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Lurch’s ‘Early Girl’ 240Z!


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Thanks Chaps :)

After the PI 6-hour this year, the poor old L24 was quite sick (was overheating & pumping out coolant), so rather than risk further damage (it's matching numbers), I decided to pull it.
I also sold the gearbox...
And some other parts...

 

The reasons for the dash removal is that I wish to tidy up some wiring, replace the blown heater core and perform some rust repairs to the firewall. 

Then respray the engine bay in body colour - gotta have a nice looking engine bay for the LCR L33!

 

More details to come - including an engine build thread...

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After blowing the heater core at the 2014 PI 6-Hour, I decided to replace the core with one I bought from the US.

Upon removing the cover off the side of the box I found all this debris:

 

IMG_20151031_114154_102_zpsfpgl0cqp.jpg

 

And the damaged core which took me the best part of 30mins to extract as it had corroded itself into the box...

 

 

IMG_20151031_115104_551_zpsfjnhziua.jpg

 

New Vs Old:

 

IMG_20151031_115448_365_zpsemvvriu0.jpg

 

Next I removed the plates that were riveted to the firewall to cover the rust:

 

IMG_20151031_123459_585_zpsqfjyqj4x.jpg

 

Eww... Tis a good time to fix that properly!

 

IMG_20151031_123552_534_zpshgv1zxsm.jpg

 

More soon...

Edited by Lurch ™
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Nice looking heater core, very nice indeed.

But gotta ask why not just get the old one rebuilt by a old school radiator shop ?

 

Looking forward to seeing the old girl back on the road.

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^^
Sometimes that can be more expensive, perhaps that's the reason? i had my radiator rebuilt by a old school shop, it cost $500 because they needed to fit a new core to it. I only did it because i was able to write the cost off at work. If i had to pay for it, id probably just have gone an E bay jobbie.

looking good Locky. I like the previous owners thinking, if we cant "see" the rust, it isn't there!

.........

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I was  fairly positive that the heater core would beyond repair, hence the new core.

I might take the old one into the radiator shop & see what they say....

 

Rudi: Harry (RIP) loved the Zed, but it seams (After talking with Gordon Dobie) he never really had the $ to maintain the Early Girl properly.
Hence silly thing's like pop-riveted plates on the firewall...

Edited by Lurch ™
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Recently had a 240z radiator top and bottom tanks sweated off, and tubes rodded/cleaned out, tanks sweated/soldered back on, pressure tested, all good, $132. In Brisbane.

Core was in good cond, no collapsing fins.

They can do heater cores, and fuel tank internal/external coating.

 

FYI,,,,,

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Jason perhaps you could add a recommended business to the appropriate section of the forum and link to it?

 

looking good Locky. I like the previous owners thinking, if we cant "see" the rust, it isn't there!

 

If 1 buries their head in the sand it leaves their arse awfully exposed.  :P

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  • 2 months later...

So I HAVE been making progress with this - just not as much as I'd have liked!

Engine bay is mostly stripped of components, &I decided I needed to tackle the firewall rust.

On closer inspection, it seemed the extent of the rot had crept past bonnet catch mount:

 

IMG_20160103_102752_715_zpsn8a9k13k.jpg

 

so I had to take action and...

 

IMG_20160103_104236_443_zps0lhthwgi.jpg

 

 

IMG_20160103_104201_966_zpsn9reihem.jpg

 

Off it came, revealing the HOLE underneath :(

 

It was at this stage I decided to get the angle grinder out & start cutting:

IMG_20160103_153451_675_zpsxu72ig0q.jpg

So now I have massive holes in my firewall.
I've buffed back the rust to get some cleaner metal & given the affected area's a coat of Phosphoric Acid.
I've also cut some replacement sheet steel to weld in,  but no more progress until next weekend when I can get back to it.

IMG_20160103_153439_169_zpsszrso15l.jpg

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Looks oh so familiar Lurch. I have been there and done that repair on my early girl as well. The repair looks to be going well so far. Keep up the good work.

 

Cheers Jeff

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Hi Mate

 

Great to see your car getting some love, can't wait to see it when all the current works are done.

Sounds like a good enough reason for a roadtrip to southern state.

 

Cheers

 

PB

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  • 1 month later...

So your car was originally mustard........

Ever thought of going back while you're doing all this work?

 

Correct mate - it was originally Safari Gold. 

But I won't be going back to that colour, as a Red car with a Safari Gold engine bay will look odd...

 

They look brand new O0 have they been water jet blasted?

 

What choke size do you think it will end up with?

 

Yes G-Man - water-jet blasted & all the steel items have been re-plated.

No idea on choke size atm. We'll start with 43's & tune from there.

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