I thought I was done with Z cars

[SteveJ]

3 hours ago, BoldUlysses said:

I've been meaning to drive down to Auburn to pay them a visit.  Seems like a good outfit.  They sold me a nice reproduction set of 4 rear finisher panel bottom clips for $20 off eBay when other online sources wanted $30 per clip.

 

Anyway, nice find and story!  Always nice to rediscover a car you had a connection to.  Makes the restoration process that much more meaningful.

In for some "current state" engine bay + interior pics, and that list of mechanical sins the previous owners committed!

 

If you want to come down this way, I think the Georgia Z Club is planning on going to the PoBoys Cruise In in Canton. I think that's a little over an hour and a half from you. The Cruise In is the 3rd Saturday of the month, and I think we're planning to show up in June.

[emccallum]

Current condition picture. New roof is welded in and I have been leading in the corners. I am removing the dash and going to send it off to Just Dashes for repair. 

I am going to remove all the suspension and sandblast the tub. I am debating on getting a rotisserie or a chasis dolly. I just cant decide how I want to treat the underside of the car. It is in nice condition and could probably be pressure washed and undercoated. I will make that decision later when the car is completely stripped. 

A little work here a little work there. Kind of jumping around scratching my chin. 

 

 

[emccallum]

Picked up my vapor honing blast box today. Had some time to try out a few parts. Not too bad. I think I am going to like it.  I have made a good bit of progress over the last few weeks. I will post up some pictures tomorrow. 

 

[dutchzcarguy]

On 4/29/2022 at 3:44 AM, emccallum said:

I am debating on getting a rotisserie or a chasis dolly.

If you have room for it... (and as you take everything off the chassis) .. i definitly would go for a rotisserie! (Make one that is universal for cars!)

[emccallum]

3 hours ago, dutchzcarguy said:

If you have room for it... (and as you take everything off the chassis) .. i definitly would go for a rotisserie! (Make one that is universal for cars!)

Thanks, I have a car dolly that gets the car up pretty high and allows me to roll the tub around. I have a two post lift in the shop if I really need it up in the air. I just dont have the room for a rotisserie. I am maxed out on space and I have a car stored at my sons house, that is overstaying its welcome :). 

I have been researching the undercoating. From reading and what I found on my car, I am going to use a "undercoating" underneath, then spray body color over it. 

[emccallum]

The body is on hold waiting for some replacement metal, so I decided to tackle the heater box and other small stuff.. It was in rough shape. I think it was go to party place for the mice.

I had to remake one of the flaps, create a new spring, and get rid of a lot of rust. I got lucky and had some products left over from past restorations that I could use. Hood insulation from a BMW worked great for the foam around the heater core and headliner material from an FJ40 for the flaps. The older I get the less trips to the store I have to make.

 

 

 

[BoldUlysses]

That looks fantastic!  I need to something similar with mine (and replace the heater control valve).

[emccallum]

I found a new heater control valve on ebay for about $80.  It was oem. Now I have to decide if I want to spend the bucks for braided hoses!

[emccallum]

The finished parts shelves are slowly filling up. Note the electric antenna with the pointy tip! That was a bitch to get back working. The plastic cable had come loose from the mast. I heated up the mast and was able to join them back. Not to mention all the crud and corrosion inside. The next to top section has a bend, so at full up it looks like a commercial for Peyronies disease! But it does go up and down, very smoothly. I need to source some new exterior hardware for the antenna. Wish I could find a new mast. I guess I could buy a NOS one on ebay for 4k! Crazy.

 

 

[emccallum]

Jackpot! I knew there was a zcar antenna around somewhere. I went out to the shop and gave a look around. I thought I had previously gone through all the boxes. For some reason, I missed it. In the bottom of a box was this electric antenna wrapped in a bag. I am pretty certain it came out of my Dads 77 280 right after he bought it. He was into CB radios and bought an antenna that would work with a radio and a CB. The original antenna went into storage. About 30 years ago my mom said I am throwing out all this old car stuff, so come get what you want. I did. 

The 280 antenna looks to be very similar to the 240. The tip unscrews and the mounting hardware is mint. I fell like I won the lottery. The switch to the right looks to be an early 240. The switch that was attached to the antenna looks to be factory, but I just dont know the 280's very well. 

 

 

[emccallum]

Slow progress. Waiting on the body shop to get room to take in my car. I sent off a bunch of stuff to get plated and just got the stuff back. I thought they did a very nice job considering how rough the stuff was. I wet blasted and wire wheeled every nut bolt and washer. I think it was 43 lbs shipping! 

Engine rebuild should be able to get finished now that I have all the bolts and suspension should be back from powder coating any day. 

Marquis Zinc Plus in Dundalk MD. Talk to Tabitha, she kept everything sorted for me!

 

Edited July 26, 2022 by emccallum

[emccallum]

Received some parts back from powdercoating. I started assembling some things as I wait for the body shop. I should get the motor back in the next week. We were waiting on the hardware to get plated, then realized the idiot who last worked on the motor did not stamp the crank and we had the wrong bearings. Searched high and low and finally found the right ones. 

I am thinking of assembling the motor and subframe including suspension then lowering the body on to it. I think that would be easier. Anyone else ever done it this way?