z2go Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 I figured since I'm taking the pictures, I might as well post the progress of my build and get some feedback. The history on the car: 1972 240z, purchased by my step dad as his high school car from the first owner in the 70's. Had the car through a stint in the Army, married my mom, and sold the car to a childhood friend. A decade later, his friend decided he wanted to sell it, my dad bought it back off him. At this point, I was in middle school, and fell in love with the car. After getting my drivers license, I first learned to drive a stick in it, and bugged the hell out of my dad to let me have it. Finally, halfway through my senior year, he 'sold' it to me. I drove it around until the beginning of the summer, when I started to work on replacing the bushings and rebuilding the motor. That project got as far as tearing it down in the backyard, to the state as seen in the first picture. I joined the Air Force and shipped out that August of 2002, and my dad graciously bought it back from me. The car sat in that same place for nearly seven years, with hopes of dropping a V8 in it and getting it back on the road. Two years ago, I was stationed back near home, and the car had not progressed at all due to a million other projects that took priority. He offered me the car to rebuild, and I could not say no. I hauled it up to my place, and the work began last summer. So, here is a brief story in pictures as to the progress so far. What began as a plan to replace only the bushings and rebuild a motor turned into ones worst nightmare of "while I'm at it". The good thing is that I have a hefty reenlistment bonus to help fuel the project now, and it's going full speed ahead. The plans: Paint will be orange, exact shade has yet to be determined. It will not be going back to original though. SBC 350 mild build, approx 350hp, WC T5 transmission, all supported by JTR r200 rear end MSA type III body kit Lizard skin sound deadening and ceramic temp control for the interior Panasport 14" wheels Tokico Illumina struts and Eibach progressive springs Fully reconditioned suspension, painted with POR 15 Poly bushings All new rubber, everywhere... new wiring, everywhere... the list goes on and on. As it sat for seven years Initial assessment Work begins I then decided to go with Baddog rails... Fuel tank before With sump welded on And painted with POR 15! The wheels I am using At the sandblasters Done blasting! My engine was finished by the race shop this last week as well, very exciting. I was lucky enough to have a very highly regarded shop in town, and the price could not be beat. I am getting hooked up by my paint and body guy, he's letting me use his shop this weekend to put the car on his rotisserie and get the undercoating sprayed on. I might even spray on the lizard skin for the interior as well. More pictures are soon to come, of the rebuilding and painting of the suspension, and hopefully some body work and paint soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sq_creations Posted June 28, 2010 Share Posted June 28, 2010 It is coming along nicely. I have some rust above my tail lights in the same place and have been trying to figure out how to tackle it. Your pictures are a great guide. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 It is coming along nicely. I have some rust above my tail lights in the same place and have been trying to figure out how to tackle it. Your pictures are a great guide. Thanks. No problem, thanks! I have more if you are interested. It was really pretty easy, just had to make sure to follow the original lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 Mods, could you move my thread to the members projects section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dridge11 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Looking good man...bring that thing for a cruise out in Napa when you're done. I'll take you on some fun roads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Looking good man...bring that thing for a cruise out in Napa when you're done. I'll take you on some fun roads. Sounds like a plan! Somewhere like Partrick Rd, I'm guessing??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dridge11 Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I was thinking 128 from Rutherford past Lake Hennessey, then Chiles Pope Valley Road back to Howell Mtn Road and come up through Angwin and drop back into St Helena. I'm gonna have to seek out this "Patrick Rd". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 I was thinking 128 from Rutherford past Lake Hennessey, then Chiles Pope Valley Road back to Howell Mtn Road and come up through Angwin and drop back into St Helena. I'm gonna have to seek out this "Patrick Rd". That sounds like an awesome ride. Partrick road is off at the end of Browns Valley Rd, goes up into the hills west of town. I used to go out there for the twisties, it gets pretty hairy! It does dead end at the end of it, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 Update from the last time - I was able to get the lizard skin sound deadening and ceramic heat insulator sprayed, and just finished installing the newly painted and fully assembled suspension. I installed the rear without the differential, which worked out nicely. The car is so light that there is barely any weight on the springs, so the rear looks raised, and the front looks