2ndChance's Z REbuild Thread

[2ndChance]

4/Jun/11
Rebuild is done!!

I have modified this thread into a journal, and put all the pictures of the repair process in this first post. Any further update will be of the future mods.

Enjoy it!

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16/April/11

Kinda busy right now but wanted to post this! Let me introduce myself.. My name is William and this is the Z I've imported to my little country Panama.

This thread is about the rebuild of a salvaged 2009 370z W/Sport Package. It was used as a test drive car in a Petaluma Dealer from Oct 2009 to Aug 2010. When the car reached 1.6k Miles it was sold to some guy in San antonio TX, where few months and 3k miles later it was rear ended and classified as savage car. I located it at copart.com and won it after a really ferocious bidding (People from the emirates, bolivia, colombia, brazil, mexico,they were mostly drug dealers ). So despite the car was produced during the first model year, it only has 4.3k miles, and still had the plastic wrapping around door handles and the rear stabilizer bar!

Simply put, the reason why I did not get a brand new Z is because it costs around $60k in my country. It sucks to be poor.

-I bought this car off an online auction in february 24.
-The location was texas, they started moving it a week later to miami port.
-5 days later it arrived and stayed in miami port waiting for papers and loading.
-It took about 1 more week until it was here in panama
-8 days in Panama port waiting for more papers, paying taxes and such
-March 22th car is in my house now

Here are some pictures I'd like to share:
Love at first sight


In way home


Ouch


Removing damaged parts



No, I did not extend the exhaust


Ordering parts


It looks f**** up but it drives perfectly because the suspension, drivetrain and engine were untouched. Coming from a 160hp 2.4L 4 banger, driving the Z is like... when I upgraded from my 98hp 1.5L. But twice as good.

Final amount for repair:
-Parts: $3900 incl. int shipping, ETA 4 weeks.
-Workmanship: $1500-$1800 Depending if I want it stock or have the wheels, valance and door handles painted and tail lights tinted.

I'll be updating this thread in about 1 month when the parts arrive, I'll be leaving tomorrow for a 3 weeks trip to the US!!


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11/May/11

The parts are here!!!

I'm taking the car tomorrow to the car shop, it will be in there for about 2 weeks. Tonight i'll test drive it for the second and last time before driving it in the streets. I've sealed the leak in the gas tank (Has a very small puncture made when pulling the car to the flatbed truck and there as a rock underneath the gas tank. Very bad luck.) with a special industrial-grade, chemical-proof epoxy paste. I hope it works because the gasoline has literally melted 4 different types of regular epoxy.

Here are some pics
Loading the rest


All of them



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12/May/11


The car is in the shop today and they started working on it. The manager said he will have 3 guys working on it full time so hopefully the work can be done in in few weeks.




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17/May/11

Everything good so far.

There are huge dings in the doors and front fenders, due to poor vehicle manipulation during the international transport, so a lot of parts should be repainted.

Soldering job should be done by the end of this week, then comes the sealing, painting and assembly. Will keep you updated.








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31/May/11

Another update...

Sealed and primed, almost ready to paint!



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1/Jun/11

Just 1 more day to go....






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4/Jun/11

It's done!!!

After more than 2 years of saving; then 4 months of planning, waiting and finally doing, here is the result:





Here are some decent non-iphone pics: After a 4 hour wash and interior cleaning...















I've put lots of time, money and effort into this project. Some people may wonder if it's worth it? Yes, every single bit of it.

Now that my car is officially out, I should post my mod list.
-Washer mod
-Painted fangs matte black
-Painted Door handles matte black
-Rear bumper "370z" logo debadge
-Emblems painted matte black
-Evo R rear fog light


All pics of the repair in dropbox gallery


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Here ends the rebuild project and now this thread is going to be my journal.

Here are some of the mods I'm planning to do:

Short-term mods:
-Matte black wheels
-LED bulb replacement
-Tail light, brake light, fog light tint
-Windows tint
-Caliper paint
-Oil change + K&N filter.

Medium-term mods:
-Swift springs
-20+25mm spacer
-3M DiNoc CF vinyl, hood, roof and spoiler
-Intake tubes and K&N filters
-Muffler delete + Custom exhaust tubes
-5000k HID bulb swap
-Pioneer DVD + alpine comp speaker set

Long term mods:
-Stillen Gen3 intake
-ARK exhaust system
-HFC/Test pipes
-Crossdrilled brake discs
-Grippier brake pads
-SS brake lines
-Head lamp mod
-CF lip, side skirts, rear add ons.
-Seibon nismo style CF spoiler
-Real CF hood
-RE11 Tires
-Goes on and on....

Thank you all for the support!!! Will keep you updated with better pics

[CrownR426]

Nice, tell us how it goes!

[Nitrouz]

Good for you for doing whatever it takes to realize your dream car.

If you need any help or measurements or pictures of how parts go in a new car, just post and we'll try to help as much as we can.

[Peppers]

I agree with Nitrouz, just ask and I'm sure there will be plenty of helping hands!

[geosZ]

Nice car nice color. Thanx for sharing

[c41006]

congrats and good luck with the project

[209Z]

Subscribed. True dreamer right here.

[2ndChance]

Thanks all for the support!!!

Final amount for repair:
-Parts: $3900 incl. int shipping, ETA 4 weeks.
-Workmanship: $1500-$1800 Depending if I want it stock or have the wheels, valance and door handles painted and tail lights tinted.

Will keep you updated after I return from my trip

Originally Posted by 209Z

Subscribed. True dreamer right here.

209z your car has inspired me to add some nice stuff to mine, I'd say yours is one of the best looking Z in this color

[Baer383]

I fix cars like this everyday at work,that car is hurt pretty bad but it can be fixed.
Looks like it needs a hatch,bumper re bar,rear body panel,repair/replace trunk floor,and repair/replace both frame rails,repair both rear lower quarter panel extensions,possibly repair both tail light pockets.that's just what I can see, good luck with it.

[Bleek]

So if you don't mind saying, how much did you pay for the car itself?

[Mr&Mrs]

As others have said, if you need any help pm me. I have quite a few pictures of the rear end all apart. I also have quite a bit of knowledge of it now from putting on my rear bumper like 100 times to fit it.

[Red__Zed]

Good luck!

[2ndChance]

Edit: all updates of the repair process have been merged into the first post!

[SoCal 370Z]

Subscribed!

[Baer383]

I'm in for the win.