Rusted Front Fender Repairs on the 280z

[@BLOKgarage]

What's the best way to strip all the paint off the car?

[@roosterhunter6245]

In 2018 I painted my tailgate. I used Rustoleum paint stripper. Got 2 gal for less than 50 bucks I think. Shit worked awesome! Good "ol EPA outlawed methylene chloride a few years back. Now you can't buy the stuff. Still got a gal unopened in the garage. I have no idea how the new formula paint strippers work. Methylene chloride is a nasty chemical if you don't know what you're doing. Do your homework I guess and see if the new strippers work as good as the old formulas. Be interesting to find out.

[@robertdavis386]

Single edge razor blade, as crazy as it sounds, is a great stripper. Stand it upright at near a 90° angle to the surface and it will take paint off about as fast as a grinding disc without the heat transfer to the metal. Touch ups to difficult areas can be done with a sanding disc.

[@AW_DIY_garage]

@@robertdavis386 that is interesting, I would certainly try that on large panels for sure

[@ronnygouveia7200]

I feel like paint stripper is the easiest way to go. The only issue is finding a good one that doesn't involve a bunch of applications. EPA baned methylene chloride, which was the ingredient that made the old school paint strippers work amazing, but also killed you slowly. Lol Maybe do a paint stripper comparison video and see which one works the best on the 40 year old Japanese paint.

[@calais51]

80grit and a knuckle buster….

[@PieterKuijk]

I love how you show your mistakes, other youtubers just skip that and pretend it went all well. Take us with you in your learning curve and we will learn as wel. Thank you!

[@BLOKgarage]

I figure everyone might as well learn from my mistakes!

[@gabemidkif]

I've never seen you anything other than calm and laid back. I didn't think it was possible to rattle you. Nice work man.

[@BLOKgarage]

Thanks

[@danielhughes9556]

Chemical strip, outside. Over a tarp. Looks good. Agreed, you should have used the entire green panel. But we all make mistakes. I make a mistake every time I wake up and show up for work! Excited to start seeing the go fast stuff

[@BLOKgarage]

😂

[@LorenWildt]

Brian- I have been watching your videos for many months now- you have some of the most informative and interesting content that I have seen! I am currently restoring a 240Z that is in really tough shape, so you have been giving me a lot of inspiration. Please keep the great content coming! Thanks again.

[@BLOKgarage]

Glad I can be of some help!

[@thomas50208]

You did great. I would’ve made 10 times the mistakes. Glad to see the sub count still rising.

[@MikhailScottKy]

Looking at the amount of work that needed to be done I would think that using the whole patch panel would have been easier for the bottom of the fender.

[@BLOKgarage]

You're not wrong. Just wait until the next video 😉

[@landonmarx4753]

Love it when these vids come out!!!

[@RA-uj3nm]

But.......in the end you kicked it's butt...👍👍. Right on. Good work.

[@BLOKgarage]

Thanks 👍

[@landonmarx4753]

Should be a pretty simple process. Love you bro!!! Look forward to seeing how it goes. This is my before I watch comment!!

[@roosterhunter6245]

Found you on Reddit Aug 08, 2024. Can't wait to binge watch all these vids!

[@BLOKgarage]

Let me know what you think!

[@landonmarx4753]

After watch comment. I’m learning from you. I think what I’ve learned is any time I can make the cuts a straight line is best, parallel to the body lines. So I only have to line up one angle/plane. Vs a compound cut that brings multiple body lines into play. Also just keep going. It all works out in the end.😊

[@BLOKgarage]

Yeah I think replacing the "whole panel" gives the best results. You'll see in next week's video 🙂

[@landonmarx4753]

@@BLOKgarageyou’re going great thanks for putting these vids out!!!

[@AW_DIY_garage]

I could absolutely tell how frustrating this one was. Wheel wells and curves on fenders are very difficult. Good work not getting so frustrated that you just did a poor job. I think it looks good. I would also cut out a much larger piece and find ways to hide seams of the welds on flat surfaces versus curves (I tried to do this on my car, but I did not take enough time to get it perfect and I can still see my seams). As for stripping the car, I would try chemical on a small area and see how it lifts, if it works do that, if not move to abrasives. If you try to use abrasive after chemicals it gunk's up tools and it even more gross to deal with. Good work man

[@BLOKgarage]

Any recommendation of brand for chemical stripping?

[@AW_DIY_garage]

@@BLOKgarage no I used several, my advice would be to work on small areas and follow the directs to the T. It seemed like the larger areas I tried, the less consistent results I got. Your mileage may vary. I also never stripped an entire car, but just smaller sections at a time.

[@jayinmi3706]

Also thinking, would it be better to leave that support piece intact when doing tthe front side rust repair, and replacing the support after so it keeps it's shape better?

[@BLOKgarage]

That's possibly a good idea. I changed my strategy up for the other fender which worked a lot better.

[@jayinmi3706]

I don't know. I know Klassic Fab from the VW world, and they had a rep for fitting really well...which they should for what they cost. They were (in some cases) like several times the price of the say, Klokkerholm budget panels. *I'd* have had pretty high expectations. Good you could make it work.

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

At the start, at around 6.03 mins, you removed the door bracing and let the car hang at both ends upright. This would bow it in the center and would have contributed to those panels not lining properly. You can weld two bracings on the inside and then remove the door A pillar bracing.

[@BLOKgarage]

I have more bracing welded in the car plus the way stronger frame rails. I don't think the body flexed at all. The door bars were really just there while I was doing the floor pans and frame rails and I've just kept them in.

[@markblades4536]

Loving your work bro 👏👏

[@BLOKgarage]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@jamest3188]

i went to klassic fab and i couldn't find my car or even your 280z panels. did you have to order it custom from them?

[@BLOKgarage]

kfvintagejdm.com/product-category/datsun-280z/ Everything that I ordered should be there except i think the front fender panels. Those are listed under 240z but are the same