Stress fractures in pillars

[menzcar]

Have read previous post on the stress fractures in the pillars. I have one on each pillar (4) and they are all where seams are welded. Do these need to be fixed in some way? perhaps a bit of extra welding, or do you just grind out the crack and fill it? Also I have read that the 240 body has a bit of flex in it so am looking at other welding and strengthening. Any help would be good. Found my 240z(2 seater) buried under a vine in a customers house I was cleaning up, nabbed it, stripped it, made a rotisserie, and am about to do a number on it. Also any advice on replacing the rusted rear support that holds the boot latch - rusted where water sits on the top flat surface. Would have put some pics in but havent worked out how to yet.

Cheers.

 

[twosixty]

Also any advice on replacing the rusted rear support that holds the boot latch - rusted where water sits on the top flat surface. Would have put some pics in but havent worked out how to yet.

 

That is a beaver panel, this is available as a weld in rust replacement panel.

Try Rare Spares, Black Dragon etc

[Scoota G]

You can put Pictures up by clicking Additional Options... at the bottom left hand corner when you're replying or creating a thread.

[gav240z]

Have read previous post on the stress fractures in the pillars. I have one on each pillar (4) and they are all where seams are welded. Do these need to be fixed in some way? perhaps a bit of extra welding, or do you just grind out the crack and fill it?

 

They all get these stress cracks I'm not sure what the cure is, maybe someone with more bodywork experience can help?

 

Also I have read that the 240 body has a bit of flex in it so am looking at other welding and strengthening. Any help would be good. Found my 240z(2 seater) buried under a vine in a customers house I was cleaning up, nabbed it, stripped it, made a rotisserie, and am about to do a number on it.

 

Awesome glad to hear you are saving the old girl. Pics would be awesome too!

Also any advice on replacing the rusted rear support that holds the boot latch - rusted where water sits on the top flat surface.

 

Common area and common to find replacement panel. There are several shops in Australia that provide rust replacement panels. Check the links section of the forum and recommended business section.

 

Would have put some pics in but havent worked out how to yet.

Cheers.

 

Try this:

 

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,2516.0.html

[gav240z]

Forgot to say welcome to the site too!

[sexual_sushi]

My 240z has a crack in the pillar on the drivers side  At a car show once a guy told me that when I repaint it, just weld it and don't bother with the lead, maybe someone can say weather this is a good idea or not?

[Zedman240®]

Most zeds crack there due to the lead filling where the quarter panels meet the roof and in the corners of the windscreen (sometimes). Its unavoidable because of the body flex and I've heard one good cure is a roll cage tied to the body; stop the body from flexing and let the suspension do the work. Cars with suspension aren't supposed to behave like a pan chassis car (eg go kart) without any suspension. You can remove the lead and just use body filler but that might crack again due to the same reason.

[260Coupe]

Paul at Rankins resto's was adamant that the seems be refilled with lead as it does flex more than bog and is more crack resistant, as Dimitri has said the Zed shell is not very torsionally rigid (drive up a steep driveway on an agnle and hear the sheel groan or jack up a Zed and drop the front end on some axle stands and see how much the front sags ) . The only way to stiffen up the shell is to weld in a cage or seem weld the entire body shell.........or both .

240s or more prone to cracks in the A and C pillars as the chassis rails are smaller and shorter than on a 260, the 260 shells were beefed up for this reason

[.]

When I jacked up my zed and put it on four stands there is always one stand that dosn't quite touch. In otherwords my car is not twisting. But it does have a full welded cage. So that supports the previous comments.

[RBZ 260]

the lead fill is rubbish.

 

ive dug it all out and rewelded a plate and filled most of it with mig welds. no signs of comming back yet.

 

2yrs on the road as a daily and occasional burst in the hills. no cage

[xa1973]

the lead fill is rubbish.

 

ive dug it all out and rewelded a plate and filled most of it with mig welds. no signs of comming back yet.

 

2yrs on the road as a daily and occasional burst in the hills. no cage

 

Im with you.........

 

Lead is the "original" bog, very popular for exy $$$$ classic Hot Rod custom builds and thats about it, in the wrong hands a nightmare to work with

 

Ask Lurch to bend you up some new heavier rails and box them in, that will be a good start to your fix

[menzcar]

Thanks for the replies. Am going to seem weld anyway, theres a hot rod builder a couple of sheds down from me who seems to work on his cars at crazy times like me, so may try to get him to show me how to lead fill. can fill with solder, or mig weld, sure he'll know the best way. At least the roof isnt about to fall off which is what I first thought when I saw it. Am also going to roll cage, but will build one that is moulded into existing frame so that you can hardly notice that it is there.

Cheers.

[menzcar]

Why called a beaver panel? There was a pussy cat living in the car when I found it, but no signs of a beaver.

[xa1973]

Am going to seem weld anyway, theres a hot rod builder a couple of sheds down from me who seems to work on his cars at crazy times like me, so may try to get him to show me how to lead fill. can fill with solder, or mig weld, sure he'll know the best way.

Cheers.

 

Id like to hear how you get on with this.............

 

Working with lead is an art in itself and requires much more than an average skill set, not to mention the tools for the job...................

[menzcar]

Photos will start to come now that I have worked out how to upload them. Do have all the necessary tools for whichever way I go. Being a landscaper you tend to wind up with loads of tools and a huge set of skills, including every form of welding, brazing, lead filling etc. Please feel free to check out my gallery which will start to grow in a couple of days. If you think I'm doing anything wrong any comments would be good (I'm a big boy, I can handle a slap when I need it).

Thanks.

 

Menzed.