AdreView Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Pain and pleasure, it's all part of the journey to refreshing a Z. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 (edited) Can you show the installer tool? I bought one from HF last time I was in Huntsville and it came with an assortment of ALUMINUM rivet nuts. My tool looks kinda like a pop-riveter (kinda cheap looking). Yeah, the Harbor Freight inserts are aluminum. I have those in the driver's fender, and I'll have the steel everywhere else. It'll be interesting to see what weathers better. And you hit it on the head with the cheap pop riveter looking thing. That's the one. Thread the insert on.....Put it in the hole..... Give it a squeeze..... Turn the knob on the back threading the tool in a little more.... Give another squeeze...... Remove installer tool. Done. Here's the installer tool. Pretty sure it's the same one you have. And there are the two different 1/4" - 20 Rivnuts I have used. The aluminum are the Harbor Frieght, note the large collar. The smaller of the two are the steel inserts, which are slightly harder to squeeze. Both nuts install with excellent results with the tool. Edited February 27, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 Thank you! I was afraid that the HF tool wouldn't work on steel. I will be bothering you again with questions once I have the metal work done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted February 27, 2014 Author Share Posted February 27, 2014 As for this morning. Before heading to work, I decided to get a jump start on the rear rivnuts.Like I said, fitting the flares is going to be a but trickier than the fronts. It will require some cutting, metal work, and some welding.That part will come tonight, but here's the morning progress...Due to the inner fender I had to shim the installer tool with a few washers so it could fully seat in the holes, before being crushed.Rivnuts installed.I had to blast out the inner fender on the first mounting point with a 'center punch' (big broken toothed phillips head screw driver) to allow the rivnut and installer to fully seat here as well. I'll weld the back up once I start the surgery tonight.And here's the mock fit. Initially (when I first bought them years ago) I thought these flares fit like hell.....But man does mounting them on the correct sides, and at the appropriate heights help.....Dayum.....Now they actually make sense to the eye. I'm happy. Tonight I make sparks....Lots of em... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Progress...DIDN'T come easy..But I made it to a good stopping point for the evening.So many cuts had to be made to safely reveal the inner fender. I think the pictures can explain the process better than I.... Tomorrow, I weld the two skins together once again, a little trimy trim, and I'll move on to the passenger's side.Then it's the weekend! It's car time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 What is the measurement in inches between the highest point on your flare and the hard line of the fender? Mine is only four inches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 I believe my measurement was either 4 3/4" or 5" roughly from the eye balled highest point of the flare to the body line. I'll confirm later. When I have the flares mounted up again, I'll take a picture and label my measurements as well for future reference. I know that you pretty much can't mount these things too high, I just made sure I was a little higher than Austin's in his sticky, because I believe he still had rubbing issues after his install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlejester Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Looks really good, maybe buy an electric die grinder to keep as a spare? Keep up the work, and the updates on the zx! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) What is the measurement in inches between the highest point on your flare and the hard line of the fender? Mine is only four inches. When I was out working earlier I took these pictures showing the height. Somewhere around 4 3/4" from the highest point of the flare to the body line. Looks really good, maybe buy an electric die grinder to keep as a spare? Keep up the work, and the updates on the zx! Thanks! and yeah, the wheels have made me neglect the zx, that, AND not having an air compressor to clean/blast metal.. Now that I have a compressor again, that car will be my main focus after I finish the flares on this one. and it's -2 here currently, the garage is a balmy 15 degrees....My air tools were not caring much for this cold. It was quite frustrating at times. But I got a little work done. Not nearly as much as I wanted, but it's also really poorly lit out there right now, I would like the daylight to help when I begin welding. It's nothing but shadows currently. Pics for clicks. I trimmed the inner fender tabs off...That's about it. haha Tomorrow I will weld the Bajesus out of it. Edited March 1, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Mine are up at 4". Maybe too high. Should look good with drag slicks but kind of 4x4 with streets and r-comps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) Nah definitely not too high. And yeah, it just allows you to throw more meat under there. And for what you're putting down...The more meat the better I'm jealous of your BAMF flares. They look like a nice set. Are you still playing with the idea of making a steel or thermoplastic set? Edited March 1, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) Long term project. I have to learn some about manufacturing. I was just feeling out the target community. Funny that so many wanted to be dream killers! On my car I have rear flares on both the BAMF and regular glass flares. Roll bar builder had a delay getting tubing, so he doesnt start till Monday. Assuming he ordered sufficient tubing I have no clue how long it will take. Eager to get fenders cut out. Edited March 1, 2014 by RebekahsZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 (edited) Hours of work later... It's too cold to put any coatings on the exposed metal currently. I'll do all the wheel wells at once, when I am finished with the flares. Edited March 1, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) Progress from tonight. Got a half day in. This side seemed to go a lot smoother now that I have developed a method. Rivnuts installed, and mock fit. Ready to cut.Once again, I'm at a good stopping point for the evening.Tomorrow, after work, I'll stick the pieces back together. Edited March 3, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 All welded back up.As I said, once the ambient temperature is a little more sustainable, I'll properly prime/coat/paint the new fender lips.Here are the pictures of today's welding escapade.Lets hope the temperatures start to rise again. I'm ready for Spring. I want to start this thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78zstyle Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Carbon fiber. Drooooool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse OBrien Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Well, the nor'easter 'bomb' skipped us, and we've had almost a whole week of above-freezing temps. That MUST mean you have an update ... right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAndyAndTheSea Posted March 26, 2014 Author Share Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) Yeah, we still haven't been that lucky here lately. It's still pretty damn cold for the season, that's for sure. This morning it was 12 degrees outside. I forgot I didn't mention it in my build thread, but in the RPM signal lost thread I explained that once I retested Megasquirt for a cranking RPM signal, which I was reading before, it is now gone. I later confirmed that the optical sensor in the distributor stopped functioning properly. So, I'm going EDIS. I'm currently waiting on my tax return to start sourcing out Ford ignition parts, and my 36-1 crank pulley. So that kinda sucks, but the car has become too special to just try to cob something together to make it run. But in the meantime I've been putting in lots of time on the 280zx. Which will be painted within a week or so, and driving once the giant snowbank in front of my garage melts a little. So that will scratch my itch in the meantime, until I get this car running. It also allows me to source out coilovers, rear end, and rear disc stuff. I'm about to head out and work on the POS car now. Edited March 26, 2014 by OldAndyAndTheSea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse OBrien Posted March 26, 2014 Share Posted March 26, 2014 Good luck, have fun, keep all your fingers attached! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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