Ok, crisis of confidence time!

 

Having just bought a load of SWB-specific blue glass from Slick Pete, I've spent the evening trying to track down the missing pieces. So far, the only place I can actually find any for the Shortie is in the US.

 

Obviously, having it shipped over comes with some serious risks (not to mention expense) and then there's all the fun of having it replaced and buying a brand new windscreen. Plus the seals and trims, etc. The price just keeps on climbing!

 

So (and I already know FunkySi's answer) my question is this: is it honestly going to be worth it all, just to have blue glass...?

So (and I already know FunkySi's answer) my question is this: is it honestly going to be worth it all, just to have blue glass...?

 

YES!

 

Speak to JoelyP, he's another whom I converted. It does make a subtle, yet dramatic difference. It's hard to describe, but it gives the car a MUCH cleaner and fresher look.

I knew your response already, mate! :lol:

 

It just honestly seems like a severe amount of chew and financial output, that's all. Finding the blue glass targas is going to be a pure-bred nightmare too!

 

I like the effect that your blue glass has had on your Zed and I seriously doubt there would be very many Shorties in the UK with blue glass... but......

Honestly, IMO, no its not worth it. I've never looked at my bronze glass and thought badly of it, in fact I've never given it any thought at all and I bet most of us here are the same.

I would imagine, like many Zeds out there, the time, money and effort could be spent on more important areas of the car.

Of course, if I was choosing I'd go for the blue tint, but I won't be swapping mine out any time soon. The rest of the car would have to be 110% before even considering investing in blue glass.

I agree with that lonezedder! :yes:

For me, I guess it depends how much output it is... Coz as you all know, I'm cheap!!!

 

I have blue door and rear quarter glass sitting in the loft but it's got a reg etched in which is why I haven't been bothered to sort it out.

 

Having said all that, my first zed was a 94 blue UK car and that had all the awesome stuff and the light and brighter feel when inside was great. But I'm not sure if that was because of the blue glass, or because my current zed has blacked out rear and rear quarters

I feel your pain Mondo, I've bought so much blue glass for this car from so many different sources in an attempt to find the best condition glass and create the same affect, that my garage is like a 300zx glass shop! I've spent more than I'd care to admit on sourcing it and in all honesty I gave up trying to find "mint" glass, settling for what I have.

 

I understand that, to most, it is a relatively small detail on the grand scheme of things and I do agree with what has been said, that it should be low priority if you have other areas requiring attention. However, I'm glad I continued to plug away as it does feel much nicer inside; it almost feels as though I've repainted a room with years worth of fag stained paint, with a nice fresh coat of brilliant white (and a subtle blue feature wall!).

 

With the fact that you're after SWB glass, your question may differ slightly from "is it worth it?", which I was continually nagging myself about, to "is it possible?". I'm not convinced importing used glass is a great idea, but if it's your only option, if a seller is willing to ship and the glass you're being sold is in very good condition then it maybe worth a punt at the right price.

Technically speaking, I'd only need 3 secondhand pieces: one rear quarter and a pair of targa panels. So the bulk of my hunting would already be done.

 

But finding the missing pieces and actually getting them in my hands safely is a whole different story! I checked around online last night and I can theoretically source everything from the States, but purchase and shipping is not cheap and then there's the potential for some or all of the pieces getting destroyed in transit on such a long journey.

 

That would leave me with presumably zero comeback with the sellers and back to square one, and out of pocket to boot.

 

Then there's all the new seals required, which are either foolishly expensive again or simply not available any more!

 

Then there's getting a brand new windscreen. That's not too bad, of course, but then there's getting the two screens and the quarter windows fitted, which just adds more expense into the pot. :(

 

I love the idea of having blue glass in my car, I really do. But I've already ploughed a considerable amount of money into her (by my standards, at least) and, truth be told, there's not a great deal of cash left at the moment. There's still other things that I'd like or need to do to her that should realistically take precedence over changing something that doesn't honestly need to be changed.

