Going to start this thread for members to post up what they did each day to there zed. I will start with getting my MOT this morning. So what did you do today on your 300?:cool3:

Nothing today (yet....), but yesterday, I did the Sainsbury's run first thing - then filled with petrol so I could have a little drive in the cool dense autumnal morning air...... 😉 

Then when I got home, I gave it a nice wash and wipe down with Auto Finesse Glisten...😎

Shiny McShine 😄 

Passed the MOT! Inspector said it’s really good for it’s age, better than some of the newer cars he had today 👍

Also had a go with Lanoguard yesterday to give it some TLC. Very easy to do, smells like horse.

3 hours ago, RobHowl said:

Passed the MOT! Inspector said it’s really good for it’s age, better than some of the newer cars he had today 👍

Also had a go with Lanoguard yesterday to give it some TLC. Very easy to do, smells like horse.

Nice one Rob - and love the horsey smelling comment 😄 

Today, I finally got around to re-fitting my steering wheel on straight.... 😄

When I fitted the new one, I managed to install it one spline to the right-of-centre. I couldn't get the damn thing off again and it has bugged me ever since LOL

So the other week, I purchased a 2-legged hub-puller, but that didn't work - I risked bending the 'wheel out of shape 😪

I then bought a proper harmonic balancer kit, it was only £15 on Ebay, and it popped the 'wheel off in no time!!

Naturally I had to take the Zed for a little spin, just to make sure the steering wheel was properly fitted this time 😉  Luckily I got home before the rain started......

So, if anyone wants a cheap 2-legged hub puller (see pic), I've put it on Ebay for £5.95 plus p&p🤣

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving the club mat a little refresh for the NEC! 🎨 🖌️ I couldn’t find the template so free-styling! 🤦🏻‍♂️

Edited November 5, 20232 yr by Joely P

Sorted! 💪

1 hour ago, Joely P said:

Sorted! 💪

That looks amazing, would be a shame to stand on it. 

3 hours ago, Joely P said:

Sorted! 💪

Nice work Joel....!!!

What did I do in my Zed today?

Nothing much, other than take it for its MoT 

PASS

No advisories and only 6 more to go 😀

3 hours ago, A 2X OK said:

What did I do in my Zed today?

Nothing much, other than take it for its MoT 

PASS

No advisories and only 6 more to go 😀

So did I as it turns out! Fail on:

Non original headlamp bulbs (HID)

Front number plate too small

Mot tester can't find the damn fog light switch.

 

Ahhh well at least it's nothing major

9 hours ago, Alic said:

So did I as it turns out! Fail on:

Non original headlamp bulbs (HID)

Front number plate too small

Mot tester can't find the damn fog light switch.

 

Ahhh well at least it's nothing major

Go to plates for cars.co.uk for legal small reg plates. It’s all about the letter spacings, size and the postcode of the plate manufacturer being stamped on the plate that makes it legal, from memory. 

If your car is an import, you can use a plate size dictated by the character sizes stated in the Display of Registration Marks Regulation Amendment 14A.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/regulation/14A

My plate is a 3/4 size plate and fits on comfortably within this legislation. The only caveat is point (2)(e):

“the vertical spacing between groups of characters must be 5 millimetres”.

The regulation allows for a square plate to fit in the rear bumper recess and thus why it gives a “vertical” spacing between groups, so having a smaller, square plate is the only way to be truly legal. It doesn’t state that you can’t use horizontal spacing though and if you follow the same dimensions..! 🤷🏻‍♂️

I recall many years ago, a member of the Supra owners club appeared in court to defend the display of his plate in exactly this fashion and appealed that the square plate on the front impeded the flow of air through his front bumper and subsequently had the potential to reduce cooling ability as intended by the manufacturer. He won the case!

Thats said, rather than explaining this to your tester every time by removing the regulation amendment 14A printout from your glovebox, maybe just fit an unquestionably legal plate on for the time of test?

Edited November 26, 20232 yr by Joely P
Highlight vertical in quote!

