HamishJ Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Hey guys my names hamish and i decided to start a build thread in hope you guys will give me some tips and advice throughout this project, aswell as documenting it. Iv been on here a fair bit for the last year or so but never started a thread about my z. I bought my first one back in 2014 in april when i was 15, I flew up to Queensland from sydney to have a look at it and place a deposit with my dad. Being 15 i knew nothing about them, especially rust wise and decided it was a good idea to buy it against what my dad had told me haha. I got it transported back because it was un roadworthy and didnt start, from there i stripped it down and found the extent of the rust and decided it was too far gone for me and my funds. After several months of dicking around i found a clean 260 2 seater rolling shell in Wollongong and decided it was a good buy and i could transfer everything over from the 240, there was no way i was going to give up on my dream car that easy. Iv only really started to make some progress on the project in the last few weeks. Iv completey stripped the 260 of all suspension, ordered new polly bushings, found some lowered king springs, and some Bilstein shocks which im not sure about yet. once the susspension is back in its of to the pannel beater to get the rust in the radiator and left chassis rail repaired. The major challenge in this will be my budget as i only have a part time job between school, but it if there is a will there's a way. oldmates260z 1 Quote
HamishJ Posted September 5, 2015 Author Posted September 5, 2015 Some pics of the 240 oldmates260z 1 Quote
HamishJ Posted September 5, 2015 Author Posted September 5, 2015 Ill add some more if the 260 when i get a chance to take them oldmates260z 1 Quote
George Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Good to see you're having a go at the ripe old age of 16. Lots of help around here so don't hesitate to ask when/if you get stuck. All the best with the build. I'll be keenly following your progress Hamish. Oh, and don't worry about the 240 shell. You'd be surprised how much you'll get for it if you decide to sell it. The roof alone is worth a princely sum. How far gone is it btw? Quote
KatoKid Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Welcome Hamish. As George say, there is plenty of help here if you call out. Good luck with it. Quote
Moderators PB260Z Posted September 5, 2015 Moderators Posted September 5, 2015 Welcome Mate Good luck with Z. It is great to see you betting in and sorting things out yourself. Keep the photo's coming. Cheers PB Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted September 5, 2015 Administrators Posted September 5, 2015 That 240z doesn't look so bad to me. If you have the space to keep it, I wouldn't sell it. They are only going up in value. Quote
Andrew_L26 Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Thats mint dude, I was dreaming of a 240 but due to the lack of funding I ended up with a beautiful 260 2+2 Keep the posts coming. It's nice to see someone else my age into zeds! Quote
HamishJ Posted September 6, 2015 Author Posted September 6, 2015 Hey guys thanks for all the encouragement. The 240 has rust in the door pillars, roof, chassis rails, slam panel, sills and dog legs, wheel arches, rear quarter panels, engine bay rails, radiator support and probably lots more I can't think of so its a pretty full on restoration and I wouldn't mind keeping it but I need the money to continue with the other one so I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet. Quote
TobyMyers Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 Good to see another person in the same boat as me, part time job and at school- while trying to build a zed! Can't wait to see how this goes Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted September 6, 2015 Administrators Posted September 6, 2015 Can't wait to see how this goes From my experience about 16 years ago, very slowly. But there's no replacement for passion. Just keep in mind you should also enjoy your youth and don't try to finish it in a year. Spend your money on other things like travel and having fun with friends etc.. The S30z will always be there and you can finish it over a 5-10 year period if you have to. Everyone always said to me, someday you'll have the money but no time. Back then I had plenty of time and no money. I have to say in retrospect they were absolutely correct. I now have money, but my job keeps me so busy I struggle to find time. Still back then I could only dream of buying stuff like Rally Clocks, so there's always a trade off. Just enjoy your youth is the advice I'd give because you can't buy that back. TobyMyers 1 Quote
Moderators PB260Z Posted September 6, 2015 Moderators Posted September 6, 2015 (edited) I now have money, but my job keeps me so busy I struggle to find time. I can certainly relate to that ! Edited September 6, 2015 by PB260Z Quote
HamishJ Posted September 14, 2015 Author Posted September 14, 2015 Heres the some pics of the 260. Also i just bought a set of bilstien shocks that just got rebuilt for $100, however they are for the early 240z suspension so im working on pulling out the shocks from the 240z and transferring them over to the 260z with the new shocks and lowered king springs. Its a bit of extra effort but it saves me a couple hundred. Quote
