Well, my sweet baby's finally at the paint shop. They have all the lights out, all the glass also. After about two years, this project seems to be finally comming together. I'll try to post some pics soon. Good luck to everyone else that's trying to restore one of these love hate relationships :stupid:

Did all of these Zeds have the plate around the tail lights painted black? Was it a flat black? Thanx for any replies.

OBX

good question...

i'll like to know also..

The original color was a dark grey color. You can get the paint from classic datsun where they have it custom made. I personally prefer a flat black. To me the color looks like it was once black that has faded to grey. They also sell the original blue for the engine block and the orange for the air cleaner.

carl

All of the body work has been done for a couple of weeks now. There were a couple of pin holes on the hood, and on the door flat where the trim meets. Other than that it was only surface rust. They started finding surface rust forming under the original primer. So, in the end, the Z was taken down to bare metal. The whole exterior of the car, that is. They had been building the paint back up. As of last week, the main body man was having medical problems. Anyway, they're supposed to start spraying today.

The glass man using my seals and gaskets, removed all of the glass, and reinstalled with a new windshield for $366.00. I could have reused the old winshield, but was pitting, and had a BB mark on it. My original estimate was $2500. But that was before deciding to completely strip it. Complete job counting glass, $3166.00. This shop is new here, and trying to get started. He said the job is more closer to a $4500 restore. He wants to use my car on his web site for advertisement. He knew I wasn't rich, and I would be patient while he knocked out the insurance work. All in all, I feel like I'm getting a good deal. I've been taking pics along the process. I will eventially get around to posting them.

OBX,

I just got mine out of the body shop (it was in for 400 days). I purchased two cans of rear tail light finisher from Les at Classic Datsun. I took one to my paint tech that painted the car and he mixed the color based on the PPG computer. The final was a very nice color and I though the match was extremly close, if not on the money. Let me know if you are interested and I can get the PPG paint code and share it. Les charges 27.00 per spray can + shipping. I'm sure the PPG paint will last longer and handle the UV rays better than a rattle can. If you need a spray can I can sell you the one I have (unused) for less than the cost of a new one.

Good luck on your project. Keep us posted with pictures.

I would be interested in getting the PPG code. I am also questioning the longevity & durability of paint from a rattle can.

Les' paint is not normal rattle can paint. It is custom mixed auto paint loaded into aerosol cans. Not Krylon or similar. I've done this in the past myself, having a local paint shop load Dupont Centari into rattle cans. I can't remember what brand paint Les told me he has mixed up before he loads it into the spray cans, but it was a familiar name and may have even been PPG.

Les' paint on my car's tail trim panels is almost two years old now, with no signs of any fading or degradation.

My paint supplier has provided the same service here for at least 20 years and is a PPG dealer. I have never had any mixed and loaded into aerosol cans though because I have all the nessesary spray equipment needed, so it is just more convenient and cheaper to buy by the pint or quart for small jobs. I know my equipment and what results I will get. Also Les is a long way from here and it is difficult to get this type of material shipped across the border into Canada. I could not even get Zero Rust shipped across the border. I had to pick it up in Michigan and get it across myself. For the cost of 1 can of Les's paint after factoring in shipping, I can buy enough paint here to do my tail light finishers, watanabe wheels, my grill, both sets of D caps, front spook and rear spoiler.

I have to say, I do trust your evaluation of the results you achieved Arne and it seems like it is the way to go for a lot of you, but not for me.

Edited November 20, 200816 yr by geezer

We shot the rear of my dads 72 lime car b/c the PO had done it in gloss. We used a gunmetal grey color that we closely matched and then sprayed PPG clear coat with flatener added using an HVLP gun.

From what I can tell looking at pictures, some of the cars had grey rear sections and some had black depending on the exterior color.

It may be an optical illusion but it appears Kats cars have the two different color rears. Maybe he can elaborate.

Also Les is a long way from here and it is difficult to get this type of material shipped across the border into Canada

True, I often forget to factor in the shipping hassles for those of you up North. Definitely not worth the headaches when you can duplicate it locally.

OBX' date='

I just got mine out of the body shop (it was in for 400 days). I purchased two cans of rear tail light finisher from Les at Classic Datsun. I took one to my paint tech that painted the car and he mixed the color based on the PPG computer. The final was a very nice color and I though the match was extremly close, if not on the money. Let me know if you are interested and I can get the PPG paint code and share it. Les charges 27.00 per spray can + shipping. I'm sure the PPG paint will last longer and handle the UV rays better than a rattle can. If you need a spray can I can sell you the one I have (unused) for less than the cost of a new one.

Good luck on your project. Keep us posted with pictures.[/quote']

Nice job! Thanx for the offer on the paint. I believe my paint man has already painted it. He said he had used a satin finish on it. I might have misinterpreted what he said. If I did I will probably contact you. From what you guys have been saying, I take it that the finisher is Plastic??? Amazingly enough, I don't think I really ever looked at it in the 2 years I've been working on her. I've been so busy running down all of the other demons in, on and under her:stupid:

OBX