Chassis Rail & RWC/PITS

Hi All,

Im currently looking at taking my Z off the road long term, getting serious with the Z being a hobby car. I prefer to take my time and work on her at a leisurely pace since I have a long wish list to do.

Only thing on my mind before taking her off the road is there's a minor (crush) dent in the chassis rails.

Im wondering if it will pass the pits/rwc as is, or if I have to factor in rail repairs (bend back or new rail segment) or chassis replacement from a donor car. Prefer to stick with as much of the original Z as possible.

Appreciate anyones thoughts/advice. Not sure if Im being too predantic.

I've seen far worse on SAU forums when researching.

Thanks in advance.

Drivers side worse damage (just under seating position)

















Passenger side (not as bad as drivers side)

 

Those bits are hollow. They bend easily and you can actually pull them back out yourself.

 

I always thought chassis rail dent = fail. So no issues with bending it back safety wise.

Bending it back I guess you could do the follow, less dodgy the better -

- From the inside, cut floor pan just above and hammer it out from above.
- Weld leverage bar and pull it out.
- Small narrow 90 degree metal bar that can fit in that small slit in the rail,
movearound and apply downwards hammering force.

Chassis looks pretty straight to the eye, might go through the chassis alignment measuring points this weekend for due diligence

 

I think you are over thinking it. If it was a fail there wouldnt be many cars on the road.

Mine are slightly deformed from previous owners/mechanics using them as a jacking point

 

Many mechanics think that is the case but in a Nissan they're so flimsy they're almost there for aesthetitcs more than structure, the basic panel beating drill and pull technique will be fine then clean the underbody and reapply some spray on underbody bitumen stuff so it all looks tidy.

 

You would be hard done by if you got knocked back on that, as there are many cars out there with chassis dents far worse out than that.

The damage would have very little effect on structural integrity so I would be surprised if anyone knocked you back for a RWC on the basis of what is in the pictures

 

I'm yet to be under a Z32 that isn't like this.

 

Gold!!

Thanks all for the helpful feedback!

 

They are no what you would call CHASSIS RAILS. They are there only to stiffen the floor so it doesn't bend when you stand on it. Main strengthening is in the tunnel and the sill panels where there is 3 thicknesses of steel.

Pull them out with a dent puller and paint them with stone guard if they worry you. they are only 0.6mm thick steel and very easy to bend