2009 240Z build

[carps13guy]

nice work as always, that piping is going to be super clean when finished. you planning to powder coat it? & i hope that your sons s13 had a tire chalk on the front right tire when he lifted the rear end. but your work is legit, im sure it was there & it just wasnt visible.

[streeteg]

Ya kudos on the piping--- I am not at all looking forward to redoing mine when I go top mount turbo. I dont have the luxury of taking off my front bumper so its gonna be a total PIA. Anyway Nice work as always

[nyc240sx]

very nice build

[KeeperoftheDead]

[dinger240]

Updates Please

[gmac708]

Updates Please

lolFMIC tubes are welded, I played around with the dash, but I had to help the kid change CV boot on 240SX last weekend. This weekend I am stuck in Wichita babysitting an airplane. I'll get back to the Z soon.

[RustspecS13]

If you need a new axle for cams car LMK. I have at least one of each side....

Looking good though! Are you trying to get it driving for this year or are you going to wait untill spring to take the first drive?

~Alex

[gmac708]

If you need a new axle for cams car LMK. I have at least one of each side....

Looking good though! Are you trying to get it driving for this year or are you going to wait untill spring to take the first drive?

~Alex

Thanks for the offer on the axles, we got the new boot installed and there was hardly any slop in the CV joints, all is good.

As far a my plans for the Z, I plan on finishing up fab work and sending off to paint, then re-assemble in the spring. No hurry, It's not going any ware.

[gmac708]

Sorry for not updating the web page but things have been crazy. Work...kids...wife... bla-bla-bla time for some z-time

I did get my FMIC piping welded and installed. It came out perfect.





My dash came back from Dashboard Restoration. Initial fit looks pretty good. It was a total wasted POS when I started. Not too bad



Played around with fitting my new speedhut revolution gages...ooooooooooo, ahhhhhhhhhhhh. These are way cool and you should see them lit up. Very nice, and I am going to have to make a few adapters out of plastic. Sounds like something to do when body out for paint.



Also...I must get fenders and fuel tank done before body goes to paint, I have to get parts ordered!

[Coolwhip]

damn Gordon, I want to be you when I grow up. hahaha

Looks sicker and crazier everytime I visit this thread! Job well done thus far my friend!

[carps13guy]

nice work gordon. the car is starting to transform now. looks like your not too far off from firing up the motor now. craftsmanship

[nuinqua]

bump

[gmac708]

Ah...found it. Guess we moved. Her's a little update.

I ordered my fender flares and front air dam from MSA last weekend. They arrived in Columbus on Friday at the Fed-ex ground depot. I spent a few hours over there yesterday, trying to get the box but it had already been loaded in truck for delivery Monday so...no fender flares today. I was going to start installing the gages in the dash but is so nice out today, there is no sense in sitting in the basement so... I chose to start getting the backend ready for the fuel tank.

So I pushed the Z outside. I need to get the position lights and everything stripped out.



A few of the screws in the nut plates were frozen and took a little work but everything came out OK.



I need to remove the tub for the old spare tire. I am going to use the room under it to mount a gas tank. My old tank probably would have done an OK job but it was a bit corroded inside and I am going to have to use a more upgraded fuel system for the fuel injected motor. New tank and pumps, floors needs to be flat.







That was easy.



Also...I knew there was a little fender bender on the right / rear quarter. It is a little more apparent now that everything is removed. No biggy, it will get fixed.



That's it for today, I should be able to finish up floor and start on fender flares next weekend.

Gord

[carps13guy]

comin along. its amazing at how little structural support there is past the rear shock towers in those cars. doesnt look like it would take a hit all that well. i guess thats why there so freakishly amazingly light

[hbpignosePA]

looks awesome as usual

did u decide on a color yet?

[gmac708]

comin along. its amazing at how little structural support there is past the rear shock towers in those cars. doesnt look like it would take a hit all that well. i guess thats why there so freakishly amazingly light

I'm going to add some tower bracing, but thats it. Crumple zones are good , I think that some rules do not allow any reinforcement, behind towers, other that factory stuff.

looks awesome as usualdid u decide on a color yet?

I'm actually considering the original color. It's starting to grow on me. funny how that works.so...black or orange.

Also figured I would have a name by now..."she" or "the Z" not that personal.

[evildky]

thats cheating, you're supposed to make a huge mess by removing allt he seam sealer then drill out all 500 spot welds then take the tire well out, cutting is just too easy looks like you have a good solid chassis there

[mRodiek]

How about Nadene for a name? Although if it were me I wouldnt let someone else give me any options for names lol

[GRNMACHINE]

WoW is all I can say. This build is absolutely incredible. U have Serious Skills!!! Subscribing to thread. The tires really make a great stance as well.

[gmac708]

Time for an update. putting the fuel tank on hold for now because...

I got a delivery from MSA. New ZG flares and air dam. The quality looks good and they seem to fit for the most part. Both are made of fiberglass. I will end up painting both.

I played around with the rear flares first. It seems that they have a sweet spot and sit really nice if you keep the original fender opening lip as a guide for the new lip.



That puts the top edge of the ZG flare approx 3.25 inches above the original. Figure about 1/2 to 3/4 edge distance for nutplate would leave about 2.75 inches could be removed at the 12 o'clock. I think that should be enough. Maybe I should go higher...



