Started tearing into it today, finally!

[MEZZZ]

After 2 years now of owning my car and piddling on it here and there, I finally spent all day ripping into it and actaully had alot of fun doing it! Usually, when things dont go good I tend to get a little p!ssed off but I took it all in stride today, maybe I am maturing

I started by removing the hideous '77 280 front bumper. The bolts came out easily enough, not much of any rust after 32 years. No penatrating oil needed. I went out this morning and bought a 21 gallon compressor and a couple inpact wrenches to make the job easier. Then off came the beat to hell lower front valance.

I received the MSA fiberglass front bumper and urethane air dam while I was out buying the compressor. What a surprise that they came Fed Ex on a Saturday. Also sitting there in my garage were 4 other boxes containing the new Konig Rewinds with Toyo 225/60/15's! I felt like a kid at christmas!

I ripped off the front and mocked up the air dam and bumper using the mounts from Z Car Customs-JDM (which came in the mail today). It looks so much better.

Then I started to remove the exhaust. I got the Pacestter Monza "cat back" system (it came yesterday). Thats the main reason I got the air compressor as I could not get the nuts to budge. After some PB Blaster they finally popped off. I mounted the pipe and was going to put the muffler on and figured it was a good time to rip the rear bumper off. I got the driver side strut mount loose but cannot get the nuts off the bumper. I cant get an impact wrench in there and the air socket doesnt have enough a$$ to crack them.

I started to cut the strut and thought I hit oil when I got that far, it shot out about 5 feet in the air The pain will be the right side with the gas tank, does anyone have any tips on removing it without dropping the tank?

Can I just loosen the tank straps and drop it down to get it out? If not, any tips on dropping the tank is appreciated.

Edited August 23, 2009 by MEZZZ

[Zs-ondabrain]

I already tore the bumper struts off the 260Z and ran into the same problem.

The tank needs to come out, No way around it. Sorry!!

And there's no easy way to slip it out of the way either. You have to remove (unstrap) the filler neck, the rear hose, the front 3 hoses, the drivers side hose and the tank straps.

No time like the present to tear into is and clean everything up, replace hoses if needed and what ever else you wanna do.

Dave

[MEZZZ]

Thanks for making my day Dave!! : )

I figured it wouldnt be easy.

[Zs-ondabrain]

That's what I'm here for, sorry again.

Dave

The attached pictures show what I did with mine, and after pulling the tank, discovered the need for more undercoating where the tank sits. The last picture shows some of the new undercoating on the drivers side. But you can really see the need for that "Extra" care I'm gonna put into it. Been knocking off large scare rust then POR15'ing those spots and undercoating as I go.

The flash on the last pic doesn't do the actual panel justice.

Edited August 23, 2009 by Zs-ondabrain