280zx Lt1

[Polarity]

I bought this car for $3250 with the LT1/4l60e already in and running great.

 

The previous owner listed the following

 

What its got:

1994 LT1 with 4L60e tranny from an 9C1 police caprice.

Painless wire harness

Rear mount battery

JTR engine mount kit

Big ceramic coated sanderson headers

JTR radiator

drive shaft with big chevy jounts at both ends

seats from a 85 300zx.

3" single exhaust.

 

Since the car already runs I'm starting with interior, followed by exterior and finally upgrades to the motor. I work 8+ hours a day 7 days a week so my play time isn't that great.

 

To give a quick overview of what I'd like to do over the next couple of months.

 

Interior:

1) Install speedometer so I don't get arrested when driving this thing

2) Dynamat the entire car, hopefully cure some of the heat/sound coming in through the firewall

3) New carpet all around.

4) Need to dye or paint all the plastic pieces in the car, everything is brown I want it to be black.

5) Need to replace or repair dash, also need to clean up wires behind dash and around the car in general

6) Replace seats, haven't decided on replacement type yet.

 

 

Body:

1) Find a way to get rid of hail damage, so far unable to find a local paintless dent repair person, still looking for other options

2) Purchase ground effects kit, I like the new MSA one (think it was MSA anyway) also think the new G-Nose that's being produced looks exceptionally good.

3) Remove rear bumper and beg Vinh to explain to me how he did the rear end on the Yellow ZX

4) sand and primer, then find a local body shop to do the painting.

 

Motor:

1) Learn about motors, make new plans from there.

 

Next post down will be some shots of the car as it was when I bought it.

 

-polarity

[Polarity]

Here are the pictures, sorry for the size I haven't bothered to install any type of program to resize them.

 

Body:

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/body1.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/body2.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/body3.jpg

 

Interior:

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/int1.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/int2.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/int3.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/int4.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/int5.jpg

 

Engine:

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/eng1.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/eng2.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/eng3.jpg

 

-polarity

[Polarity]

Tonight I pulled the dash and started my speedometer install. Used a Dremel tool to cut the housing so everything would fit. I'll post pictures and step by step tomorrow. Got everything mounted, just got to put the dash back in the car tomorrow.

 

-polarity

[Polarity]

I didn't have time to put the dash back in the car, but I did manage to upload a few pictures of what I did.

 

First was to pull the dash out, nothing hard there. Then get the instrument cluster out of the dash, this shouldn't have been hard but with the dash being in such poor condition it kept getting stuck under the lip of the front of the dash (a little confusing sorry). When I started I didn't originally know I was going to need to cut the housing to make it fit, so for anyone else as new as me get ready

 

Once I had the housing completely disassembled it was time to take the trusty dremel tool and get to cutting. First I cut the face big enough to fit the new 5" speedometer. Then it was on the white backing, and finally the little board. Once I tried to assemble it all I noticed I had some issued with the stock gas gauge not fitting. Had to cut a little notch out of my tachometer so it would fit. I tried to take as many pictures as I could, but it my excitement to actually be doing something to the car I missed a few. Honestly this was all very easy once I got started, the hardest part was convincing myself to start the cutting.

 

There are a couple of things I learned though.

1) Even though a dremel tool is pretty basic, some precautions should be taken. First off it sends little flying pieces of burning hot plastic all over the place, so plan accordingly with gloves/cardboard underneath/etc.

 

2) Just because the wife is out of town that does not suddenly mean the living room is the new shop :shock:

 

and finally

 

3) When doing something as small as this don't be so scared to start it. Sure I might have just broken my entire instrument cluster but lets be honest, for $30 I can start all over and do it better. So as grumpy said in another thread don't be afraid to jump in and give it a shot.

 

Here are some pictures from while I was working

 

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash1.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash2.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash3.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash4.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash5.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash6.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash7.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash8.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash9.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash10.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dash11.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/dash/dashdone.jpg

 

Oh and finally yes I know the are different backings, the black one came in the car (where the speedo is now) and I intent on getting an aluminum one to match it.

 

I know it was basic and this was alot of writing for something like that, but sometimes it helps us new guys (I know there are more of us out here =)) to see a beginner stumble through something to show us it's really not that bad.

 

-polarity

[Polarity]

Update:

 

Neither the tachometer nor the speedometer work, fantastic. Took a look at the wiring that was already run, think it needs to be redone. So that's something I am going to look at.

 

After some input from some forum regulars (thanks DavyZ, DudeBoy, KasbeKZ) I decided to go with SEM Landau Black. Placed the order and it arrived pretty quick. I also purchased the Plastic/Leather Prep (SEM 38353) and Sand Free (SEM 38363). Using it was about as straight forward as it can get.

 

1) Clean with soap and water

2) Clean again with the Plastic/Leather Prep (change rags alot while cleaning) and let dry

3) Use Sand Free

4) Spray with SEM paint (it said to spray while the sand free was still wet, so I did)

 

Below are a couple before/after pictures of one piece just to show how it worked. I also take painting tips =)

 

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/tools.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/before1.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/before2.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/after1.jpg

http://www.lineageclans.net/zx/after2.jpg

 

Going to let that dry completely before I do the next piece to make sure I like it.

 

-polarity

 

**Edit: looking at the pictures I can already see a spot that didn't get covered, need to go touch that up real quick.

[Polarity]

Just a quick update, alot of rain here lately and more fun coming from Ike so not that much work. I ordered 100sq ft of B-Quiet mat for the car aswell as a book suggested by DavyZ How to Paint Your Car on a Budget by Pat Ganahl.

 

I continued pulling out interior pieces and getting them repainted. Also contacted a member on the hybridz boards and am buying a new(er) dash from them with only 1 crack.

 

Also my dent removal tool (The Ding King) arrived in the mail. It worked well and I was able to pull out some dents however it seems like it's not made for hail dents so it's back to the drawing board on that one. That's about it for now.

 

-polarity

[Polarity]

Another short update here, I've been unable to figure out why I can not get my speedometer working. I did manage to get the tach working again (was just a short in the wire, pulled the old one, ran a new one and it worked). I found a local shop that is willing to take a look at it. I'll be taking it there on monday. Also I purchased rims and tires from Aziza and they arrived, I'll be putting them on today. Also my new dash arrived and it looks better than it did in the photos. Only 1 small crack that I'm going to try repairing this weekend (I'll try to take lots of pictures), then I need to paint it black to match the rest of the car (dash is currently red).

 

All my B-Quiet came in, but I'm holding off on installing it until I get my carpet ready to go in. Once I get the car back having the speedometer fixed I'll order my carpet kit. I guess once the carpet kit is here it's pretty much just time to reinstall all my interior and I'll be done and on to the body work.

 

After reading the book suggested by DavyZ I'm a little hesitant to do the prep work for the paint myself. The book really paints a dooms day type scenario for not doing all the work in a timely manner. I'll do more reading before I decide.

 

-polarity