Well, it's my own fault for not addressing it when I first noticed the paint bubbles :crying: the great killer of 300zx's everywhere has taken hold of my rear sills and subsequently caused her to fail the mot.

 

I've found a local garage that will repair the sills, if I supply the panels, for £300, but thats on the condition they don't find the rot has gone too far. Does that sound about right price wise?

 

On the other hand I could get myself a mig welder and have a bash at it myself, although I'm scared I'll bugger it up and be left in a worse position than I started in. I really don't want to have to resort to breaking the car for parts, she's only an n/a auto, but I'd still prefer to save her from the scrap man if possible!

 

I'd appreciate any advise people might have, and any suggestions on alternative body shops around bristol! :thumbup:

As you're in Bristol mate, I'd suggest you give Jimmer a call.....

 

.....He has found a new body-shop to take on such work - so should be able to get your car fixed properly.

Visible rust is a bit like an iceberg, another 80% may possibly lay beneath.

Don't be put of though, there are many on hear that have salvaged a Zed with a bit of surgery.

£300 sounds like a good price, but I can't see it stopping there.

As Richard has mentioned, don't go anywhere without speaking with Jimmer first.

 

Here are my exploits.

Again, don't be put off, it was not as bad as it seemed.

 

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/thanks-everyone.15465/

Looks like I need to pull the pictures out...

 

 

It can be saved. £300 I expect would get you a steel plate, stick welded on, like a repair made to an oil-rig leg :-#

Thanks for the responses guys, you've certainly put my mind at ease a bit. Redwine300, your link to the mig welding forum is a good read, it'll be a big help to have something to reference if I do decide to tackle it myself :thumbup1:

 

I have contacted jimmer about his new body shop, but he didn't seem to happy with them and couldn't recommend an alternative, I'll just have to ring around and see what the prices are. Trouble is, my mot runs out mid Feb, my tax is due in the next week, and I'm supposed to be moving house in the next month! It couldn't be worse timing really :crying:

 

This is what mine looks like at the moment. It's only the drivers side that's actually bubbled through the paint, I'm sure the passenger side is no better, so will obviously try to get them both repaired.

Try not to cut away too many reference points, go about it in measured way.

Otherwise you will not recall what goes where.

It's so easy to cut it all out without recording how and where it all came from.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]110347[/ATTACH]

 

This is what mine looks like at the moment. It's only the drivers side that's actually bubbled through the paint, I'm sure the passenger side is no better, so will obviously try to get them both repaired.

 

That's more than 'bubbled'. Not wanting to be the bearer of bad news, but that will have rotted the inner sill too. You might want to check your targa drain holes which sit just behind the sill return by the floor pan.

 

The sill is made up of 3 different sections and is fairly complex, by the time the outside has degraded, the inner pieces will also be shot.

Yep si's right I'm afraid...my red zed had one small bubble on the arch and look what lies beneath :ohmy:

That's more than 'bubbled'. Not wanting to be the bearer of bad news, but that will have rotted the inner sill too. You might want to check your targa drain holes which sit just behind the sill return by the floor pan.

 

The sill is made up of 3 different sections and is fairly complex, by the time the outside has degraded, the inner pieces will also be shot.

 

 

And to be honest looking at that bottom sill,I'd bet my 3 legged bengal that's had a poor repair before :(

Looks like I need to pull the pictures out...

 

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[ATTACH=CONFIG]110345[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]110346[/ATTACH]

 

It can be saved. £300 I expect would get you a steel plate, stick welded on, like a repair made to an oil-rig leg :-#

 

That's nearly as bad as my new uk zed bud:),but your right there's nothing that can't be repaired on these cars....it's only metal :)

Jimmer's certainly had issues with his latest bodyshop but, after a pep talk from yours truly, it turns out that he's actually an incredibly competent welder in his own right!

 

So I think he's going to be tackling welding himself, rather than farming it out to others. :)

And to be honest looking at that bottom sill,I'd bet my 3 legged bengal that's had a poor repair before :(

 

Agreed, I see a lot of filler in that photo.

Jimmer's certainly had issues with his latest bodyshop but, after a pep talk from yours truly, it turns out that he's actually an incredibly competent welder in his own right!

 

So I think he's going to be tackling welding himself, rather than farming it out to others. :)

 

Sad to hear that Si - I know from bitter experience that his previous guy (the one next door) had (ahem) issues..... :mad: There was no doubt as to his competence and ability, but that guy had no business acumen and would not know anything about customer service if it bit him on the arse. I was pleased to hear Jimmer had found someone else - so am sorry if someone else had let Jimmer down...

Sad to hear that Si - I know from bitter experience that his previous guy (the one next door) had (ahem) issues..... :mad: There was no doubt as to his competence and ability, but that guy had no business acumen and would not know anything about customer service if it bit him on the arse. I was pleased to hear Jimmer had found someone else - so am sorry if someone else had let Jimmer down...

 

It could be his best move to be in charge of the welding himself, Rich. It's starting to seem that there are very few trustworthy or competent bodyshops around for these cars now....

Sad to hear that Si - I know from bitter experience that his previous guy (the one next door) had (ahem) issues..... :mad: There was no doubt as to his competence and ability, but that guy had no business acumen and would not know anything about customer service if it bit him on the arse. I was pleased to hear Jimmer had found someone else - so am sorry if someone else had let Jimmer down...

 

Is yours back in your garage and raring to go yet Richard?

Is yours back in your garage and raring to go yet Richard?

 

Not yet Joel.....

 

....It's still at Dasstech. I knew in advance, to expect Darren might be a little optimistic with his time-scales; Bobba has only just picked up his car after how-long.....? But I do know that he'll do a very good job.

 

I must drop Darren a line this week, just for an update! I have been looking at some new wheels for when it's back - and certainly miss driving the Zed, for sure!!

New wheels eh, sounds interesting, what have you got in mind?

It could be his best move to be in charge of the welding himself, Rich. It's starting to seem that there are very few trustworthy or competent bodyshops around for these cars now....

 

Definitely - and I'd certainly wish Jimmer all the best....:thumbup:

New wheels eh, sounds interesting, what have you got in mind?

 

These........

 

....And the supplier is only in Reading, so I can pop along to see an example before buying. They do custom drilling and off-set, so I can (hopefully) get the set-up just right; and for about £800-£900 for the set (wheels only, of course)....!

They look fantastic! That price is a steal for a custom offset, great choice. Japan Racing aren’t they?

They look fantastic! That price is a steal for a custom offset, great choice. Japan Racing aren’t they?

 

Yup, that's them.....!

 

The nearest thing I could find to the Azev A wheels I had on my old red Zed!!

 

I was thinking 8.5x18 et32 for the front and 9.5x18 et35 rear - I know bugger all about offsets, but that's what I have at the moment and they fill the arches just fine with no rubbing etc. I am, of course, open to suggestions from Si or Andrew on the subject...:wink:

These........

 

....And the supplier is only in Reading, so I can pop along to see an example before buying. They do custom drilling and off-set, so I can (hopefully) get the set-up just right; and for about £800-£900 for the set (wheels only, of course)....!

 

 

I really like them Richard....and for some reason I find myself really attractive to that zed..lol

I really like them Richard....and for some reason I find myself really attractive to that zed..lol

 

Me too - and I'm not a yellow fan....!!!

 

And if you decide to buy a set before me, I bags first dibs on your Azevs, mate....:lol:

18x8.5 ET20 front, 18x10.5 ET40 rear. #gotgrip[emoji41]

18x8.5 ET20 front, 18x10.5 ET40 rear. #gotgrip[emoji41]

 

....Interesting; thanks Joel....:thumbup: