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karmanngarrett's 245 DL "Freedom Bloc"

karmanngarrett

New member
Joined
Aug 10, 2021
Location
Reno, NV
Hey,

Just wanted to start documenting my progress before I get too far ahead of myself.

I got the car on the 4th of July this year, traded a motorcycle (old project of mine) for this: 1989 245 DL in Rose beige, tan interior, w/ EGR.
Bp2WhUx.jpg


The PO had been using it basically as a beater. Hauling around firewood and 3 young kids really took its toll on the interior.
ocwBJs0.jpg

l3QtUWK.jpg

Uzncf2p.jpg


The level of grime is hard to explain.. but the car ran well enough and has absolutely no rust or serious damage.

I'll be retroactively posting the progress I have made until I catch up. I appreciate all the help this forum has already given me.
 
July 9, 2021

First on my agenda was to clean out the interior, which I deemed hopeless. I was fortunate to find a couple junkyard cars, and over the past few days had been pulling everything I could get.
7bq0YGq.jpg


Its a bad picture but shows the amount of trash in just one small area of this car. You can also see where the PO had ran the fuel relay ground into the power window harness. I would find out later my ECU failed and this was his "fix."

By the end of the night it looked like this and I needed to shower desperately.
tWuWeCu.jpg
 
July 19, 2021

I decided to spend some $$$ on a brand new carpet kit and while the interior was apart I started on the broken blower motor and resistor.
sYg25fB.jpg


The ECU and FP relay were replaced w junkyard stuff. The power windows ended up being okay once reconnected, despite some broken switches.

Once the new blower motor was working I got bored and took it for a short drive.
aO5X34y.jpg


I found almost all of the exterior trim that was missing (you can see in photo.) I have the lower door guards too but will wait to install them.
 
July 29, 2021

I was going to just cover up the dash with some carpet, but my boss (I work as a welder/ fabricator at a body shop) offered his expertise in dash repair. I have been wanting some upholstery experience so why not?

Before:
z32xoPB.jpg


After you "feather out" the cracks a bit:
LErqaPe.jpg


And after filling those cracks with plastic bumper filler and then a skim of bondo:
vQVM8Dr.jpg


This is a good "how to" resource for dashboard repair: https://www.polyvance.com/280Z-Dashboard-Repair/

You can either apply a textured spray of your choice now, or reupholster in vinyl as I will (I want to learn some sewing basics.) Ill update when I make more progress on the dash.

These are screencaps from video, in the future I will get better pictures.
 
I was going to just cover up the dash with some carpet, but my boss (I work as a welder/ fabricator at a body shop) offered his expertise in dash repair. I have been wanting some upholstery experience so why not?

Before:
z32xoPB.jpg


After you "feather out" the cracks a bit:
LErqaPe.jpg


And after filling those cracks with plastic bumper filler and then a skim of bondo:
vQVM8Dr.jpg


This is a good "how to" resource for dashboard repair: https://www.polyvance.com/280Z-Dashboard-Repair/

You can either apply a textured spray of your choice now, or reupholster in vinyl as I will (I want to learn some sewing basics.) Ill update when I make more progress on the dash.

These are screencaps from video, in the future I will get better pictures.

I prefer the polyvance method. Looks nearly oem.
 
July 29, 2021

Meanwhile, I also started work on fitting in the new carpet.

I bought my kit from ACC for about $200, which I think is a really good deal. It is a good idea to let this sit in the sun for a day or so to flatten out. I then let it sit flat in my garage for about a week just because I wasn't ready to install. I recommend doing this too, as almost all of the creases from shipping were gone by the time I started install.

Comes in this box:
WtaxBeQ.jpg

So it will look like this at first but no worries. (turn off your sprinklers:oops:)
LlC9HIF.jpg


Your old carpet is the best template for your first few cuts. It is easily possible without it, though, as I had thrown mine out. Your biggest cuts will be at the front where it wraps around the center control panel. Once I had my shifter hump fitting tight, you are pretty much in the clear, just cut little bits at a time. (old, bad pics again sorry.)

25y3nhI.jpg

X2OsLWQ.jpg


I also replaced the seats during this by cutting the old tracks apart, it would be simple enought to make some, but I dont believe ill ever return to OE seats, so..
c4ivyC9.jpg


I welded my new seats straight onto the bracket in red, might not be the most elegant solution. My new seats came out of a... PT Cruiser :wtf: not ideal but there was nothing else that day.. and they do this:
F7bW5mF.jpg


To finish the carpet install I stacked some books and weights on any flat surface. There are almost no weird wrinkles and it looks a million times better.
 
