1998 LWB NA - the purple project

[Lexx]

Bit of a boring update. 

Subframe is out and almost fully stripped down. 

Diff looks bad, but it's just years of underseal on top of surface corrosion creating an onion effect. It should clean up fine. 

Bushes are in surprisingly OK shape for the most part. But I'll be replacing them all anyway. 

[Lexx]

Just a little update.

Rear subframe prepped and treated today. Will get first coat of Jotun 87 tomorrow on it. Hopefully get chance to put a second coat on before heading off to work. Decided to stick with the OEM subframe bushes. Have done a thorough inspection of them and they are still in usable condition. Especially considering the limited mileage the car will get going forward. 

All my new bushes for everything else should arrive whilst I'm away at work. I'll strip and paint the arms whilst I'm at work so I can throw it all back together when I get back. 

Also started to remove the scale from the differential. 

 

Edited November 19, 2020 by Lexx

[Lexx]

Subframe and differential bracket has had first primer coat (Jotamastic 87). This will go matt when dry. 

Hopefully I'll get time tomorrow for a second coat. Then will leave to cure for 3 weeks and then 2 coats of Interthane 990. That'll give a gloss finish. 

Original bushes are in good condition so they are remaining.

Feel like I'm making progress now. Just all the suspension arms to strip, paint, rebush. Then the diff. And the half shafts. And the chassis..... Jesus. Not as much progress as I thought! 

Edited November 20, 2020 by Lexx
Adding pics

[Lexx]

Little bit more progress made past couple of days. Progress much slower than hoped as we've been busy at work the past few weeks. 

All these bits have now had the 2 coats of Jotamastic 87. They'll get 2 coats of Jotun Hardtop at the weekend.
Still got a few stubborn bushes to remove from the suspension arms, but that should be sorted today and hopefully get at least 1 coat of primer on to all the arms over the weekend.
Apologies for the shockingly poor photos.

Mix of Nismo and whiteline bushes are all waiting for me at home. Along with new Moog ball joints for the rear end. 

[naz27]

Looking great, so shiny [emoji7].


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[Lexx]

Couple of hours on it last night now that I'm home from work. I ended up going for a satin finish paint as it suited me more than anything that was full gloss. The Jotun topcoat I've used is also really easy to touch up should any of it get chipped in the future. 

Some new shiny bits arrived too

Just got the 6 arms to topcoat, then press the new bushes in. Also the diff to finish painting. Then it's re assembly time. 

[phutumsch]

8 Parts on the washing line and not a hint of overspray on the garage door ?.

[Lexx]

1 hour ago, phutumsch said:

8 Parts on the washing line and not a hint of overspray on the garage door ?.

Wife would kill me! 

They're brush painted bud. One of the reasons I chose Jotamastic 87 for the primer and Jotun Hardtop top coat. Can all be brushed on and as long as being careful shows the minimum of brush strokes anywhere. 

I don't have access or space for a spray set up unfortunately. I spend a significant amount of time at work painting large bits of boat with rollers and brushes so whilst it's a damn sight slower than spraying I'm pretty good at getting a decent finish. 

Edited December 15, 2020 by Lexx

[Stephen]

At the end of the day it’s about getting it clean, tidy and corrosion resistant. Few brush strokes are preferable to rust, a utilitarian job. 

[Lexx]

Arms painted and dry, Nismo bushes in, hubs painted and Nismo bushes in.

Differential painted.

I need to replace brake lines on the chassis, and do some paint work above the subframe before putting everything back together.

[Lexx]

Significant lack of updates due to the weather, lockdown, and homeschooling. 

Whilst things have been quiet I've been collecting parts. 

Order from CZP on the way (kind of, they're still waiting on a part from Nissan) - new scuttles, various brackets, arb bushes, front drop links, oem screws and nuts. 

Had a pair of OEM front upper control arms delivered from ebay. Going to clean them up when I'm back on the boat and fit a Whiteline adjustable camber Bush set. 

Refurbed OEM steering pump rcvd and ready to go on when I get the 120k service done later in the year. 

Once the weather improves I'll finish dealing with the underside surface rust above the subframe. Then put the rear back together. Overhaul the front suspension. Send it off for sill and rad support work. Then alignment and hopefully a clean MOT. 

