When I got #32 last year, the engine bay was pretty dirty and covered with overspray from a repaint it received many years before. Recently I went to install new Ztherapy carbs and I decided to clean things up as best I could without pulling the engine, and sending everything off to get replated. I'll do that at some point, but want to enjoy the car as is for awhile first. Here are a couple of before and after pics. Still not perfect, but much better than it was.

-Mike

MUCH BETTER Mike. Looks like ya just came in from the garage?? I'm guessing yes.

Now ya gotta get the other one looking that good. (The Z you had at the car show 2 sundays ago....)

Good to see you and the wife again.

Dave

And Leah

Thanks Dave. Yeah, if I clean up the engine bay on that red one up it will be next year. I'm still working on getting #210 up and running. It seems like every time I think I am getting close to restarting it I remember one more part I need to order that holds everything up. I've been cleaning that engine bay up quite a bit too, as it was covered in oil and dirt after setting for 25 years.

By the way, the issue I was having with the carbs on #32 was due to a vacuum leak caused by not having all intake manifold nuts tightened up enough. After I got that fixed they tuned up pretty easily.

-Mike

Car looks great Mike.

When I got #32 last year, the engine bay was pretty dirty and covered with overspray from a repaint it received many years before. Recently I went to install new Ztherapy carbs and I decided to clean things up as best I could without pulling the engine, and sending everything off to get replated. I'll do that at some point, but want to enjoy the car as is for awhile first. Here are a couple of before and after pics. Still not perfect, but much better than it was.

-Mike

Huge difference! Much nicer!

How did you do it?

How did you get the overspray off?

thxZ

Yes Mike, very nice. And yes, please tell us more. I'm curious how you were able to get the throttle linkage, anti-backfire valve and other plated parts so nice and shiny golden?

Gary S.

Looks great Mike. I was wondering about the Anti-Backfire valve as well. My clean-up jobs never seem to come out that nice but I guess this depends mostly on what you start with. I'd love to hear what your methods and products you used to clean up the various materials and surfaces.

Quite an improvement!

Glad to see the blue ignition wires gone!! :embarrass:

Yes--please--- do tell your methods. If it is good enough for #00032 and you, it will do well for my silver 73.

Did you replace the AB valve and a few braided hoses?

All the best Mike!

Jim D.

"Zup"

heyyyy........

what's the matter with blue wires?

looks great!

always like to do before/after pics. at my age i forget what it looked like before i started cleanup.

How did you get the overspray off?

I'm curious how you were able to get the throttle linkage, anti-backfire valve and other plated parts so nice and shiny golden?

Did you replace the AB valve and a few braided hoses?

Hey guys sorry for the delay in getting back on this. Getting the overspray off was a difficult chore and took a lot of elbow grease. I took everything off the sides of the inner fenders and removed the radiator. I used several different methods depending on how thick the overspray was. I tried a couple of different rubbing and polishing compounds with scotch-brite scouring pads, Goof-off, and, as a last resort, 0000 steel wool in a few areas. I also used a small battery operated scrubber that I found at ACE hardward. Its about the size of an electric tooth brush with replaceable scrubbing pads and it was good for getting into tight places. The tops of the front shock towers have some spots of missing paint, but I think that was just covered by overspray before. I am going to get some touch up paint made to match, as a temporary measure, and will pull the engine and have the engine bay repainted at some point.

As I noted in my first post, I put on new Z-therapy carbs and center linkage, but they looked so nice I needed to clean up the exhaust and intake manifolds. I used Calyx manifold coating (http://www.eastwood.com/calyx-manifold-coating.html) on the exhaust manifold and glass bead blasted the intake manifold, balance tube, and heatshield.

As Zup guessed, I replaced the AB valve with a spare that was in really good shape and replaced some hoses. I had the radiator boiled out and it came back with shinny new paint . I replaced the blue plug wires and battery cable with a stock used parts and installed a new Nissan coil. I replaced the metal fan with a NOS one and the fan pulley and hood inspection lamp with replated spares. I bead blasted and painted the horns the correct OD color and installed a splash pan that I had powder coated. I also used paint stripper to remove overspray from many of the wires in the engine bay. I think that is about everything. I still need to have a lot of replating done and replace a couple more things.

I got a new camera as an early Christmas present, so I pulled the car out of the garage and took a few more pictures today. I even posted a couple of attempts at artsy exterior reflection shots at the end.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179590863/" title="035 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2668/4179590863_e0fcae7053_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="035" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179595483/" title="045 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/4179595483_972e8b2a2e_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="045" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179593593/" title="039 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4179593593_8af0fd8508_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="039" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179592869/" title="038 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4179592869_8fdc14c50b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="038" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4180635338/" title="115 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4180635338_bff5d65f8d_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="115" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179874777/" title="025 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4179874777_96c8825d13_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="025" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4180654694/" title="088 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4180654694_85d6dca6e2_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="088" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4179893689/" title="093 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4179893689_01d7d49408_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="093" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45525171@N02/4180655856/" title="112 by Datsun240Z_32, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4180655856_1e5b277d5a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="112" /></a>

-Mike

Sweet pics! Very nice job. You really have a gorgeous car.

Rich