1976 280Z Restoration Project

[wheee!]

Thanks Chas! I am looking forward to getting the bodywork done this fall and having the car painted by spring. I am really trying to get it on the road next summer. Fingers crossed.

[wheee!]

Spent the entire night working on the hatch. I welded up all the holes from the screwed in louvres and welded the emblem holes up as the spoiler will be going over them. I also welded up the hatch release button hole and welded in the pull ring and mounting points for the hatch release solenoid. All ready for final prep!

The solenoid bolts to the inner hatch where I welded in a support plate. The solenoid fits perfect in here and I can adjust the tension for the proper release pop.

 

The cable goes inside the panel and through a washer that I welded (carefully) just inside and to the left of the release arm that needs to be pulled straight down in order to pop the hatch. If you can imagine a washer with the top quarter bent over and welded just below the right hand bolt  of the catch in the picture. That was some trick welding (about 6 tries).

 

The hatch emblems and louvre holes had to go. I didn't want them to be rust holes later and the spoiler would cover half of them anyways...

 

The latch opener was the biggest hole and I took a very closely sized washer, welded the centre shut, then tack welded it into the hole at four points to reduce the amount of heat transfer to the hatch. I will fill all the pinholes with fibreglas before final bodywork.

Edited August 21, 2019 by wheee!

[wheee!]

This is the simple ebay hatch kit. I think it was like $30 or something. Seems solid.

[wheee!]

Adjusted the ride height to something more liveable. Added about 30mm of height to the coil overs. Left the preload the same and just adjusted ride height.

[wheee!]

Matches the front a lot better too.


Once the car is assembled with all the parts that are missing I expect it to settle a little bit more.

[wheee!]

High impedance injectors arrived today too!

[ramsesosirus]

13 hours ago, wheee! said:

Matches the front a lot better too.


Once the car is assembled with all the parts that are missing I expect it to settle a little bit more.

I have those same sticker emblems on my center caps!  

[wheee!]

Double hood latch release cables. Now I can open the hood with locked doors if the battery dies and the remotes won’t work. No door locks looks cool but can be a real issue if you lose power! Emergency access!

[Hodgimus-maximus]

Where is this hidden release cable, I’m asking for a friend.  

[wheee!]

Behind a locked panel... [emoji2955]

[wheee!]

So I spent the day slide hammering and shrink heating the door panel. I wasn’t 100% successful but got it a lot closer than it was. The door still needed 1/8” of fibreglas filler and bondo to bring it to working height. Finish work will happen on the car.

[wheee!]

Air filter and piping came in. Nothing super fancy but a large surface area filter that tucks in behind the indicator should help keep the moisture out and the cold air coming in!