Restoration is back on track (with a lot of help)

[Mike]

Hey guys,

Well, it looks like my restoration project is back on track. We blew the dust off the car and moved the project to a new home in Salem for the job.

Bryon Nichols, an active Datsun guy and college student, is currently working on my car in the Ztherapy garage. He offered to put the car back together to make a few extra dollars before starting school. Byron is a student in mechanical engineering and, let me tell you, is very meticulous in his work.

The Ztherapy garage is an excellent and fun place for any Datsun enthusiast to know about. Aside from the obvious restoration of SU carburetors (which most Zcar fans know about), they also work on vintage race cars, Datsuns of all flavors (510, Zcar, Roadsters), and have a huge collection of memorabilia. Their shop is full of goodies for any restoration project and I can count at least 4-5 people who love to pitch-in and give a hand whenever possible.

In fact, whenever I show up to check on the progress of the assembly, there are frequently 2-3 other people pitching in and helping out. This is truely an amazing shop with lots of character and giving people.

Anyway, I've uploaded a few pictures of the progress and will continue to post more as the weeks progress. I think Byron wants to get this car done by the time he starts school so we're looking at another month of continued progress.

I'd like to give a special thanks to Bryon, Steve, Bruce, and all the other guys helping out on this project. Without these guys, my project would still be sitting in the garage!

[Mike]

I want to give a special link to those of you who need SU carbs done.

http://www.ztherapy.com

Tell them you saw an ad on the Classic Zcar Club.

-- Mike

[hls30.com]

Mike, That is great to hear!

Will

[Virto]

Sounds like you'll be up and running in no time. Man that's awesome.

Keep up updated if you can.

[bobc]

Hey Mike, that's great news! That is, unless you plan on bringing it to next years West Coast Nationals! Just kidding, I'm really glad to see your car coming together and I'm sure it will be fantastic when completed. Hope things are going well for you. Come down a day early or stay a day late and we'll hit the water out in Catalina.

Please continue to post pictures. I'd really like to see how it's coming along. Hard to tell the actual yellow color. It changes with the light in each picture.

Bob

[Mike]

Hi guys, here are some additional photo updates. The rear bumper is on, hatch is assembled, and the doors are 99% done. Next we are working on installing the dash. Before that we need to install some vinyl trim around the window frame.

What do you think of the painted rear tail-light panel?

-- Mike

[Arne]

Well, it's all personal, but I don't care for the color-matched rear panel. Somehow that hust seems wrong to me on a Z, especially with the stock chrome bumper. But it's your car, so if it's good for you, go for it.

But it's sure looking good. I'm really looking forward to getting to the body/paint part on mine. There are lots of yellow Zs in Oregon (Mike's, beandip's, azcarbum's), but none in original 919 yellow, so mine will still be a bit unique. I can't wait.

[Marty Rogan]

Now aren't you glad you didn't sell her!!! It's good to see you making progress after all this time!

Looking good!

Marty

[Ron Carter]

Lookin good Mike! The Steve and the guys at Z therapy are awesome for sure!!

[Mike]

Yea, the rear tail-light panel was a bit hard to get used to at first. But, it's growing on me. The reason for the painted panel was due to my last body shop. I believe I gave them a box full of parts and they just painted everything yellow. It's been sitting in a box for a long time and I hadn't really paid attention to it until we put it on the car.

Steve has an extra set of rear panels that we are going to paint black. I will put that up against the car with the chrome trim-ring and compare before it's permanent. The panel is actually quite easy to remove and replace in the future as well.

I am VERY glad I didn't sell her now!! It's going to cost me some more money to finish her off, but, I am excited to see the progress and can't wait to drive her.

[EScanlon]

Is it my imagination or is the left side (driver's) tail-light finisher in flat black?

Look at the pic of the bumper, and compare it to the one of the passenger tail light / finisher.

For my 2¢, I think that although it has been painted very nicely, and it has good shine, that it leaves something to be desired. The Z does not have a lot of contrast as far as different colors / textures / surfaces, and changing one of the more visual aspects of it to a monochromatic look....well it kind of leaves the car washed out.

While I was never a big fan of the "matchbox gray" as W. Humble describes it, and I have seen several in Flat Black, personally I prefer the Satin Black look, or even a Metallic Black.

But that's just my opinion.

E

[Arne]

Hmm, Steve and Bruce keep inviting me to come visit the shop some weekend, and I never seem to have the time to do it. I might have to give it a shot soon, before Mike's car is finished.