My first resto project - all in

[mshort07]

Don't know if I mentioned this already, but I'm a school teacher and our county just got snowed in. We've had off from school the last couple days, so I thought I'd get some work in on the Datsun.

I like the look of the high windshield but the '67 body was in better condition, so the plan was to fix up the '67 and graft in the windshield frame from the '69. Then the '67 dash goes back in.

I was a little nervous about getting it done, but I'm happy with the results. I shoveled a spot in the driveway, pushed the frame out, and got to work.

I cut the '67 cowl and dash out, cleaned everything up, and got to work fitting the high windshield frame. Finished up the welding today. Tomorrow, adding the dash back in and cleaning the welds.

Now it's time to get the body blasted. Has anyone out there used the Dustless Blasting seen on My Classic Car?

[S Allen]

That is a different take-as most people want to swap the flat dash into the high windshield cars. You did the high windshield frame into a flat dash car. It does look like it belongs there though. Nice job. Snow days are good for something.

Steve

[spl310]

You should have hooked up with the guy in the Dakota's that needs a low windshield body and has a high.

[mshort07]

Not sure who would want the low windshield body before I started working on it. It was in bad shape, but the '69 was in worse shape. There wasn't much to choose from in the area when I started this project years ago, but we all know the fun is in the project itself! This is my first big project and I'm having fun learning my way through it.

[mshort07]

Was able to get the '67 dash in the car today. Turned out good. Tomorrow I'm taking off the '69 doors and fitting the better condition '67 doors to the tall windshield frame and fenders.

[pebbles]

I must admit im a lil jelly of your skills and determination.
Pretty cool Matt.

[Mattk]

Subscribes. Nice work!
Matthew

[mellis18]

If you get frustrated you can always use that big orange mallet hanging in the background.

[spl310]

That looks like a dead blow hammer. They aren't as satisfying as a good sledgehammer...

[mshort07]

Yet another snow day, so another day of working on the Datsun. At this rate we'll be going to school forever to make up the days missed. I got working on the '67 doors, on the '67 body, fitting with the '69 windshield frame. I got the passenger door done today. Light modifications to the top front of the door and everything's fitting up nice.

I'm planning on shaving the door handles, door locks, and closing up the hole for the windows on the tops of the doors. I'm going for a permanent topless roadster. Now I have to make a decision. With all those mods, do I want the side trim or not? I know the purists feel that the trim needs to be there, but what would it look like with trim and without the handles.

Lets take a vote. I did some Photoshop work with some borrowed pics from the internet. I'm leaning towards option 2: with side trim.

[Mattk]

Love the work you're doing and the high frame on low body, brilliant!

I'm having trouble with the side trim "to be or not to be" as well. So I thought of a third option and thought I would see what you think about it. What if you put the trim on but either painted it or powder coated (ect) it to match the paint or even do a lighter or darker shade as an accent. Just an idea. Purist please don't hate.

Cheers
Matthew

[notoptoy]

My 67.5 was purchased with the trim removed and the PO whited out everything - white car, white door handles, mirrors, windshield wipers etc. (Left the chrome on windshield frame, bumpers and lights thank goodness). While I liked it all right when I bought it, I have since been working to get it back to a stock look. I really like the offset of the chrome trim and think it makes a nice body line on an otherwise fairly plain side. So my recommendation to you? Do what you like, you can always change it later!

[Gregs672000]

Trim! It gives the impression of movement even when the car is stationary.

[mshort07]

Here's my current status on the body work. I'm happy with the progress, but it makes me wonder how they get it done so nice and quick on TV. I hope to bring the body to the media blasters this upcoming week. I'm using dustless blasting like seen on My Classic Car.

[mshort07]

I saw this used on Bitchin Rides on Velocity. They used a custom motorcycle weld-in flush mount gas filler cap instead of the stock gas cap on one of their custom rides. I thought it might look good on the back of my Datsun instead of the stock filler neck and cap. When finished, the flush cap will be painted the same color as the body.

I also hooked up a truck release cable in the passenger compartment so I could do away with the trunk key lock cylinder and hole.