Floors are all cleaned up behind the firewall and things are starting to go back together now. I mounted the original tank but knowing that the car's getting a concourse exhaust system with resonators and chrome tailpipes, the dented old tank is really made for a bit of an opposite detraction so I've opted to set it aside and store it for future consideration. Also decided to blow in some black paint on the diff as I was struggling with the look when I finished cleaning it up. There were a number of bare spots exposed and I needed to cover those up. I shot both tubes with a single coat of black and it is what it is.

Another concern was stripping the black paint at the bottom of the firewall where the lower floor seam meets up. All along the bottom of the toe boards and the areas around the tunnel had to a lot of gray primer being exposed after cleaning. And I would say it's plenty more than what would be considered normal or acceptable. I'm thinking the shop that reinstalled the motor, washed it down with thinners before they shot the black in for the former owner's brother. In any case, I wasn't digging all the gray so I fogged in the areas where the straight primer was exposed and blended it in so it looks better. I'm happy with the results of those decisions and it's looking miles ahead of the mess that the previous owner created.

Here are a few shots of the floors and the rear end now that the diff and the new tank are under the body. Once I'm finished upfront and the motor and transmission are reinstalled, the Gardner exhaust will be hung and I'm sure it will balance the old and the new. Not quite as I had planned for with a total dial back to original, but a compromise that I am totally OK with. Still, a lot of work to be completed on the front half of the car so I will see how that unfolds as I start cleaning the front clip this weekend. Fingers crossed on any more surprises upfront, but ready to deal with those in any case.


https://i.ibb.co/PtfQJxb/IMG-9095.jpg
Floors are nicely cleaned up with all of the factory finish now exposed and intact.

https://i.ibb.co/zQ1GmSj/IMG-9090.jpg
Here's a view looking down the tunnel after all the black spray paint was removed.

https://i.ibb.co/mhbJBys/IMG-9093.jpg
Another shot of the back with the differential back under the car and the broken leaf repaired.

https://i.ibb.co/qpn03Nm/IMG-9084.jpg
And finally, a view from the back. Yeah, I know...new tank but it will match the new Gardner exhaust that's going around it soon.

Looking awesome Graeme! I really like what you're doing with this Z. I have a pair of original chrome tailpipes that were stored in an attic for 40 years - they would be perfect for an original car like yours. Let me know if you have interest.

Sent you a message. Thanks

Your doing a nice job Graeme!! Did you ever get back with N.C. DMV about info on your Z??

I tried getting through a couple of times with limited success. Not giving up on that I actually called again today and left another message for the gal in charge of this department to call me back. NC DMV has purged all info prior to 1990 with any older information now stored on microfilm. Apparently, this title department I was dealing with can request the microfilm department search for a given VIN, but I was told this would take some time to search. If a VIN has originally been titled in NC, they would have a record of it as well as a copy of its Certificate of Origin. Her department is the one that requests those film searches, but she was very clear this taking some time to produce. Once a VIN is found, they can then add it back into the database and produce copies of any original documents that are found.

I'm hoping that a couple of gentle reminders and follow up calls helps speed that process along, and hoping that the car was originally from North Carolina as was rumored. Shot in the dark and time will tell...

Super nice car!

I started working on all of the brake lines today and Pulled back the master cylinder and the steering to get everything on the left side of the engine bay accessible for cleaning and detailing. Hard lines are now soaking in evapo=rust to get them cleaned up. Also, here's the Gardner exhaust kit that will be installed once the engine goes back into the car.

https://www.gardnerexhaust.com/wp-co...bresonator.jpg

Nice!

Keep up the great work Graeme!
Buddy

Fantastic work to clean off all the extra paint underneath...