My Z3 to Kobra build

[Sharkiesdad]

The standard BMW black hoops just did not look right so needed to get some chrome ones. Also obtained chrome windscreen surround from BMW dealers and retro fitted this. Photo shows the car now partly in primer.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

Now the back end and more decisions on what and where to position the lights etc. Here is what I opted for. Note the standard rear exhaust still on and the spare wheel carrier removed to make way for custom twin exhaust later.

 

[Althulas]

Dam budgets always have to get in the way, have a look at this thread https://zroadster.org/threads/build-up-pictures.13967/. Maybe some help to what can be done over time. Great build by the way love reading projects like this.

 

[t-tony]

Love the lights set up, although I may have been tempted to put the reflectors under the lamps as well. Such a shame it needs to have a rear fog light but putting it central makes the best of a bad job.

Tony.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

Electrics! Not too bad to do actually. New relay for electric cooling fan, chop out all wires not used from air con etc and undo loom for front lights and bring wires back to bulk head. New connectors fitted to lighting wires. This is because the new front lights are fitted to the bonnet and the wires have to hinge when the bonnet opens.
Note the brown bag! All of these wires were chopped out.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

Dam budgets always have to get in the way, have a look at this thread https://zroadster.org/threads/build-up-pictures.13967/. Maybe some help to what can be done over time. Great build by the way love reading projects like this.

Looks interesting. I will take a look at your thread. Is yours a Nubodi one?

 

[Althulas]

Not my thread but Sir Percival’s was a good thread to read but liked what he did with the interior took a lot away from being a zed you will love the seats.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

Love the lights set up, although I may have been tempted to put the reflectors under the lamps as well. Such a shame it needs to have a rear fog light but putting it central makes the best of a bad job.

Tony.

Thanks Tony. Yes I saw one with reflectors under lights and in my opinion it just looked too much and too cluttered.

 

[t-tony]

Thanks Tony. Yes I saw one with reflectors under lights and in my opinion it just looked too much and too cluttered.

Fair comment, and again, that's what makes it "yours" and fair play to you. As Mark said Sir Percy's interior really is something else. Me and Shirl had a look at it at ZedFest this year and when we got chatting they had lived locally to us in just the next village. It's a small world.
Not every E85 Z4 owner will appreciated all I've done to my car but, it's mine.

Tony.

 

[DaveP]

Sir Percival’s car is a DNA. Lovely looking car and the interior is something else

And even rarer now post Fezza action

 

[Jack Ratt]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Great project

 

[Sharkiesdad]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Great project

Thanks Jack. More to come.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

Due to the new body kit having wider wheel arches, I fitted 20mm concentric wheel spacers to all 4 hubs. This made the wheels sit right in the arches.
Further work was required fabricating new inner wheel arches out of 2mm thick Polypropylene sheet. Parts of the original arches were used and new sections added to them.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

I sourced some Triumph TR4 boot hinges and a claw type boot lock.
New boot rubber fitted and number plate light.
I opted for dummy quick lift race hooks instead of bumpers.
These are fastened with studded Rod and fibreglass fixed block behind. The threaded Rod is covered with 15mm chromed copper plumbing pipe as used in bathrooms.
The rubber grommets are 20mm rubbers as used in by electricians in metal back boxes to sockets.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

The twin exhaust shown in previous photo was custom made by Custom Chrome Nuneaton, the people that make "Cherry Bomb" exhausts.
Retained original Cat. New chrome finish stainless middle box.
Y piece splitting into 2 and stainless pipes routed to exit at the rear.
No back Box, sounds really good well at least in my opinion!

 

[Sharkiesdad]

My plan was to trial run the vehicle for 2 weeks before getting it painted and make sure there were no issues.
Lots of sanding and some filler and more sanding to get rid of mould lines etc.
Roughly painted original doors with primer so the original Green did not look so daft when on road during trial.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

All was going well with the trials until the boot hinges I fitted snapped when opening the boot one day.
Lesson learnt to not buy the cheapest hinges off Ebay!
Some damage to boot lid at time so was really happy that it had not been painted yet!
New boot hinges ordered at 3 times the price but when they came they were 3 x the quality.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

The front number plate positioning was another major decision.
I decided to mount it inside the large front mouth for now but have also got a stick on number plate. I will see how this may look after it is painted but am getting used to where it is now and this offers some protection to the radiator.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

So off to the paint shop!
I always knew that I wanted the colour to be blue and have white stripes.
What I did not realise is that there is no standard AC Cobra Blue!
Obviously this is down to each owners choice and what a choice.
There are thousands of blues available so choosing was a big decision.
Got some sample boards sprayed with the 3 different blues that I had narrowed it down to and eventually chose what I hope is the right colour!
I chose a Nissan Pearl White for the stripes.

 

[Sharkiesdad]

I have a very good and kind friend who is going to paint the car. He usually paints commercial vehicles so this will be different.
He was good enough to allow me to drive the car to his premises and strip it down ready for painting.
Removed all lights.
Removed all other bright work.
Remove both doors, boot lid and bonnet.
All rubbers that were in the way etc.
Then it was an anxious wait to see what it was going to look like.