My Z3 (re)built

[Stormy_be]

What are you doing about a roof Koen? Do you have a hardtop?

I don't have a hardtop.
It all depends on the situation of the roll cage.
But I have 2 options I want to think about: make my own "simple"/"standard" hardtop, or...... make a spyder version, with a softtop middle piece (a bit like a boxster spyder)

But it will not be before the next summer....too much other things that are far more important that need to be done.

 

[Stormy_be]

Even with only a first coat of minie (anti-corrosion paint) it already looks good (but my opinion might be subjective)

 

[t-tony]

The cage looks very good Koen, can you still have a hardtop on with that?

Tony.

ps. Sorry, I just read your reply to Brian. Good luck with developing your own roof mate.

 

[Stormy_be]

The cage looks very good Koen, can you still have a hardtop on with that?

Tony.

ps. Sorry, I just read your reply to Brian. Good luck with developing your own roof mate.

Well, the cage is higher then the normal cages.
I wanted that the bottom of the top-bar was below the top of my helmet (on my head, with me in the seat...before anybody tells me to just put the helmet on the floor of the car)
As I am 1m85 (which is about 6ft1in) tall, that is not easy.

 

[David]

I'm excited to keep tabs on this and see what you have in store for us next Koen! @Stormy_be

 

[BMBabe]

I hope u don't change the colour I like it

 

[hard top]

Looking good Koen @Stormy_be .......

 

[Stormy_be]

I'm excited to keep tabs on this and see what you have in store for us next Koen! @Stormy_be

Let's say there are plenty of plans

 

[oldcarman]

Can't wait to see what's coming @Stormy_be! The paint colours are right on. How's the fibreglass business going??

 

[Tommy Bates]

Cage looks good mate !!!! Are you going to be running a roof ? I can see the cage is to high for a soft top hood

 

[Stormy_be]

One of the ideas is creating a speedster-like softtop......but it is only an idea for now....have got plenty of other things (more important) to do first.

 

[Shelly]

It's looking good at @Stormy_be
Keep up the good work

 

[oldcarman]

You can always take a page from the Model A Sport Coupe which was a permanent soft top that did not fold down but remained fixed. Gave the look of a cabrio but not the versatility! It consisted of a few simple bars welded together with a soft top type vinyl stitched over it. JIM

 

[Stormy_be]

A friend of mine ask me if he could come and give a hand on the car (as he likes cars, doesn't know much about the mechanical part and want to learn about it). So yeh, of course he could come.....but he cancelled for today (he might be coming tomorrow).
Nevertheless that made me prep up to do some work on the Zed...thinking on what interesting things I could show him.
....so in the end I started dissembling the rear axle alone.

Disconnected and removed the brakes (as I didn't want my good discs to bounce off the floor when releasing the axle...
Removed the last part of the flex lines (goodridge will go in all round). The middle part was very hard to get to and the screws on the fixed-line-side or seriously corroded, so the bracket starts to twist when force is applied. As I will be changing the lines with goodridges, I just cut the flexible bit, so the I am able to remove the axle.
The diff bolt where hard (blocking the diff with a screwdriver - as brakes no longer worked and the gearbox is not connected for the moment).
All these bolt are corroded, rusted and blocked.

Undone the handbrake cable from inside the cabin.
Remembering how is was on an E36, it pushed out from the cabin, but on the Zed it doesn't move. (--> anyone know if the handbrake cable is fixed when going thru the chassis to the cabin? or if it is just the dirt build up that blocks it for the moment)

Loosened the shock-bolts (needed to put a 1m pipe on my keys).

Was not able to remove the mean bolt which hold the beam itself in place.
The compressor didn't do the job either (only a 8bar small compressor), couldn't get the 1m pipe in place, will need to try with something else.

Then the main thing, I know I read on here from @Lee working on DinoD's car (I think posted by @GazHyde) that the exhaust on the 2.8 is in 2 parts, so you don't need to take the whole exhaust off (in DinoD's car I think it was a SS-exhaust, maybe that why it was I 2 pieces). Well mine is not in 2 pieces. Started from the back unbolted and took the hangers off. Put the jack under the exhaust so that it wouldn't be damaged when all the weight is on the manifold. ....then realized I should jack the front up to get to the bolt on the manifold.............
....at that time I gave up. Supported the exhaust with something else, to be able to release the jack. But didn't start on the front any more.
Hope I will have the courage to continue tomorrow....and that the exhaust bolt would not snap off....and that the main beam bolt will release.

Wanted to start installing the front suspension (my new BC racing ones) this weekend too, but maybe that will be too much.

Regards, Koen

 

[GazHyde]

@Stormy_be - there was clearly a switch over point where they went from two section exhausts to one peice on the later models. I doubt there is any real way of knowing when this happened. @Dino D's car has a SuperSprint back box which is grafted on, so it could well have started off as a one piece exhaust? IIRC it was on his car when he bought it.

 

[t-tony]

Hi Koen, the H/B cables "should" just push back through the floor. Once disconnected from the lever there is nothing else to hold them other than corrosion in the tubes.

Tony.

 

[Brian H]

@Stormy_be, it's just dirt that is holding the handbrake cables in place, a long thin screwdriver pushed down the tube you see in the cabin and a swift hit with a hammer will release them. It's maybe just as well your friend did not turn up today, days like you have had are truly frustrating

My exhaust is a long single piece too, but it should just unbolt at the connection to the cats, be prepared for more corroded bolts though.

Edit: beat me to it @t-tony

 

[t-tony]

If the studs break in the front exhaust joint they're fairly easy to remove. Then you can replace them with nuts and bolts, a fat more civilised method.

Tony.

 

[Stormy_be]

@Stormy_be, it's just dirt that is holding the handbrake cables in place, a long thin screwdriver pushed down the tube you see in the cabin and a swift hit with a hammer will release them. It's maybe just as well your friend did not turn up today, days like you have had are truly frustrating

My exhaust is a long single piece too, but it should just unbolt at the connection to the cats, be prepared for more corroded bolts though.

Edit: beat me to it @t-tony

"Frustrating" would not be the correct word.
I would have liked to have moved more forward.
But on the other hand, I don't want to rush things and I don't like to do things twice (although it has happened many-many times).
And in the end I enjoyed myself....it was fun...nice to have some garage time...me, my spanners and my radio

 

[t-tony]

it was fun...nice to have some garage time...me, my spanners and my radio

That's me Koen in February when Shirl and one of her mates go over to Florida to do maintainance at our place and I get quality garage time, food when I like wash up (what's that?) when I like etc.

Tony.