced so I can wind the windows up now.  Have a set of the repro door cards off ebay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Datsun-240Z-1970-73-Door-Card-Panel-Set-Black-Pair-Panels-NEW-754-/322430493547?hash=item4b125ae36b:g:mlEAAOSw0QFXDTWm).  The quality is OK and not a bad copy.  The trim clip holes are ALL in the wrong places though - out by about 15 to 20mm and not all in the same direction which is annoying.  I'll have to fill the holes and recut.  Not sure if these are required for blue slip but intent is to do them anyway just so the car looks finished.

 

Seeing a definite light at the end of the tunnel !  Blue slip now is pretty much just tyres and a number plate light after getting the fan blowing up at the windscreen.  The number plate light I have the original but the globes have slowly fatigued and melted the light body to the point where it's not repairable with my low skill set - I've been looking at some of the places that sell repro ones out of the states.

 

One thing I'm hoping is just the old (we're gueesing about 20 years), hardened tyres is the passenger front is up and down when driving along.  Most of the suspension components were replaced by the mecahnic I had the car with after I first bought it so I'm hoping they haven't missed something there.

 

Also does the passenger side usually sit 10 to 15mm lower than the driver side when unloaded ?

 

Anyway another photo with my little one claiming her stake:

 

[PB260Z]

Hi mate

 

You have been busy.

 

If it helps I have a set of original 260Z Alloys with New factory spec Tyres (done about 200ks) you can borrow for the Blueslip.

I no longer use them as I am running 15X8 Simmons, but needed standards for the Blueslip.

 

Cheers

 

PB

Edited March 6, 2017 by PB260Z