Swiss two-become-one 240Z Ground up restauration / JDM mods

[grannyknot]

Looks like you found a real body guy, that's getting harder. While you are getting all the rust repaired you might want to add two of these little channels that take the run off water from the edge of the hatch and dump it off the car instead of that water dumping onto the back sill. If Datsun had put done this there would be a lot less rust in that area.

Oh the car is tipped on its side on a rotisserie in those pics.

Edited October 20, 2016 by grannyknot

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Looks like you found a real body guy, that's getting harder. While you are getting all the rust repaired you might want to add two of these little channels that take the run off water from the edge of the hatch and dump it off the car instead of that water dumping onto the back sill. If Datsun had put done this there would be a lot less rust in that area.

DSCN0431.jpgDSCN0433.jpg

Oh the car is tipped on its side on a rotisserie in those pics.

So it's basically an extension of the existing rails? Looks like a smart idea. but not sure yet since the car will probably not be driven in rain anymore after resto and also the paintjob will be much better than original to protect from rust. but I'll think about it - thanks for the input (y)

[jdmjunkies.ch]

While i'm working on a big, new, exciting project (I'll post about it in a few weeks or months i guess) the bodyshop keeps me updated and has some nice progress on the rear end
1) The top of the rear lower hatch Panel have been remodeled out of sheetmetal and looks absolutely stunning. Raw naked steel. I have the NOS top panel which will be added, once everything is completed.


a closer look at the craftsmanship:

The lock mount and upper panel mounts have been removed, sandblasted and welded back into position. the red colour is just temporary rust protection primer:

On the new rear quarter panel the rear corner piece has been removed (for easier installation):

And been spotwelded into the correct position:

My bodyshop told me he h as some spare time at the moment and i guess there will be much progress over the next few weeks

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Recently i was bidding on some bigger parts on yahoo auctions in Japan and thought, while at it, why not order some smaller parts and get them shipped for free in the same package? unfortunately i didn't win the auctions on the bigger parts so i just ended up with the small bits and pieces. which are still good to have
1) R180 Differential oil seals

2) R180 differentil cover seal

3) Fine auto japan Polyurethane shifter bushings:

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Got a little update from the bodyshop. he started work on the LH inner hatch area.
Before:

 

After (Custom made panel from sheet metal):

Welds and corners still need to be smoothened out but otherwise it looks like OEM


Oh and got this book a few days ago:

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Finally another part of the body which can be called "completed". My panelbeater sent me another update with the rear upper hatch panel welded back and the whole area coated in some protective primer. Without top hatch panel installed:

 

Primered inside as well:

 

New Top hatch panel welded back. Well done

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Lately i really appreciate the updates from the bodyshop. And If things go right i will visit him and my car again on monday. However here are the latest pictures i got
What you see here is the inner rear right quarter panel piecte between the trunk floor and the Fender. it contins the hole where the fuel filler hose goes through. As you can see the original pieces was totally rusted and he created a new one from scratch:

 

Here it's installed test-wise:

 

View from the outside:

 

View from the bottom. As usual: Work of art. May look a bit rough now, but once it has some primer on it it will be like it was from factory  

[Andreas]

Nils, you must have found one of the best metal guys in the world. Awsome!

[grannyknot]

Just for reference, here is that same panel NOS from Nissan, looks like your guy nailed it.

 

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Just for reference, here is that same panel NOS from Nissan, looks like your guy nailed it.

DSCN0413.JPGDSCN0414.JPG

Whoa, that looks indeed like he built a perfect panel. thanks for the reference pix. awesome

[jdmjunkies.ch]

My Panelbeater asked for some Budget to continue his work, and since it's really going on nicely lately i happily brought hime some of my savings While there i had a look at the latest work, of course. You have to make sure you're money is well invested

 

After inspecting the recently completed upper end of the rear he showed me a mock-up of the right side rear inner wheel wells and some problem areas.
The tabco pieces really do not fit very well, but he will make them fit. I've seen worse

 

And while there he was preparing the door to fit them back to the car for future fitment testing of his work around the right side. You can see the thin line on the door? he noticed that little line (edge) was gone due to some previous repairs and straightened everything and made sure the thin line is back in t he door. Most people wouldn't even notice.

 

And then he closed the holes of the original door mirrors, because i'll go with fender mirrors

[kidistight]

Your build is not my style in the sense you are going so JDM.  However the work you are doing and the attention to detail can not be overlooked.  Great job.  I almost don't want to start my build thread because of the rust I will find.

[jdmjunkies.ch]

No big update, but today i got a phone call from the local Nissan dealership that my order had arrived, so i went there and picked up my order: All the refurbishment parts which ar still available at Nissan for the 5-speed FS5C71A 5-speed early type factory transmission.
The order contained some oil seals, snap rings, Balls, springs and so on. still need a lot of parts and will order the rest elsewere. this was just the easy part of the whole thing

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Your build is not my style in the sense you are going so JDM.  However the work you are doing and the attention to detail can not be overlooked.  Great job.  I almost don't want to start my build thread because of the rust I will find.

Thanks for the kind words. I  undesrtand that "JDM" ist not everyones style and i have to admit i changed the plan slightly. and guess i won't install any overfenders and so on so it's basically just bolt-on parts which can be reversed back to original parts easy. But we'll see. And yeah, always have to laugh when someone writes "rust-free Z for sale" or something like that. that just doesn't exist. even in sunny california or so. except it has recently undergone an extensive restauration, of course

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Dear readers, sorry for the lack of updates during the last weeks. I was very busy with some other big things, one of them beeing marrying my wife
Yesterday i got back to work in the garage. while it's still freezing cold outside i got some stuff done on the transmission. I found a local glass-bead blasting company and i'm preparing the transmission to be blasted soon. So i had to remove all bits and pieces:
Shifter lever Bracket removed:

Removed the shifter bushings from the brackets and had all laid-out:

Removed the control arm springs and "plugs"

Tried to remove this plug, but after trying hard and not beoing able to get it out, decided to leave it there for blasting

Removed the oil filler plug

And the speedo sensor (still in place here): 

Still need to figure out how to remove the speedo sensor complete, the plastic vents and then i'm ready to get it blasted

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Yeah, a few weeks ago i was browsing the internet for some usable parts for my transmission restauration when i found this ebay seller from Thailand. Usually i'm not a big fan of Cheap Asian stuff. Only real deal Japanese OEM or Aftermarket. However when i found these parts and they seemed to be either Japanese-made or high-quality but for a good price, i thought i'd give it a go. so here's what i got: Transmission / Clutch fork rubber boot. Made by Thailand company Turtlerubber / SPI-Goodrubber:


 

Firewall grommet. Unknown brand, but i assume the same as above:

Niles (Japan) Reverse light switch.  Niles is the original Supplier of nissan so i guess it's an Original part:


 

Unknown brand Speedo cable:


 

Unknown brand Side marker (front) lamps:


 

DENSO (japan) Horn's, 66dB:


 

New-Era (Japan, Aftermarket supplier) Voltage regulator:    

 

Not sure how all the parts fit and if they will end up in the car, but they were cheap and looked nice so i thought i buy them in a package deal. Looking good so far More parts coming soon

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Here we go Got another parts delivery from the land of the rising sun. All needed transmission parts which were still available in Japan:
Seals:


 

Rear hub:


 

Front seal gasket:


 

Then a friend of mine asked me to help him import some Nagisa Auto motor sports Part for his 240Z: Front adjustable tierod end-links:

 

And adjustable Doglegs. Really beautiful parts. seems like they changed their annodizing procedure, sinec the parts i have have a different colour. anyhow. Nice pieces. The Colour is more gunmetal in reality. the white-balance on my cam was a bit off...

[jdmjunkies.ch]

Nothing big here, just got another missing Piece of the transmission puzzle today:
The speedo pinion gear sleeve assembly:

[jdmjunkies.ch]

One of t hose lucky days again where i get several deliveries at the same time
One was an Ebay buy, A NOS Transmission breather vent:

 

The second one was a New Speedo pinion Gear, which was available through Nissan Japan:

 

Then, thanks to some tips of nice people in the community, i was able to purchase these Rear quarter panels.
I promised to not tell the source. It's a Last stock and one of the people that gave me the tip wants to buy the rest of the stock and sell it.

 

I have the feeling they are better than the tabco ones. with sharper edges.

 

When i have time i will make a direct comparison between tabco and these. Big thanks to the people who supported me with buying these.

 

 

[rturbo 930]

I forget if I've already said this, but I think this may end up being among the very nicest of S30s on the planet when it's done. I bet all those little pieces are adding up fast though. This is why I'll never do a proper restoration haha.