Looking for some experienced advice - has anyone swapped shells on a Z? I have some sill work to do but would rather start with a rust free shell.

What is the biggest challenge in doing this job?

depends on wether yours is a a uk or a jap import, if its a uk its going to be a pain stripping suspension and drive train parts cos everything will be well rusted, other than that it depends on how far back the shell has been stripped. stripping out and refitting wiring is time consuming ,other than that its just a case of swapping parts in the right order, personaly i would replace engine wiring harness while engine etc is out as they regularily cause probs after they hyave been disturbed. May have a jap shell available in a couple months time if your interested.

depends on wether yours is a a uk or a jap import, if its a uk its going to be a pain stripping suspension and drive train parts cos everything will be well rusted, other than that it depends on how far back the shell has been stripped. stripping out and refitting wiring is time consuming ,other than that its just a case of swapping parts in the right order, personaly i would replace engine wiring harness while engine etc is out as they regularily cause probs after they hyave been disturbed. May have a jap shell available in a couple months time if your interested.

 

I have swapped shells in a couple of "simple" cars in the past, I just want to get an idea what the peculiarities are about doing a Z, and if someone that has done it can give me some pointers. It is a j spec that's spent a fair amount of time stored in a damp garage with rusty consequences.

 

I am contemplating repairing it but I think it will take as long to repair properly as it will to re-shell and since there have been some mint shells which have either been almost given away here or scrapped, that my preference would be a re-shell.

 

What condition is your shell in?

basically the same as any other car but with some extra bits such as hicas. shell's sound, no rust and was waxoiled soon after i got the car, only stripping it cos im getting a younger one and replacing all the aftermarket parts that im taking off old one would be too costly.

basically the same as any other car but with some extra bits such as hicas. shell's sound, no rust and was waxoiled soon after i got the car, only stripping it cos im getting a younger one and replacing all the aftermarket parts that im taking off old one would be too costly.

 

What year is your car? Mine is a late 92 series 2.

its a 1990 also been garaged over winter months so salt could'nt get at it.

if your going to reshell you might want to look at seam welding the chassis while you have the shell empy

Your unlikely to find a decent good condition stripped shell on its own (most are rotten, and for the rest there is little regard given to the shell when being stripped) and replacing every little part that had been removed would be a nightmare. However, Complete cars with knackered engines can be picked up for less than £1000, then just transplant your engine into it and break the rest for bits to sale.

 

THe other option would be to just break your current car and buy another one as you can make more money breaking it than the cost to buy another decent one.

I have a '93 RHD shell in VERY good condition available.

no damage/rust.

 

it's located in Holland though.

 

contact me if you're interested

 

-Eric

Your unlikely to find a decent good condition stripped shell on its own (most are rotten, and for the rest there is little regard given to the shell when being stripped) and replacing every little part that had been removed would be a nightmare. However, Complete cars with knackered engines can be picked up for less than £1000, then just transplant your engine into it and break the rest for bits to sale.

 

THe other option would be to just break your current car and buy another one as you can make more money breaking it than the cost to buy another decent one.

 

one of the reasons i was offering mine, mine is still intact at the moment and would only be stripped of main parts i.e. engine and box,suspension , and everything would be removed knowing that someone was going to replace it at a later date, so it would'nt be just torn appart.

Thanks,

what colour is your car, is it manual or auto?

Thanks,

what colour is your car, is it manual or auto?

 

its yellow and an auto mate.

I have a '93 RHD shell in VERY good condition available.

no damage/rust.

 

it's located in Holland though.

 

contact me if you're interested

 

-Eric

 

This sounds like a good one, but Holland is a bit far for me. I am now thinking about the other oprion suggested- getting another complete car and making a good one out of 2