aalaws Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) Hey Guys It's time for me to start a thread for the build of my 74 KE25. I have been a member for a little while and have done a lot research and have been thoroughly inspired, impressed (and depressed ha ha) by a lot of peoples mad skills with welders, engines, fabrication etc, spacious garages, knack for rare parts sourcing and seemingly infinite time and $$ for their rollas. My first car was a 1975 KE25 SR coupe and I loved it!! She was stripped in a weekend and thoroughly bogged (in places she shouldn't have been ha ha - fender reconstruction) and I sold my motorbike to paint her.....a stoked 15 yr old and his first wheels. I kept it for around 5 years, while having other cars, and gave her a refresh after cashing my old Subaru Leone into the sea outside Kaikoura - fun times. So she was hauled back into service with a fresh coat of paint but I from then on I dreamed of stripping her back to metal and rebuilding her properly - with some serious mods ;) Alas, the opportunity never came because while I was back at uni, my dad sold it to a farmer and his kids thrashed it around the farm and then dumped it down a tomo!! (giant limestone sinkhole/cave). So ever since then I have been biding my time and waiting for the opportunity to get another one and go from there. Finally, I have got a 1974 KE25 I found in Christchurch, NZ. I probably paid a bit too much for her, but I wasn't going to miss out on another so was happy to secure her without paying NZ $10k for one already done up. Here she is when I got her shipped to my folks house...... She's 90% complete but needs a LOT of work. Anyway - I finally have her here with me in Auckland (moved into a house with a double garage) and have big plans for her!! I'm a bit of a novice but am happy to take my time and if it takes a few years then so be it. stage 1: Strip to shell, bare metal and prime stage 2: Cut out rust, weld and straighten body stage 3: Build 7age, possibly 7agte stage 4: Paint "Lamborghini Competition Orange" Stage 5: Re-assemble with engine, box (type to be confirmed), AE86 struts with vented discs, TE27 steering arms and LSD, reconditioned rear leaf springs. Stage 6: Fit out interior with all new black vinyl TE27 style door cards, rear seats, hood lining and re-trimmed recaros Stage 7: Cruise to my hearts content. so, it may take me a while - don't hold your breath's guys - but I will get there!! I will post progress of stage one and what lies hidden underneath her panels very shortly! Cheers Edited August 31, 2014 by aalaws Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killar_of_giants Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Very nice. The more 25's I see the more I want one but unfortunately its not going to happen. Ill watch on drooling with jealousy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Yeah they're getting rare, but one will turn up for you if you keep an eye out mate - probably heaps more over there on Oz than here in NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted September 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Well I've managed to strip her down a fair bit and have a closer look at what I have to deal with........ there's a fair bit of rust..... and in some pretty hard to get to spots...... At some point the bonnet had flown up and munted the hinge brackets and the cowel panel...... there's surface rust down in the usual spots but no major holes I stripped back above the boot and found some embedded rust.....and then quickly covered it up with primer till I can figure out what to do with it Thankfully my doors are in great condition, the boot has a few big holes, one fender is brand new (score), the other needs the bottom replaced, may need a new bonnet though. It's a bit overwhelming for a noob like me to see all this rust, but I've seen worse repaired on some of the posts on the site so I am taking confidence from that :) I work for Smith & Smith as an autoglazier and have met a good panelbeater who's into Corolla's who's going to come have a look at her and give me some help/advice......maybe teach me to weld. Once he's given me his diagnosis the plan is to remove the engine etc, hit it with paint stripper, find/make a rotisserie and get the rest of the body blasted and primed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Not too much to report from the weekend...... Radiator, carb, few hoses, clutch, accelerator, gas tank and entire wiring loom all removed Slow but steady progress so feeling good about that. Getting the engine and box out this weekend thanks to a mate with a crane which will be good, and slowly but surely forming a plan of attack to strip the body with a combo of 'peel away' and blasting........getting excited about that :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 doesn't look to bad, but its good that you are find it all now so you can fix it before it gets worst good luck with it will be keeping my eye on the thread as I'm doing pretty much the same build but a 4agte instead of 7age Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh what a nissan feeling! Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Looks like a pretty good shell, floor rust is unusual but looks not too bad, cowl rust is a worry but hopefully as in the pics looks ok. The rest looks as good as you could possibly expect, pretty clean so far. I do wonder what the roof will reveal with that bonnet hinge damage... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 doesn't look to bad, but its good that you are find it all now so you can fix it before it gets worst good luck with it will be keeping my eye on the thread as I'm doing pretty much the same build but a 4agte instead of 7age Thanks Roo, yeah the sooner I can get the shell stripped and treated the better! I'd be keen to see your build thread when you get into it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Looks like a pretty good shell, floor rust is unusual but looks not too bad, cowl rust is a worry but hopefully as in the pics looks ok. The rest looks as good as you could possibly expect, pretty clean so far. I do wonder what the roof will reveal with that bonnet hinge damage... yeah I think the rust/hole in the cowl has caused the water to sit in the passenger floor pan and rust that out. After seeing a bit of roof rust in some threads I have tapped around the roof and I don't think theres any bog in it at all thankfully.......but yes only the paint stripper will reveal the truth..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted October 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 Hey Guys, I need a little bit of advice.......from what I have gleaned from various sources I am preparing to strip the shell........ I need the shell stripped back to metal and primed/welded asap. I intend to use paint stripper on the roof and panels etc.......what do i do for door jams, the underside of boot/bonnet etc and tricky places? I want to strip as much as I can myself so my blasting bill is less........any tips? There are some bits that will need blasted to remove surface rust too. Should I weld up what needs patched up first? I figure it's just an easy case of reapplying primer if I wait to weld after the shell is fully primed? Is this the right way to go? any tips? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oh what a nissan feeling! Posted October 5, 2014 Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 Use paint stripper for all of it mate, all the tight spots as well, just get all sorts of scraper shapes. Remember too that blasting does not remove tar, so get that off anywhere first. Fix the rust after the blasting is done, then you know exactly what needs to be fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novaluke Posted October 5, 2014 Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 Hi at the moment i am doing mine exactly as yours. Basicaly i hand removed with the paint remover the delicate places were the sand blast can damage the body other wise its sand blast. I have found that a metal sponge (used to clean dishes) best for some tight corners. Your just leave the paint remover to set more than 15 min and then just removed with it. I have exactly the same rust probs like you. I have removed the inside membrane with a blow torch and a scraper it was easy now tomorrow its going for blast. In my opinion blast is the best for some tight corner and round edges were its much more stronger so they can be sand blasted with out damaging metal. Mine at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Use paint stripper for all of it mate, all the tight spots as well, just get all sorts of scraper shapes. Remember too that blasting does not remove tar, so get that off anywhere first. Fix the rust after the blasting is done, then you know exactly what needs to be fixed. thanks for that, I'll pick up some scrapers when I get my stripper. Someone said the Bunnings own stripper is a good product? The more I can strip myself the cheaper the blasting bill - did you do your window apertures or leave that to the blaster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aalaws Posted October 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Hey Luke - thanks for the tip re the wire wool. Nice to see your car coming along, and sitting on the rotisserie. I've been trying to track one down around here but no luck yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
novaluke Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 What for the rotisserie? It was done by me it and not expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.