Front fits well.



I think I'll start on the back first.

[gmac708]

I started today by drilling holes for the fasteners. I'm using the clecos again so 1/8" will do the job.



I'm going to position the flares using the body styling line for location of the top two holes (just above it). That worked out to what I had measured at 3.25" yesterday.



Again, I used the excising fender lip to locate the new fender lip, then I traced it out on the fender.



Now comes the fun part. There are actually two fenders, an inner and an outer. I cut the outer first, trying not to cut through to the inner.



I hit some seam sealer along the way. No fires to report. Probably good to have fire-x handy. It was easy to remove.



Now I cut the inner fender, trying to leave enough material so I can bend it up and out to meet the outer fender.



I also found a bondo repair on the forward side of the fender, nothing major.



The rear corner still has flare on it that needs to be flattened where the fastener attaches. There is a rib behind the corner. I flattened the outer fender flat against the rib. Inner fender goes back towards rib to close.



There is a bunch of sealant that you can get to through the rear deck.



Front corner is easier, fastener hole is almost on flat area.



Now for the hard part. It took most of the afternoon to get it right. Lots of beating and stretching.



Once I got it close, I tack welded it. It's a lot easier to stretch or shrink once it has a few welds.



Wow, now I have a few inches of travel. It used to sit on the wheel.



Flares back on for a photo. Not bad...



I will weld up the seam and work on the fasteners next. Time for a beer. Gord

[IanS]

Man does it look like you are having fun. I wish I didnt have to have a job, I feel like 1 project is not enough.

Keep up the awesome work.

[svairman]

So are planning on removing everything and having the car media blasted or anything? Seems pretty clean for its age, but just like the bondo spot on the fender, you never know until its striped. Also with all this time and money seems like a nice new coat of sealer and undercoating would be a good long term investment.

[gmac708]

Man does it look like you are having fun. I wish I didnt have to have a job, I feel like 1 project is not enough.

Keep up the awesome work.

Thanks Ian. Did you get that old truck running? lol

So are planning on removing everything and having the car media blasted or anything? Seems pretty clean for its age, but just like the bondo spot on the fender, you never know until its striped. Also with all this time and money seems like a nice new coat of sealer and undercoating would be a good long term investment.

I have talked to a few paint guys around here and every time I mention "70 Z needing some body work" they run for the hills.

I will figure something out...I wish I could do it myself

[Eikon]

Why can't you paint it yourself?

Buy a decent HVLP gun. I'm sure you have a compressor. Find a nice chunk of spare metal and give it a test run.

It's not hard to make a do-it-yourself booth in your garage.. just hang a bunch of plastic. Just get a quality clear coat so that you can lay like 6 layers on without it yellowing at all. That way if your not happy with the finish, you can wetsand it and fix any imperfections.

give it a try.. the satisfaction of doing it yourself will be well worth it.

[spooled240]

me and my dad do our own painting, we painted my bumpers, lip, sideskirts and wing and it turned out really good. It's not at all that hard, i mean you can definitely do it just looking at the patience and the quality of work that you've been showing us.

[gmac708]

me and my dad do our own painting, we painted my bumpers, lip, sideskirts and wing and it turned out really good. It's not at all that hard, i mean you can definitely do it just looking at the patience and the quality of work that you've been showing us.

I'm not so sure. We'll see. Maybe I can talk somebody into helping out. Anyway...that's a way off.

Time for an update!

I had to move the Z around so I took a couple pictures outside. Another beautiful day in Ohio.

ZG flare fits good and I need to finish up the welding and install the nut inserts.



I am finding it easier to stitch weld along the edge with a copper backing plate and move around, trying to not let it get too hot.



I eventually got it everything done. Looks pretty good.



I purchased 13-32 nut inserts from Pegasus and a cool little tool to install. >> http://www.pegasusautoracing.c...TSERT



I did a trial install just to see what it would look like and if it would hold tight.



Not too thick when installed.



Almost flush, I'm happy



Here is one installed in fender. I used an epoxy while installing. Can't hurt.



At the forward corner, the inner fender was right up against the outer fender. I just drilled through the inner and installed the insert in-between the fenders. Looks good from the inside too.



OK...now on to the left side. Same lay-up using the 3.25" dimension (for top) and styling line for placement and try to follow original fender lip for the new flare.



Which puts me back to this point, but I keep looking on the other side to make sure it will be even.



That's it for today, tomorrow I cut and weld. I think the welding is pretty cool. I'll show you what I mean about using the copper backing plate when welding.

Gord

[IanS]

Thanks Ian. Did you get that old truck running? lol

She runs, but the project is on the back burner until the rally car is stage ready.

That's it for today, tomorrow I cut and weld. I think the welding is pretty cool. I'll show you what I mean about using the copper backing plate when welding.

Im interested in this. Im doing more and more welding due to the point at which I am with the S13. After working with the super thin inner fender wells, a few tricks might be nice. I have a friend who finished a full college welding program, but he is busy, so I only get his help so often.

[DanDrath]

I just sat here reading and looking at this entire thread. Amazing build! I cant wait to see the finished product!!

[DCaff300ZX]

My first visit here as well, Gordon you are a LOT of guy's dream being able to do so much of the work on your dream car.AMAZING project, can't wait to see the final result!