RedRBZed minor rust repair...

[redrbzed]

So, after 32 years of countless track days and upgrades to every other part of the Zed, it was time to address the minor rust problem.

This will be sorted by Lachlan of C.A.R. fame.

Along with the rust repair there will be a new 5 piece G-nose, reproduction headlight covers, fiberglass rear bumper and factory copy rear spoiler.

The Zed had a back to metal respray originally in 1990 (the only time mullets were fashionable), see pic of me in the car and mate with genuine mullets.

I'll hand you over to Lachlan to continue the minor rust repair journey...

[C.A.R.]

A few years ago, Mr. S asked me about repainting his monster of a Z in the future, and I said I'd 'definitely be interested, so let me know when you are ready'.
Last year, the talks got more serious with Mr S wanting to add a new G-Nose plus other parts to the refurbishment.
After waiting an eon for the new G-Nose to arrive from Japan, Mr. S fitted the new parts and dropped the Z off at my little shop once I had room.

The brief is: Minor rust repairs and a full open door respray in Red. Plus some other bits an pieces.
This is how it arrived, so on with the show!





That large rear Wang is going...

[C.A.R.]

According to Mr. S, the previous owner was an 'interesting' individual and had some strange ideas about the Z - which included drilling holes in random places...
These had been welded up when it was repainted originally, but unfortunately that wasn't done quit well enough so rust had started to appear...

LH rear wheel arch:









RH rear wheel arch:





All cleaned up inside, treated and painted:

[hmd]

Is there such thing as 'minor rust repair' in old Z?

[C.A.R.]

Doors were next - typical rust in the bottom corners, but they weren't bad enough to replace the shells with new ones.
Sections were cut out, inside media blasted and painted, then new outer skin sections were fabricated and then welded in.

Edited October 6, 2022 by C.A.R.

[C.A.R.]

Mr S wanted his big Wang removed and the smaller sports option style Wang fitted instead.
We removed the big Wang only to discover many, many holes, filler and rust:



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So we decided to strip the paint and filler off outside:



Oh dear...
Rather than try and weld up the holes in the very thin (0.7mm) deck panel then spend hours panel beating it straight,
we decided to make a new deck panel from some new 1mm sheet steel:

[C.A.R.]

New rear vision mirrors were mounted:

[Oliphips]

great work as always, its a very nice z. id be keen to know the wheel size and offsett as i think they are rota,s? thats the brand in considering.

 

[redrbzed]

Wheels are Koya SF15, 17x9, +12 offset.

I'm selling my previous wheels which you can see here..

 

[C.A.R.]

Onto the fibreglass repairs. I little bit was needed to all the FG parts - mostly reinforcement.

The bonnet was an issue - it's a FG item that Mr S glassed the vents into and had someone paint.
The paint job was average and it had to be colour changed to Red, so the only option was to sand all the paint & filler off and start again:









It's now ready for paint prep to begin. 

Edited October 10, 2022 by C.A.R.

[ND240Z]

Great work on the repairs @C.A.R.

Red is soo gorgeous on a Z! 

[C.A.R.]

Edited October 25, 2022 by C.A.R.

[C.A.R.]

Lots of fettling, farnarkling, slapping & spooning, the body now has 4 coats of primer on it.
Unfortunately due to circumstances outside my control, we had to paint it in the workshop - not ideal but it worked out OK.





Now to 400g the door jams in preparation for colour...

Panels are being primed shortly, then the doors & guards will go back on.
Then we have the fun job of 240g then 400g sanding the primer back in preparation for topcoat in COB...

Edited November 17, 2022 by C.A.R.

[C.A.R.]

One other job Mr S asked us to do was weld in this Apex Engineering fender braces to stiffen up the front end a bit:

[240ZBUILTBYME]

On 11/18/2022 at 6:26 AM, C.A.R. said:

One other job Mr S asked us to do was weld in this Apex Engineering fender braces to stiffen up the front end a bit:

would be keen to hear whether these reinforcement pieces make much difference to driving feel.

[jock]

Nice to see you still have your Zed.

[C.A.R.]

We have colour! Ferrari Rosso Corsa Red.
My camera makes it look washed out & more white then it actually is - I can assure everyone it is very, very RED!





Next the doors & guard jambs will be painted, then they well get bolted on, we'll sand the primer to 400g dry. 
After that it goes into the booth for top colour
I'm hoping to have paint on it in 2 weeks...
 

[C.A.R.]

Inside of the guards have had stone ship applied, and along with the inside of the doors & hatch, had a coat of colour laid down: 

 

Edited December 6, 2022 by C.A.R.

[PeterAllen]

On 11/25/2022 at 7:19 PM, C.A.R. said:

We have colour! Ferrari Rosso Corsa Red.
 

Only a Wayne Kerr would try to have a Datsun look like a Ferrari.

[gilltech]

Haha! It is a very nice shade of red after all. Good choice.

Many many years ago I once saw a red 240Z, its badges removed and with Ferrari decals on it; a hopeful 'chick magnet' presumably..... 

Edited December 8, 2022 by gilltech

[C.A.R.]

The body & all the panels have now been rubbed to 400g, so it's now ready for paint - which will happen next weekend.
I'm determined to have it back to Mr S before Christmas!

 

[jock]

Rust proof the hell out of it and good for another 30 yrs, nice work BTW.

[C.A.R.]

Into the booth tomorrow for it's external colour
(Graeme is happy)

[C.A.R.]

Base coat applied:

 

And the end result (Video): https://photos.app.goo.gl/BfuYECMjTYRbuCpj6  

Edited January 27 by C.A.R.

[C.A.R.]

Reassembly is progressing at apace: