1976 280Z Restoration Project

[takayuki]

I'd take you out for a spin for sure!

My work schedule isn't working in my favor this year for almost all car shows. Work every long weekend too. blahhhh. I hope the z club show'n shine lands on my days off.

[Patcon]

I have the Kevin Tetz "Paintucation" videos and they are very good. He also has a forum and I have conversed with him directly. That's where I learned the fiberglass on pinholes technique...

[ksechler]

23 hours ago, wheee! said:

That is interesting. I have been using the degreaser/cleaner on the fibreglas as i go. I noticed some of the resin removal as well. I still create a lot of dust with the RO sander tho....

I wouldn't use the RO sander.  Too easy to create waves and ridges.  I used a nice long block and did the whole thing by hand.  If you get some real course sandpaper (#36) and use the shucking technique Kevin describes in the video you'll have good results without wearing your arm out.  

[David F]

An air powered sanding file is my tool of choice for the initial shaping of the plastic filler.  After that, it is all done by hand with appropriate shaped sanding blocks an various wood trim moulding shapes.

[wheee!]

I plan on doing more of the long block work. The RO is more to get the bulk off. I will try the method in the video too!

[ksechler]

8 hours ago, wheee! said:

I plan on doing more of the long block work. The RO is more to get the bulk off. I will try the method in the video too!

Cool!  Hope I didn't sound bossy - just wanted to share something that worked well for me.  I'm enjoying your progress.  The project will really start to take on speed now.  

[wheee!]

Flipped the car again tonight and did some more work on the frame rails. Decided to blend them in to the floor pans for a clean look. No reason other than OCD...! When I finish the blending, I will start the seam sealing and final prep sanding for the sealant coat of epoxy primer.

[wheee!]

Some of the blending along the frame rails.

[wheee!]

More sanding. Blah blah blah.

[gwri8]

I can just imagine how you're going to tell all the girls how smooth your underside is…….

Edited May 1, 2017 by gwri8

[wheee!]

 The truth is, the DTM epoxy coat went on a little thick and left a fairly rough texture. I have to smooth it all out before I respray the DTM as a seal coat. I want that to go on nice and smooth so the base coat and clear look purty!

I still have some more fill work on the other side of the passenger frame rail, but nothing serious. I might do some minor pinholes with glaze to fill in the fibreglas. Way too OCD on this part of the car, I know....

[wheee!]

I just was looking at my latest progress pictures and realized they looked the same as last time...! Doesn't look like any work has been done but I have done more sanding and added the putty coat to the floor panels along the frame rails. A little more sanding then on to the seam sealing. Then the sealer coat!