1976 280Z Restoration Project

[w3wilkes]

 

7 hours ago, grannyknot said:

These guys make a very nice leather set, https://interior-innovations.com/product/datsun-240z260z-genuine-leather-w-diamond-stitching-tunnel-strut-tower-covers/

I have it in my car, very nice fit, smells great.

Geez!!! I got my leather seat covers from these folks and am quite pleased with the way they turned out. I didn't see these when I got my seat covers, now I have to start saving too! Here's my seat thread;

 

[wheee!]

Last day of summer! Had to get the Z out...!

[wheee!]

Well now that temperatures are below freezing, I have got the furnace tuned up and the shop ready for some paint work.
I will use the small paint booth I set up here to prime and prep all the panels. I may end up doing the finish paint on the interior sides of the panels so they can stay mounted for finish body work and final paint.
I lose sleep over this sequence. My gut tells me that having the panels painted and mounted for final body work is the safest bet. No more welding and dollying etc. Just final finish smoothing and filling. Then I can paint the whole car assembled and blend the paint seams where it meets finished paint on edges etc.

[wheee!]

A little 2K epoxy work tonight. This is a good start! One full mix did a front fender, cowl and centre valance under the rad.







Hood, hatch, fender, two doors to go!

[wheee!]

Half of two doors now... had to do a little more spraying while I was in the mood.


Still some repair work with fibreglass filler needed on these doors but nothing outrageous. Mostly pinholes on the bottom trailing edges.

[wheee!]

Ok time to ask the experts...

Does anyone have a good picture of the rubber seals under the fenders and how the fit, mount etc?

Mine are destroyed and I need to reproduce them.

The ones that go on the fender ridge.

 

 

And does anyone have an alternate source for these inner fender seals?

[zKars]

I have replaced the "blade" style OEM seals with a "Bulb" style weatherstrip like the door seals. The bulb has to be on top of the pinch weld rather than on the side like the door seals. I got mine from McMaster Carr. I can find the part number. 1120A122  for 1/16" edge, 7/16 bulb diameter

https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/125/3615

The OEM style seems to be about the least effective way to make a seal I can imagine. 

I think I kept a few of the OEM clips that hold the OEM weatherstrip on if you decide to get the reproduction of them. 

Edited October 8, 2019 by zKars

[wheee!]

That looks like exactly what I should use. The stock system really is quite inefficient and clumsy....

[grannyknot]

You're going to laugh but a dollar store pool noodle works great, closed cell foam, a 3/4"deep cut length wise and slip it over the pinch weld, cut it to height if needed and it sure doesn't $6.00 usd per foot.

[wheee!]

True but I think I can get about 3 meters of the good stuff for about $30.

[wheee!]

A little more hood work...


And doors!

[ramsesosirus]

9 hours ago, wheee! said:

A little more hood work...


And doors!

How do you get into the nooks and crannies of specifically the hood?  I'm getting ready to prep/paint one now and want to prevent rust the best I can