Skip to main content

MadaboutKitcars

This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.

Tribute Z3gato (?!!)

16 Jun 2018, 7:26am
bladerunner wrote:
Have a look at a 1995 type Nissan micra rear screen. It has nice curved edges on it and is narrow enough to possibly fit


Good shout :nod:
16 Jun 2018, 9:31am
Changing the subject a little...ahem.... I'v not looked at this thread in a while, so i caught up... (gonna look nice btw...), on the 'first glimpse' post a few pages back, i couldn't help noticing a rather accurate looking 'big Healy' lurking in the background....
Anyone got any info...?
16 Jun 2018, 9:34am
Ollie wrote:
Changing the subject a little...ahem.... I'v not looked at this thread in a while, so i caught up... (gonna look nice btw...), on the 'first glimpse' post a few pages back, i couldn't help noticing a rather accurate looking 'big Healy' lurking in the background....
Anyone got any info...?


I think it is Chris's own project.
16 Jun 2018, 9:52am
Chris's personal toy/project.
He was going to fit a GRP body but has found that the body panels are so reasonable that he is going to re-panel it in metal.
Looks like a nice project.
19 Jun 2018, 7:20am
Paint tribulations



This was the quality checked paint that is delivered as RAL 6021 from Pro Aerosols Paints. I am not sure whether to give up on the colour, or give up on the supplier. I knew that the green was always going to be a bit tricky.

I am thinking of something more like wine red, a la Jaguar. RAL 3004 as a start point for gelcoat.
19 Jun 2018, 8:18am
I like that colour a lot.

Have you tried spraying a primed area just to see how it looks?
19 Jun 2018, 9:46am
I will try it. The trial was onto grey plastic lid
20 Jun 2018, 3:16pm
It might be worth trying a Triumph Dolomite rear screen? Period-looking but a good size, with traditional rubber fitting rather than the bonded type.
20 Jun 2018, 3:56pm
Paint tone

I think it is time to give up on this batch of paint, clearly Pro Aerosols Paint suppliers don't cut the mustard.

I will try again with a couple of other suppliers, but it may be best to get the panels fitted first, then take the car to a paint shop to get the colour matched, as I am assuming that the gelcoat finish will be the a true colour.
20 Jun 2018, 6:59pm
It's a lottery with paint - all you can say for sure is "the car is that colour, and I have some spare touch-up paint"
I have an Oxford Blue BS105 car, and when I got some gelcoat (to make a matching caravan) is was wildly different (almost black!). Ended up painting the caravan, which was then a bit darker than the car. Fast forward to getting paint (from same supplier) for painting the car now because gel coat has 'streaked' and the paint is darker than the caravan. It's not the caravan faded, because I have some of the original paint in a tin, and there is quite a difference.
I guess the answer is to buy double the required volume at the time! :doh:
29 Jun 2018, 9:43am
Enforced Pause

What with holidays and family engagements around the country I have had little time to do anything apart from seal the dashboard together, not much visible difference to the previous photos.

My Z3 has a yaw sensor problem, and has been with the garage for 3 weeks as they have had problems getting the sensor from BMW. Today they were sent a longitudenal sensor and not the rotational one, so more delays. As I don't have the car to hand, I can't check the colour of the vinyl covering for the dashboard is right, so am pretty much hamstrung on progress there until I get the car back.

Paintwise, I need to talk to Chris to get a colour sample of what the gelcoat will look like in green before I spend more money on can samples.

But I am enjoying the sunshine anyway.
29 Jun 2018, 2:15pm
Stick with the repulsive green, it will spur you on to finish the car and get it painted. If it looks OKish you don't have the same desire to get it pained properly which is a big mistake.
29 Jun 2018, 2:45pm
You know me too well, I was hoping that I may get away with a worn out, served its purpose kind of effect.
8 Jul 2018, 5:39pm
Any further updates/photo's of the repulsive green one?

How about dash progress?
10 Jul 2018, 1:24pm
Progress, or not

My Z3 is still with the garage, it is taking an age to get the sensor. So long as it is there, I cannot check the vinyl colour against the dash, so enforced sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine.

Nothing to report on the body.
10 Jul 2018, 7:04pm
Barber wrote:
My Z3 is still with the garage, it is taking an age to get the sensor. .........


That sounds very suspicious to me. I built a BMW based kit car and I'm currently installing a BMW M52 engine in my Sabre and all my experiences with BMW parts department have been truly excellent. Prompt (usually less than 48 hours), efficient, courteous and accurate. Of course, there could be exceptions but I've never had a problem.

And you can look up spare part numbers using this website...
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select (But do ignore the adverts)
Just type in your VIN and then drill down to find the part numbers.

I would be challenging your garage on what issues they are having :tsk:
8 Aug 2018, 11:00am
Nothing much happening at the moment

Chris has been labouring in the hell that is GRP work during the recent (and ongoing) heatwave. Last time we spoke, he was due to collect a Micra screen as a possible solution for the rear. Not much else to report on that.

The Z3 yaw sensor issue is dragging on. The indy BMW garage uses a local BMW dealership for parts supply. The OEM for the part has changed a couple of times, and searching round the internet, they are not common parts. The Euro holiday shutdowns don't help either. Result is that no part supplied yet, after the initial long delay then sending wrong part. The garage had to send the part of my car so that they could verify the correct part number from the first OEM supplier.

As it happens, I haven't had much time to do work anyway, and certainly would not have relished doing stuff in the temperatures we have been experiencing, so whilst a little frustrated, not desperately so.

Reading that back, goodness, it's dull, sorry.
8 Aug 2018, 12:42pm
It may be dull at the moment but I am sure it will get a lot more interesting in the near future.
10 Aug 2018, 12:46am
Hi Barber on the subject of rear windows, have a look at the 1 series Beemer, following one today send it's got a nice radius o the sides and reasonably short in height.
10 Aug 2018, 7:32am
Thanks, will have a look. Chris's thinking was that as the Z3gato is a coupe, a deeper screen would give more visibility. But the width and curve are primary considerations.
10 Aug 2018, 7:03pm
Same with the 250, can't find a screen to suit. The Grassbank seems the only option.
10 Aug 2018, 7:24pm
The Z3gato uses a modified 275 roof, so is wider than the 250. Probably the Grass all one will not be wife enough but I will investigate.
14 Aug 2018, 7:07pm
Chris has got the Micra screen, and dropped onto the hole cut for the Alpha ft screen, it looks like it can work. Needs moving a couple of inches up, and some work to the sides and boot. Nothing more to see for a couple of weeks.
14 Aug 2018, 8:07pm
Barber wrote:
..it looks like it can work...


Looks rather good actually.
14 Aug 2018, 8:22pm
That does look good