Smokescreen Posted October 30, 2008 Share Posted October 30, 2008 Hi everyone, I thought I would upload some new pics of the Z after some clean up work. The rims came out better than I had planned and I may go later and have them powdercoated. I finished the brakes and installed the new clutch kit and everything is running great. About ten minutes before I was going to take the car off the jackstands after finishing the clutch the Fedex guy shows up..... He has all of my new bushings from energy.LOL I guess I got next weekend planned out. This car cost me $500 and I drove it home. It was alot uglier then though. I have some older pics of it if anyone would like to see the difference. I repainted the hood vents candied the side markers and the tail lights, also I put in some 300Zx seats and new door panels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilbertZ Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 looks nice and clean! what did you do to the wheels exactly? Let me know how you like the bushings and how the install goes (do you need an impact gun or do regular tools work) - that's next on my to-do list for the ZX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokescreen Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 I'll let you know about the bushings next sunday "I hope". As for the rims I'll show you what they look liked before I stripped buffed and repainted them. Took FOREVER to tape them to get the look I wanted but I'm happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conwaybear33@hotmail.com Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 did you do anything to the interior if so where did you order your pieces? (like trim pieces) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokescreen Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 So far I got the door panels and seats from my local junkyard. We have a pretty nice pick-n-pull not far from my house. Everything is pretty much stock except the seats, they are out of a 300Zx. But they are temporary. Not much to look at really; just more comfortable than the stockers. Someday they will be Corbeau. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB26powered74zcar Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Looks real good. You did a nice and clean update on it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S30TRBO Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Looks great! Nice and clean good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokescreen Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 Thanks Guys, thats my goal, I wanna remove my side marker lights, accent strip and shave the doorhandles before it goes to paint to complete the sleek look. The only thing I may want to stand out is the fuel lid. Thats if I can find a nice billet or even chrome AC Cobra style external gas cap. One question though, are there any fender flares available for the S130's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokescreen Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 J. Soileau. That Z is amazing, your car sets the standard for restoration as far as I'm concerned. Great car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilbertZ Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 J. Soileau. That Z is amazing, your car sets the standard for restoration as far as I'm concerned. Great car. Holy Geez - I just checked it out too - amazing work - where on earth did you find that engine?? Smokescreen - please let me know about the bushing replacement - I'm also reading up in my FSM about it - just wondering if 1) you can use hand tools (no impact gun needed) and 2) if it's pretty intuitive as far as steps - what to take out first, second, etc, and put back in the same order thanks and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilbertZ Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 oh, and the wheels - look amazing. Mine look like your "before" pics right now what did you use to buff them? Did you take the tired off for this or leave on? And how did you do the paint - use primer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woldson Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Your car is coming along quickly and great! Keep us posted:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokescreen Posted October 31, 2008 Author Share Posted October 31, 2008 Phil I will let you know about that bushung project soon. The rims were pretty strait forward. I used Laquer thinner and my wire wheel attachment on my compressor to really get the old "paint"??? off. then I went in with a 3m pad to get in there and clean out those hard to get areas. Next I used my finer wire wheel to really buff out the areas that I intended to leave unpainted. I highly recommend that you use the Blue painter tape to cover the polished areas. I taped over the raised areas and used the side of a 3/8 retchet extension to cut the tape. I just rubbed the extension along the edges to keep my lines strait. I couldnt imagine trying to keep everything lined up right by using a box knife or a blade. This rubbing technique takes a little more time but it is worth it in the long run. imho. As far as taking the wheels off there is no need just use newspaper and tape around the rim and cover your tires. I wish I had taken some pics of this process. In the future I will document things like this better. Thanks Woldson;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilbertZ Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Thanks Smokescreen for the detailed how-to - I'm bookmarking this for when I get to it What kind of paint did you end up using once you had it all taped off (and did you use primer)? If you can take photos of the bushing replacement process and write a DIY guide, that would be boss (No pressure ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S130Z Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Lookin really good. Not a lot of people think a stock s130 looks that atractive, but dam yours looks good. I wonder if that style tail light would fit on an 83? Now you just need some window tint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeero Posted October 31, 2008 Share Posted October 31, 2008 Yes those tail lights fit on an 83! The bushings are really straight forward. I just did mine about a month ago and I love them! I used only hand tools also. You will have trouble with the control arm bushings because the new ones are bigger than the old. There is a metal sleeve inside that you either A.) need to cut out with a hacksaw, hammer and flathead(how I did it) or B.) get use of a press and punch out those sleeves. Other than that little hiccup I had no issues. Car looks real nice Smokescreen! I did all the smoking of my lights too. I just left the brake lights red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokescreen Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 Thanks a ton guys, S130 Not doubt about the tint but thats a new project in itself. I want to replace my windshield and I need to repaint my valance while the windshield is out. Found a guy local that will 3M tint all my glass and replace my winshield( warrantied) for $500, does that sound right? Anyhow It's on my list which is loooong..lol. Zeero ,I like the style with the red and black your ZXT looks way clean, how does it perform with the current set up? I'm thinking of going Turbo in the future. Are you running the Borg/Warner t-5 with that tri-ax?? Just curious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokescreen Posted November 1, 2008 Author Share Posted November 1, 2008 Hey phil, I used basic high gloss( Krylon)black spraypaint, primer and some good clearcoat.( use at least 5 coats of the clear stuff). Also I kept everything taped during the clearcoating so I could use mothers to shine the Aluminium later. Photos of the Bushing project should be no problem. And pressure??? I love pressure. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeero Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 I LOVE the turbo! I've driven a buddies NA zx and there is no comparing the two! Turbo all the way! Lots of potential from the L28. Yes I am using the factory BW T-5 tranny with the tri-ax. Big difference in shift speed and quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S130Z Posted November 1, 2008 Share Posted November 1, 2008 Well I don't know how much a wind shield is but I tinted my car for $150 for 5% all the way around and then did the front windshield myself in 30%. I kinda regret going with 5%. I would rather have 20% on every piece of glass. Luckly I do window tint and can redo it any time I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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