#ZedShed Kef and his 30k Miles 2.8 - Rebuild

[Lee]

This is a rare treat for us. A 33,000 miles from new one owner pre-facelift 2.8. This car is stunning already and just needs a front to back mechanical overhaul, bushes have gone soft etc. Also a really cool request to powder coat the running gear a dark green.

We’ll be getting her on the ramp this weekend for an inspection and to make plans.

stay tuned

 

[Mint]

Wow, barely run in, just goes to show it's age [as much as mileage] that does the bushes in.

 

[Scooblitz]

Yup, that's quite nice.

Individual?

Frothing for a set of 17s on it.

 

[Lee]

After a fair few weeks focusing on the Clio and then having a car crash we finally get to start and make plans on Keith’s 2.8. I’ve actually have all the parts in stock ready this time so it might be a very quick build.

today we got her on the ramp. Little crispy in places but she has been stored on grass in the past. To start us off here’s a selection.

Rear

front

gearbox to Flex disc

on the whole it looks crispy but it’s mostly light surface so she will coat fine. We’ve got some interesting colours to coat these bits in watch this space.

 

[AntStark]

What’s this @Lee ? Looks like some kind of brace?

 

[t-tony]

It's a "Strong" Butt Strut.
They weigh a ton. We took one off Grumps old 2.8 at the Shed one Saturday a few years ago.

Tony.

 

[Fender2004]

It's a "Strong" Butt Strut.
They weigh a ton. We took one off Grumps old 2.8 at the Shed one Saturday a few years ago.

Tony.

Every day a school day

 

[KASPar]

It's a butt strut, that connects to 2 fore/aft body braces. Early adopters of Z3's fitted them pretty much from when the cars were new.

Pics 1,5,6 in post above show the trio in various parts.

BMW Z3 Body Brace

StrongStrut

www.strong-strut.com

Other first adopter bits are the 'clear' lights front and back with Phillips silver vison bulbs in indicators and some light bulbs sprayed with heat resistant aluminium aerosol to mask the tango, prior to advent of LED versions.

Further bits are Leather Z seat belt pads with embroidered 'roadster' to match the seat colour and font of the kick plate in the door cill, door armrest pads, centre console with shiftable rest.

Z-Series Z3

Pedal metal covers.

Black kidney grille covers, I wanted a monochrome black and white colour scheme on the front, and no tango on the rear. Part of ZedShed work will further this theme, watch this space

Others went the shiny chrome look with door pins, gear knob surrounds, air vent surrounds, numberplate surrounds.

 

[Lee]

So this weekend we tucked into Keith’s car. She came apart real nice.

No drama with the exhaust nuts.

Body brace came off easy too

within an hour she was ready to be dropped.

out on the assembly trolly

so today we decided to spend another day in the shed, the weather was pants so me n Gary couldn’t go riding. We decided to tear down the rear end. This one was being stubborn so we had to bust out the big tools to get that drive shaft out.

can see tell tail signs someone was here before and really heavy handed.

while I was doing this the bushes got removed.

Not bad but offering no support to that beam.

Looking at the side that had the beaten drive shaft you can see this is an aftermarket bearing. OE is always blue. We also noticed a new hub.

OE vs aftermarket.

Next we needed to remove the swing arm bushes. Fire always your friend here.

didn’t take long to get all 4 out.

next up we removed the diff bush ready for cleaning.

can also spot the factory R marking to show it’s an LsD unit.

powder coat pile getting big.

Was also a good time to stock take all the items we ordered.

next job is the front end tear down.

 

[Lee]

Sneak peak, all the powder coating is back. This weekend we start the re assembly stage.

We even gave the tank straps a coating of green

 

[AntStark]

Very cool... its not as pink as I expected though

 

[Lee]

Very cool... its not as pink as I expected though

I was so tempted for a wind up. If I knew Keith better

 

[Z Victor 1]

Excellent job as usual you chaps.

 

[Fender2004]

I do like the green though very different.

 

[KASPar]

As said at the ZedShed last Saturday, I left the colour choice up to Lee and would await the parts returning, I have trust. I did expect luminous green.

It's a reflection of the attention to detail the boys have for our Z's, that is refreshing.

Excited or wot, to see the reassembly on Saturday.

 

[Fender2004]

As said at the ZedShed last Saturday, I left the colour choice up to Lee and would await the parts returning, I have trust. I did expect luminous green.

It's a reflection of the attention to detail the boys have for our Z's, that is refreshing.

Excited or wot, to see the reassembly on Saturday.

I'm sure that you cannot wait to get the car back?

 

[KASPar]

I'm sure that you cannot wait to get the car back?

All in good time, it's an adventure not a timetable.

There a few other bits to do, that will be revealed in due course. The boys (Lee, Gary, Trev, Paul) and gal (Holly) at ZedShed have been an inspiration on this transformation.

Then there is something to be done to my Merc, inspired by what was done to Lee's drug dealer wagon before it got written off, not the furry dice

It's addictive visiting the ZedShed

 

[Dino D]

@Lee this lovely OG 2.8 looks just the ticket for those bits my old shed needs no ?


@KASPar great choice of Z

 

[KASPar]

@Lee this lovely OG 2.8 looks just the ticket for those bits my Alfa Romeo replica front end old shed needs no ?


@KASPar great choice of Z

FTFY

I do like your debadged gills

 

[Dino D]

FTFY

Had that one coming…

I tried no plate at all but they pulled me over…