BWRex

I went with the textured look and the durability of Herculiner bedliner in the engine compartment in the 240Z,(turned out nice,extremely tough,IMO)but the surfaces are very rough,and will make cleaning almost impossible.Are there any products that I could use like a thick clearcoat,possibly gelcoat,that would fill the textured surface a little for a smoother,'hammered' look,and to make cleaning easier?Any input,product info would be greatly appreciated!

The process I used in the engine bay is as follows: 1.Fixed rust areas,battery tray,frame rails,subframe connectors,etc. 2.Welded brace plates for swaybar reinforcement. 3.Sanded entire engine bay. 4.Treated entire engine bay with Naval Jelly,per instructions. 5.3 coats Rust Bullet. 6.3 coats Herculiner Bedliner. Step 7 is the question.The Herculiner is fairly rough,and it would be a pain to clean once dirty.I was thinking of a type of thick(possibly brushon)clearcoat to fill in the roughness and leave a smoother,'hammered' like texture,for ease of cleaning.Maybe a gelcoat?Any suggestions?

That sh*t isn't funny,a-hole. on a reply on your progress though,got to give props on your Z,looks good.

sniffing her stinkfinger

grabbing his testicles

Awesome.I'm suprised that cul-de-sac doesn't have permanent black marks around it:burnout: It's a good thing you put it away quick,If I had that Z,I'd be typing from jail for illegal shredding of road surfaces.....

In reguards to the main hoop,You have the back bar so you can recline the seats alittle and use a 5 point harness I assume.Under the back bar you have the diagonal bars tying into the rear subframe under the floor.Do these bars hamper the reclining of the seats?I've noticed alot of guys running a diagonal bar from the top of the hoop to the rear subframe/floor,cutting out the ability to recline the passenger seat.Would it be feasible to run a diagonal bar or an X bar from the top of the main hoop to the top of the rear strut towers and still maintain the strength of the single diagonal bar?

:search:you'll find all the info you need.I sandblasted,treated with Naval Jelly, used 3 coats Rust Bullet,3 coats Herculiner bedliner.Will never rust as long as I'm on this planet.Tough as nails.

looks real nice.What process did you use for the flat black on the panel and on the chrome trim around the windows,etc?

Mine was last years model,and the flux compasitor was acting up.I strapped it to the back of my Grand Cherokee,and waited for a bolt of lightning.I'll post my findings yesterday.

HAHAHA!Awesome.

You may have fouled out the glo plug too.I don't know what fuel you're running,but get the 20% nitro,don't get the 10%.I've had good luck setting the carb lean,get her started,then adjust for a more rich setting.Blue smoke is what you want to see.I've got the OFNA Dominator truck,with the Picco .26.Fun hobby,but like others said,expensive,and the engines are extremely tempermental.Very slight adjustments on the idle and enrichment screws go a long way...Good luck!

Hey BLOZ UP, nice buy!I just bought my 71 in October for $250,and I started with pretty much the same problem areas! You might want to check out my photos in the members gallery(along with alot of the other members,huge amounts of info)since I'm just getting into it myself.Good luck with the Z!

Try spending some time looking at the photos in the members galleries as well.Tons of ideas there.What I do when I see a members gallery that I'd like to use some ideas from,or is at the same stage of restoration as myself,I check their posts,and chances are,they asked the same questions as I would have.Good luck!

I'm really digging the gas cap.Where did you happen to get that?Any photos on your tie-in?That Z is gonna be sweet!

Here's a photo of mine.I'm installing a TPI 350,and since the engine's going to be basically brand new,might as well get a new master cylinder...and a new booster....and new braided lines....and a new clutch master....and new front suspension....

I was wondering the same as well.The door hinges too.I took the hood hinges off the body(3 bolts each side,have to compress the hinge a little to get the last bolt)and was thinking of taking them apart,getting the pieces sandblasted,painting them black,(powdercoating would be ideal)piece them back together,grease,and put them back in the body.That's the plan at least.Just would be tougher IMO to coat on the paint,compress,coat on the paint,compress,etc,to get paint semi-evenly,to all areas.Still wondering about the door hinges,since you can't take them apart.Hope someone else chimes in with a good process,photos,and/or good results........

Looks real nice.What I really dig,is the satin black on the trim and the handles. What process did you go with over the chrome? Call me craZy,but I think that Z would look Mad Max tough with that paint color,and same satin black finish on those panasports..........

