A to Z

12-16-2025. Picked up some more items from the powdercoaters....headlight buckets, inspection doors, dash plate and gutter trim....all gloss black

12-16-2025. Drum Sander. I have been advised to use a drum sander, as it is easier on the sheet metal than a flap disc on an angle grinder. Well, yes it is! However, even at 40 grit, I finished the roof, started on a rocker and a few other spots and wore that drum half way out! Pics follow, you can see the difference comparing both methods side to side. I also took a couple pics to show how it will look ran over with a DA on 80 grit to prep it for filler. DUSTY! closer to starting the blocking.

12-13-2025. I installed my new water pump, repainted pulley and new hardware, and then re-installed the tensioner bracket and the aluminum plate needed for the additional of an idler pulley to make it all work right. I was able to use a drill bit to hold the pulley in place and measure for the spacers needed and the length of the longer bolt needed. I went to install the alternator, but the kit I got sticks out just a tad too far, and thus the alternator hits the rail.....so I will have to grind down the bracket to bring it in closer to the engine and then it will be fine....also found that my new drive by wire throttle body does not clear in standard configuration, So I was able to get it to work by turning it 90 degrees. Here's to hoping that will work. Then I quickly installed my new 4 core radiator and dual fans to check the fit. because my engine has the radiator spigots on opposite sides, I will be taking my radiator to my fab guy to cut the hose ports and welding on tight 90's with a length of pipe to the other side and then another 90 to make it a nice-looking remedy. I will make some nice aluminum brackets to hold the piping stationary. At any rate, I was able to verify that my radiator height is sufficient to maintain its place as the highest point in the system. After this, I cleaned out the garage, and went through a lot of boxes and prepped the car by covering the engine and front end to begin the sanding and block sanding, to get the rest in paint. I pulled the windshield, but after 51 years, it just didn't want to let the windshield go, and so it came out broken and in pieces. Not a crisis, as I wanted a new windshield anyway....just thank good ness the rear hatch glass came out just fine. I pulled the old hatch off, gutted it and to the dumpster with that rotten thing. I was also able to get a bit closer on the front blinker restoration, getting the housings painted white with rustoleum white. spray paint Only thing left is to lengthen the wires. I tri4d to wire wheel the headlight buckets, but decided they really just need to be sandblasted out. My mobile welder didn't make it today, so welding the clothes hangers in pieces to the front edge of the doors to close up a big gap will have to wait. Here comes sanding and blocking.

I was talking about the dashboard frame, that the dash pad attaches also to. It's HEAVY. 12-11-2025. I got a nut and bolt run in today, got some painting going, ended up with a run on one side of the cowl, so once dry I will sand it out and repaint that side. I also started on a restoration of my front turn signals. PICS:

I picked up my bellhousing and serpentine bracket for the 4200 engine today from the powdercoaters. The finish is called "polished aluminum". I had them done because frankly both pieces were ROUGH....really rough. R&S Powdercoating in Colorado Springs came through for me again. Sandblasted it out, masked off the gasket surfaces and did their thing.

thanks. I just picked up that drum sander they sell. It comes with a 40 grit drum but I also grabbed a 120 grit drum for it also. I got a good deal on this. 4 core with dual fans made to fit the 260Z I am building. It's an eBay buy. Read up on and decided to try the sanding blocks and tape sold by Eastwood that connects you your shop vac and is supposed to eliminate most of the dust from blocking. Here's to hoping THAT works!

12-06-2025. I have boxes and boxes of stuff I have bought for the car, and today was the day to start throwing all the stuff on and make some room back! First, I had the mobile welder stop by and weld my radiator support back in, and while here, I had a thick steel plate welded on to the top. It is stronger now than it ever was. Then it was time to start installing parts on the engine, getting the hood on, rear suspension back in and all 4 new wheels. I took the dash down from the rafters so I could start on it on very cold days indoors, and it is a lot heavier than I remember......I am going to swiss cheese the frame and lighten it up a bit......I don't need that weight! Pics:

thanks. It's a very expensive hobby I have.

ready for installation:

On the hood for my 260Z project. I will give some clarification. It is meant to be a picture frame. I want an open engine compartment. no hood at all looks unfinished. this is mean to close off the stuff that is mundane and let the engine shine through. black but blue underneath and a fully polished out engine. So, maybe once done you will understand what I am going for. The Behemoth at Z Car Garage has the same deal.....but the blue engine compartment, shaved, will really contrast with the black picture frame.

12-04-2025. Today I picked up the hood from the powder coaters. R&S Powder Coating in Colorado Springs

Wow....that is GREAT! NOW is the time for you change things you want to before it is painted! Thanks.

I went ahead and reattached the baffle for my valve cover using the original JB Weld. It is so strong when you TRY to push it, it doesn't move! This will work!

12-03-2025. At home, and it is COLD (20 degrees) and snowy. I put on 3 layers of clothes and went out to remove some more old paint off the 260Z. Hands and feet got cold, otherwise not bad. had to stop twice and use my leaf blower to blow all the paint dust out of the garage. amazing how much is created....and as usual this paint is VERY hard to remove. 60 grit flap disc on an angle grinder. I will have to go over all panels with a DA sander and 80 grit to get it smooth......way too cold to put filler on it, but I will start blocking it out once the weather gets warmer.

