Installing ZG flares step by step with pics!

[Toecutter]

I've been looking for a good post on cutting the rear guards to finish the rear of my ZG installation. Came accross the artical below on HybridZ. Excellent thread with clear pics of whats needed to make full use of ZG flares.

 

CAUTION: Not for the faint hearted Zedder!

 

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=113064

[RUSSJZ-ZED]

No more guards peeking out under flares :twisted:

[zedevan]

who did you end up getting to weld it sulio? or is it still not done? i'm just wondering what sort of money it is to get someone to do the welding?

 

i'm wanting to get my flares ready to put on, so i'm wondering what the best tool to use to trim them down is? just a dremel? i'm guessing a mask is a good idea so my lungs dont get filled with glass particles?

[gav240z]

Hi Evan, I'd consider doing it myself. The tutorial posted on HybridZ is very good. You can tack weld it like he did then follow up with a full weld.

 

The one saving grace of chopping the guards is the fact that the 2+2 shares the same guards. Infact all S30's do.

 

I would image it would be fairly expensive to cut the guards or get someone to do it.

 

Of course if your not confident with a welder perhaps it's better to get someone else to do it. I did a short welding course at my tafe/uni.

 

From the look of the tutorial Austin cut the guards with an angle grinder. That probably left nothing of the original guard. A metal cutter might allow you to save the offcut if you ever change your mind. :lol:

[zedevan]

thanks for the info gav, i was wondering how much it would be out of curiosity. i've only ever once touched a welder (at highschool the timing to get a shot never worked out) when i was primary school sometime and i think it was an arc welder, which isn't the right sort is it? the guy's one i used back then sold it so i can't even give it a shot on some scrap i think i'd get my neighbour to weld up the guards, and yeah just attack it with an angle grinder or he might have something that would not destroy it as much.

 

my question was in regards to trimming back to fibreglass flares, i was wondering if there is a better tool to cut it with or not? i was going to try dremeling it today but got distracted :roll:

[RUSSJZ-ZED]

I had a panelbeater do the rears for $300,(in his spare time)If you are in Sydney he can do over a weekend, Now he has done one thinks about $400 would be more realistic.

The front took me about an hour with an angle grinder.Put the flares on, mark outside with whiteboard marker, cut 25mm below line.easy

[sco_aus]

Went to roll my rear guards last night, someone before me did a great job of hiding the fact they did a poor rust repair job on the rear left. This left me with cracks of brass aournd the whole area and a tonne of bogg, so Im taking the plunge into flares. I just contacted the guy who everyone seems to get them from in SA, but failing that does anyone have any other contacts for some ZG style flares?

[mikedoeslife]

I dunno about you guys, but I love Austin Hoke. To see that much dedication and effort and skill in such a young bloke... it's bloody inspirational.

[Toecutter]

I just contacted the guy who everyone seems to get them from in SA, but failing that does anyone have any other contacts for some ZG style flares?

 

Ash, username, (ZR240 or 240ZR), on this forum can make you a set. Track him down on members list and PM him.

 

Good Luck

Sulio

[zedevan]

i went and talked to a guy i was recommended to go to at auto excess in blackburn/nunawading today regarding doing the welding of the guards. my mate says this guy is trustworthy and does great work so i'm pretty sure its the path i'm going to take, he said it would b priced on the time spent, and he's use his new tig welder on it inbetween other jobs or after hours over a week.

 

so he said he'd be able to do all of it, except he doesn't have the tool needed to install the nut inserts (anyone know what its called, he said it was a captive nut plier? and if you can hire it from somewhere?)

 

the other thing he suggested was to weld in some metal behind the front guards to give them some rigidity instead of putting the sideways force on the flare, so there's no chance of the flare snapping etc. i'm thinking this is overkill as the flare can bend alot, and while cutting the guards would take out all the strength it has side on, its not really important? however with the deformed zone gone from the front flares i could see it getting pretty flexible and hence his point. any thoughts?

 

i'm thinking i should get him to weld some metal in up the front to replace my quality plastic inner fender to protect my headlight wiring at the same time lol

[sco_aus]

He got me all four for $280. Yet to put them on, but once I finish the engine rebuild.

[Toecutter]

What size wheels you going to run with em?

[sco_aus]

17x7.5 and 17x8.5 simmons fr17s. They wont fit how it is now and i have to take some out of the front of the wheel arch due to the amount of castor im running.

[Toecutter]

Finally done! You can see in the close up pic where the tyre was rubbing whilst driving with the guards rubbing on bumps, ate into the tyre a bit. The fella that did the job was excellent. He used a TIG welder so heat build up was minimal from my understanding. The black stuff shown in the pics is some sicaflex over the welds to get me throught the Nationals and keep the water off. I dropped the car off at lunch time and it was ready by next morning. He also gave me back the trimmed guards to store away just in case one day...! :wink: Must by a MIG and start practicing "one of these days!"