I've got the same welder,and I'd invest the $ and get the Argon tank/hookup especially for the thin stuff.So much easier and a cleaner weld.Make sure the kit comes with the .025 spool,(No flux core)tips,and shielding nozzle.Read the instructions,(label on inside door of welder)you have to switch the leads inside,as well.All's I have to say is practice,practice,practice.Get some scrap the same thickness and practice on that to adjust your heat before going for it.Good luck!

I'd probably start by doing tons of research,planning,and expectations,for starters.You definately came to the right site.Check out the members galleries for ideas,and use the Search key up top for any Z question you can possibly have,because believe me,It's stocked with useful information that will help you each step of the way.I bought mine in October 05,and I started with gutting the car completely,and working on fixing structural rust,and frame strengthening.Check out my photos in the members gallery.The front suspension is almost complete,minus a couple of setbacks,but I think working from the front to the rear,is a pretty good basic start.IMO.I've been a member for a little while,and I've got to tell you,if it wasn't for this site,My Z wouldn't be a 1/4 as badass as it's going to be.Good luck,and have fun!

Take a look in my member gallery,and my 71 Z (BTW my first)is in a million pieces scattered thought my garage,and house!But,the first time I rode in one,I was and forever will be hooked.My friends think I'm crazy,my girlfriend thinks it's a waste of time and money,but it's all about the love for the Z,and building something yourself.I'm surprised your going to sell it,but to each is own,I suppose.I owned an 87 Trans Am GTA for 11 years,lowered 1.5 in.,insanley fast,just an all around nice,fun car.I sold it a couple years ago,cried,bought a 6cyl. Jeep Grand Cherokee(it's named "My Chrysler Product")kicked myself in the ***,cried harder,and stumbled on my Z in Oct.I've always loved the lines,the ride,and for some reason,when your sitting in it,not only do you feel like your in a gocart,but the two big,recessed gauges in the dash,I've always thought were the coolest.Anyway,hopefully the new owner will take good care of her.Long live the Z!

I've got adjustable LCA's and adjustable T/C's.Question is,in regaurds to the stock LCA,the pivot point at the crossmember was offset towards the rear of the vehicle.When getting new spacer bushings for the heim,should I get one smaller,one larger to have the heim closer to the stock location?Or should I center the heim between the crossmember with two of the same sized spacer bushings,and adjust when I get closer to getting the car being on the ground?Material and measurements would also be handy.Aluminum?Steel?Any closup photos would be appreciated as well.Thanks!

Thanks for taking the time,everyone.I thought I was in for a serious setback,but I was surprised,and relieved,for one,those strut housings are fairly cheap and available,and two,the members here at HybridZ are truly a great group of people.I've been a member only a short time,been guilty of asking silly questions without searching,started my project in Oct.,and is knowingly,and willingly,unfortunately not going to see the road for at least a year,as you can see by my progress photos in the gallery.But the inspiration from this site,and from the knowledge and graciousness of it's members,I owe a great deal of gratitude.I appreciate it. Brett

This is definately a sad day for the Z.My local race shop called today to say that my front struts were finished being sectioned,so I sped over there straight from work to find they totally F-ed them up.The guy who did the welding didn't bother to read my detailed,with many pictures,instructions and decided to slip a thick *** piece of pipe over the original housing above the perch and weld the crap out of it,to try and hide the fact that he took out at least an 1/4in. too much out of one of the struts.I noticed it when I looked down the tubes because he must have dropped one,because the threads to hold the strut inside had a huge dent in one of them,so badly I couldn't even think about getting the nut to start.Regaurdless,after I saw him get one of the most brutally honest *** chewings of my life,his boss and I decided to try and source some replacements.This is my first stop,and I'm praying that someone here has got an extra set.Either that,or know of someone who may.Anyway,I've got to call the area junkyards right after I finish ballin my eyes out,so if anyone has any info whatsoever,please PM me.Thanks HybridZ - Brett-

I prepped with about a thousand grinding pads,a cheap sand blaster that hooks up to my compressor for the corners and crevices,Naval jelly,two coats of Rust Bullet,brushable seam sealer,and three coats of Herculiner.Anywhere I used this method is totally sealed from elements,is tough as nails,and easily touched up.A time eating amount of work,but turned out awesome,IMO.I live in the Chicago area,so the weather can get pretty nasty once in a while,and after spending hours in clouds of rust dust,the last thing I want to see is rust formation.Wear a respirator,because those products are pretty friggin' toxic,especially the polyurethane Herculiner.Strong stuff.And whatever you do don't get it on your hands........