Back on the job!
First, some replies.
To DirtDog, Thanks man! I wasnt really aware that anybody was following my progress. Sometimes it feels like Im just shouting at a wall XD. Im starting to slide into the phase of the project where I have to remind myself that sitting on the couch and watching South Park wont get any work done, and the encouragement always helps! BTW, Kathleen is freaking BEAUTIFUL.
To Flinterman2000, same thing as above man. I really have been trying to do this work in a way that will have her in a condition where she wont need to be torn down again; ideally, simple maintenance and upkeep will be enough for her to stay healthy. It is a HUGE amount of work, though, and both difficult and expensive. Still, I really do think she deserves it, and boy will she be a looker once she's done. It looks like you have a lot more experience than I with this kind of work, so I will definitely try to hit you up for suggestions as time goes on.
Alrighty, now into the meat and potatoes.
I got Ramona lifted up high enough to be able to get underneath her so that I can do work on removing the engine, and so that I can reach whatever I need to for other work as well. Being that she is a low-rider, it was damned impossible to do this without getting her off the ground. Being that she IS a low-rider, though, I decided that paranoia was justified in making sure that the platform for her was stable. Thus, I gave her 8 points of contact in support
Not shown in this pic are the chock-blocks I have since put in front of and behind each of the tires. This way I can still climb all over her, as well as get underneath her, and not have to worry about getting crushed or decapitated by her dropping on me.
I Have now gotten the bed of the truck about 2/3 of the way de-rusted and primed. I still have to do a good bit of work on the wheel wells, ie paint and rust removal, dent-pounding, and one patch panel to weld, but the work area on those is small enough and the rust minor enough that I should be able to do them both in one afternoon each. That means that, aside from removing the pain on the back wall of the bed and the side bed panels, Im nearly complete on the repair work on that area.
some pics
only gotta clean and paint it now
and freshly primed
Further work yesterday evening and today included following some of my new books (got in the Haynes for 80-96 Nissan/Datsun pickups and Pathfinders) in getting the engine ready for lifting out. On this particular point, I am stuck and in need of advice. All I have remaining is to disconnect the exhaust pipe from the manifold - 3 simple 14mm bolts... Each of which is locked as tight as a nun's legs at a politician's party. There is next to no room in there, and none of my breaker bars will fit in with sockets, so the only course I have for removing them is a medium length wrench.
I beseech ye, all of those who have lifted out Z24s, how did you remove these damned bolts?! Is there a method of which I am unaware? Any help would be incredible.
On the topic of those books, though, since my last work I have gotten in all sorts of new toys.
Also finally got in my bondo-hair and body filler.
The only thing I have left that I need to acquire is a high-capacity air compressor and the gear I will need for media blasting and for painting. That tallies to about 1,500 worth of gear, low end. Of course, this doesn't include the parts I will also need to purchase for her, but what I have now is enough to keep me going strong for quite a while. Also, once I sell her (if I can bring myself to have the heart to do that once Im finished - not sure about that right now), I still get to keep the tools, so if I do nothing but break even, Im ahead. Besides, given the work Im putting into her, and the vision I have for her once complete, Im thinking she will be a 6k truck, base minimum. Given that Im at a military base, I might be able to find somebody who will give me as much as 10k for her, IF she turns out into the specialty custom job that I have in mind.
We will see!
stay rad!
