alainburon

I wish I could drive mine like you are but I know myself, if I did it that way I would never finish. Even though I would have a good time driving. The thing that is holding me up is the body shop. The car has been there almost 1 1/2 years now. I thought about taking it somewhere else but everyone that is good at what they do don't want to go over someone else's work so I'm stuck with them until they finish it. I have a room full of parts just waiting on the car to come back from the body shop. Problem # 2 is the budget I had set aside has been blown already, partly due to all the chrome I'm doing but also with upgrades I did not anticipate when I started. The body shop in another one that has killed my budget. At first they estimated it should take about $12,000 to do the work we discussed and so far I have spent more than that and the car is not even painted yet. I guess it's just the usual issue with every project, time and money...LOL

Yes sir, I think it will take me another year to finish it. Depending on when I will get it back from the body shop.

Thanks, I bought the fenders like that many years ago.

Thanks, That may be the way to go I just figured if someone had one laying around I could just buy it from them. Grade 8 bolt should do it I would think.

I feel a little better as some more chromed parts came in. The Master Cylinder heat shield, Heater hoses firewall plate, A/C hoses firewall plate, Idler pulley and last but not least the engine bay light. At the rate I’m going I think the Aliens will invade the earth before I finish this car.

Does anyone have a spare belt tentioner pulley bolt they would like to sell? If not can you point me in the direction of where I can buy one. I hear GM does not sell it separately and the chrome plater lost mine. It's the one the wrench is on in the picture.

Just when we were moving forward so well the bodyman that was working on my car quit. At least most of the hard work has been completed. It’s a shame because he was doing such a good job. He removed the fiberglass flares and made some out of steel. He made the flares out of the existing quarter panel and added what was needed to give it the look I was after. Now I don’t have to worry about bottoming out. He also replaced the rear valance and the lower rear quarter panels since they were rusted to the bone. Hopefully I get some more chrome parts in to make me feel better.

LOL, actually I received the JCI A/C compressor that I sent out to be chromed and they chromed the pulley and clutch assembly but polished the compressor body instead of chroming it as I requested so I sent it back. I should be getting it back next week along with the belt tentioner. I will post pitures once I receive it. Thank you, It has been slower than I would have liked but it seem like there is always something coming up that slows down the process and money is always it.

Yes sir, you are correct. I may need to train the neighbors kids to polish and detail chrome. Hell I buy all their cookies to support their teams, so it's payback time....LOL

LOL, you maybe right, I maybe going a little too far with the chrome. I know my wife thinks so, especially when she sees how much it is costing. I did carbon fiber on my Z06 but I wanted to do mostly chrome on this build since it is more period correct for a 70's car than carbon fiber, not to mention I want something different that not everyone and their sister have done. I guess sunglasses it is since all of my accessories will be chrome plated as well as a lot of other parts that go on the firewall.

Not moving too fast but at least some parts I have been waiting for finaly came in.

I agree with SUNNY Z, really clean set up. Any issues with the hood closing or the grill fitment? Just wondering since it looks pretty close.

$10,000???, hell that won't even buy my motor.....LOL

Nice, It makes me want to pour a drink.

Keith, I have 2 brand new sets of these studs that I can't use. They are too long for the wheels and lug nuts that I'm using. They are the same as the CF studs that come on the 39 spline axles. You can have them at no charge, just PM me your address and I will ship them to you.

Frustration is now setting in, It seem like every time I order something it's on back order for 6 to 8 weeks. For now I had a local machine shop make me a front A/C compressor bracket. I did not like the JCI bracket I ordered since it has their name and phone number stamped on it. I don’t want my car to become an advertisement billboard for anyone. After I had the bracket made I had it and the other 2 chrome plated. Should look nice next to my chromed A/C compressor.

Sorry, I was refering to the clutch master cylinder as well. I don't know why I put slave cylinder. I can imagine what 2 project cars would cost. I have my hands full with just one. I think once I'm done with this one I won't do another project car. It's just too much of a pain in the A** dealing with body shops, upholstery shops, etc... and then having to work on the car after work and on weekends. I would like to see that 91 300ZX conversion. I had a 95 TT and I just loved that car. No ratles, just a solid well built car. Drive a Corvette or Camaro for a couple of years and you better have a good stereo to make sure you don't hear all the ratles.... LOL

I have seen some using the OE slave cylinder and they say it works fine. I just wanted to upgrade mine. The plan for this car is no bolt goes unturned and no component goes unreplaced.

I know what you guys mean. So far my wife has been cool about the car and the ridiculous amounts of money I’m pouring into it, I just want to make sure she stays that way. Not a lot of progress to report but something is better than nothing. I received my Wilwood 7/8†Clutch Master cylinder. I sent the bracket that screws onto it and fastens to the clutch pedal to the machine shop to have the threads drilled and a standard nut welded in place since the threads were metric on the bracket and the MC rod has standard threads. I also received the hydraulic lines for the salve cylinder and went ahead and installed them on the transmission.

I hear you but I'm in the same boat as you, I can only work on my car on the weekends and I made a deal with my wife that only one day and the other day is for us. We just got married a year ago and I need to spend time with her. I will have a bunch of work to do when it comes back from the body shop as it will be coming back as a painted shell. I have to do the drivetrain, suspensions, wiring and interior. Yes sir, that's were my rust is as well and the lower corner of the quarter panels. I hope I can go more than a year without paint bubbling. With the money I'm spending on paint and body it better last 20 years.

I'm sad to report that my car suffered a major setback. The body shop was working on cutting out the rear body panel for the dual exhaust holes and they found quite a bit of rust in that panel and the rear quarters. Luckily all other panels have been down to bare metal and repaired if needed so there should be no more surprises. They were waiting for the rear since it needed to be ground to do the exhaust holes. Just when I thought we would be painting the car in the next 2 weeks or so we are back to cutting panels. It's funny how a car can look fine with some paint and when you sand it all down you can find all sort of surprises, there were spots that had 1†of filler and you could not tell at all until you ground into it. I guess that's why most restoration shops don't quote a price on restoration work and charge by the hour for that service instead. At least I know it will be right when I get it back, unfortunately I may have to sell a kidney to pay for all this but what the hell, who needs organs anyways….LOL The unfortunate part is that having this car completed this year is slowly slipping away. In the mean time I ordered some more parts to make me feel better.

Funny how preferences are different, I sold my C6 Z06 to build my 280Z. Just got tired of showing up to car shows and there were several Z06's around, in some cases more than 20 of them. Even though mine won multiple large car shows it was just another vette, my buddy sold is fully tricked out ZR1 for the same reason. Pull up with a nasty 280Z and I guarantee there won't be too many others like it. It’s like having the exclusivity of a exotic at a fraction of the cost. Don’t get me wrong I liked my Z06 but I love my 280Z.

Looking good

I agree, I just have my own stuff chrome plated. Just sent of the JCI A/C compressur to be chrome plated, alternator is next.

Sorry Mike, I was talking to a guy name David on the phone while I was typing you that note. I guess I can't multitask in my old age...