My Datsun 280Z "Rustoration"

[HaZmatt 161]

Some more misc. metal work pics

Rear bumper bracket holes were filled in

[EuroDat 503]

Thats a really nice job you are doing HaZmatt. Its going to a great looking Zed when you're finished.

Here is a thread on the 240Z bumper conversion. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/body-paint-s30/48611-fitting-240z-bumpers-valences-280z.htm

I made mine reversable for now, but will probably go the way Tamo did in post #8 & #11. The photo's in those two posts show whats needed to fit the bumpers correctly.

You wont be able to use the 240Z valance panels because the crossmember drops down to low in the 280Z for the larger radiator. The easiest way to correct this is to fit a Xeon Airdam or retain the original valance with 280Z grill/indicators and modify the lower grill to fill the gap under the bumper.

Looking forward to watching your progress.

Chas

[HaZmatt 161]

Thats a really nice job you are doing HaZmatt. Its going to a great looking Zed when you're finished.

Here is a thread on the 240Z bumper conversion. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/body-paint-s30/48611-fitting-240z-bumpers-valences-280z.htm

I made mine reversable for now, but will probably go the way Tamo did in post #8 & #11. The photo's in those two posts show whats needed to fit the bumpers correctly.

You wont be able to use the 240Z valance panels because the crossmember drops down to low in the 280Z for the larger radiator. The easiest way to correct this is to fit a Xeon Airdam or retain the original valance with 280Z grill/indicators and modify the lower grill to fill the gap under the bumper.

Looking forward to watching your progress.

Chas

Thanks Eurodat!

I think im going to go the Xenon airdam route. I just need to source a grill and turn signal lights.

[HaZmatt 161]

Started disassembling the suspension to send out to get powder coated.

Also sent these parts out to be yellow zinc plated

[mjr45 8]

Excellent work Haz, I used a lot of Eastwood stuff when I redid my Z, their rust inhibitor products are really very good. I also used their sound deadening material and it made a world of difference. Can't wait to see the finished product. If you need it, I have a Zedd findings frame rail you can have, but maybe a little to late for this.

Edited May 10, 2014 by mjr45

[Jeff G 78 230]

Wow, great job HaZmatt! I love seeing lots of before and after pics. You are going to have a beautiful and rust-free Z when you are done.

[Jeff G 78 230]

Here is a thread on the 240Z bumper conversion. http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/body-paint-s30/48611-fitting-240z-bumpers-valences-280z.htm

Hey Chas, your link doesn't work for me. It just takes me to the forum home page. I plan on doing the 240 bumper mod on my '78 so I'd like to see the best methods.

[HaZmatt 161]

Excellent work Haz, I used a lot of Eastwood stuff when I redid my Z, their rust inhibitor products are really very good. I also used their sound deadening material and it made a world of difference. Can't wait to see the finished product. If you need it, I have a Zedd findings frame rail you can have, but maybe a little to late for this.

Hey thanks, I really like their stuff too. I'll have to try out their sound deadening material.

Wow, great job HaZmatt! I love seeing lots of before and after pics. You are going to have a beautiful and rust-free Z when you are done.

Thanks Jeff! I appreciate the support.

[HaZmatt 161]

My dash was in need of some love so I followed the dash repair techniques on this forum and I think it came out really good. Not perfect but 100X better than it was. I ended up spending about $100 on materials and a good week or 2 of working on it here and there.

Heres the materials I used. Plus I used Great Stuff expanding foam and Duplicolor Truck bed coating for the final coat.

Used the Great stuff expanding foam to fill in the cracks that were split open.

Then I used the bondo bumper repair to fill in the holes

Coat #2

Then applied the SEM glaze putty. This required 4-5 coats of applying then sanding.

Then primed with SEM flexible primer

I used the SEM texture coating to get a decent texture

Then sprayed with 2 coats of Duplicolor truck bed coating.

I thought it turned out pretty good. I cleaned up my dash support.

Then installed my new Fairlady emblem

What do you guys think?

[hr369 113]

What do you guys think?

a tad more gloss i think would look better. more paint on it would smooth that texture out a little more too. excellent progress. i really like that fairlady emblem

Edited May 11, 2014 by hr369

[Oiluj 30]

Great work! Really wish I could weld like that. I wouldn't trust my welds to hold a banana...

