First Project Car!

[mpowers]

Don't worry I don't plan on replacing the U20 any time soon. I plan on driving it quite a bit and I know eventually itll have to be replaced, so I am considering something different. The colors not original, a previous owner painted it (poorly) at some point so in a couple years after I finish all the mechanicals Ill get it painted. Unfortunately I realized my carbs are not solex but SU's, but everything else seems to be competition package. I drove it a couple days ago about 40 miles when it was decent outside and realized my suspensions pretty much shot, so I guess I need shocks next!

[notoptoy]

I would start with greasing the front end. In all I think there are 23 Zerks (grease fittings) around the car. So get those all greased up. Check out the ball joints, professionally if you are not sure how. The shocks may be the last thing you want to replace.

[mattywood]

If you have the coin buy this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-Roadster ... f1&vxp=mtr

[spl310]

Does that car have a bondo repair on a rear quarter panel? If not, it's twin is out there somewhere...

[mpowers]

Yes it does! I assume you may know something about this car then?

[spl310]

I remember seeing photos of it. That is all really. It looked good except for the bondo issue.

[mpowers]

Yea one of the previous owners decided to build rear fender flares. He finished the one side but never the other. I think its ugly and want to take both flares off. I have a friend who does restorations part time and I plan on having him do the body work on it. He suggested because of the small size of the car that it may be possible to have the entire body dipped in a chemical bath that takes off everything but the bare metal. He told me he usually uses that method with doors. Has anyone done this before?

[spl310]

Drive the car for a while first.

[mraitch]

I second SPL310
(what you suggest is certainyl doable - BUT

Drive it - fix/sort the broken (if any) running bits & electrics - get attached to the car and the cost & pain of removing the body (having detached all the annoying bits) will be less.

Put away $.50 for each gallon you buy until it reaches a usable amount (3K-5K) . Commit to not driving for 3+ months once you have saved enough, get your sweetie to understand that it is NOT about HER and maybe THEN talk to your friend. Once you take the body off, then you have to look at the chassis, and it is SO easy to end up with a full blown restoration.

Ask them wot knows

Restoration ( as a comittment ) is SO much more than a cigar and not to be taken lightly - even if if it is an aged Cuban Cohiba