HamishJ Posted September 16, 2015 Author Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) Got the shocks out today and separated them from the control arms. Does anyone know where i can get new spindle pins apart from america?? Edited September 16, 2015 by HamishJ Quote
Retro Z Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 You can use a big bolt and nut instead of a spindle pin. Stewart Wilkins motorsports sell them Quote
GongZ Posted September 16, 2015 Posted September 16, 2015 It's good that people like RetroZ can tell us what Stewart Wilkins Motorsport sells - because their website is hopeless at it. (example - I know they make L-series extractors, but I can't find them) Even the items that they do list - don't have photos. Quote
HamishJ Posted September 16, 2015 Author Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) You can use a big bolt and nut instead of a spindle pin. Stewart Wilkins motorsports sell them I'll check it out thanks mate Edited September 16, 2015 by HamishJ Quote
Moderators PB260Z Posted September 16, 2015 Moderators Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) It's good that people like RetroZ can tell us what Stewart Wilkins Motorsport sells - because their website is hopeless at it. (example - I know they make L-series extractors, but I can't find them) Even the items that they do list - don't have photos. Just give Stew a call, or even better drop in, that is what I have found works best.He is a really decent bloke and a font of wisdom. Edited September 16, 2015 by PB260Z Quote
HamishJ Posted September 16, 2015 Author Posted September 16, 2015 You can use a big bolt and nut instead of a spindle pin. Stewart Wilkins motorsports sell them It's good that people like RetroZ can tell us what Stewart Wilkins Motorsport sells - because their website is hopeless at it. (example - I know they make L-series extractors, but I can't find them) Even the items that they do list - don't have photos. Just give Stew a call, or even better drop in, that is what I have found works best. He is a really decent bloke and a font of wisdom. Yeah ill give him a call tomorrow and see what he has. Thanks boys Quote
HamishJ Posted October 22, 2015 Author Posted October 22, 2015 Hey guys went to put in the shocks i got and they didnt fit!!!. it feels like they are only a couple mill to big, are they meant to be a really tight fit? any ideas iv never replaced shocks before?? Also im assuming the longer shocks go in the back? Cheers hamish Quote
WA240Z Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 Hi Hamish, I had the same issue when installing Koni yellows into my front struts, the rears were fine. It turns out there is different wall thickness's on struts of different years on the 240Z's, the OD is the same. I ended up having to get another pair of front struts to accommodate the Konis. I guess you could always machine the strut out slightly in a lathe. Quote
shaun240 Posted October 22, 2015 Posted October 22, 2015 Hi Hamish, I have also recently fitted a set of Koni yellows which were extremely tight, including a few that didn't fit at first. If its a few millimetres you may have to get them machined. When I stripped mine down I found a fair amount of surface rust had built up on the internal strut tube walls which needed to sanded out. I used an extra long metal bar with course sand paper attached to an electric drill and spent a good 30min on each strut. Quote
HamishJ Posted October 28, 2015 Author Posted October 28, 2015 Hi Hamish, I have also recently fitted a set of Koni yellows which were extremely tight, including a few that didn't fit at first. If its a few millimetres you may have to get them machined. When I stripped mine down I found a fair amount of surface rust had built up on the internal strut tube walls which needed to sanded out. I used an extra long metal bar with course sand paper attached to an electric drill and spent a good 30min on each strut. Hi Hamish, I had the same issue when installing Koni yellows into my front struts, the rears were fine. It turns out there is different wall thickness's on struts of different years on the 240Z's, the OD is the same. I ended up having to get another pair of front struts to accommodate the Konis. I guess you could always machine the strut out slightly in a lathe. Hey guys thanks for the advice, i suppose ill ask around how much it would be to get them machined out, if not will just have to buy another set of shocks. Quote
Scoota G Posted October 28, 2015 Posted October 28, 2015 Wonder if you could run a hone up in there and solve the issue.Stripping the paint and putting a thin coat of etch on the shocks may work too. Quote
HamishJ Posted October 28, 2015 Author Posted October 28, 2015 Wonder if you could run a hone up in there and solve the issue.Stripping the paint and putting a thin coat of etch on the shocks may work too. Yeah already tried stripping the paint, still was to tight Quote
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