Just had the zed checked for a roadworthy, a few bits and pieces to do but obviously one major one sticking out. Part of the right hand side chassis rail has been push in, as well as a section of the floor pan, but everything is straight. Apparently at some point, someone has tried to drive over something they shouldn't have. I've been quoted $500 plus the cost of a replacement rail. (I'm pulling out the interior to cut down on costs). Has anyone else had a similar experience with their car? Just wondering if it's a particularly strict tester I'm dealing with before I go ahead with this. (Also, feel free to check out my post in the 'Wanted' section )
Those rails underneath are NOT even chassis rails. They are puny 1mm steel. Their only function is to stop the floor pan bending when you get in and out as you stand on it. They are NON structural. All the longitudinal strength in the car is in the transmission tunnel and the major part is the Sills. Seen how big they are with 3 layers of 1.5mm steel !!! You could get the under floor supports pulled out with a puller from underneath and made to look nice enough to shut the R/W guy up.
Well my first thought looking at it was "What if I pull the seat and carpet out and give it a bash back down?" The quote I got was from the mechanics mate a few shops down, so it might be worth getting a second opinion.
Strictly speaking, they (rails) are "considered" structural. Any "structural" damage for all intents and purposes, is a major defect. The inspector is covering his arse which is in many ways understandable but pretty harsh at the same time. Straighten it out as best you can without any really obvious kinks/creases. Youll be right. E
I've had a second opinion on the damage and he's said I've got two options: 1. He can do the job, cut the rail open and flatten it all out and stitch it back up. No need to wait for parts from Japan, $1000. 2. I take out the seats/carpet etc, drill some holes above the rail and push things down with a bar. I just want to confirm that this second option isn't completely retarded. If this damage is purely cosmetic I'm hesitant to drop $1000 on it, but I also don't want to create massive headaches for myself or future owners of the car by putting holes where there shouldn't be holes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated
3rd option: Find someone parting out a Z32. Obtain the undamaged section of rail from the parts car that matches your damaged section. It can be removed from the parts car by cutting through the floor pan on either side of the rail. When you get the replacement piece, drill out the spot welds from the floor pan side ( a specially cut twist drill will do the trick). You don't drill through both sections of metal, only the section you don't want. You will end up with a section of rail without the floor pan attached. Do the same thing with the damaged section of rail on your car, only this time drill the spot welds from the rail side. The rails can be cut using a small angle grinder with a thin cut off wheel. Weld in the replacement section of rail, coat it with galmet & repaint.