9 hours ago, Joely P said:

If your car is an import, you can use a plate size dictated by the character sizes stated in the Display of Registration Marks Regulation Amendment 14A.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/561/regulation/14A

My plate is a 3/4 size plate and fits on comfortably within this legislation. The only caveat is point (2)(e):

“the vertical spacing between groups of characters must be 5 millimetres”.

The regulation allows for a square plate to fit in the rear bumper recess and thus why it gives a “vertical” spacing between groups, so having a smaller, square plate is the only way to be truly legal. It doesn’t state that you can’t use horizontal spacing though and if you follow the same dimensions..! 🤷🏻‍♂️

I recall many years ago, a member of the Supra owners club appeared in court to defend the display of his plate in exactly this fashion and appealed that the square plate on the front impeded the flow of air through his front bumper and subsequently had the potential to reduce cooling ability as intended by the manufacturer. He won the case!

Thats said, rather than explaining this to your tester every time by removing the regulation amendment 14A printout from your glovebox, maybe just fit an unquestionably legal plate on for the time of test?

Yep thanks Joel, I was aware and going to challenge them on it, however I measured the plate and it still came up short, 55mm tall characters instead of 64mm.

So as you say, I'm getting a standard size legal one to pass the test without question, and I might slot the small one back on after.

I have started to make my own extra tall axel stands.

2 hours ago, Bones28 said:

I have started to make my own extra tall axel stands.

I'm curious - how do you get the car up on them?

27 minutes ago, AndrewG said:

I'm curious - how do you get the car up on them?

With car display ramps then axel stands under jacking points to remove subframe, now I want to do the sills and the axel stands are in the way.

 

Today I took my Zed out of the garage for the first time in 5 weeks and went on a little drive..... I have my car booked in for an oil change, new brakes and MOT on Monday, so thought it would be a good idea to warm it up properly 😉

I stopped in Halfords, High Wycombe and happened to meet a fellow Zed owner called Jason - he's not a member (yet) so I recommended the club to him!

Yesterday, I replaced my fuel flap/boot release cable....!

The little plastic retainer which gets bolted to the sill (circled) along with the release lever had snapped - possibly a delayed result of fatigue following the sill restoration work back in 2018. Luckily I had a brand new Nissan part, still in the original bag, in my garage!

So I had some fun removing the interior trim, tracing the original cable and running the new one through. All done now though, I have the scratched hands to prove it LOL!!!

Well done Richard it sounds like a fiddly job.

 

 

 

 

23 hours ago, Gaz 300 said:

Well done Richard it sounds like a fiddly job.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Gary - and yes.... It was not difficult, just fiddly, much like everything on a Zed LOL

One needs small agile hands, not sausage fingers; plus the agility to and natural flexibility to squeeze into tiny spaces. I seem to remember someone saying, some tasks are like painting your hall way through the letterbox 😄 

7 minutes ago, RichardS said:

Thanks Gary - and yes.... It was not difficult, just fiddly, much like everything on a Zed LOL

One needs small agile hands, not sausage fingers; plus the agility to and natural flexibility to squeeze into tiny spaces. I seem to remember someone saying, some tasks are like painting your hall way through the letterbox 😄 

Sounds like a job that would do my head in mate 🙂

Today, I renewed my road tax and took the Zed on a little trip to Waterperry - near Oxford.....

Seeing as the weather is utter pants here today, I did a couple of bits to the Zed, which could be undertaken in the dryness of the garage....

First thing - I finally got round to replacing my washer motors, with the brand new ones I bought from Amayama a while back. Even in the confines of the garage, it wasn't too tricky, and now I don't have a puddle of washer fluid on the garage floor after topping up 🙂

Second thing - I fitted some new intake hoses. My OEM ones were looking a little frayed and brittle around the jubilee clips, so I thought I'd give these a try. I went for blue silicone, to match the new coolant hose I had fitted a few years back 😉 

 

Nice updates Richard. I still can't get my Z in the garage with the box's of stuff still needing a home.

3 hours ago, Gaz 300 said:

Nice updates Richard. I still can't get my Z in the garage with the box's of stuff still needing a home.

Throw the boxes into the garden and let your Zed enjoy it's new home.... 😄