Author Archives: RussD

Musing on The Journey

Posted on October 26, 2026 by RussD

For some reason I realized that as of 2026 I’ve been on this Imperial Journey for 10 years. Well, 10 years depending on how you count. I started thinking about tackling a restoration project around 2012-2013. Got serious about it … Continue reading →

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Z Pictures

Posted on October 19, 2026 by RussD

Hmm, looks like I’ve done a lot of writing about the Z but haven’t really shown you pictures of what it looks like. OK, here are pictures of the starting point! This is what I originally saw. The car looks … Continue reading →

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Z Engine is Out

Posted on October 13, 2026 by RussD

The first step on rust repair – and repairs to the Z in general – is to remove the engine and transmission. Removing the engine and transmission provides access to the engine bay and transmission tunnel. Beyond this it removes … Continue reading →

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Well That Was Cold

Posted on September 7, 2026 by RussD

I’ve documented ongoing problems with the Imperial’s air conditioning. After considerable work we got it to the point where the vacuum controlled air doors were working and it was blowing cool but not cold air. Not completely surprising with a … Continue reading →

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Piping Pressure

Posted on August 31, 2026 by RussD

For the eight years I’ve had the air compressor I’ve been getting by with a single air hose on a manual hose reel. Just having compressed air is great! And the hose reaches everywhere in the shop. But you have … Continue reading →

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Z Plan of Attack, Revision 3

Posted on August 24, 2026 by RussD

The revised revised plan for working on the Z starts with recognizing that the car is currently structurally unsound. As I cut out and replace parts of the body there is a good chance that it will bend, flex, and … Continue reading →

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Now They Are Just Taunting Me

Posted on August 18, 2026 by RussD

There was spray foam in the rear quarters and around the rear valence panel. Might as well find out what that is all about. The covers over the tail lights were stuck to the foam. With careful prying I was … Continue reading →

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The Silver Lining is Probably Zinc

Posted on August 10, 2026 by RussD

There are two bits of “good” news, call it a silver lining to the dark Z cloud: First, since Z cars are popular as well as aggressively rust prone, replacement body panels are available. From multiple sources. This is in … Continue reading →

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It Was Deliberate

Posted on August 3, 2026 by RussD

I’ve got a definitive answer on the clowns that made rust “repairs” on the Z – it was deliberate. I was probing one of the front frame members in an area that wasn’t obviously bad and the screwdriver went all … Continue reading →

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Reality Bites Even Deeper

Posted on July 27, 2026 by RussD

Time to really dig into the Z body and find out what is going on. Starting with recollections of hell from the Imperial – removing undercoating. Dig out the heat gun. The arm I used to hold the heat gun … Continue reading →

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