Finally did the unthinkable and stripped my Z on Saturday. Senor Dixon came over and between the two of us (and with the occassional spot of help from my old man!) we took off every single part that we thought could prove useful be it mechanical, electrical, exterior bodywork and interior seats and trim...nothing was spared.

 

In a way I had something of an emotional attachment to the car...it was my first Z32 which I imported from Japan about 8 years ago. It was also the car I'd originally planned to put the V8 into however, after initially getting it looking to my eyes pretty good (stillen skirts, modified 99 spec front end, smoothed rear end, de-locked, de-swaged and stone-chip removed), I made the mistake of entering into an agreement with a company over further bodywork which would prove my un-doing. Several years later I eventually got it back un-finished and in a state where it wasn't possible to complete it without a lot of work. Without going into too much detail I realised that I had to come to terms with the fact that my health had, by this stage, deteriorated so much that I would no longer be able to tackle the bodywork myself and complete my dream of having a wide-arch Z with a difference (the wide arch kit that was planned and is indeed 80% finished and now sat in my garage was of a completely different design to any of those available now) and that any energy I had needed to be channeled into both my music and into getting the V8 project finally finished, as I quite fancied actually driving the thing while I was still well enough to enjoy it!

 

Which leads us to where I'm at now...sad in a way but I'm looking at this as a big, positive step towards finally reaching some sort of closure with the car. From now on it's full steam ahead getting the VH45 into the new donor (blue, LWB, manual in excellent stock condition) during the course of this winter/spring. I have to say a MASSIVE thank you to John at this point, as not only has he been one of my best friends over the years, supporting me through crappy hospital times when things weren't looking good at all, but he's kept my passion for the Z alive...helping him with his own V8 transplant and seeing the frankly gob-smacking results kept the flame burning so to speak, and without his aid I know I'd NEVER get the blasted thing done and on the road! :D

 

So, it's the start of the end and it's a good feeling (though my back and bones are telling me otherwise tonight! lol :D ;)).

 

The other upside is, I'll be having quite a few tasty and in some cases unusual parts and bits of bodywork for sale over the coming months once I tally up everything and get my house in order. Things like:

 

1. One of only two 99 spec bumpers in the world (to my knowledge) that have been modified in this particular way to make the main air dam wider (done by Bodywork specialists QVR in Daventry for a LOT of money), not to mention also being smoothed and de-swaged

2. Manual Conversion kit

3. HKS gauge pod (with space for 2 guages and a turbo-timer) designed for the Z32 glove-box (came over with the car from Japan. It's properly formed not home-made and I've never seen another one like it!)

4. Leather seats....etc etc etc...I'll leave it there till I'm ready to do a proper for sale ad!

 

To finish this ramble, here are the final photos...Rest In Pieces old girl :)

 

RIP and good luck

Oh bloody hell :( I was looking forward to seeing that lovely widearch conversion done. It looked great from the photos you sent me those 2 years ago mate.

 

What have you done with the arches themselves? If you want someone to carry on your work i'll quite happily take it one seeing as i have all winter to finish the bodywork on my car now?

 

Drop me a line buddy

 

Nick

I'm glad that Blue shell is being put to good use:)

It was a lovely blue shell :D

:eek:

 

Really sorry to hear this Leigh. It's a shame it's all come to this in the end bud, but like you say at least you are doing something!

Best of luck bud with the new project, and hope to see it, and yourself, in the new year.

 

:bow: :bow:

 

Dave

Its a real shame but it seems as tho you have a master plan and when it all comes together it will be superb!!!! :)

It would be a good starting point for the ECO Zed you were talking about ;)

Blimey, thats what I call 'stripping', no waste there then.;)

It would be a good starting point for the ECO Zed you were talking about ;)

 

lol, nope has to be a shorty, slicktop and everything in apart from the engine :)

Thanks for the kind words all.

 

I hate having to admit defeat over anything but health-wise I'm in a very different place now than I was when I first started. I don't mind people knowing that I've got severe Crohns disease as it's very much a part of me and has made me the person I am today (so in a very weird and twisted way I'm not sure I'd have my life any other way!). Unfortunately over the years it's got worse and worse and brought other fun and interesting illnesses along for the ride. 12 major operations down the line I'm now on some pretty hardcore meds to keep it and everything else in check plus heavy duty painkillers like morphine/pethindine pretty much every day just to function. I REALLY wanted to get the wide-arch Z done (and it's even more galling as I did get fairly close! Hell, as I've still got the arches I could always pay to get 'em done if I ever have money again....probably sometime in 2050 when I've finally paid off all my debts and recouped the costs for the album, lol ) but I physically just don't have it in me anymore and, at the end of the day, I've got to be a realist about things...it's more than a bit gutting but at least I'll eventually have the V8 sorted.

 

Christ, I hope this isn't coming over as all "woe is me" and all that crap! If it is, apologies, I don't mean it like that and I can't abide self-pity and wallowing in myself or anyone else! lol. It's sad in a way BUT I'm keeping fixed on the positive and looking forward to sound of that V8 rumble in the not too distant future! :)

Oh no, really feel for your situation.

 

I am in a similar boat.

 

I am at a point of do i call it a day and end it all. My project has have negative impact on my medical situation.

 

I don't want it to get the better of me and give it all in because what the garage has done to me but not sure i can cope with any more.

 

It is very sad realising that something you are very passionate and determined about you have to give up on. The thing is also the expensive you have lost. I know that feeling. Really does hurt and get to you.

you forgot to take the rear view mirror out :D

Oh man Leigh. Hope you get everything sorted mate. Not seen you for ages. Hope to see you and the V8 at some meets next year (if I can afford to get mine back on the road sometime soon).

 

Ivan