Zedback

Zanzee, I'm also in Greenbank and I'm in the middle of cutting up a '78 2+2, mostly to salvage the roof rails and windscreen frame. There's a good chance I've got sound sections for at least some of what you need including that section under the rear windows.

If nothing else, I've got the panels beside the back seat that go round the rear windows. I think I've got other odds and ends stashed in a box including the radio console and a complete set of seat belts.

Datsun rip off of the Austin 7 first manufactured 1933, might have been called a Datsun Type 11 or 12 with 750cc?

Good to hear you're liking the 280zx more than the modern stuff. I let mine go to get a z32 but the 280zx had much more character and was more fun to drive. Don't worry about getting an s30, stick with the s130 they're just as good and their appeal is on the rise. Hardest thing I found with the electrics was finding the right wiring diagram for the particular year. Once you've got the right one, then it's just patience. A lot of the problems come back to poor earths and previous hacks. If you want them I think I've still got some black interior bits hanging around.

Quick follow up - clear coat finally on and it's looking really good. I'll leave it harden for a few weeks at least now before very fine wet'n'dry sanding. Many thanks to reverendzed (really liking the orange Dave). I was feeling so good about getting the '73 to this stage that I thought I'd have a serious go at the '71 that has been so forlornly sitting under the carport for the last 3 years. So to get started I bought another Z. It's a yellow 2+2 that has sadly seen better days and has already been used as a donor, but he roof looks mostly sound and both the rear arches are good. I'll be taking the roof skin off and separating out the roof rails underneath for re-use, if I can successfully complete this then I'll move on to all the other "typical" rust problems... of which it has most! If anyone wants a 2+2 roof skin let me know.

Anyone in South East Queensland have a rotisserie I can buy, rent or borrow? I'd rather not have to make one except as the last resort, there's enough welding in the shell to keep me busy for the next 5 years. :'( Mike

Perhaps it was all the paint fumes from finishing off the clear coat on the '73 shell today but I rolled out the '71 and thought "why not?" As you can see from the pics below the rails under the roof skin and down into the rear quarters is very poor, not to mention the whole rear taillight and beaver panels. I figure that if I can fix the roof rails to my satisfaction then it will be worth putting the effort into the rear panels. Once they're all done the floors, sills front rails and even the A-pillar will be comparatively simple. So: WANTED - Roof Rail sections as per the photos below, essentially the sections below the lead-loaded roof seems. I'll even welcome sections from a 2+2, hopefully they are similar enough... If any one can spare the time to chop and post that would be much appreciated. Mike

Steve, you BUTCHER!. You've gone and destroyed a piece of classic '70s art! . . . . . . Well done

Dave, advice very much appreciated. Picked up can of clearcoat, now just have to wait for the rain to stop and the humidity to drop to a tolerable level. Johnny, Still a little ways off! Engine, mechanicals, hydraulics all in need of rebuild/refresh. Hopefully will get some of it done before Christmas comes around again

Yeah, but I still haven't gone out on a track even though I keep saying this year, this year... Someone else might be the same with motorkhanas. What sort of event? Suitable for a first time novice?

For anyone interested in having a go or coming out to spectate there is a "come and try" motorkhana on Sunday 21 Feb at Willowbank. No pressure, drive like your grandma (or galderdi), or drive like you really want an excuse for an engine/gearbox/diff rebuild. PM if you want details. Mike

AHHHH, CRAP!!!! The joys of DIY, sometimes you find out the right way to do it after you screw up. Thanks Rev, but no I didn't. I did exactly what I've done in the past for SOLID colors. And of course now that I've gone back and looked at the Technical Data Sheet, there in bold it states it must be completely overcoated with clear, do not rub or scuff. Haven't decided yet about using the glass bumpers or the rough metal ones... :-\

Wow, did it! Topcoat went on a few days ago, feeling is indescribable ;D ;D Fitted the tail lights: Tail panels required a bit of hammer and dolly work, then sprayed in rattle can satin black. After market shut panel does not come with any pre-drilled holes, marked them out on tape and drilled, just realised I need another pair for the number plate lamp For the first time sice I got it, it actually looks like a car instead of a wreck! Started with this... And now... These pics are before I started the colour sanding this morning, there is much more shine yet to be brought out. I did not get a good gloss off the gun this time unfortunately, but that just means a bit more elbow grease. Engine is up on the engine stand waiting for tear down and inspection. Back to work tomorrow, my xmas break has been most productive and successful. Hopefully it won't be another 6 months before I get time to spend on it.

