Marine1342

Yeah the upgrade is really just a bigger container for your media. Just means you get to refill it less. Meh.... And unless Eastwood gives you a really good deal on the soda, you can get it at harbor freight (same bag same everything) but you don't have to pay for shipping on things. Haven't found any local store (local to me at least) that carries the soda except for Harbor Freight. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Well hold up Prox, the CFM they give you is the bare minimum, in order to keep the compressor from slowing down. And the 60 day return policy is not valid for this because it is a Eastwood Product. Its actually 1 -year, and I advise you to keep everything, including the box and straps or else you'll end up like me and have a soda blaster that you can't return because you threw out the original box. I was trying to return it since my friend already had one, could use the money for something else but oh well, mine's bigger

Another thing too, if you're blasting small pieces with small holes and crevices, sand and any other abrasive material might get into these holes and could be hard to get out, soda would (in theory) dissolve away. But as I've learned many things should happen in theory yet sometimes......

Z-Noob is right on the residue. Sand/Glass/Walnut Shells don't leave anything behind that can't be blown off, but soda blasting leaves a film of dust behind that has to be neutralized and removed prior to any painting being done on the car. The benefit to this 'dust' though is that it keeps the exposed metal from flash rusting if you don't have time to coat it right after blasting. I haven't found any information on how to remove or neutralize this coating fully. I've read using just water, water vinegar, metal etch, rust neutralizer etc. I'd imagine metal etch or rust neutralizer would work best to get the powder off and start to etch the metal so that you can put some sort of sealant or paint on it. Putting water on it would start the rust again (at a microscopic level), vinegar and water would have the same effect and it would smell (and maybe fizzing because of the combination). Anyone have any experience on this?

I bought a soda blaster from Eastwood, seeing as I could convert it to either Soda, or use it for abrasive blasting. Kinda price on Eastwood, so I checked Ebay and found the exact same one being sold by Eastwood on Ebay but for cheaper..... Makes no sense but I saved some money there. Anyways, works pretty well, but you do need to have a big enough compressor, or you can hook the compressors up in series, if you have multiple ones. Other wise you will have to wait for the compressor to catch up. For a one time use I figure its a waste of money, but if you plan on using it later on, for other pieces, projects or loan it out to friends etc, I think its a pretty good buy. Friend of mine did his wheels on his M3, and coated them came out very clean, and easier than scrubbing the PO's paint off. And all the dust created, make sure you don't inhale any of that stuff, its old paint plus soda/sand/glass. Can lead to some nasty stuff later on. We've made an enclosure out of PVC tubes and plastic sheets so that we can contain the dust a bit more, and where long everything (pants, shirts, gloves, hood) The other thing too, make sure that the air coming out of your compressor is as dry as you can get it (without splurging on a $1k desiccant system, its possible for under $50) or else the humidity will travel through the lines and clump up your material.

I'd like to see pictures of your dolly. I'm undergoing bodywork on my Z and currently working on setting up a jig for the car so that I can replace the front frame rails and the floor pans (with supports)

Well didn't mean to give off the impression that I'm drawing lines in the sand, my dads european, my moms peruvian/japanese and I've lived in France for a while, so this them and us doesn't mean anything to me particularly. I've just seen cars that resemble other cars from other markets. And I think that the "240k" has some distinct features that look very closely, if not were shared with the S30. But anyhow, Alan, points well taken, and by no means were my original comments made to single out any one person, country, or continent for that matter. Just a view point from my location.

Well first off why the sudden accusation and negative tone HS30? My comment was in no way shape or forum a attack on anyone's country or origin, so why turn it into that? If we want to go into detail as to who did what first and when we can, but I don't think discussing the perfection of gunpowder by China (or porcelain for that matter) have much relevance to this topic. All I'm saying is that there was a time (in the very recent past) where Asiatic countries (those belonging to the continent of Asia) did mimic/copy/were influenced by designs of companies belonging or residing to the American Continent and European Continent. Japan's economical state for example, was devastated after WW II (because of the 2 bombings and the war, which I don't think we should discuss due to very heated view points on that) that an American went to the Island and made some heavy suggestions on how to rebuild and improve their nation and its economy. Now, more than likely (since this is hard to prove) the Japanese people took these suggestions very seriously, since they're country was in such a weakend state that they needed any and all help they could get. They revamped their design and production and always kept striving to push the quality process more and more, to the point where Japan has become (in general) the leader in technology. Look at Hyundai's car the genesis, does it not resemble a lexus or Mercedes-Benz? This isn't a pissing contest or ragging on any one nation in particular, so your comment about "them and us" and 1776 being a "year zero" seems to be very directive towards U.S. hybridz members, is that what you were implying or am I reading too much into it? Is the year 1776 a comment towards the U.S.'s year of creation? I never said that American and European design are in "one lump", but those are the three primary automotive designs in the world, American (The Big three), European (MB, BMW, Opel etc) and Asian (Subaru, Toyota, Nissan etc.) And by copy, no not a direct copy, because that's infringement on someone else's design/idea/creation, but more of an imitation, possibly a very heavy imitation. All depends on your view point, as it is on everything. The E-type is, what I think, to be the closest resemblence to the Z (or the other way around), so therefore is it not safe to say that designers of the 240z were heavily influenced, if not trying to imitate the look that the Jaguar E-type had created in Europe? Long nose, sloped back, two seater, coupe, sports car. There are many types of Televisions, I'm talking about LCD (liquid crystal display), to which Japanese companies took the technology of LCD for Television purposes and perfected/expanded it to what it is today. Not once did I say that Europe had the first Television, or that American has the best products and that we are number one. I do not think that going to the point that you did, with who did what and my countrie's better etc is necessary. I never said one nation was better than the other I was simply going for a general overview as to how recent history has happened.

