Nips Build Thread: The Red Devil

[TheRealNips]

So after looking since October 2015 Ive found a workshop, of sorts...

 

 

Its a 40ft container with a window cut in it and water and electricity, all for £15/week. Im allowed to do anything I like in it, as the landlord said, he doesnt care. He said it it catches fire, it will only burn everything inside anyway! Ive got a work shop area at the end, car in the middle and space at the front for a modern chic living/dining area... i mean space to dump stuff like bonnets and interior bits etc! Width is a bit tight, Ive parked the car against one wall to allow maximum space and ive got just enough space to work in, so far...

[dutchgold92]

That's really cool! Perhaps you could rent another one and cook meth in it to fund the Z.

 

Better make that two.

[TheRealNips]

So today I pulled out the car interior. Partly to check for rust and mostly to make sure I don.t set fire to it while welding (never welded before, so who know what will happen!) The good news is there is no rust on the inside. not a single bit. It looks like a new car :lol: Its got all its original bits targa bags/jacks/speakers/amps etc and it hasn't been messed with with amps or large speakers.

 

I then jacked the car up and started taking bits off such as the bumper, exhaust etc to look at how back the rust actually is and well, ill let the pictures tells the story...

 

Near side sub frame mounting, please note sub frame not attached to car because bolts missing and bits bolts bolt into missing!!!

 

Near side subframe and drive shaft. I think a sand blast and a powder coat will bring back the sub frame.

 

Boot Floor. Looks pretty good and solid, although ill need to do all the brake lines...

 

Offiside sill and subframe. err.. how to put this politely? The titanic has less holes and rust...?

 

Offside arch. *starts to whimper*

[TheRealNips]

Driver side sill. *cries* what have I bought? :lol:

 

Luckily I have a mate (soon to be best mate, then later ill be his hated enemy I suspect) who is a professional welder and he is going to teach/show/do the welding. Im looking forward to it, but it could be argued that finding a easier first project would have been better! Still being thrown in the deep end is fun and he is there if anything goes wrong.

 

Next step (next monday) is start cutting bits away and build the inner bit up. I guess i need to order the sills from Zcentre...

 

Ill keep this updated for people who want to laugh and watch a man slowly struggle and punish himself!

[Stephen]

Well done for taking this on. Just keep stripping then start cutting lol. At least your dry in there.

[Richie K]

I have to admire you mate, Fair play for giving this a go:thumbup1:

[redwine300]

Don't be to hasty when cutting away existing rusty parts, they can act as good reference points when putting in new metal.

Something I realised when tackling a similar condition on mine.

 

This maybe worth a read... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/thanks-everyone.15465/

[TheRealNips]

Did some more work on the devil the other day, more tomorrow. Here are some updates:

 

Cup of tea and rest before the storm

 

Spot of de-rusting. Im trying to do everything on each corner before moving to the next.

 

First bit of welding

 

Offside rear part of rear arch rebuilt. Just needs priming and waxoyl'ing.

 

Going back tomorrow to do more de-rusting. I wont weld because my welding mate cant make it, I dont feel comfortable doing it with out him at the moment. Ill change the drop links and check all bushings too. This time next weeks (5 days of work we think) and we will be ready to sort out the drivers side sill... :whistling:

[Chrisbasildon]

I don't want to sound negative here (I know it will) but honestly I think that body is scrap, I admire your effort to try and restore this zed but if your only going to repair bits like you have in the picture I think your wasting valuable time and money, it won't last a year before it needs more welding continuing on from where you have stopped, you must get rid of ALL the rot, and honestly that welding looks to be very poor quality mate, as said please don't take offence as none is intended, I just think this car needs to be laid to rest looking at the pictures.

 

Body repairs on this level is tricky for a pro on a ramp, let alone up against the walls of a container.

[essbeee]

Well done, keep going great effort. If none of us have a go there would be nothing on the road older than 10 years. Did mine 5 years ago and not had to touch it since. I can recommend Wurth perfect zinc spray and their STONE CHIPPING AND CORROSION PROTECTION to keep the crap and rot away.

[TheRealNips]

Well done, keep going great effort. If none of us have a go there would be nothing on the road older than 10 years. Did mine 5 years ago and not had to touch it since. I can recommend Wurth perfect zinc spray and their STONE CHIPPING AND CORROSION PROTECTION to keep the crap and rot away.

 

Thanks for the positive slap on the back, it does feel good to know im giving it another chance at life. Its hard going and maybe not to everyones tastes or ideals, but its what I would like to do with my time and car!

 

Ill look into those products, I was wondering what I should use to protect it once its been welded up (badly!) :lol:

[TheRealNips]

Spent a day working on the car yesterday, O/S rear arch is done, grinded down and zinc primed. Ordering the O/S sill and that will be next. However need to get the car out of the container to take the door off and then get it back in and jacked up again!

[Richie K]

Fair play to you mate for having the enthusiasm to take on this mammoth task:thumbup1: It's great to see this kind of dedication for the Z32:thumbup:

[jimmer]

Youll never stop that rusting welding in metal like that im afraid,needs to be primed before its fitted with weld through primer like Wurth Zinc Heil or similiar if you want it to last.

[TheRealNips]

I have some of that Wurth zinc primer on the way. My friend advised it was the best and rust.co.uk taught me a lot too

[TheRealNips]

Well, sad news im afraid. After working hard for the past few months, we reached a point of no return. Hidden rust at a point that only an expert could solve with many many pounds of money. I have though long and hard over this for the past couple of weeks and have decided to stop all work and give up. I feel bad that I have given up on the old girl, im also embarrased that I choose to ignore quite a few peoples advice as I was blinded by ambition and nievity! :lol:

 

I have learnt alot about welding, repairs and what Nissans look like inside however (not to mention how much of an a**e rust is). At the moment, I do see this as a huge failure with a hint of a silver lining, but im hoping the pain wont linger! Atleast the wife is now happy as ill be at home more, all be it sulking...

 

I think I will break it up and try to gain some of what the car owes me back. Ill keep some of the parts for my black nissan, but ill start a breaking thread at some point soon for people if they need anything.

[Chrisbasildon]

Mate, you should never feel bad about giving up on something like this when you find such serious problems, and never feel bad about ignoring advice from other people, let's be honest if we all had listened to good advice over the years wouldn't we all be in a better place?.

 

You have learned from your experience that's what counts, every restoration project has it's limits whether they be physical or financial.

 

Claw back what you can financially and move on with a better zed mate, it WILL be a better end result. Good luck mate :clover: