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Renovation completed with pics! (56k be very afraid)~64,800 minutes later (6 weeks, 3 days and it felt like MUCH LONGER!) and the renovation, at least the body work, is completed! Dropped the Z off for a total body renovation the morning of September the 6th and this last Tuesday finally picked it up to take it back home.Some background for those how have not seen the prior posts... First post...
September 09, 2005
http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.aspx?forum=general&msg_id=1631703
and update
September 20, 2005
http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.aspx?forum=general&msg_id=1638076 Original estimate was for completion on or around October the 10th. This quickly went out the window due to additional work, some of which was requested by me... Hard to complain about the outcome as the shop did an EXCELLENT job! The items that caused the biggest portion of the delay in missing the original date are: Having the windshield washer nozzles on the hood shaved
Having the support bar in front of the radiator painted
Having underside of hood painted
Fitment issues with the Stillen spoiler. This alone easily added 3 days. Like Jodecy (he has the same Stillen rear urethane spoiler) my spoiler had issues with fitment. Basically without some extensive work it was a choice of either the left and right edges being flush with the bottom edge of the hatch and the area below the 3rd brake light bowed out or the edges would angle up and the area below the 3rd brake light was flush... We thought about cutting the urethane below the 3rd brake light but I vetoed that. Instead they cut a small portion of the area below the 3rd brake light out of the spoiler then attached back together using some sort of wonder plastic, stuff. Still issues after this with it fitting correctly and flush all around so the wonder plastic stuff (I think it is called "Fusion", double tube stuff that mixes together and when dry is hard but still flexible, incredible stuff!) back to the rescue by using it to attach the spoiler to the hatch. They put 4 screws in the spoiler while it set up and then removed the screws and smoothed the holes over. Using the Fusion for attachment meant no double sided tape and since it comes out of a tube the spoiler does not have any seam at all, the edges are flush. Was concerned with how this would look but am very pleased with the outcome. Pics below to show what I mean.Some highlights of the custom/extra stuff done...
Shaved rear wiper
Smoothed rear bumper (removed rock guard)
Shaved antenna from right rear fender. New antenna hidden in hatch area
Shaved front windshield washer nozzles. Installed wiper arm washer nozzles
Shaved weld seams in door sills (thanks for the idea CollegeBoy)
Shaved JSpec fascia license bracket
Color sanded to remove virtually all the orange peel. Since it will not be a "trailer queen" they left some of the orange peel, though very little, for durability.
Gonzo modified JSpec center panel, red illuminated 300ZX
Clear rear side marker lights
Stillen side skirts and door fillers
Tons of other stuff I cannot remember.
Painted black sections on roof pre and post t-topsInterior upgrades, installed by yours truly with the help of my son Ross, not the body shop.
Installed New leather seat covers (including heated seats!)
All new NovaSuede trim
Replaced red carpet with new black carpet
Replaced gauge cluster red cover with black one
Recovered steering wheel leather
Smittys chromed hard pipes
Tons of powdercoated bits and pieces
JDM drivers seat (now both are power!).. Yeah, yeah, some will bitch that they are heavier than the manual but: 1. I have no plans to race, 2. This will make my Z unique and 3. Besides, they are only 19 lb's heavier.Went from this:
 
Robert, RaceClub Body Shop owner, finishing up prior to paint
JSpec fascia no mo' license bracket and no more windshield sprayer nozzles on the hood!
Smoothed off the rock guard... Much better!
To this! Note, that my picture taking skills are not the best. Also, took these the morning after and some of the fuzziness is dew that formed almost immediatly after pulling it out of the garage. 
Won't see many TT's with this.. RIGHT hand seat is power! Picture does not show it off well but the red contrasting stitching in the leather on the seats, etc. is a very nice touch. Still waiting on recovered ebrake and shift knob.
Love the Z red outline stitching!
Props to Coz!
Like the "Concept Z Performance" sticker placement? See a lot ot TwinTurbo.net stickers on Z's but mine is the first with this one that I have seen! :)
Seat heater controls, fit in pretty nicely I think
A couple pics of the red wrinkle powder coated plenum to be installed in a month or two or??? Trust me when I say that the pictures do not do it justice at all...
Other items done or to be completed, starting this weekend... Gonna be busy!
Eibach Pro springs - This weekend
Stillen sway and adjustable end links - This weekend
PowerTrix adjustable front tension rods - This weekend
LevelTen performance AT valve body-DONE! Excellent upgrade I might add!
4.10 rear end gears from LeaderGears.com
GD Spit downpipes & test pipes - This weekend
Red powder coated brake calipers - This weekendA BIG THANKS to the following who contributed in one form or another!
-The Race Club body shop in Raleigh, NC.
-YugoBernie for misc. parts and help via IM. (I think his new nickname needs to be "Coz Jr." since they both seem to be the perennial "Go To Guys!")
-James at ImportsExtreme.com Leatehers seats and novasuede
-Jodecy (help on the phone, IM and email with the Stillen spoiler)
-Charles Park at PowerTrix (numerous used and new parts)
-Robert Lee at Z1MotorSports.com (JDM power drivers seat, thanks for getting it out so quickly!)
-BreezY for selling me her AVS-5 wheels for an awesome price!
-Of course no post like this would be complete without a BIG THANKS to "THE COZ-MAN!" at ConceptZPerformance.-Quite a few other folks who sold miscellaneous bits and pieces, you know who you are! If I missed anyone, my apologies. AND...
Last but not least, and to whom I owe the most gratitude, MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE Greta, for putting up with the incessant UPS/FedEx deliveries, parts all over the garage and for acting interested when I oohed and ahhed over deliveries! You are my life’s mission. Hope you enjoy this post as much as I have getting the work done. Cannot wait to get to the final product and show it off at the TriangleZClub's show November the 12th! Hope to see some of you there! Kenny West
MidLifeZ
New sig to come soon!
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Some of my favorite tt.net posts: i wold, but mounting must be superior (n/m) - Z_SaMuRai 17:29:08 09/29/05 (1) no one wants to be known for inferior mounting.... (n/m) - maglito 21:23:16 09/29/05 (0)
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There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots. |
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Renovation completed with pics! (56k be very afraid) - 
