The ozone machine helped quite a bit, I couldn't sit in it before. I still need to do more cleaning but detailing the interior of a car is not the kind of fun I like.
Probably need to do another run with the ozone generator. It wasn't bad sitting in the garage but in the sun the smell creeps back...

 

Bought my new favorite tool today, and drove a couple hours each way to get it. Its the BL-7000SLX so it should have no issue lifting the Z or the truck if I need to now. Crawled underneath to check some things out and found the sub frame was hit pretty hard in one spot on the passengers side, presumably from the curb that was hit when it was in a crash.

Only got one and half things done this weekend, pulled the tint from the drivers side window and replaced the rusty W brace.

 

Been a productive week so far, removed all the tint with a $15 garment steamer yesterday and started work on the brakes tonight. I was gonna put off the brakes but realized there is a $110 core charge that is only good for 30 days after ordering so installed the power stop z26 kit with the stainless lines from z1. Tomorrow I will rip of the rears, slap on some red paint, and install the stainless lines. Slow but steady progress.

 

Finished painting the rear calipers (do no use Rust-Oleum Hi Heat Flat red, its orange) threw them back on along with the rear stainless lines. Damn P0037 code came back after installing a new 02 sensor but luckily found what I think is the problem pushed the pin back in and secured with some electrical tape. Replaced my power steering pump as I though the power steering might be out but turns out I just didn't expect the steering to be as hard as it is, that was an intelligent waste of $150... Then I proceeded to drop my side marker bulb into the headlight housing for a laugh, thank god for magnets! Last but not least I finished filling the side skirts and tried my hand at painting for the first time. I think the worst part was cleaning the gun afterwards. Side skirts go on tonight for a second salvage inspection attempt tomorrow.

 

Tri-colored Z ready for salvage inspection tomorrow... man I hope it goes well.

 

It's really coming along! What brand lift is that please?

 

Thanks, it is a slow but steady transformation. The lift is a Quickjack BL-7000-SLX that someone semi-local was selling after owning for about a year. He never bled it properly and had issues going up in tandem. Nice part is that it fits nicely under the Z and can lift the pickup or Jeep if I ever need to. Instead of spending $90 on pinch weld blocks I just bought $30 of magnetic pinch weld adapters off ebay.

 

That's a nice toy! Costco has the 5000 model for $1200 shipped. Love watching the resurrection, Enjoy your Z!

 

It's funny but Costco removed their listing completely a little while ago and then put it back up. I actually paid $1266 for the 5000 on memorial day as a pre-order, website said 6/5. I called on 6/5 just to see if it would be shipping next week and the lady said "Oh no, those aren't due in until the end of June". So that day I started looking locally. Best part is that $1266 is still missing from my PayPal account today and yeah I know I should have used a CC but I wanted to spend the cash while I had it, the customer service dept sucks!

Oh and Good news, the Car passed Salvage, but failed my NH state inspection. Emissions were good but failed safety due to LH inner tie rod play, exhaust tips stick out past rear bumper, and the tech felt some binding in the steering and couldn't explain better.

So I have 30 days to sort these out at least, and the Exhaust arrives tomorrow, so that is one issue out of the way.

 

Must have had too much good luck yesterday...

80 MPH on the highway this morning, luckily she was fine over to the shoulder across nearly the only place in NH with 5 lanes of traffic. Now to decide if I want to buy tires for these or go 18's and tires, either way the rest of the 3 tires I have are going in the trash!

 

I work for DHL under Goodyear and I inspect warranty tires. Dirty used tires. At the end of the day my whole front side and arms are completely black lol.
Anyways I see tires like this come in all the time. The entire sidewall blown off. It still amazes me how it separates so perfectly from the tread.

 

Wow, I had no idea tires even did this! When it was up on the flatbed I thought the rim was super bent on the inside but realized after a couple seconds it was the tire.

Ordered some Federal RS-RR tires tonight, I'm going fairly cheap for now just to get back on the road. Picking out rims in a hurry will probably lead to bad choices.

 

Well you can never go wrong with Works wheels. They're one of the top picks for aftermarket wheels

 

Hey, regarding your steering, I had a similar issue a couple years ago. It turned out to be dirt and grit build up in the lower U-joint on the steering shaft that was binding up and making steering lumpy. Just spray it down liberally with wd40 or any petroleum based cleaner, let it dry, and re-grease. (I used 3m silicon grease but any auto grease should do) There's a second u-joint under the driver dash too if you want to add grease there, but that's less likely to be the problem since it's not out in the elements.

 

That is really good to hear. This is exactly what I was going to do but the fact that it helped your steering makes me feel like its much more possible this is the issue now. I'll have plenty of time to work on it while I wait for my tires to show up!

I figure between this, both inner tie rods, and now both outer tie rods replaced my steering should be 100% (unless the rack has a problem).

 

Productive weekend, removed the old custom exhaust and installed my HKS Hi-Power, cleaned and greased the knuckle on my steering shaft, installed both inner tie rods and 1 outer, and both front upper control arms.

At this point I am just waiting for the tires to show up so I can get those mounted and drive my car again! Next will be re-inspection plus an alignment. I can't wait to hear this on the highway it already sounds like the drone is gone.

 

Looking great!

Would you happen to have a side view of the car before you took off the spoiler? I'm looking to buy one for my car and the Stillen is one I'm thinking of. I also happen to have a blue 350Z so it will give me a good idea on what it will look like.
Thanks.

 

This is the best I have.

 

Thanks. Much appreciated.

 

Tires came in today and tomorrow I have a much needed alignment! Love the way the new tires look, but they do a have a certain hum on streets. FYI I brought the wheels and tires to town fair tire as I liked them when i put tires on my Volvo and they refused to mount new tires they didn't sell to any rim. Luckily NTB had no issue.