Z4M full strip down and rebuild project

[markplant]

Wishing you every success

 

[sars]

I'm really hoping that by the time you've finished you can actually drive it

 

[enuff_zed]

Not on Google yet Zed, but type Prescision blasting .co.uk,

I'm another one with serious workshop envy, and also impressed with you taking this on. Well done.

(As a well-known pedant, proof reader and technical author, I do see a great irony in you spelling 'precision' wrong. )

 

[firebobby]

You've been a busy boy John, will it be ready for Zedfest and are you going this year.

 

[Vanne]

good to see you doing your own work mate

cant wait to see it when your done :driving:

 

[john-e89]

You've been a busy boy John, will it be ready for Zedfest and are you going this year.

No and no Fred. Even if it was ready which it won’t be, I’m not allowed to drive until next January.

 

[john-e89]

Many thanks all.

 

[john-e89]

Not much done today but whilst the soda blaster was running I dropped the cross braces in which were pretty rusty on the ends. The soda blast gets rid of every scrap of rust, leaving a smooth finish ready for spray painting.

 

[john-e89]

Front end is being stripped, very glad to see zero rust on the body, all nice and factory fresh in the arches and suspension tunnel etc, it’s all on in-boltable parts so just a case of undo, clean, paint and reattach or replace. Having the usual issue of cutting rusted bolts and trim fixings, then drilling and tapping the threads back but that’s always the case on a project like this.

 

[john-e89]

Looks a mess like this huh…

 

[Beedub]

I need to send over some parts

 

[john-e89]

Supersprint catless centre ordered, I'll try this with the Super power loops or Remus back boxes, whichever is quieter I'll sell....going for some good tunes from back of the M, simply not keen on the metallic shriek from induction add ons.

 

[Vanne]

Holy crap how does it get to look like this????

I've been to a lot of wreaking yards where s**t lies in the rain all day every day and I don't think I've ever seen s**t as bad as this.... Not pre 2000 stuff anyways...

I take my hat off to you sir for doing this.

 

[john-e89]

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Holy crap how does it get to look like this????

I've been to a lot of wreaking yards where s**t lies in the rain all day every day and I don't think I've ever seen s**t as bad as this.... Not pre 2000 stuff anyways...

I take my hat off to you sir for doing this.

Cheers Vanne.

The one pervious owner was a coastal rescue pilot so I guess the M spent much of its time with sea mist swirling around it. Good news is the body and floor are untouched. These cars are well worth the time and effort to save them imho, once the ballache of getting the rusty stuff off the good fun stuff can begin.

 

[Vanne]

Awesome mate, I am glad to hear it, and I can't wait to see it when your done (are you ever done? It will be worth it for sure.

 

[john-e89]

Driveshafts out, not too bad getting them out with a heavy duty shaft remover.

Condition is obvious, pretty grotty but a session in the soda blaster has brought them back. The beauty of the soda blaster is it gets rid of every scrap of rust, nothing is missed, there's really no better way of cleaning rust, what else can get them back to ready for paint without hours and hours of work or chemicals that really can't do them like this.

 

[Zedebee]

Stupid question John. Do you leave the rubbers on or are those new rubbers?

 

[john-e89]

Stupid question John. Do you leave the rubbers on or are those new rubbers?

Not a stupid question Zed....I leave them on, that's the other beauty of soda, it doesn't damage rubber.

 

[john-e89]

Next problem is rusted trailing arm bolts, nothing left of the heads. Two I can cut off but that obvs leaves the rest of the bolt in its recess, the back one I can’t get to at all with a cutting disc. I’m guessing my only option is to try drilling the whole bolts out but if they’re high tensile then it’s going to be as difficult as it could get. If anyone has any suggestions pop them up….also if superman is reading and can fly over and undo them with his fingers there’s a ham sandwich on offer…

 

[PDJ]

Grind out the threads of a larger nut and then hammer it into place then weld it onto the old bolt head and try undoing it

Or a small bit of flat bar welded on and try and start it turning by chiseling it around