The body shop has it now

[philbar73]

I know I'm a little crazy with all the time and money I put into the old girl. I am looking forward to taking a ride. Thanks for the good words, it adds to the excitement. I looked at your pictures, nice Z. It is a beautiful. It looks like I’m on a similar road a few years behind you. I’ve been at it for almost 4 years part time to bring my old Z back to life. Did it take a long time to restore your car?

[philbar73]

It's painted..This is a very happy day. 4 years in the making. I will have it back Monday. It will not take long to get it on the road. It may take a month or two until everything is done but the excitement is building.

[grantf]

very very nice!!!

[Mike B]

Looks great. Silver is one of my favorite colors on a Z. I also have a silver car that I hope to get to next year after my white one is done.

Just curious, but why leave the windshield in when you took all the other glass out and stripped the rest of the body before paint?

-Mike

[philbar73]

Thanks for the complements. I left the windshield it at the suggestion of the guy that owns the body shop(Carl). The edge of the gasket was cut away so the edges around the glass would get striped, sanded and paint. I had it under a canopy on the side of my house with a cover on it when I was working on it and it kept the cover from collecting stuff where the windshield is. It would have made a big indent that cover would have fallen into. It is getting a new windshield in a few days. I have new rubber for all the glass and the chrome trim is still good. I will have to use old glass everywhere else, I have glass from 3 cars. I don’t think the heaters on any of the hatch glass is good but I will figure it out(any suggestions will be appreciated) . There are still a lot of details but the major work is done. It runs great as far as I can tell. I have only driven it around the body shop ground but it all seems to work, new or rebuilt everything. I had a old hatch I used to close the back with when it was covered. I had 2 parts cars. I'm going to have a lot of extra parts when I'm finished. The dash has to go in next. I made a box out of some of the extra dash parts so I could run and test it with no dash. The dash has no cracks but looks its age, dull and discolored. Carl suggested using vinyl paint to make it look new. Everything he has suggested has come out great, he has been a body and car restoration man for 37 years. I’m a mechanical and electrical engineer so I understand most things about cars but body work and car restoration is only a hobby. I listen very closely to Carl, he knows cars. I’m trying to clean out my garage today, It’s not going to be under a canopy or stored outside ever again. I need a good cover too. Any suggestions on the cover would also be appreciated. The old cover was good for keeping out dirt but it is not a good cover.

[Rainman]

Hi Phil! Great work on your Z and thanks for all the pics, your Z looks great! My 260Z is just going on the rotisserie now for similar treatment, it was originally silver in 1974 and will be some version of blue early next year. My 260Z sat for 11 years before I woke her up in 2006 as well, and I've loved being able to drive it for the last four years but it needs new paint badly...

About the cover, check with the parts shop of your Nissan dealer.. I'm sure you know those guys and have a great relationship with them after all the work you've done. Anyway, a couple weeks ago the parts manager at the Nissan dealer here in Medford, Oregon mentioned that Nissan is selling a complete line of covers for all Z cars, even the 240Z, in all thicknesses... From the thin veil for indoor dust protection to the thick, waterproof model. All designed to fit the individual model(s) specifically.

If you have any trouble let me know and I'll put you in touch with my parts guy! Best of luck and enjoy that beautiful car, you've waited long enough!! Take care and all the best.. Tom

[Travel'n Man]

Great pic's and thanks for sharing - this is the perfect time to replace those fuel lines in the tail section of your car if you have not done that yet - better now then waking up one morning and having gas in your garage floor!

[philbar73]

Thanks for the good words. They are flatbeding it to me in the morning, can’t wait. It took a few hours to get the garage ready but everything is set. It is getting real cold here in NY and my garage is small so I'm not going to be able to do a lot until it warms up. The fuel lines are new but the hoses to the evaporator are old and will be replaced. It will not take long to get it going and look forward to the spring and putting it on the road. I hope I can meet some other local Z owners and have some fun. Anybody in the long island area?