Lexx Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Hola folks. Some time since I've been around these parts, and even longer since I was in any kind of car scene. Kids etc forced me hand and I sold my last toy back in 2015. Lots has happened since then, and when we lost one of the founder members I bought his private number plate from the guy who bought Martins 350z. I always wanted to get those plates back onto a Zed one day. After a "life's too short" tragedy a few weeks back it was decided to put my ass in gear and sort something. So here we have it. OK, it's not a Z33 or Z34. But Martin owned a Z32 back in the day and I'm sure those of you who remember him will appreciate his plate living on. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRF4N Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Welcome back lexx Stunning example, plate will be a nice tribute to Martin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Muxlow Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Welcome back Lexx. Lovely looking car. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy james Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Nice to here from you lexx. My brother had a new 300zx and still hankerers after one! Sadly I never met Martin but know of all the hard work he put into this forum over the years before his passing. The plate is a great tribute to him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieran O'Quick Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 That is gorgeous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATTAK Z Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Hi Lexx, I'm still here, nice to hear from you again 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEADPHONES Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 Welcome back and Ind I'm loving the new chariot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 Hi Lexx Welcome back, I hope all is well with you? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 Who are you again? Good to see you back on here fella, now get that rust bucket up and running! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted September 24, 2020 Author Share Posted September 24, 2020 As Dan alludes to above, it's far from a perfect car. Has a number of rust issues that need attention, but I bought it eyes open and have plans in place. What I didn't account for was finding out that the ignition was completely shagged and coukd be started with the key, a screwdriver, or a lollypop stick. £300 lighter from JP Car Parts and I managed to get a brand new OEM full set of keys and locks/ignition. Much much swearing later and a new ignition is in. Locks etc to follow. It'll be slow progress over next 2 weeks as the class bubble my 2 girls are in have been told to isolate so there goes my 3 weeks of free time to work on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I am sure that will/would put a smile on Martin's face that you have not only taken over his space "on the bridge" but now have his "number" to display on a ZED model he once owned. Good on you Al 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanski Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 (edited) Welcome back Lexx! Great looking car, love that colour and great seeing that old plate again. Those were happy times, I can still see his ciggy ash blowing out of the window as I was behind him in mine on the Scottish Haggis run. Edited September 29, 2020 by stanski 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShortPaul Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Welcome back buddy i can remember Martin and that plate, look forward to seeing your zx up and running 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humpy Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Lovel tribute with the plate Lex! Great to see you back on the forum again and look forward to seeing the progress with this one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marzman Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Thats a really nice tribute. Car looks good in that colour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted October 6, 2020 Author Share Posted October 6, 2020 Had a little time to muck about with the Zed the past couple of days. Mostly involving removing stuff to be honest. Instrument cluster removed to replace a duff bulb and trace some wiring. Drivers side door lock replaced. Full rear interior stripped out so that I could get a boroscope into the sills. Although the sills are bad (I was aware of it) they are way way better than I expected and don't need full replacement. Just the rear sill returns on both sides. My mig welding sucks unfortunately so will have to pay for this to be done. Hey-ho. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Well that could be worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P15UL T Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 Welcome back Lexx. Great tribute to the Legend Martin. Paul 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanski Posted October 6, 2020 Share Posted October 6, 2020 For a Jap car of that vintage in the UK those inner cills look better than expected. Try plug welding them a bit at a time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 19 hours ago, stanski said: For a Jap car of that vintage in the UK those inner cills look better than expected. Try plug welding them a bit at a time? The inner support sill requires seam welding. Whilst I can stick two pieces of metal together it isn't pretty and would take a body shop longer to sort out for paint than it would for them to just do it. I'd hoped to get it booked in before Christmas for the work, but I don't see that happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stanski Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 4 hours ago, Lexx said: The inner support sill requires seam welding. Whilst I can stick two pieces of metal together it isn't pretty and would take a body shop longer to sort out for paint than it would for them to just do it. I'd hoped to get it booked in before Christmas for the work, but I don't see that happening. Ok understood. Good luck with it. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 Moral of today - don't buy old cars. After 2 days, 3 snapped bolts, 1 bust lip, and much much swearing I finally got the rear subframe dropped. Doing this on axle stands is not something I recommend. I'd kill for a 2 post lift! On the plus side I discovered my car has ABS fitted which is rare. Down side is dropping the frame has revealed all the brake lines above are completely buggered. At least I've found them before they fail. Tomorrow is strip down of the suspension and figure out which bushes can be used again and which need replaced. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly350z Posted November 10, 2020 Share Posted November 10, 2020 What a car, I'm super envious of this. Probably my all time favourite JDM classic. Don't suppose you want a MK2 nismo do you So whats the plans? Full restoration? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted November 10, 2020 Author Share Posted November 10, 2020 37 minutes ago, Olly350z said: What a car, I'm super envious of this. Probably my all time favourite JDM classic. Don't suppose you want a MK2 nismo do you So whats the plans? Full restoration? Full overhaul of all the suspension including painting of all components and new bushes. Full clean, treat, paint of underside. Booked in for early next year to get some rust in the sills cut out and replaced. Then after that's it's all about keeping it OEM+ and starting to enjoy driving it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted November 20, 2020 Author Share Posted November 20, 2020 Small update. Suspension fully stripped down at the rear. Got the rear subframe in primer today (Jotamastic 87). 2nd coat tomorrow. And then top coated in a few weeks. All the arms have been stripped, just need to get time to press the bushes out before they're painted. Differential scaling has been started. Hoping to finish that off and have it painted before Christmas. Heap of Nismo bushes on the way from Japan. Might even get it all back together before the new year. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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