Forums/Z31P/z31-performance-upgrade-forums cosmetic-interior-exterior/Can this be fixed?
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boosted300: (2013-07-08 04:35:09)
Ok…let's try this again:
So I began the restoration project of what I thought was a Shiro in very good shape…and after pulling the motor in preparation for a thorough paint job, I made a gruesome discovery…pretty severe rust in a God-awful location…
I don't know exactly what the area is called…but basically it's the cover for the area where the AC takes in fresh air from the outside…also covers the windshield wiper hinges…
Had it been any other part of the car, simple body work would do the trick…fender, quarter panel, floorboard even could easily be cut from another car and welded on to this one…
but this piece…wow, looks like a real nightmare…spares of common parts for our cars are hard enough to find…I imagine this will be near impossible…
it's tack-welded into place and is extremely thin and intricately shaped so sheet metal replication would be very complicated…
I hate to say that it almost seems like a deal breaker for the restoration as the cost of trying to get this piece alone fabricated might not be worth it....
Has anyone else encountered this and if so, any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
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RXGhost: (2013-07-08 06:10:45)
yes I had a spots like that on my car. I cut out a section from another car at a junk yard and spliced it into place on mine.
just remember to cut out "all of the rust" or its coming back
G-E: (2013-07-08 06:34:37)
Yea that car needs a full inspection, the entire interior should be pulled in the hatch area, and it's a good idea to get under the dash with a flashlight to see how much water made it's way into the cabin....
Otherwise, as they said above, cut and splice is the best way, you still have to paint/treat it but you won't be dealing with embedded rust
However I wouldn't worry about the light surface rust on the lower panel, just spray it with krud kutter which will turn the rust into hard black stuff, or any rust converting paint , deal with the exposed panel
And if you do decide to repair portions of it, spend the work according to how clean the rest of the car is, you might do a half-assed job with the repair that will still outlast the rear quarters and other parts of the car, there might be a threshold you don't need to break… and keep in mind, your attachment to the car might change over time, do the work accordingly, a new shell isn't that expensive
Kimbro Slice: (2013-07-08 06:38:55)
Exactly why I haven't even began fucking with the rust on my car. I figure I can just get another cleaner AE chassis down the road when it starts to get horrible.
boosted300: (2013-07-08 14:35:08)
thanks for all of the advice fellas…
yes, a new shell isn't expensive, however a good shell is hard to find…and a Shiro nearly impossible
that was my first thought and so I spent last night searching online for one in South Florida and didn't find anything I like…
Other than some spot rust on the tail, The rest of the body is relatively rust free, I checked under the floor mat in the trunk when I bought the car…
for the most part it really is in good shape which is why I was so surprised when I saw the extent of this rust
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MagicZ31: (2013-07-08 19:24:04)
Yeah you had the same problem as me. I took an angle grinder and took out all the rust then just bought thin sheet metal and cutted and frabricated the shape of it and welded it on there. It actually looks good and decent! Plus it saved rain from falling into the passenger floor. It sucked cuz I live in FL and its rain season so I needed to fix ASAP. Btw that piece is called a cowl panel top. Nissan stopped making it. But MSA can special order it but it cost over 200 bucks. You can also find it at car-parts.com. I went the easy route and just got sheet metal from Home Depot and just went to town!
MagicZ31: (2013-07-08 19:29:50)
I will post some pics when I get off work. Don't give up man! It's not hard just takes some time
Rick88ss: (2013-07-08 20:06:14)
Is the piece in good shape on the red Z ? BTW…nice grass.
Here's one on ebay. Ask the seller for a pic.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NISSAN-66000…ht_1125wt_1001
MagicZ31: (2013-07-08 22:04:23)
Thats to expensive MSA got it for 291. Special order or he can go to car-parts.com and order one for like 80.00 used
http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/SBC1A07/30-7143
boosted300: (2013-07-09 03:07:10)
Excellent info Magic, thanks a bunch…all is not lost!
Thanks Rick and AZ
Swing by Rick…I'll show you the grass [archived image: wink.png]
MagicZ31: (2013-07-09 20:47:51)
No problem man I'm new to the Z family so what ever knowledge we know we gotta help each other out and share it! [archived image: smile.png]
MagicZ31: (2013-07-09 21:01:16)
Oh btw all my rubber seals right under the windshield and above the panel were all rotten and rusted out as well. So I just removed it all and once I welded on the sheet metal to the panel I used black silicone and that did the trick. And remember to drill the holes on the right spot to mount the windshield Frame back on. I was a little off so my frames don't even attach together lmao. Oh well.
michaelp: (2013-07-09 21:24:40)
South Florida explains exactly why your car is rusted out there. I've seen about 10+ Z31s in the Daytona Beach LKQ (I realize far from south, but example…) with rust exactly like that. Cars look perfect until you start peeling window trim off them, then they're pretty much GONE. My brother bought a foxbody from south florida that was exactly the same way.
