Rebody Z3 Based Ferrari 250 California Build

[Pingu]

Thanks for the reply Steve.

@Pingu I have not test run the gauges yet so cannot answer your questions about flicker etc. I do know when I spoke with ETB they could Pre-set the mileage if they have the gauge back, but it cannot be done DIY.

MOT do not care as they just add new mileage to previous MOT, interestingly they record the new mileage on the MOT document.

That's good news about ETB. I'll have a word with them, and I may try to get the speedo out, but it won't be easy.

 

[MisterP007]

That's good news about ETB. I'll have a word with them, and I may try to get the speedo out, but it won't be easy.

To get the speedo out you need about 100 choice swear words, 2 rolls of bandages for your ripped fore arms, several large brandies and a big hammer. Complete birch once the centre console has been built in.

All of the above is why I have made the aluminium instrument carriers front-loaded so i can just pull them out.

 

[jaguartvr]

I've got a chainsaw you can borrow

 

[MisterP007]

That would work, but you would need a mask!

Do not get me started on face masks.................

 

[Duncodin]

This is a long thread so I'm sorry but I didn't read every word.

But I did look at all of the pictures.

I am truly gob smacked by the level of detail of this restoration. (Sorry. I just can't call it a "kit car")

But I have one question. Maybe I missed it. What's going to happen to the z3 side/quarterlight window?

 

[MisterP007]

This is a long thread so I'm sorry but I didn't read every word.

But I did look at all of the pictures.

I am truly gob smacked by the level of detail of this restoration. (Sorry. I just can't call it a "kit car")

But I have one question. Maybe I missed it. What's going to happen to the z3 side/quarterlight window?

Thanks for the kind words and what do you mean you did not read every word, disgraceful!!!!!

There is a lot of work involved but that is one of the pleasures of doing these cars.

Keep following as there is plenty more to come.

 

[Pingu]

...All of the above is why I have made the aluminium instrument carriers front-loaded so i can just pull them out.

Learnt from experience?

If only I had known . To make matters even worse, I think I used thread lock. I think I'll be leaving it

 

[MisterP007]

This is a long thread so I'm sorry but I didn't read every word.

But I did look at all of the pictures.

I am truly gob smacked by the level of detail of this restoration. (Sorry. I just can't call it a "kit car")

But I have one question. Maybe I missed it. What's going to happen to the z3 side/quarterlight window?

Sorry missed the last question:

Quarterlights stay, it is possible to delete them but a really difficult expensive task

 

[MisterP007]

Learnt from experience?

If only I had known . To make matters even worse, I think I used thread lock. I think I'll be leaving it

Threadlock? EEK! Wise move to just leave it alone.

 

[Duncodin]

Sorry missed the last question:

Quarterlights stay, it is possible to delete them but a really difficult expensive task

I understand. I was just curios. The level of detail you're going in to I was just wondering if you had a trick up your sleeve for the quarterlights.

 

[MisterP007]

Apart from Petrol Heads like us and Fanarris or Ferratics (my names for Ferrari gurus), everyone thinks they are real 250's.

By the way have you seen the build thread for the blue one:

Rebody - Z3 2.8 Based Ferrari 250 Build

Hi all The car is already finished as you can see from the pic in my profile, but I thought I would write up the build every day or two to show I got there (after bruised knuckles, blood, sweat, and tears). so day1. Go and buy a perfectly sound 1998 M52TU28 in Montreal Blue, 108k miles been...

zroadster.org

 

[MisterP007]

Been a bit of a lean week on the car this week (SWMBO birthday Tuesday and celebrations all week, family down from Clackmannan as well).

Managed to get a full day in today:

MGB seats modified with 40x4mm ally rails to convert the mounting points so seats fit onto Z3 electric runners.

Z3 plastic side panel with seat switch wired in and re-cut to fit directly onto the MGB upper rail on the seat frame. The mounting points were cut down and shaped to fit around the seat rail.

Looks like it was made for the seat it fits so well. I had read of people cable tying these in place but I managed to line up all three Z3 mounting points to the MGB frame and self tapped them in place.

Wired them in, connected to battery and all working. I have not put them in the car yet as they need leather.

Attention then diverted to shiny objects (love a bit of bling) in the shape of the dash instruments.

Needed to figure out how to mount the aluminium(sprayed black) instrument panels in place. Opted for bolts and rivnuts, ended up looking good. I can now remove all the instruments in 2 sections in 5 mins.

Fitted the Hazard Switch, fog light switches and tell tale lights, wired all the instruments into the dash and back to the original (modified) PCB from the Z3. I opted for some strain relief cable ties on all cables as I suspect the rigidity of the wiring is not good enough without.

