My Winter Project - That got out of Hand!

[john-z4]

That is a stunning looking car

I'm really interested in the stitching - what kind of machine is that done on?

Hope to see you at the National - really want to see this in reality

Yeah, we'll be at the National. We were there 2012, me and the Mrs. Mrs spent quite a while chatting with you at the hotel. We also spoke at Batemans BMW. Mine at the time was silver. Did say to you that I wanted to spray it a pearl red colour, but this idea changed 3 years on....its pearl orange instead.

The stitching I did by hand, sitting in me conservatory in the sun. Seat covers and door panels were all removed. I unpicked the original stitching, and just re-stitched with the orange cotton. Wasn't too bad to do.

 

[john-z4]

I am with everyone else cracking job that's a lot of work!! And it all looks very well executed

I am planning on doing similar but being boring and keeping the same colour. But I will be painting it myself in a garage. Well barn!!

Hi MM. Thanks for your comments. I've been following your build and other creations you've done (where d'u think I got the exhaust idea from?!) Just changed it a little bit, and put mine closer together. Keeping it silvers not boring, but I just fancied a complete change. Its not really that much more work.

Good luck with spraying yours. With the quality of your machine work, you should be fine. My philosophy's the same as yours.....man in a shed, if it doesn't work, try it again!

 

[jaRED]

Ah yes I do remember, glad to see it's all worked out so well

Wow can't believe you did all that by hand. It's an amazing job. Would have been surprised that a domestic sewing machine had done it though as I know my local leather workshop that covered my dash have some big machines.

Even more keen to see it and you now

( if I buy the orange Lotus I may need to avoid parking next door though - may clash badly)

 

[john-z4]

Ah yes I do remember, glad to see it's all worked out so well

Wow can't believe you did all that by hand. It's an amazing job. Would have been surprised that a domestic sewing machine had done it though as I know my local leather workshop that covered my dash have some big machines.

Even more keen to see it and you now

( if I buy the orange Lotus I may need to avoid parking next door though - may clash badly)

Yeah, No big machine, just big hands! Hope getting the Lotus goes ahead. See you at the National, we won't miss each other!

 

[Machine monkey]

The exhaust looks really good very neet way to hang it.

Thanks i am hopefully starting work on it this evening Good philosophy it seems we would probably have much to talk about!! Hopfully see you at a meet soon

 

[bony_13]

Incredible work john I would love to build my skills up to your level (and one day own a garage that is actually big enough to put a car in!!).

Can I ask how you have installed the seats? i.e. are they electrically operated & heated or did you get manual ones and 'just' bolt them in? I like the RX8 and S2000 seats and they are much better value than M Sport seats.

 

[paulgs1000]

Looking forward to seeing your Zed at the National.

Hand stitching eh - amazing.

Love those seats - they look more comfortable than the sports seats.

Something very different - quality decisions and execution - exciting post!

See you at the National - think I'll be able to pick you out . . . . :lol:

 

[john-z4]

Incredible work john I would love to build my skills up to your level (and one day own a garage that is actually big enough to put a car in!!).

Can I ask how you have installed the seats? i.e. are they electrically operated & heated or did you get manual ones and 'just' bolt them in? I like the RX8 and S2000 seats and they are much better value than M Sport seats.

Many thanks for your comments. When I say built in the garage, to be honest, its an oversized shed (but built that too!).

The seats weren't too bad to install. The standard Mazda runners are slightly narrower than then BM ones. To get round this, just welded a piece of box section front & rear and put new tabs on to bolt seats back to the floor. The drivers seat is electric, standard Mazda fitment for leather. Both seats were heated but I took the heating pads out when I re-stitched them, as I don't have heated seats anyway, & swopped the BMW passenger occupancy sensor mat over at the same time.

Yeah, they are much better value than the M-Sports seats. Got mine off ebay, £80, the bloke ended up being a neighbour down the road. I think the S2000 seats aren't as tall on the backs, pictures I've seen I think they're lower in the car. So I thought I'd try the Mazda ones.

 

[john-z4]

Looking forward to seeing your Zed at the National.

Hand stitching eh - amazing.

Love those seats - they look more comfortable than the sports seats.

Something very different - quality decisions and execution - exciting post!

See you at the National - think I'll be able to pick you out . . . . :lol:

Cheers for comments. Yeah going to the National, so see you there. Don't know about the sports seats, but nicer than the standard seats I had.

 

[Marlon]

WOW I'm speechless

 

[fixit man]

That's a brilliant job

I used to do a bit of spraying in the past but have given up due to f#$$€g flies and dust landing on the fresh paint..basically I needed a proper spray booth, how did you manage to prevent that sort of contamination ?

 

[markplant]

If you ever fancied doing another rear bumper, and to keep it a bit different
Maybe a twin pipe Center exit like on some of the f-type jags. Name a price could be interested.

 

[NeilP]

This is stunning.

I'm also in agreement with everyone else who loves the exhaust.

 

[andy.c]

That is some quality work to do in a shed

 

[john-z4]

That's a brilliant job

I used to do a bit of spraying in the past but have given up due to f#$$€g flies and dust landing on the fresh paint..basically I needed a proper spray booth, how did you manage to prevent that sort of contamination ?

Yeah, know what you mean, contaminations a problem. There is a small fly in the paint somewhere and some dust contamination, but it was given a quick flattening down which got rid of most of it, but ideally I'd like to flatten it back properly and possibly re-lacquer. Might do this some time in future. I'v got an old car radiator fan strapped to a hole in the wall, helps keep the dust down a bit!

If you ever fancied doing another rear bumper, and to keep it a bit different
Maybe a twin pipe Center exit like on some of the f-type jags. Name a price could be interested.

I did consider doing twin center pipes (f-type style) this would be easier on a 2.0l, as it only has a single pipe back-box. Also think you'd need at least 3.5" tail pipes to get the look right. but anythings possible.

 

[craig3.2]

Love the look of this, and added you for the National list....look forward to seeing it in the flesh

 

[JINGLE]

saw this at Zedfest, looked absolutely stunning, great example of a Z

 

[Anonymous]

Wow buddy truly wow

 

[craig3.2]

saw this at Zedfest, looked absolutely stunning, great example of a Z

Very true.....and having seen this car back when it was silver,and in great condition,itsa very brave but excellent transformation.
Look forward to seeing it again at the next National hopefully,John

 

[k31ron]

Bit of a resurrection... But great job John and love the seats.. Do they need much welding? Happy to have ago at most mods but never used a welder, are ther other options to make them fit?