Hi, I thought i'd start a build thread as a log of the journey with my import Z.

Afetr a horrible accident in my previous car i borrowed a budget amount for a run around, but as i was missing my previous pride and joy i was browsing piston heads to see what i could save for. As many people will understand the feeling when you click on to a site and see the car you've always dreamed of owning going for the same price you would puut done on a shitter. I was very sceptical but took the gamble. The car only had 43990 on the clock when i bought it with a few niggles. I got a history of previous mot's (some japanese so have no idea what they say lol) and was told the previous owner had it sitting for three years and decided to move so sold the car (last taxed 2011). At this point my brain was juggling do i go for it or not knowing that if it has been sitting that long theres gonna be a few teething problems. I made the jump enjoyed it for a little and decided to park it up enjoy my holiday and then slowly work on her once i recovered from the financial shock of the crash and the need for a new toy.

The engine bay is clean as a wistle and the rest can be improved lol. I got it on a set of lifts and checked out the underside. The underside has a lot of rust but also looks solid. Whilst i was underneath i buffed down the majority of the underside and undersealed what i could just to protect her a little.

As my luck usually goes when i put money into a car ... another thing breaks.

My list of work to start includes:

fixing the drivers door as it now doesn't want to open

check vibration at n/r

check rear brakes (rust has not worn off from the disc where it has the fronts)

all service and maintenance items

treat rust on skirt to prevent it spreading

then... all the fun bits, changing and repairing bits for new/improved parts and keeping on top of the maintenance.

My smart phone broke in the crash so waiting for the pennys to repair it (not in any rush as using a temp phone) so pictures will be scarce at the beginning of the thread

Front top mounts have arrived after being on order for a month

Had the top mounts changed yeaterday and they really did need doing. Noticed the n/s upper control arm is very very worn. I now need to save for the z1 streetwise ones and find new nuts and bolts for them (not sure where to find them)

I have placed my order of these

And got this free

I will be using that as a reservoir cover not a sweatband lol

Thanks to Baz i now have the fuca brackets which i am gonna try getting a quote for powder coating later today and also thanks to Nick at czp i now have the bolts too

Picked my brackets up from the powder coaters today. They did a really good job.

Nice parts you have there Ben:thumbup:

Thanks. Not cheap though haha. The parts for these cars cost so much haha

:hang::hang:Put my car in to get my fucas fitted and my mechanic sent me pics

Before

After

 

He also had a look around the car quick and noticed the tread was low on the n/r tyre and a nail in the o/r so 2 tyres required too. Also i had lost a locking wheel nut along the line somewhere. (Note to self...check over the car more frequently)

 

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The hang men were meant to be at the end of the message lol

:hang::hang:Put my car in to get my fucas fitted and my mechanic sent me pics

Before

After

 

He also had a look around the car quick and noticed the tread was low on the n/r tyre and a nail in the o/r so 2 tyres required too. Also i had lost a locking wheel nut along the line somewhere. (Note to self...check over the car more frequently) ��

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

The hang men were meant to be at the end of the message lol

 

Looking at the above picture the arm was fitted wrong. Looking at the car this must have been corrected before it was returned to me as the z1 symbols are right way up.

Put car in 4 mot the Monday after; so 4 days and 60 miles later my arms have booked up an advisory as the bushes have already failed. How does this happen? I sent a message to z1 and they responded asking for a video of the problem and age now chosen to ignore my emails. Grrr

 

On the upside it passed its mot with less advisories than the year before (other than arms) so I am heading in the right direction

Put car in 4 mot the Monday after; so 4 days and 60 miles later my arms have booked up an advisory as the bushes have already failed. How does this happen? I sent a message to z1 and they responded asking for a video of the problem and age now chosen to ignore my emails. Grrr

 

On the upside it passed its mot with less advisories than the year before (other than arms) so I am heading in the right direction

Its this stuff that worries me

Slight Corrosion On Nearside Inner Sill

Slight Corrosion On Offside Inner Sill

Slight Corrosion On Offside Rear Outer Sill

Your brakes need changing, that is quite an easy job.

You need a new exhaust, I have one but if you value keeping your hearing then I would steer clear of my one.

One new tyre, not too bad.

New brake pipe, cheap but you will need to bleed the brakes.

 

I don't see anything about the control arm, are you sure its the control arm that's the problem?

Its this stuff that worries me

 

Your brakes need changing, that is quite an easy job.

You need a new exhaust, I have one but if you value keeping your hearing then I would steer clear of my one.

One new tyre, not too bad.

New brake pipe, cheap but you will need to bleed the brakes.

 

 

I don't see anything about the control arm, are you sure its the control arm that's the problem?

That's last year. Stuff has been done and had lots of mechanicals to do like some maintenance and big repairs such as 3 of 4 calipers siezed etc. They missed the arm last year. I was knocking like mad and the bushes were totally shot. This year they were book up for play yet were fitted 4 days previous

That's last year. Stuff has been done and had lots of mechanicals to do like some maintenance and big repairs such as 3 of 4 calipers siezed etc. They missed the arm last year. I was knocking like mad and the bushes were totally shot. This year they were book up for play yet were fitted 4 days previous

Ah they just updated it.

but still:

offside rear outer sill corroded

Have you physically checked if it is the upper control arm and Z1's product to be to blame?

I can give you an exhaust shield, and probably the brake pipes too.

Yeah I have. With a mechanic I trust too. I also sent the videos to z1. Thanks Alic. I literally don't have a problem my so will have. To wait though

After failing to sell the car due to so many messers I decided to buy a place with a garage. The z has been parked up since November to make way for the daily.

Once the z is in the garage and I am settled in to my new place work and saving will recommence and hopefully I will be an active member once again.

 

For future reference though who do you guys get your cars insured with when it's only for the summer months and not as a daily?

For future reference though who do you guys get your cars insured with when it's only for the summer months and not as a daily?

 

It doesn't make any difference, just do the full year because any money back for let's say 'unused' months, months 7, 8, 9, etc, is not refundable, they're sliding money back scale ends after 6 months from inception anyway, that's how i've always understood it.

You can probably do 6 month insurance from many companies

Thanks

Wouldn't you want it insured against theft and damage for the rest of the year? Though perhaps this could go on home insurance if you get that garage.

Will be locked away in the garage most of the time. It does make sense.

Would home insurance cover it?

Just limit your miles to reflect the summer only use, that's what I do.