The salt from the ocean gets in the air..and destroys the cars where you cant see it.
1sikz: (2013-07-10 01:04:30)
After having fixed and restored cars in FL for the past 12 years, this is the first that I have heard of that problem.
MagicZ31: (2013-07-10 02:37:52)
yeah its crazy but if you look up cowl panel rust on google for 300zx theres a lot of stories on them and also of 280zx as well. A lot of sports cars in the 70s and 80s in general have that problem. thats why after 90s and up they made the cowl panels out of plastic and removable so its easy to take off and easy to reach the cabin air filter box.
FlyingT: (2013-07-10 02:53:22)
My 85t was driven on the snow/salt/sand covered roads of New England for 19 years when it was my winter car and never looked like that there.
MagicZ31: (2013-07-10 05:28:35)
Well some people just got bad luck! Haha it's all good though hope the guy gets everything fixed
boosted300: (2013-07-15 19:24:09)
No luck with MSA, car-parts, or eBay…no longer available from any of them
Damn
MagicZ31: (2013-07-16 15:58:09)
You might have to go with my route I suggested..
boosted300: (2013-07-16 18:44:20)
Ughhhh not fun
Ven: (2013-07-16 23:25:25)
Since we're all in the "can this be fixed" what about this. I noticed a slight hole to the wheel well from the tool kit area.
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Then the tool kit area itself.
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And finally the rest of the trunk which looked fine
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Ven: (2013-07-17 16:27:02)
That 1/4 window had an antenna installed for a old school phone/cb radio. definitely going to get it removed and have that website sealed properly.
Careless: (2013-08-11 14:27:37)
you didn't weld yours on. you JB Welded it on, which is not the proper way to do a permanent fix. had you actually welded it, it would have been a lot more work.
MagicZ31: (2013-08-12 11:56:14)
technically if i spot welded metal on there, it would of been a lot faster…I dont have a welder so I used the jb weld.. I didnt even fab it smooth enough to lay flat together..I stuck them together with jb weld and then drilled in with screws to hold them in place…i know it aint a proper permanent fix BRO I aint stupid..now careless your just being to technical.. I was just showing him the route that will fix the issue..calm down..
Careless: (2013-08-12 12:14:48)
no one said you were stupid. but what you're saying is not true. you did not weld anything. you glued it. and to tell someone to do the same… that is stupid. you're the one that needs to "relax" BRO. your route will not fix the issue, it covers up the issue.
when you start interchanging words like "fabricated" and "cutted" and "glued" and "welded", and then start recommending other people fix their car with that half-assed method (yes, it's half assed- sorry to inform you or criticize, but it is a janky repair), then don't expect people to sit there and not call you out when you're advising other people to do half-assed repairs to their car as well.
at the end of the day, you welded nothing. you glued it. that's not me being "technical", that's you taking the word "weld" in the name of a product you used, and pretending that's what you actually did.
liladair: (2013-08-12 12:19:21)
Isn't*
MagicZ31: (2013-08-12 16:43:33)
He must be on his period..
MagicZ31: (2013-08-12 16:45:07)
I'm not suggesting him doing a half ass job. I didn't tell him to use jb weld or anything .. So get it straight. BRO
Careless: (2013-08-14 04:19:59)
you're missing the point. I'm not on my "period" because I pointed out that you didn't "weld" anything, but you kept using that word as if you fused two pieces of metal together with heat.
learn the difference and you wouldn't be so butt hurt when someone calls you out on it, especially when telling people what you did and then saying they might have to go the same route. in case you forgot writing it:
anyways, I don't care. keep doing what you're doing- whatever you think it is.
shromy: (2013-08-14 13:16:10)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NISSAN-OEM-6…70df9f&vxp=mtr
should be what you need, pricey though.
300zxturboftw: (2013-08-14 15:14:10)
That's awesome, nice link. Can't believe that is still available - pretty good price too.
shromy: (2013-08-14 16:07:43)
If you search 85 300zx cowl panel there is actually a cheaper one i found arfter posting that link. someone recently purchased a shit load of oe parts and i have seen shit like this popping up recently. fust about everything you could think of as well. body, interior, etc
Careless: (2013-08-14 16:26:49)
i would take that part number to nissan and see if it's available direct from the dealer. it would probably be cheaper- if not the same price. then you don't pay shipping.
MagicZ31: (2013-08-14 17:16:11)
Been there don't that.. They stopped making it.
shromy: (2013-08-14 17:25:21)
nissanparts.cc lists it as available, now will you ever get it who knows. price was like 260
Rat1314: (2013-08-14 23:47:53)
It's not 'that' hard to fix that area, a bit time consuming though. If you can get your hands on another panel from a junk car that would be your best option. If not you could make up replacement pieces in sections and work on one section at a time. I had rust in the same area on mine (not as bad) and I couldn't find a replacement panel so I just replaced it bit by bit, I also had next to no previous experience with panel work or welding.
Ven: (2013-08-15 03:19:01)
BRO
lol