Clean Z, needs a pulley delete though!
-Icer

 

Actually needs an entire new passenger's side now. Lady in minivan pulled out of parking spot and into the side of my car as I drove by on street over the weekend. Hit right behind front wheel and down the side of the car to the back wheel. Before that, only mark on the car was a stone chip on the hood (which I just discovered Saturday when cleaning it). Waiting on insurance now. Hopefully they won't total it. Of course, new exhaust shipped out right before I called to cancel it.

 

Yikes, that sucks.

 

I didn't want to 'like" your post, but more of an acknowledgement.
That indeed sucks, and I too hope they don't total it....a little paintless dent repair and it should be good as new :-)

 

I think it will really depend on how trashed the rear quarter panel is

 

Depending on your desire, if they do total it, you may be able to keep it for parts (they'd deduct the salvage value from the payout). Then you could pick up one with a blown engine or bad transmission, etc., and use the parts from your original to put it right. In that way, your original Z could live on as a donor.

But, I say that like it's easy...I have the space to accommodate such projects, so that makes it a potential option if it happened to me (not that my wife would be glad to see another non-house-related project added to the mix ).

 

If they do total it, I'll probably buy it back and restore it under an R title. Adjuster finally called back and said he didn't think it would be totaled and that they'd estimate the value based off of similar cars that have sold lately so that will give me a lot more room than KBB or NADA value. Front fender crumpled. Door smashed and doesn't close all the way (closed enough to not come open), Rear fender slightly dented but mainly scraped. Lines on hood look fine, hatch opens and closes fine. Fortunately all the damage is between the wheels so shouldn't have any suspension issues. Just scares me since my son's 2010 Impreza didn't seem to have much damage and they totaled it (ended up fixing for him). Calling shops this afternoon. One I wanted to take it to said they could fit me in mid July. Maybe. Hopefully others won't be as backed up. Would like to get it back in time to actually drive it before I have to put it back in storage for the winter.
Thanks for the responses and listening to me complain. Still really pissed off. This is what it looked like pre-weekend.

 

Replaced the Driver's Rear running light (W5W) and turn signal (WY21W) bulbs. I think these were original to the car (saw a Toshiba marking on one) - if so, they made it 145k miles / 17yrs.

 

(Removed)

 

Coated tips on salvaged nismo exhaust. (Goes along with spoiler, flaps, taillights, brembos & red front reflectors.)

 

Last week my Z got a full detail including the Klasse twins and then got brought to Z Car Garage for a rear differential bushing replacement as the OEM finally gave up the ghost and was leaking fluid...replaced with Whiteline bushings kit...I actually can feel the difference and didn't think I would. I'm only at 84k but got the 90k service done because I'm putting miles on so slowly these days.(no commute to BART anymore) and it had been about 5 years since my last service. So right now the Z is looking and feeling like new....absolutely love it. My 2003 E46 in the background got the same full detail treatment as well...gotta get a service appt set up for it as well soon. - Shawn

 

Over the weekend, I replaced the protective paint strip on the tonneau cover of my ZR and made a quick write-up.
https://my350z.com/forum/350z-roadst...placement.html

Before:


After:

 

Picked up car from body shop after a month. Guys that worked on it came out to talk about the car, handed me a box of original salvaged parts in case I needed them down the road and one offered to buy it. Happy with results, glad to have it back. Now I need to find a free weekend to install Stillen exhaust that was delivered right after it was wrecked into.

 

Looks great AJ...like new again. Enjoy that new exhaust once it's on!

 

Thanks. I plan on enjoying it!

 

Prepped a JL Audio stealthbox with 2 infinity Kappa 10" subs. I have a bit of work to get done in the interior before they'll be installed and thumping (mouse-proofing the cabin vents in the rear apron is a must! and installing a backup camera). The door and rear speakers have already been upgraded, but the amp will go in with the subs.

 

I formed some mouse-proofing cages to go over the exterior cabin vents in the rear. I will be priming them, painting them black, and then will use black silicone RTV to hold them in place. This shape still allows the full movement of the venting flaps, but the 1/4" mesh should prevent this from being used as an entrance by mice.




So, besides these vents in the rear, and the fresh air intake for the cabin under the cowl/drip tray behind the battery (I'll be making a similar cover for that, too, and will likely add a cabing filter element, like described in some Youtube videos I've already searched out), are there any other know cabin entry points for mice? Is there something under the driver's side of the cowl I need to cover, too? The passthrough of the vents at the door jambs to the doors has a rubber seal/sleeve, so I don't think those are ones to worry about.

Update - this thread has some good discussion on it: https://my350z.com/forum/maintenance...hate-mice.html , and I found some others, too. Seems like the fresh air intake under the cowl and these rear vents are the culprits (and I already looked down the intake under the cowl and saw droppings). And then, in general just trying to discourage them when the vehicle is left with mothballs, dryer sheets, or mint-soaked cotten *****.

 

Looking like new again. By the way are you rolling on Firestone Firehawks?
I got a set and so far they are providing great handling.

 

ex Nick Omar in Auckland, NZ

The clean

More clean

Taking stock

The strip - dont be like the silly fellow on YouTube who shot his piston around his workshop and dented it. I found that the best way to "pop" the second piston was to gently reinsert the first one and hold it there with a G clamp.

Made (great) decision to have garnet blasted

Blasted 2

Ready to mask up and start paint. HUGE thanks to Mike Smith of Car Colors in Auckland, NZ http://carcolors.co.nz/ for prep / paint kit and instructions.

Looking fantastic with even just primer on. Satin white etch.

Look at it !!!!

Nervous times with first (of 3) top coats in Kawasaki Green. The merits of warming your cans in hot water before you spray cannot be overstated.

3 coats of green now.

Rotor hubs in good old etch satin black. I think slotted is on the shopping list now

 

5/16" plenum raise? The strut brace still clears? Thought that was a clash?