New Member from Utah!!

Here you can introduce yourself to the group.

Moderators: notoptoy, S Allen, Solex68

cagowers
Site Supporter
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:02 pm

New Member from Utah!!

Post by cagowers »

Hey everyone,

I decided back in January that I was in need of a new project. A few years ago I completed a complete restoration of a 1972 240Z (I'll post some pics) and now I'm bored. Hence I started looking for some kind of a convertible to restore. There was no better place to look than the pre-cursor to the Z cars.....the Datsun Roadster.

I picked up a 1969 2000 from a local guy in Salt Lake City that had been sitting in a garage for the last 15 years. It looked decent on the outside but once I started tearing it down, it was obvious that it needed a total restoration.

Work done:
  • Sandblasted
    Rear end rebuilt
    Engine rebuilt
    Trans rebuilt
    Body work
    New rebuilt SU carbs from ZTherapy
    Paint (Mango Tango)
Now it's time to put it all back together. The wiring harness had been hacked up over the years where several units either didn't work at all (headlights) or worked intermittently. So a new harness is called for. I'm thinking about building a custom dash with new gauges. Any thoughts? Will a flat 67 dash fit easily in a 69?

- Curtis
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Curtis Gowers
Spanish Fork, UT
'69 2000
User avatar
spl310
Roadster Guru
Posts: 13241
Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2002 10:38 pm
Location: In front of this keyboard... in Jacksonville, Florida!

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by spl310 »

Welcome, that will be nice!
"Wow, a Roadster!" Stuart Little

1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
User avatar
fj20spl311
Roadsteraholic
Posts: 5038
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:54 pm
Location: San Diego, Ca

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by fj20spl311 »

I have a 69 with a 66 dash.

There are lots of posts on doing the conversion.......

Actually very easy to make it fit......a little harder to get everything to work.......I used the "stock 69" switches (pull type) in the 66 dash with Autometer Gauges.......

The 5" tach and speedo need to have the "stock" holes reamed out just a touch.

TRY "+early +dash +conversion" as a search and you will get hundreds of pages of information.....LOL
Phil
67.5 SRL311-00148 Blue (FJ cruiser VOODOO Blue)
67.5 SPL311 FJ20E teal SDS EFI
69 SRL311 SOLD
19 Raptor SCAB
User avatar
S Allen
Site Admin
Posts: 4572
Joined: Thu Dec 05, 2002 4:57 pm
Location: Knoxville, IA(Lake Redrock)Emory, TX
Model: 1500/1600
Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5
Contact:

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by S Allen »

Welcome. I like your Z as well. You will love the roady once you get it all put back together. Nice color on the roadster as well. Enjoy and keep us posted on your progress.

Steve
66 Stroker-Going Orange
67 SRL311-00279-resto project
Stock '72 240Z-Blue
2002 Ford F250 7.3 Diesel 2WD Hauler
2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2009 Smart ForTwo Passion Coupe
2013 Fiat 500 Abarth
User avatar
Linda
Fraternal Den Mother-RIP
Posts: 7807
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 11:37 pm
Location: Los Angeles
Model: 1500/1600
Year: High Windshield-68-70

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by Linda »

Nice color on the Roadster. Are you doing your own painting, and is it a 2 stage?
It's going to be fun when it is complete.
Linda
Sadly-Linda has passed away 2022. She was the 311's den mother and drove the first Rare-Parts ball joint project. RIP.
User avatar
Bob
Site Supporter
Posts: 204
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 6:27 pm

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by Bob »

Welcome!

