MK03 Gary - New Member and WIP

[MK03Gary]

Hello All,

 

I have a MK03 Zodiac that I have had in the garage for 14 years and now I am seriously in to the renovation and modifications. Hopefully I won't upset the traditionalists too much but it is/was a 2 owner, 53K and solid motor when I bought it in 2001 and now I am updating to create a modern version of a great looking cruiser. I have the body on a spit and have had to do very little welding in the engine bay and underneath (front valance, bonnet hinge areas, front wing attachment landings, front seat attachments and inner rear wheel arches only) and am now de-rusting and epoxy priming before starting on the upside. Everything else is solid with only surface rust needing sorting.

 

The project plan is:

Duratec/AJ30 V6 3.0 engine and manual gearbox from an S type Jag

Upgraded front braking with ventilated discs and 4 pot calipers (bespoke Hi-Spec kit from Tickover)

Standard rear axle, diff & brakes

Lowered 2" by blocks at the rear and adjustable or fixed lowered spring seats at the front (GAZ repair/upgrade)

Reconditioned and uprated front damping

Telescopic adjustable dampers at the rear

Steering rack conversion with bespoke front cross member with relocated inner TCA attachments and shortened TCA's to maintain factory camber, caster and roll centre settings together with bump steer reduction.

14" Minilites

 

The result will be a bit of a sleeper that apart from being lowered and fitted with Minilites will look pretty standard. Initial calculations give 240BHP, 2520 RPM at 70mph in 5th and 0 - 60 in 7 seconds or less (dependant upon the diff holding up under a careful right boot!!)

 

I will surprise a few people and have some fun!

 

I have to get the project finished as the area the garage sits on that the Zody is in has been promised to the Mrs as a BBQ patio!!! I think I may have sold my soul for some 'personal' favours.

 

As I progress through I will be asking some questions and exploring your collective modification experiences. Please be kind with me!

 

Gary

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Vista]

Welcome to Old Skool Ford. Not too many purists on here, we like modded cars just as much as concourse ones. Any pics of the Z car?

[SmokeEm]

Welcome. Love a Z car!

[theloudboy]

Hello and welcome mate don't worry what others think it's your car you do what you want with it

[MK03Gary]

Welcome to Old Skool Ford. Not too many purists on here, we like modded cars just as much as concourse ones. Any pics of the Z car?

This weekend I will get some up to date pics of the work and mods carried out so far. I'll repost the thread with the pics in the project/mods area of the forum and then keep progress updated there.

[luckyjim]

good introduction gary and welcome.we could do with more zodiacs(and zephyrs) on here.had a mk3 myself once.

[khanlad]

Selling your soul for personal favours? Think theres a more than a few been down that road!!! Welcome, sounds like you have a plan for it! When does the mrs want her patio by?

[mk2 mike]

Welcome mate. Good to see a different car on here!

[MK03Gary]

Selling your soul for personal favours? Think theres a more than a few been down that road!!! Welcome, sounds like you have a plan for it! When does the mrs want her patio by?

I am pushing to get the car on the road by summer 2016 and so she will just have to wait until then!! I work out of the country a fair bit and so I do not get as much time in the garage as I would like. I want the patio BBQ sorted as much as her.

 

I am only joking, the Mrs is really cool about the whole thing and really supportive although I am in to a trip to Cheshire Oaks this weekend and I think it is a bit of payback!! 

[chugg-a-boom]

Sounds like you've got a plan going on there mate. Looking forward to some pics.

[Kieran]

Welcome We need more Z Cars on here!

[MK03Gary]

I have taken some pics today. Will re-post my work and the pics in Projects & Restorations and keep the work updated there.