The dash repair looks good as well.

[EuroDat 503]

Hey Chas, your link doesn't work for me. It just takes me to the forum home page. I plan on doing the 240 bumper mod on my '78 so I'd like to see the best methods.

Hi Jeff,

I somehow missed the l in html on the end. It should work now.

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/body-paint-s30/48611-fitting-240z-bumpers-valences-280z.html

Haz, Excellent work on the dash. Looks good.

Chas

[CG240Z 0]

You're moving fast! Great work. You mentioned your fenders needing replacing. My 2 cents on these is to save the hassle that I went through, order them from the dealer. I tried to save a $150 and got them through Black Dragon. Biggest POS fenders you could get. They weren't stamped correctly and were throwing all my lines off. I spent a week trying to get them to align before I ended up using them as patch panels to my original fenders.

[HaZmatt 161]

a tad more gloss i think would look better. more paint on it would smooth that texture out a little more too. excellent progress. i really like that fairlady emblem

Thanks! I was hesitant on doing a more glossy finish because I didnt want it to look too splotchy. We'll see how it looks in the car next to the seats and door panels, etc.

Edited May 11, 2014 by HaZmatt

[HaZmatt 161]

You're moving fast! Great work. You mentioned your fenders needing replacing. My 2 cents on these is to save the hassle that I went through, order them from the dealer. I tried to save a $150 and got them through Black Dragon. Biggest POS fenders you could get. They weren't stamped correctly and were throwing all my lines off. I spent a week trying to get them to align before I ended up using them as patch panels to my original fenders.

Thanks CG! Yes I remember your thread on those fenders and it scared me away from them. I ended up getting a pair of rust free fenders from Arizona and they fit perfectly. Just had a few dings in them.

[HaZmatt 161]

With all the welding done I built a couple make shift carts so I would be able to roll thee chassis around.

My painter picking her up.

Some body work shots.

Up on the rotisserie.

Finally some paint! The car will be painted 904 Ivory base coat/clear coat. The undercarriage was primered and coated with a color matched 3M undercoating.

Base coat only

Clear coat. Nice and shiny

And thats about where I am at as of now. He was going to deliver the car today but we are getting a nasty storm here in Colorado so it might have to wait until next weekend. He is going to do some more wet sanding and polishing and it should be good to go. I cant wait to see it!

Edited May 11, 2014 by HaZmatt

[240260280z 343]

I want you to restore my Z's! Beautiful work.

[Jeff G 78 230]

I agree with Blue. You are doing a great job. I can't believe how fast you are moving!!!

[HaZmatt 161]

I want you to restore my Z's! Beautiful work.

Wow thank you.. Thats a great compliment

I agree with Blue. You are doing a great job. I can't believe how fast you are moving!!!

Thanks Jeff, This was all started back in September '13. Im just now getting some time to organize my pictures and get a build thread going.

[rossiz 278]

ohhhh... sept '13 - thank you for clarifying. you are still moving quickly for so much work, but i was kinda freaking out thinking it all happened in the last few weeks!

seems like everyone has trouble getting the paint/bodywork done quickly, yours looks like it was no problemo.

love it!

[Jeff G 78 230]

To me, starting last fall is super fast considering how much has been accomplished.

[mjr45 8]

Great job Haz, looks like you'll be riding shortly after this "Spring" storm blows thru. The dash looks great, wanna do mine?

[rcb280z 278 1 Vehicles]

.....and mine? :classic:

[Jeff G 78 230]

Mine first. It doesn't even have any rust! It would take you about a week to complete.

[HaZmatt 161]

ohhhh... sept '13 - thank you for clarifying. you are still moving quickly for so much work, but i was kinda freaking out thinking it all happened in the last few weeks!

seems like everyone has trouble getting the paint/bodywork done quickly, yours looks like it was no problemo.

love it!

To me, starting last fall is super fast considering how much has been accomplished.

Thanks, I got really lucky and found a guy that does great work at his home/shop. He's worked on it pretty much non stop for the last few weeks.