What have you done to your zed today? Part 2............

Plate Frame Holder

Another nagging thing on my ZX Bucket List was the JDM rear bumper / plate holder area.

With current rego pates being too wide to fit neatly and no suitable sized US, JAP or 3 over 3 style plates being available (NSW), I did what everyone else does.. bend em - fold em - cut em style... But what was nagging at me most was the gaping hole under the plate.

So after much messing around with cardboard templates, I created a line drawing and I had a local metal fabricator cut a custom plate backing frame.

Cost about $60-70 to get the two piece aluminium frame cut. I then clear coated the backing panel and finished the outer panel off in a semi gloss black.

Looks nice and 'complete' compared to the gaping slot/hole that was there before... and the 'Z' emblem is a nice finishing touch.

 

^ That's fantastic. Those JDM bumpers always look so shit with our Aus plates.

 

Finished UAS camber arm install. Guide up soon.

Labelled all fuses and relays from the big box then cut them all off Loom separated, pulled back through bay and now being redesigned... this job is NOT for tourists

 

got educated on using liquid sealant for my trans cooler fittings (started leaking oil) should be all fixed now as Ive let it cure for 24 hours.

got my new pan and trans temp gauge.

gotta say that im not that impressed by this autometer gauge. it seems really cheap and nasty but oh well Im gonna run it anyway.

started to re-install all my interior again which was nice and the cars looking more like a car again.

 

Did a bit of weight reduction

From this,


To this. Anti'll be proud of me


Now I've got rid of those pesky cam gears and covers, I can now replace all the oil seals.
Fun !

 

Hope you're replacing those idlers.

 

Very proud

Recevied my solid steering input shaft bushing. Cool

 

Nah. They have a nice metallic dry grinding sound.
Should be good for another 500km If I'm lucky.

Just joking. I'd be mad not to cover all the 120k service bits while I'm in that deep.

 

Just checking

You got the crank sprocket off yet? Always a bastard.

 

No. what's a good technique for doing that.

 

Angle grind a cut directly above the key way as much as you can. Then get a cold chisel and a hammer and finish if off. When you crack through to the keyway it should just slide off.

 

Had side indicators shaved.....



In preparation for the respray and these....

 

Hey that's pretty cool. How did you go about wiring them in? Pull the fender loom back through?

 

I haven't completed the wiring as yet. I was only testing them to make sure they worked before I went ahead with permanently fixing them to the mirror.

I've had a quick look and the cleanest way will be to pull the loom back through and then feed it back into the door with the power window wiring. bit of messing about but its either that or see a wire through the gap between the door and fender.

 

I'm planning on cutting an indicator into my Ganador, I'll be doing it the same way. Can't beat that clean fender look.

 

The exterior looks so much smooth without the fender indicator. I don't understand how some in the US cut holes and fit side indicators. I guess it's to look more JDM

 

Yep its changed the whole look of the front. The front fender looks wider for some reason. I love the clean look of it from every angle.

 

since you are doing your own, I have noticed most new cars have a really thin indicator in the side mirrors. As you can see the lights in my covers are quite wide which will do the job, but don't look as modern as the thinner lights.

 

Yeah but it has to be period correct or it'll look stupid and out of place. Your mirrors are good, I like them.

Couldn't agree more...

 

Dont you think though if you had the chance to make the lights look more suttle and "clean" you would? Personal choice though.

I'm happy with mine though. They are at the panel beaters now getting the gaps filled and smoothed. Trying to make them look as original as possible.