OMG, my arms are ready to drop off... This Z has been well used and abused, resulting in a multitude of minor dents and creases in just about every panel. Nothing serious thankfuly. Two weeks of bogging and sanding and bogging and sanding and bogging and sanding and bogging and sanding and... :'( What's important though is it's starting to look like a real car! Everything is now in etch prime: front guards, shell, cowl panel, bonnet, headlight buckets, lower valence panels... Primer-surfacer going on next, followed by a lot more sanding. Aiming to have it topcoated by the end of the weekend assuming my arms stay attached.

I had some in same spot (amongst others ) Cleaned it up made a patch and welded it in, both on top and bottom. Last page of project thread shows it... http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php/topic,3987.30.html It will come back one day, but for now I'm doing a renovation not a restoration Project threads have got to be one of the best resources, you get to see the many and varied different ways of fixing a Z, ranging from budget shade-tree to premium resto's

Wow, just looked back and saw that the last time I did any work on the Z was in July! The last half of the year was just a little hectic!!! I now have 4 weeks off and what better way to start than by getting right into a bid of Z reno... Have had guards and doors just hanging around in bare metal and thought rather than diving into stripping more of the shell why not get something constructive done and slap a bit of body filler around. These are the doors and front guards that I've previously patched. The front right guard is pretty good but did have a deep score in the side and a smaller one on top. This was easy! You can see the longer of the two blocks I was using. Not so easy is the front left guard which has had substantially more patching. It had a replacement made for the rear edge and for the lower rear half, leaving seams and gully's. A layer of body filler was put on... ...and then sanded back. Once sanded, it's very easy to see where the low spots are (darker areas). So another layer of body filler goes on... and another... Got most of 8 hours of hand sanding in today. I've used an orbital sander in the past to go quicker but found it left ripples that didn't show up until the top coat went on, ...and I need the exercise. Amongst all that I also got most of two doors done but was too engrossed to remember to take any pics. I'm hoping to get all the body work finished, topcoated and panels re-hung in the next 4 weeks. Here's hoping!

Thanks Stevo for hosting a most enjoyable day. So many beautiful Zeds, and all in one piece too! Caught up to a white 240z two minutes from home as well, "240ZE" plates... and thankfully missed the storm that half ripped a gutter off the patio

Thanks for going to the effort John. I don't know that Z's are ever going to follow say the Jag e-type price curve, I've always thought they were too much the ordinary mans sports car. I do hope he decides to let these cars go in time for them to be saved. Looking in particular at the red one that maygz took pics of, it has rust showing in all the odd spots my '71 has, the majority of which requires custom sheet metal work to replace.

See who ever is there at 11.

I'm in for a drive as long as you all don't mind having a z32 along...

Someone got room to store a Z for me, I've got leave over Xmas and a roadtrip might be in order! Very interested in seeing what you find...

I have a roof skin from my basket case 240z, it has some rust damage on the edges and front right corner but the bulk of it is good. If I let it go I'll be finally admitting the Z truly is a lost cause :'( What should I ask for a 2 seater roof skin?

Stevo, will try and get there. PM me your address though, I think I remember where it is but I haven't had a lot of success getting to events this year.

Yep agree you are correct, I worked it out this way... You're reading 140kmh when doing 100kmh which is about 87mph You want to read 100mph (= 160kmh) when doing 100kmh (currently 140kmh) Therefore you want to increase the speedo ratio by 160/140 = 1.143 Speedo cog is 19 tooth matching a 3.9 diff. 3.9/1.143 = 3.41 or a 19/1.143 = 16.6 tooth So what diameter are your tyres compared to stock? That should tell you whether to go 16 or 17 tooth! Or better yet a GPS log telling you with greater accuracy what your true speed is. What's a mph speedo read to, 160mph? Do you care to read your speedo in the track?

Good to see you patching it and doing it yourself. Well done! Earth points too. They can cause nightmares as well if I remember.