 

If I still had a 2+2 then I'd probably just do it, as the glass is fairly readily available in this country already. I guess this is another of those "that's what you get for wanting a Shortie" moments that I'm going to have to get used to.....

Honestly, IMO, no its not worth it. I've never looked at my bronze glass and thought badly of it, in fact I've never given it any thought at all and I bet most of us here are the same.

I would imagine, like many Zeds out there, the time, money and effort could be spent on more important areas of the car.

Of course, if I was choosing I'd go for the blue tint, but I won't be swapping mine out any time soon. The rest of the car would have to be 110% before even considering investing in blue glass.

 

I think Si's done everthing else several times over !

There's still other things that I'd like or need to do to her that should realistically take precedence over changing something that doesn't honestly need to be changed.

 

I think Si's done everthing else several times over !

 

Obviously not.

I am also striving for perfection with Zed, replacing all sorts of OEM trim that have worn with brand new OEM trim right down to little things like the arrows ( ) on the window switches . Some folk on here would think very anal, maybe their right! Its costing me a lot and will continue to do so. The glass how ever is in very good, excellent nick so that's certainly not on my job sheet, money truly no object it might be a different story!

If I still had a 2+2 then I'd probably just do it, as the glass is fairly readily available in this country already. I guess this is another of those "that's what you get for wanting a Shortie" moments that I'm going to have to get used to.....

 

 

:biggrin: Yes, I feel your pain here!

This should definitely be a consideration to anyone looking for a 300zx and debating the LWB/SWB. Having had a LWB, sourcing second hand parts from the UK is very easy. The SWB not so, however the likes of CZP and Z1 are your friend for all the new OEM stuff and it seems the SWB car is more common over there. :)

I feel the dilemma here. I've looked at this several times and having originally owned a UK Z back in 96/97 with the blue tint it is without doubt a significant improvement. It is so much brighter and looks way better. I think it's a job worth doing once everything else on the car is sorted, mechanicals, body etc as it is a complete ball ache and significant cost for a cosmetic improvement. I have decided for now to leave it until I have the car completely resprayed again, maybe some time in the next couple of years.

Only you can decide to be honest. From my stand point, no. If you had a mismatch, blue screen and brown sides for example then yeah, go for it. It won't make you any faster that's for sure. If all your glass is in good condition, not scratched etc that's way more important IMO than the colour.

Got blue glass on my zed too as part of its overhaul and I just need the doors now.

 

Luckily for me I had a nice crack on the front screen so insurance sorted that but the quarter glass was a bugger to source.

Obviously not.

I am also striving for perfection with Zed, replacing all sorts of OEM trim that have worn with brand new OEM trim right down to little things like the arrows ( ) on the window switches . Some folk on here would think very anal, maybe their right! Its costing me a lot and will continue to do so. The glass how ever is in very good, excellent nick so that's certainly not on my job sheet, money truly no object it might be a different story!

 

Been there, done that! ;)

 

I have some $500 worth of brand new OEM nuts and bolts to fit once all my suspension components and fuel tank have been powdercoated. I have another $250 worth of OEM nuts and bolts in my suitcase that the guys at Z1 gave me when I was Missouri yesterday.

 

When I get back to the UK, I will have a new fuel tank shield waiting for me from Gibster-TT. Basically anything that is visible which has either become tarnished or faded is being replaced with brand new OEM. Soon these parts will not be available.

 

Si- with those bolts make sure you protect them. You can get a good wax like spray that works well. I used a little wax oil mixed with engine oil on my replanted bolts Just dipped the bolt before installation.

Here's mine Funkysi...:thumbup: The flash has revealed some nasty dirt I need to sort out though!

 

Same with the rest of all my switch gear, all as it should be.

Edited June 1, 201510 yr by lonezedder

YES!

 

Speak to JoelyP, he's another whom I converted. It does make a subtle, yet dramatic difference. It's hard to describe, but it gives the car a MUCH cleaner and fresher look.

 

i better go and rob my white zed of glass lol

I like the bronze, thinking it goes well with my yellow z