way out of alignment. This is just so that my paint and body guy can work on it, but it feels like a nice milestone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOTHALOSISM Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 Man I love that lizzard skin look. How well did it spray on and did you brush any on as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rturbo 930 Posted July 12, 2010 Share Posted July 12, 2010 What are those two round things forward of the door jamb, and above the rocker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted July 13, 2010 Author Share Posted July 13, 2010 Goth - I really like the look too. It's tempting to leave it bare. I found that to spray it on, I had to dial down the gun (the one they sell) to get it to come out as any kind of spray. The ceramic insulation seemed to spray on a lot better. I didn't even try to mess with brushing it on, it seems that it would not be very forgiving and you would end up with a bunch of messy brush strokes. Turbo- Those are speaker cups that my dad fabricated and put in back in the day, but never used them. I left them in, because I'm planning on using them for my sound system. They seem to fit perfectly in that dead space between the fender and the body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MazterDizazter Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Looing good! How much did it run you to blast the car, and what type of media did they use? I am dying to do it to my car, although since its from VT originally I'm afraid its going to come back with quite a few holes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted July 15, 2010 Author Share Posted July 15, 2010 Looing good! How much did it run you to blast the car, and what type of media did they use? I am dying to do it to my car, although since its from VT originally I'm afraid its going to come back with quite a few holes... Thanks! To blast the car, outside and underneath and part of the interior, and have everything then sprayed in epoxy primer was a little over 2k. They have a couple processes that they do, first with a plastic bead blast, and then they use different types of mineral blast, never any sand, which is supposed to keep it from warping. They also have a process for low temperature rust hole filling. I'm not sure where you are located, but if you are in California, I recommend them! The company is American Stripping in Sacramento. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pharaohabq Posted July 21, 2010 Share Posted July 21, 2010 Nice Idea on the speaker boxes. I wonder if enclosing a larger space would make for better sound in there. Might have to look into that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted August 2, 2010 Author Share Posted August 2, 2010 Saturday saw more progress with the car, I made a deal with my body guy to come work on the rear end 'shaving' project to help mitigate the costs. We got it done in about 5 hours, not too bad. Had to cut out precision metal pieces for the bumper recesses, as not to mess with the structural integrity of the design. We also cut out the bumper brackets, and to reinforce, added some cold round steel along the inside edge and reinforced with flat bar. I don't think it will interfere with the fuel tank, but it's been a while, so I have yet to see. If it does, should be a minor modification. I am also coming close to needing to decide on the color, and this is what I have so far. It's GM Sunburst Orange. I've seen several custom cars with it, as well as new production Chevy's. At first I thought it had too much red, but it has grown on me. Tell me what you guys think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share Posted August 8, 2010 Small update. More body work has been completed, and test fit of the MSA front bumper. It is going to need a lot of work. Custom brackets will be be made to mount it, and lots of fiberglass work to get the lines right. Also, hood scoops are installed and the hood is near ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted August 15, 2010 Author Share Posted August 15, 2010 Test fit the motor. Looks like it has to go in separate from the transmission, but otherwise clearance should be fine everywhere. Had to make sure the steering linkage was good with the headers, and it fits, as advertised. I was hoping that the motor's weight would compress the springs enough to get a good idea of if the front bumper needs trimming, but I am at a loss. It compressed it maybe within six inches of ride height, so I'm still left wondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimO Posted September 9, 2010 Share Posted September 9, 2010 Hey Josh, Your car is coming along nicely. It's going to be awesome. I'd like to come down to see it after it's been painted. Talk with you soon. Nice rims by the way Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z2go Posted September 10, 2010 Author Share Posted September 10, 2010 Hey Josh, Your car is coming along nicely. It's going to be awesome. I'd like to come down to see it after it's been painted. Talk with you soon. Nice rims by the way Tim Thanks Tim! Just talked to my body guy today, he should have the jams and engine bay in paint by the end of next week. The whole car should be painted and ready for me to get it by mid October. Can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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