August 29, 2021

I'm finally installing some of my junkyard finds while the dash is in progress.
I also got my order of a bunch of tune up parts that Ill be installing soon.

The new door panels are in and look quite nice.
pkPKb2B.jpg

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And a bunch of trunk stuff from the same car.
Yptn2Ql.jpg


I really like the black/white thing I got. I actually still have a bunch of beige parts (full set of armrests, Main Control Panel, kick panels, and a ton of beige clips and fasteners.) So if you're in need let me know.
 
September 28, 2021

I have been working on the car pretty intensely the last month. The junkyard has been a treasure trove and I have acquired an entire +t setup. I have my engine pretty torn apart right now, currently waiting on some gaskets, etc. before I move forward.

In the meantime I am figuring out my e-fan setup. I was able to find one in a 940 and pulled the relay and wiring with it. I decided to use the BMW dual speed switch, but didn't want to tee into any coolant hoses, if possible. I typically try to avoid anything JB weld, yet this is what I came up with.
IMG-1331.jpg


I bought the 80/88C sensor along with the aluminum bung on eBay. The connector is available in most E34/36 BMW's.
IMG-1328.jpg


I'm not sure what the longevity of this will be, but I figured I'd try. Will probably add more JB weld around the bung.
IMG-1329.jpg


This port is usually just plugged or has a 2 pole sensor installed. I have a spare radiator on hand if this ends up being a huge botch job.
 
October 18, 2021

Finally getting some work going on +t. Last order of parts came in so I feel ready to go.

I had the oil pan removed so I cleaned it up.
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/P68Kk6W/IMG-1425.jpg" alt="IMG-1425" border="0" /></a>
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/d5BmkQq/IMG-1427.jpg" alt="IMG-1427" border="0" /></a>

New seals on the oil pump transfer tube. I decided to drill the block since I already had a 1/2" NPT tap on hand. I had a vacuum wedged underneath in the block to catch the shavings.
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/rGVP0yy/IMG-1416.jpg" alt="IMG-1416" border="0" /></a>

The 23/32" hole all drilled (view from inside block.) The harbor freight corded drill I have was about to light up towards the end, smoking like crazy.
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/C5TSrr8/IMG-1418.jpg" alt="IMG-1418" border="0" /></a>

The 1/2" NPT to -10 an adaptor installed with some ultra grey on the threads. Threaded in completely.
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/PcHhwHH/IMG-1423.jpg" alt="IMG-1423" border="0" /></a>

I had spent alot of time scrubbing some grime off of the engine. I'm hoping the seals and new oil separator box will prevent it from reappearing.

I dont understand drilling out to 3/4" NPT. The ID of 1/2" NPT adaptor is still substantially wider than that of the -10 an hose. Would certainly be more expensive and drilling/tapping threads of this size was difficult enough imo.

More to come soon.
 
Random Q

I've been wondering since day 1 what the purpose of this block off plate is. I haven't had any luck finding out. I know this isn't the best place to ask but in case anyone knows...
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/k4spGdS/IMG-1430.jpg" alt="IMG-1430" border="0" /></a>
 
I've been wondering since day 1 what the purpose of this block off plate is. I haven't had any luck finding out. I know this isn't the best place to ask but in case anyone knows...

It covers up a weld in that location. The sedans have a triangular shaped piece of trim on the back of the roof above the rear windows.
 
I'm thinking antenna hole. Anyway, good save on that car- most people would not even have tried to save it because of that interior. I don't understand how anyone can let an interior get that dirty/gross and still drive it!

I've been wondering since day 1 what the purpose of this block off plate is. I haven't had any luck finding out. I know this isn't the best place to ask but in case anyone knows...
<a href="https://imgbb.com/"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/k4spGdS/IMG-1430.jpg" alt="IMG-1430" border="0" /></a>
 
Thanks to all of you. You're right about the antenna. Later wagons apparently came with a fixed "mast antenna" there.

Some wagons were also apparently wired for an antenna in that location from factory even if they had the one on the front pillar. I thought my PO was who ran that extra wire... I tore it out.

I can't understand how the interior got to that point either. I can only be thankful he kept it full of oil and in dry Nevada. Its almost perfectly rust free.
 
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Nice progress so far.

Note on the seats: Having restored several stock 240 seats and driven more than my fair share of PT cruisers, a minty fresh 240 seat is about the most comfortable and well-contoured chair this side of a P2 R front couch.
 
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