Seems like a long way away at the moment though! 

[naz27]

Looking great [emoji1417]. Mine has those same whiteline adjustable fuca bushes too, fitted by last owner and can report all good - was one of the few things I reused.

That spot you have for your Zed is just asking for a lean to car port! Would make your life much easier. Im hoping to build an almost fully enclosed one after winter and cannot wait for the sheltered space to work on the Zed or daily.


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[Lexx]

1 hour ago, naz27 said:

Looking great . Mine has those same whiteline adjustable fuca bushes too, fitted by last owner and can report all good - was one of the few things I reused.

That spot you have for your Zed is just asking for a lean to car port! Would make your life much easier. Im hoping to build an almost fully enclosed one after winter and cannot wait for the sheltered space to work on the Zed or daily.


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Funny you should mention a car port.... I've got a full set of plans for it drawn up! 

Can't start it until the car has wheels again though. Hopefully when lockdown etc will be done my usual partner in crime from work will be able to come down and give me a hand building it. 

[naz27]

21 hours ago, Lexx said:

Funny you should mention a car port.... I've got a full set of plans for it drawn up! 

Can't start it until the car has wheels again though. Hopefully when lockdown etc will be done my usual partner in crime from work will be able to come down and give me a hand building it. 

Got to be a coincidence! First we both sort our suspension out and now we're building car ports - what's next!

What's your car port design then? is it a lean to one you got planned or something more enclosed? I'm not sure on the route i'm doing for mine yet, got to review all the options soon. 

[Lexx]

As tends to be the way, plans have gone a wee bit sideways. 

My grand plan of getting the brake and fuel lines changed and then cleaning/painting everything went out of the window yesterday. I was a little concerned about some of the corrosion near the axle stand points. So I decided to get it back on the ground asap. 

So spent all today putting it all back together. Not quite at the point where wheels are back on. That will be tomorrow. 

 

[naz27]

Wow I just looked at your before pictures and the difference is amazing - well done, almost there now [emoji1419][emoji1417].


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[Lexx]

3 hours ago, naz27 said:

Wow I just looked at your before pictures and the difference is amazing - well done, almost there now .


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Long way to go yet! 😂

[Lexx]

The wheels are on! 

Back end is now back on the ground. Left the exhaust off for now. Ideally need to remove the drivers downpipe to sort a snapped stud. 

[AndrewG]

23 hours ago, Lexx said:

I was a little concerned about some of the corrosion near the axle stand points.

Got any close up photos?

[TheRealNips]

16 hours ago, AndrewG said:

Got any close up photos?

[Lexx]

Small but important and significant update - it is booked in for the various rust repairs starting on 4th May! 

Finally. 

Oh. And a box from CZP has arrived 😁

[Lexx]

Some new bits have arrived. 

Front adjustable bushes for the OEM fucas that I've overhauled to replace the cheap Midori style ones that came with the car. 

New wheel nuts to replace the fecked chrome plates ones that don't seat properly on the alloys. 

Got home from the boat today. Now got 2 weeks to get the front end sorted and a few other niggles done before she heads down for metal work and some paint. 

 

[Lexx]

Today was 50% good. 50% bad. 

Finished fitting rear Sway bar bushes and torqued everything up. Propshaft fitted and torqued. 

Wheels back on with new nuts. 

Cleaned up the discs and refitted. They're being replaced as soon as Mtec have stock. This is just to get her rolling so she can get onto the back of a flat bed. 

And then I decided to tackle the 2 sheared bolts in the cats. FML. 

4 blunt cobalt drill bits later and I'm still not done. Argh! Had to order more drill bits, hopefully a pack of 10 will be enough! 

 

[Lexx]

To add injury to insult, doing that exhaust resulted in an impromptu visit to the Eye Casualty department of the local hospital and having a metal shard scraped out of my cornea with a needle. 

I think this car hates me. 

[AndrewG]

1 hour ago, Lexx said:

To add injury to insult, doing that exhaust resulted in an impromptu visit to the Eye Casualty department of the local hospital and having a metal shard scraped out of my cornea with a needle. 

I think this car hates me. 

I think your car is telling you something Alex.