Rebody 250 SWB build

[AndersFIN]

Hello!

I thought that I would start a thread about my build. I spent a few months in finding a good donor car. I ended up buying a 2,2liter Z3 from 2001. The car had 180 thousand kilometres on the clock and was in overall good condition - besides the fact that engine was hydrolocked.

I took the car home and first thing I did was I pulled the engine. Hydrolocking was caused by leaking headgasket. I consider myself extremely lucky that the engine didn’t have a bent rod.
I have also removed all rust from the car and painted the bottom of the car.
Beams,diff,brake calipers etc have been sandblasted and painted.
Engine bay has been sprayed with ferrari blue.

During next few months I will do engine rebuild and also do some changes in the interior. And also strip the car and sell parts from it.

Kit has been ordered also - exciting times ahead

 

[AndersFIN]

I was considering these wheels:

Image wheels DB3

I know they are not real wire wheels but I like that you get them with the deep ”dish” like the Borrani wheels.

Any experience of these wheels?

Regaring the seats I have some difficoulties to decide whether I should go for the MGB seats or if I should choose the BB Vintage seats, which can be found on ebay

 

[Argyll Andy]

Really like those wheels on it

 

[elevensies]

love the wheels, and those bucket seats too. go with your heart, remember its a tribute, and things can be different.
will look awesome im sure

 

[Pond]

Where are you getting your body kit from Anders? Is it Tribute?

Regarding seats; the space in the Z3 is tight, so just make sure whatever seats you go for fit OK and can move. Nothing worse than spending good money on seats and finding you can't get them in the correct position for driving.

 

[AndersFIN]

Where are you getting your body kit from Anders? Is it Tribute?

Regarding seats; the space in the Z3 is tight, so just make sure whatever seats you go for fit OK and can move. Nothing worse than spending good money on seats and finding you can't get them in the correct position for driving.

Yes, from Tribute. I don’t know if anyone else supplies them than Tribute?

Yes,I will check that the seats fit - I see these seats in some of the z3:s at least. Ideal situation would be to get them to fit the original rails

 

[AndersFIN]

Any experience on grp bumpers for these?I have the option in buying the GRP bumpers from Tribute for 395+VAT and chrome spray/put chrome decals on them.
The other option is to pay few hundred pounds more for the stainless steel?

 

[Duncodin]

I have the tribute 507 kit. It was supplied with GRP bumpers. There was no option to have steel bumpers.

You say "a few hundred" more. How many hundreds more?

I'm looking at having my grp bumpers wrapped in chrome vinyl. Not cheap but should look ok.

But if I could have saved 395 off the price of my kit by not having the GRP bumpers and spent a "few hundred" more on steel bumpers I would have gone for the steel ones. Would likely work out cheaper AND last longer.

 

[Pond]

If you can get a pair of bumpers (that fit) in polished stainless for less than £1,500 you will be doing extremely well.

I showed a friend of mine, who is a stainless steel fabricator, my bumpers recently. I asked him how much he would charge to make them (with dimensions). He reckoned about £3,500 in the UK.

 

[Pond]

Yes, from Tribute. I don’t know if anyone else supplies them than Tribute?

Sorry, when I read the title first time I thought you were doing a 250 california. My mistake. I know you enquired about a 'cali' a while ago.

 

[AndersFIN]

Link for stainless bumpers

And another one

Not sure how these fit the tribute 250 however?

 

[AndersFIN]

Sorry, when I read the title first time I thought you were doing a 250 california. My mistake. I know you enquired about a 'cali' a while ago.

Yes that’s right. I was also considering a 250California to start with..

 

[Pond]

Link for stainless bumpers

And another one

Not sure how these fit the tribute 250 however?

I don't think they will. Speak to www.groupharrington.com They are the only people I know of that make stainless bumpers for the kits. They won't be cheap and they don't advertise them.

 

[Jezza]

You could also try https://bumperautomobile.com/

They will most likely need a grp bumper as a template though.

 

[AndersFIN]

Thanks for the responses. It might be that I will go for the GRP bumpers and chrome them either by spraying or with chrome decal.

Today I bought a M52B28 engine. This engine has been as spare engine for a rally team so it has never been used (!!)
It was a ”bargain”, as you say in the UK

Time will tell how difficoult the installation will be.At least the throttle arrangement is a bit different on these engines.

Today I also got all the gaskets and parts for the M54B22 engine. I think I will assemble that engine and sell as rebuild engine when it’s done.

 

[DaveP]

Good luck with the build. Tribute, or their UK agents Classic Coachworks sell the 2fifty these days but in a limited way to avoid dealing with F.... Classic have also built quite a few of them for customers so have good knowledge of what seats fit etc. They are not keen on the quality of the BB seats as I recall in past conversations.

Many have been built now and, as I understand it, the best bumpers come from Harringtons but are Not cheap.

If you do FBook there is one member there called Manesh. Those wheels are on his Kobra so he can report on the performance of his wheels. Classic Coachworks can be contracted via their emails or better on FB also. Give them a few days though as very busy. Especially in the next week as doing a charity drive in Europe.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Pond]

the best bumpers come from Harringtons but are Not cheap.

They are not cheap and if they are the best then we are doomed. Built by 8 year olds with a hammer in Vietnam IME.

I don't think laser cutters, or CNC machinery has made it that far east yet.

 

[DaveP]

I could be wrong about they are the best. My car is sans-bumpers

 

[Pond]

I could be wrong about they are the best. My car is sans-bumpers

Only joshing. Although precision is not a word in the Vietnamese vocabulary I presume. I am guessing the word 'wonky' is similar.

 

[AndersFIN]

The more I hear your comments,the more I hear that I should go for the GRP bumpers

I was on madaboutkitcars forum and I read that there was a user,who was modifying the gauge faces on z3 and had the files up for download. Unfortunately the link there does not work anymore. Any chance that some of you would have this on your computer that you could share?Unfortunately it’s not possible to access forum registration anymore.

One other thing I have seen that some cut the doors and make a rounded shape in the lower corner of the door. Anyone done this and would have pictures to share of a finished product?
”Ace” on the madaboutkitcars forum has done this but no pictures of a finished product

Gas tank location.I have not decided yet for the most ideal location.Moving it to the left side will require the fuel hose to be routed through the trunk and potentially creating a issue with gas smell inside the car?

Any proven mods you would recommend on the M52 engine?I have seen people replacing intake,camshafts,tuned ecu,modified exhaust.

Thank you for all inputs