[andyg]

Thanks all.

2002Z4, just grab a welder and see what happens!

[andyg]

Lots of stuff done today!

Started with a good makeover of the drivers front corner area that was in terrible shape I found after I first started cutting into it.



Don't have a done picture, but this was close.


Finally went to use some of the rotisserie action but found out my garage needs a higher ceiling to go full sideways, but the rig held up perfectly.



Finished up by sanding the priming the bottom of the car. Need to seal the seams then shoot more primer and paint. By then I will have gotten all my suspension parts and have the frame ready to take the body back.





I'm pretty excited at how nice this is going so far. Keeps me motivated.

[andyg]

No real way to get a good picture using just my phone with no lighting under the car, but I got the underside painted today from trunk to firewall.



Once I get the real axle and lower front control arms painted and get the rest of my suspension parts, the frame will go back together and I'll be able to reintroduce the body to the frame.

[andyg]

Some pics of today's progress. Got all remaining suspension parts cleaned primed and painted. Still waiting on the 4 springs so I can finish the frame and put the body back on. Its sitting waiting for the frame. Been months in the making.

Hung them all up for painting.







I also discovered the cause of a weird noise I never could find. The car would make some type of clunk when turning the wheel and jabbing the brakes (like pulling in a driveway or parking spot). Turns out, the round bushing in the passenger control arm was pretty much loose. I could pull it out by hand and push it back in. I'm pretty sure this makes the LCA junk, but for the time being I tack welded the bushing to the arm all over to lock it in. I have plans for new arms in the future, but they are not a necessity right now and easy to swap out later. I just hope that resolved that noise.

[andyg]

Got the body back on the frame today. Not a bad day of progress from about 9 to 5 putting the front suspension on, the fuel/brake lines and then the body. Nice having it in one piece again.










I can tell already how the new arms in front help the suspension geometry as the tires don't tuck in as much as before it seems a full droop. The back suspension also looks real nice too from the back with the aluminum shocks as an accent to the black parts.


Next steps will be to finish the trunk priming and sealing work, paint the floors front to back, then start the mechanical work.

[webfoot]

Making some good progress there, nice work!

[jmt455]

Great progress!

[charles bledsoe]

You do really nice work!! Very good post. Did you remove the body by your self, or did you have anyone helping?
Thanks

[andyg]

Originally Posted by charles bledsoe

You do really nice work!! Very good post. Did you remove the body by your self, or did you have anyone helping?
Thanks

Thanks!

For the body removal and installation it was my engine hoist (doing the heavy lifting), my friend and myself. Last time I had the body off, my dad had some friends come over, think about 8 men total just lifted it off. What I did this time was lift the back off the frame, mount the rotisserie, then lift the front off and wheeled the frame out from under the body. After then I brought the other half of the rotisserie in to mount and put it together.

[andyg]

Made some progress, and some damages today. I pulled the quarter windows (finally) and doors off to prepare for stripping the body. The damages revolve around me breaking the windshield while removing the top stainless trim piece, but the window had 2 rock chips already and needed replacing after 44 years of use.

I think my next project will be getting the trunk interior in primer, then start on the body. I'm glad that my metal work is only down to fixing 1 spot on the left quarter and fixing the dreaded windshield channel.

[andyg]

Its been forever since an update to this thread. I work for a large retail company so the holidays are a bit nutty for me and little progress was made on the car.

The past couple weeks I have been able to get some stuff done even with the weather sucking. The flame thrower style heater helps a ton.

Got the windshield channel most of the way fixed. Cut pieces of metal, shaped them, finishing touches with body filler are needed then a test fit of the windshield. It isn't like using an original piece to weld in, but it is incredibly solid and will do the trick well.

[andyg]

For the cheap cost of it I also decided to re-gasket and bearing the engine to help it run another season or 2 without making a mess of the engine bay. I don't have high hopes for this thing to run for a long time, but even 2000 miles will be satisfactory.

[demonic68]

Good looking project

[andyg]

Man I really messed up lots of the pic links. But update for today. Got the engine in yesterday but was kept from running by a dead starter. Napa sourced one overnight and the thing kicked over into a nice idle right away. Could not run long as no cooling system though. Did not have to worry about the cam as it has a few thousand miles on it and is broken in.