Forgot to take the headlight switch down to the workshop so this will need to be fitted another day.

That’s it for now, back down to the workshop tomorrow night to do the light switch.

 

[t-tony]

Dash is looking good.

Tony.

 

[MisterP007]

Dash is looking good.

Tony.

Hi Tony

Glad you like the dash - it is sitting in my living room at the moment (at best part of £1700 for what you see in the pics I did not fancy leaving it in the workshop).

SWMBO likes the look of it so the lounge is OK. Maybe I should try "parking" the rear end of a car in the wall?

Cheers

P.S. No the plywood wall and carpet underlay is NOT our lounge!!!!!

 

[t-tony]

No wonder these cars fetch the prices they do. I’m really enjoying your thread.

Tony.

 

[MisterP007]

No wonder these cars fetch the prices they do. I’m really enjoying your thread.

Tony.

Would have been around £2400 but I got one of the Development sets of instruments from Grassbank Conversions at £1200 (now on their site at £1795....). Dash was a spare that Steve (JagTVR) had at £250 instead of £350 from Tribute, Screen vent part of the dash is the original Z3 (I would have sold this otherwise for £120), plus various toggle switches, hazard pull, ignition switch, paint and so on.

Add in seats, leather, panel work (centre consoles etc), switches, gear knob, handbrake handle, ally indicator stalks, door cards and interior handles, steering wheel and the interior runs out at around £3000 with me doing all the leather trim work (except the seats which are generic leather MGB covers (£360). If a trimmer did all the leather you would add another £1500 to that. £4500-5000 for an interior EEEK!!!!

I do not see the difficulty in making plywood/aluminium console/door cards and stretching/glueing leather to them. It was a concern until I actually had a go after watching "Cechaflo" on youtube (genius), after that it was easy (the blue 250SWB interior looks the business.

Link to Cechaflo:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaSm3zoWrAo&t=818s

Interior of the blue 250 SWB

The finished cars can achieve silly money but the good ones have had a complete refurb of what is left of the Z3

• new suspension bushes
• coilovers or revised springs and dampers
• new brake discs/pad/disc protectors, refurbished calipers, new brake fluid
• new power steering lower hose and change of fluid
• underbody parts refurbed
• any structural welding done
• engine refurb and uprated ECU, manifolds, vanos etc. oil/filter change
• cold air intakes
• coolant system refurb (new stat, water pump, pulleys, hoses, fluids)
• engine bay repainted
• complete vacuum system upgrade
• carpets renewed or restored
• alarm and locking system re-configure
• complete (almost) change of interior
• new body
• new paint (if you use a pro £4000 min)
• hood refurbished
• electrical system all checked (as the interior and lights have to be re-configure)

In essence, whilst the car is 100k miles it has been completely refurbished and a new body, interior, lighting, chrome set and paint job done, it is as close to a new car as you could get and just look at them.

My blue 250SWB one ran me £13800 (after the sales of spare Z3 bits), the red 250 California will be around £15000 after sale of Z3 bits. What else that is fully restored, looks, sounds and goes like these can you get for that money. A nice big Healey 100/6 is £32-40k! (lovely though).

 

[jaguartvr]

So many builders have fitted cheap non-reclining vinyl seats, just can't work out why when the MGB seats fit so well and look so good.
The 250 California cars have been selling for far more money than the Tributes but the kit was far more expensive and everyone that I have seen has had the interior trimmed, wire wheels, exhaust and polished stainless steel trim and bumpers. I haven't seen one Tribute that has been built to the same standard. The closest was a couple that Grassbanks built but even they were sold with untouched interiors.

 

[MisterP007]

So many builders have fitted cheap non-reclining vinyl seats, just can't work out why when the MGB seats fit so well and look so good.
The 250 California cars have been selling for far more money than the Tributes but the kit was far more expensive and everyone that I have seen has had the interior trimmed, wire wheels, exhaust and polished stainless steel trim and bumpers. I haven't seen one Tribute that has been built to the same standard. The closest was a couple that Grassbanks built but even they were sold with untouched interiors.

You have not seen my Tribute though Steve!!!

 

[MisterP007]

Not everyone is prepared to do the necessary work, spend the necessary money, or both that is needed to have these cars at the correct standard.

I have seen the cheapy vinyl bucket seats on some cars also at £220 a pair ready to bolt in. You get what you pay for (looks cheap in the finished car).

Compare this to £500 plus 8-10 hours work to buy and restore a couple of MGB seats (£750 if you buy them ready done). Either way £750+. The cheapskates think that the £530 saving on a £15-18k build is worth it!

You can do the job right or you can do it cheap - never both. If you have the skills you can save a great deal of money but at the expense of time (mine and Steve's case).

 

[Nodzed]

Love this thread