I used to live in SLC. Great place and people.
Bob
Orinda, CA

1964 SPL 310 3 Seater (U20 swap++)
2001 Porsche Boxster
Rodster
Roadster Fanatic
Posts: 128
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2013 8:35 am
Location: Sacramento CA

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by Rodster »

Welcome you have skills. Flat dash should easy after seeing the work you have already done. Great color!
Rodney

Looking for a project - modified - what do you have.
User avatar
Skyman
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 2397
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2005 6:49 pm
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by Skyman »

Welcome. There are a few roadster owners here in SLC. I have a couple of 66 flat dashes if interested. Let me know if you need any help on your project. By the looks of the pictures, you seem to have it under control.
67.5 SRL311-00060
67.5 SPL311-14241
2004 Porsche 911 Turbo
2003 Ford Powerstroke; Piped & Chipped
User avatar
Gregs672000
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 9428
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:47 pm
Location: Tacoma, WA

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by Gregs672000 »

You should consider hooking up with datsunbucky and his race car project being for sale. No idea if he is close but it sounds like a lot of good parts that could help (flat dash?) and either turn into another project or a cash source by parting it out.
Greg Burrows
'67 2000 #588
Tacoma, WA
User avatar
dbrick
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 10084
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 11:05 pm
Location: Kenilworth, New Jersey

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by dbrick »

Gregs672000 wrote:You should consider hooking up with datsunbucky and his race car project being for sale. No idea if he is close but it sounds like a lot of good parts that could help (flat dash?) and either turn into another project or a cash source by parting it out.
Greg, you beat me to it, again.

Dave Brisco

Take my advice, I'm not using it"

66 2000 The Bobster
64 1500 in pieces for sale
1980 Fiat X1/9
2009 Volvo C-70
08 Expedition EL, STUPID huge but comfy
1962 Thompson Sea Lancer, possible money pit
cagowers
Site Supporter
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:02 pm

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by cagowers »

Thanks for all of the advice. I'll try to keep you posted with pics. I'm now actually toying with the idea of doing my own vacuum forming with the '69 padded dash (like justdashes.com does it). I figure I should be able to do it for a lot less than what they charge (around $1,500). Got some research to do on the process.....it looks interesting.
Curtis Gowers
Spanish Fork, UT
'69 2000
User avatar
Gregs672000
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 9428
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:47 pm
Location: Tacoma, WA

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by Gregs672000 »

cagowers wrote:Thanks for all of the advice. I'll try to keep you posted with pics. I'm now actually toying with the idea of doing my own vacuum forming with the '69 padded dash (like justdashes.com does it). I figure I should be able to do it for a lot less than what they charge (around $1,500). Got some research to do on the process.....it looks interesting.
Search the postings, as someone was on that process and could probaby save you a bunch of time!

I have one of those Just Dashes redone dashes for my '68 (that will probably be sold when I get the raccoon crap out of it next spring... nasty stuff that... probably not helping the sale here!), done by the PO, and ya it was expensive! Nice work though.
Greg Burrows
'67 2000 #588
Tacoma, WA
sleepyzzz
Roadster Fanatic-Site Supporter
Posts: 687
Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:43 am
Location: Harrison, AR

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by sleepyzzz »

welcome and i must say very nice Z. could i send my 74 260Z 2+2 over and let it stay with you for a while? :D beautiful work, and I like that blue.
1967 SPL1600 sold
2015 Nissan Rogue
2015 Altima

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d29/sleepyzzz56/roadster/IMG_0252-1-1.jpg
cagowers
Site Supporter
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2013 1:02 pm

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by cagowers »

Wow, it's been awhile. The work has been a little slow. But here's some pics of the progress to date. The engine is installed. Vintage air heater. Universal wiper motor installed and just yesterday I installed the rear lights. Looking good.

You might notice that the alternator has been moved from the driver's side to the passenger side. This was a pretty easy swap. I had to fabricate only one bracket arm. This was easy enough because I had an extra universal arm from my 240Z project where I had added a Vintage air compressor. So after a few cuts and some polishing it fit perfectly. I used the old smog pump bracket for the lower pivot point and had to order a longer water pump bolt. Now I have a cheap GM 10SI alternator versus the expensive original....and I get to get rid of the external voltage regulator. This means I'll be doing a complete wire harness swap.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Curtis Gowers
Spanish Fork, UT
'69 2000
User avatar
Roman
Site Supporter
Posts: 1197
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:41 pm
Location: Shasta, the lake, in the state of Jefferson!
Contact:

Re: New Member from Utah!!

Post by Roman »

Sharp looking car!
Will trade guitars for roadsters, food, shelter, clothes, etc, etc.
Post Reply