Page 1: Frontend repair
Page 2: Rust removal
STATUS: Still repairing, as of 12/29/2209
W E L C O M E
Left: 270hp 1990 300zx NA - Right: 650hp 1991 300zx TT
Pictured on the left, was my first 300zx, purchased back in 2001.
It is a 1990 naturally aspirated Z that I am currently repairing/restoring
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Here she was; clean, and mechanically sound, back a few years before the wreck
I may sell the tail lights above. Not sure if I like them anymore. Any offers?
They are authentic Strosek taili lights.
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Posted 9/2009: My 1990 Z was wrecked in the winter of 2008.
I recently purchased a MIG welder, in hopes of repairing the damage myself
So far, it is going well. Check out the pictures, in order of occurrence.
Here she is after she kissed the guard rail, on the front drivers side.
2008
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Starting the repair process
9/2009
A look at what needs to be done
Here is where I decided to cut, and mirrored it on both sides
above left: I cut the PS part off as well. It was bent, and the donor piece is complete , & not bent
Wow. Looks so different without the headlight basket
Below, is the donor piece that I will be welding in Below is the test fit
Above Left: Test fit, after cutting the pieces off the car, and match cutting the donor piece
Above: Grinding away the paint, so the welds will adhere
Above are the pieces I cut out to give, under-support and leeway to move the new part around,
for the best stock fit, per the service manuals measurements.
Above: Test welding with my MIG welder. I'm doing, ok.. I guess.
Above: Welded the 3 pieces that I fabricate, onto the car.
Above, you can see how it makes an under-lip for me to weld the donor piece on
Decided to repair some bad rust spot, by the DS shock tower
Now you can see how I repaired the rust, cut-out part. Looks good.
Below: Here is the underside, by the shock tower, with the weld ground down. Looks ok, but solid!
Additional Work done on 10/2009 thru 11/2009
Here, I decided to make some pieces to key in the donor part.
This will add to the strength and support of the donor part, when I weld it in.
I did this on both sides
Below: Is a shot of those key pieces in progress of welding them to the car
Below: Here is the donor headlight basket for the Z. I sanded and rust treated it first.
Below: I used etching primer from Pep Boys
I then added a coat of standard grey primer, to give it another durable layer,
and a layer of flat black, to go under the gloss black.
Below: I reattched the fenders, center bracket, and frame rails to the
newly painted part. That way I could align the new part for welding
I used self tapping screws to temporarily hold the two parts together.
This will also hold the metal down, when I tack weld the parts together.
I will remove the screws after tack welding.
Notice the overlap pieces that I welded in? This will give
me room for where the pieces meet up. It is almost impossible to
cut the two parts accuratly enough to join perfectly. So I came up with the
solution of welding the overlap pieces. Glad I thought of that. :)
11.2009: Front half finally welded on.
Now to grind down the ugly welds
Below: Here is after the wleds are ground down.
12/2009: After grinding and cleaning the metal, I used etching primer
I will use filler for the pin holes, and bondo for smoothing it out.
More photos, to come soon.
Check out my 650hp 300zx,
widebody project at the link below:
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3056793