For the most part, the Asian auto market has copied American and European design. Hell the s30 was/is believed to be a copy of the Jaguar. The Hyundai cars resemble Mercedes, Bentley etc. Asian markets have not invented many new items, more often they take already invented or produced products and perfect them. U.S. had one of the first LCD televisions, and Sony (I think it was Sony) perfected it to what it is today.

haha skyrine..... Are you implying that those of Oriental decent can't say skyline? Or was that a typo

These cars will discourage everyone at some point or another. But keep at it, lay out your dream car in writing, (looks, mods etc.) and keep working at it. And remember it's YOUR project, that YOU are building, for YOURSELF.

I'm sure someone out there on some skyline hybrid website not much different from ours is wondering where they can find some OEM Datsun Z tires for their skyline. Now all we gotta do is find them and set up the trade.....

Zed is just another name (British English I believe) for the letter Z. The French also say "zed" for the letter z. So yes in a way it was "European only" because zed is how Europeans say Z Still, it is funny to see that the Skyline started as a 'family' car. And how far the design has come to today's more modern Skyline (although not too happy with it having the same template as the Infinity, which is then shared on the 350/370, but that's another issue.)

Over all thought, still like the s30 look. Jerry, those tires would look bad*ss on the Z though

Look at the edge of the window and the quarter window. Looks like a seamless integration from one glass to the other. On the S30 you have the chrome edging that goes all the way around on both the door and the quarter window, doesn't seem like it would be too hard to fabricate it to look like that.

Was looking at the Skyline history and came across the model Skyline made in the 70's (same time frame as the s30's) and the C110 generation was being sold under the label 240K Comparing the pictures it resembles the 240z, at least the rear half, from about the windshield back. Just and observation is all. Seemed to be that the Skyline then was inferior to the Z, while today it seems to have changed.

Hey who dat.sun? what rear flare is that?

http://www.radaronline.com/photos/image/8139/2009/06/radaronlinecom-lists-worst-cars-ever-made Some examples, yeah they're unique but what about they're value and parts?

Yes 2+2's are more rare but that does not always mean a desire. They were rare not because the production was limited but because the seats were for the most part useless. The body was changed a bit to accommodate the seats, and you couldn't fit a person back there reasonably. Add to that a emissions limited engine, and heavier chassis and you have a car that in general does not live up to the previous model. And now that time has gone by, its not cost effective for people to manufacture parts for a "rare" car that not many people would want in the first place. If you look online, there are some cars that are "rare" because only a limited few were produced or still around today but they are pretty much useless then and more so now. More of an entertainment value in that sense. Don't look at rareity just because there's not many that exist, but look at why its rare. Is it because it was a bad car, collector's item etc. I'm not knocking any one that has a 2+2 or 280zx or combination of the two for that matter, its just that people didn't want them too much then and its continued that way today.

First and most important step would be searching and researching

Bringing up a dead thread, but is Pete still making the FB panels for 280z?

Thats his name. thanks Dan, memory problems don't help my case, and im only 21. Damn this head injury

Check out http://www.reactionresearch.com The guy who runs the site and company (name escapes me) makes fiberglass doors for the z. Its supposed to be for competition use since its just the shell (no slot for the window or mechanisms or handles) but I bet you could fabricate one so that it will hold it all. Remember though that it won't offer any protection in a crash (but then again how much protection is there on a side impact on stock doors) He also makes the kits for the velo rossa for our Z's (s30) Hope this helps

http://www.zcar.com/forums/read/1/1998011 Best write up I've ever seen on this. We need more write ups on other products to cross compare

Any one know if the fiberglass doors that John sells are just fiberglass shells or can they be fitted to have working windows? I think it was him that said that they are for racing, so its a hollow shell.