12-03-2025: Very rarely do I see things for Datsun's that are more than what I expected, particularly with fiberglass parts. Today my roll pan came in from Hot Hod Chop Suey. The pics tell it all. The quality is easily 10 times better than I expected. It was packaged so well it took me quite a while to get it out of all of the wrapping. Ken, the owner, not only made it for me with a special change, .....eliminating the exhaust cutout, but also fitted it to a car he had to make sure it fit correctly. The threads embedded in the fiberglass are clean and everything is just perfect. So, when it comes to Ken at Hot Rod Chop Suey, take it from me, you can buy with confidence.

12-01-2025. First day of December. My right side headlight bucket I ordered form Z Car Depot came in, VERY nice part. Also a new set of front and rear side marker lamps. Why restore the old ones when new ones are available and affordable! My new 260Z fender badges should also arrive in the next day or so. Cool stuff.

11-30-2025. Weird day for progress. Last day of November and its 15 degrees out . So, it was time to bring stuff inside to work on. My Rage Gold finally showed up, so I can begin the tedious process of making the doors, quarters, roof and tail smooth.....when it gets warmer. A couple corners on the hood had some nicks from cutting it, and I filled them with all metal filler and was able to sand them smooth quickly. All Metal is the only filler that can survive powder coating, so the hood is now ready for its trip to the powder coaters for gloss black just like my new hatch. I brought my valve cover in, as well as my coils, dash vents and dash name plaque. I used my bathtub, and some pine sol, water and an old toothbrush and scrubbed out the valve cover...it was full of dust from the polisher, then scrubbed my coils, fresh air vents from the dash and the dash plaque. 1974.5 is different, the dash vents are very unique, when it became a 280Z the next year the vents have a push pull knob in the center to open close the vent....these are just vents, with no door to open and close them. Since this is a one year car, there can't be many of these setups left........The dash plaque I will attempt to paint the letters etc with a paint pen, but I have no faith at all in my ability to do so. I have shaky hands. Anyway, it was mentioned earlier that the port I added for a catch can wasn't baffled, and that as such, I will just fill my catch can up with oil......so I asked A.I. on Chat GPT about it, and did some thinking, and came up with this.....I cut a piece of sheet metal and bent it and then used some JB weld bonding glue I had in the garage to make a baffle which will allow the pressure out but keep the oil IN. See the pics below. Once dried, it will function fine for keeping my catch can from filling up with liquid, and let the crankcase breathe. PICS:

11-28-2025. I started today by sanding out and using some filler glaze on the left headlight bucket, and then sanded down both front fenders. Then I finished scribing out the hole on the hood and cut it. After that, I went ahead and primed and painted the front fenders and the one headlight bucket I currently have. There are 5-6 spots I will have to fix / paint correct, but progress is made. Pics:

Similar to this pic below:

Got my proofs back from speedhut with the Z in there.

Happy Thanksgiving! I started the layout on my new hood before going in for the holiday. 13 1/4" from the front hood corners. this should allow for the radiator support to see seen, AND because some of the center bulge remains, those bends in the steel will help with keep the sheet metal rigid. I wanted to keep some the center bulge anyway, as it helps set the tone for how the bodies lines go back visually. the side will be cut to cover the tops of the struts, yet, show the tops of the frame rails and how there are no exposed brake lines. With the hood being black but the engine compartment blue, it will also set off the edges around the polished engine sticking up. At least in my mind.

I got mine on eBay.

11-26-2025. I got the rear tires mounted on the wheels and balanced, and I was able to attach one headlight bucket and then started painting several coats of filler primer for deep scratches. The bucket has deep scratches in the metal in the bottom of the scoop portion, so this will get a start on filling them, and then I will put some glaze on there and sand it smooth and sealer prime it before color and clear. The other headlight bucket, after sandblasting revealed a crease in it, and I don't have the moxie to want to fight and fix a crease and make it look good, so I ordered up a reproduction bucket. I then got a call from J&S Polishing, and ran down there and picked up my intake and valve cover. Pics heavy.

11-25-2025. My new fender and hood came in from Resurrected Classics today. I quickly hung the fenders on and took some pics to show how well they fit. Very impressive. High quality parts. The box does say "Made in China", but they are VERY nice pieces. I also went ahead and got the front tires mounted on to the front wheels. The wheels are 16X8 with 0 offset, the tires are 205/55R16.

Earlier I received my new hatch from Resurrected classics, and it was so well packed to prevent damage I was impressed......today a pallet arrived for me which had a new hood and front fenders. I am very impressed at the lengths these guys have gone to, to ensure no damage occurs. The box for the fenders had a puncture hole, but I was very happy to find that it didn't damage it. So, in addition to the high level of craftsmanship used in making these parts, these guys do a very good job of packaging them. Buy from them with confidence.