Transcript The Datsun Roadster BookTM

The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car
Here are some pictures of some of the first
restoration effort on our 2000. We started in
1974 and changed course in 1980 which is
described in companion PowerPoint on this
page.
Click your mouse to advance the slide show.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
The 2000 arrives at the garage on the race car trailer. It had to be trailered
because of the seized engine. When we first looked at it to buy, it had a knock
but it still ran. We deferred and then got a call two weeks later saying the
engine had seized and the price had been reduced. We rented an extra space
(for an extra $8.50 per month) next to our race car and moved it in.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
We immediately began disassembling it – first to go was the engine. After we
got the engine out and apart we took it a great local machine shop – Herb
Horst Auto Machine. While they did their work we decided to did a little deeper
into the redo. We would spend the next 13 years finishing it.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
Before we knew it the body was stripped an pulled off the frame. The black
places on the otherwise rusty frame are all the places that get greased or leak
oil.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
Although only 6 years old the frame has been brutally attacked by the salt and
calcium chloride used to de-ice the roads in Pennsylvania.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
Another view of the frame sharing space with it’s former body with the race
1600 alongside.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
After a few weekends of wire-brushing and brush-coats of Rustoleum damp
proof primer followed by gloss black it looks 1000% better – as long as you
didn’t get too close! As noted elsewhere, we were rank amateurs – and poor
ones at that. We realized much later (once we could afford it) that all we did
was preserve the frame for proper cleaning and painting.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
After the Rustoleum we reassembled the suspension. Yes, those would be
Koni shocks. We removed the Koni’s later on in favor of factory shocks for the
restoration.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
The engine goes back together after Herb Horst finished it. They found a
piece of electrical tape in the gallery leading to #3 connecting rod which
restricted oil and caused the rod bearing to spin. We replaced the crankshaft
rather than turn it down since a new crankshaft only cost us $85 (I could buy
parts at dealer cost since I was a mechanic at the dealer). We painted it black
since the thought in those days was that black parts gave off heat better.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
High tech equipment – some barrels and some 2x4’s raise the body high
enough to roll the chassis under on wheels with no tires at the front. No tires
on the front wheels helped lower the engine to fit it under the body. We would
use the “wheels with no tires idea” about 20-years later for the same task.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
You could use tires on the rear since there was nothing on the back of the
chassis that stuck up like the engine. All the bolts were the old (rusty) ones
reused – something we would correct in “Part II”. After this the body and
chassis went into storage until we could raise enough money for the bodywork
and lacquer paint job. It would be along wait.
The Datsun Roadster BookTM
Our Car 1974 - 1980
We hope you enjoyed our story of the first
“restoration” of our 2000. Like the photos in the
Race Cars presentation, we go back to a much
simpler time. We hadn’t a care in the world – or
much money, but they were still the “good old days”.
There was a lot of work still to come as you will see
in the next two presentations.
Also, check the rest of the site for some more cars
from our past.
Use the “back” button to return to
“TheDatsunRoadsterBook”