Dan's 66 VG30E Roadster

[DanR]

With the weather comes the itch to work on the car again.

I removed the leather I had covered the face plate in and now to get these to look stock

[DanR]

And it's painted. Rustoleum textured pewter #7221830 matches the color perfectly of what was original for my console. Texture is a bit different, the original was something compared to 200 grit sand paper and this is about 100.



After being stripped and hit with a scotch brite pad. The photo makes it look much worse than it was.

[pebbles]

Very nice Dan! I would nut and bolt that shift plate

[Gregs672000]

Looks great!

[DanR]

Making progress. For anyone's future reference, the screws for the center console are all 1/4-28, which is the 3 top and 6 bottom, at least they were in my case. This car has had so many things wrong with it regarding fasteners, nothing surprises me

The far two screws I couldn't get one started and don't have a tap handy so I just ignored them for now so it matches on both sides. It appears the two holes at the end for the shifter plate on the tunnel were covered at some point as I can't find them, so I'm still on the fence on how to fasten it down.

[Gregs672000]

Dan, as you can see the shift plate overlaps the consul. As I recall, there are holes for the screws to go through, but it has been a while since I redid mine as you have. You will likely have to move your shift plate back just a bit from the pic you posted.
The restored parts came out really nice.

[DanR]

Yeah, I found the holes close to the radio console, but the ones near the 5 speed sticker are non existent and the metal looks to have been patched over or welded. I'm thinking center punch, drill and tap.

[ppeters914]

Very nice.

[DanR]

A historical update to my car, the person who built the car before I got it from the previous owner sought me out and sent me these photos. He's a Datsun nut like most, owned it in the mid 80s to early 90s before selling it to the PO in 1991. It didn't get used much for the next 20 years and stayed in nearly the same condition until I got it. The car was originally white and from Oregon and had about 110k on the chassis before I got it, I am now the 6th owner.

1982


What I assume is rear sheet metal repairs








The machine he likely used to make the trim rings around the gauges on the dash


Quite amazing to have this information and he easily spotted my car due to his unique handiwork.

[pebbles]

Good stuff there Dan.

[DanR]

More things to cross off the list. I finally installed the rubber grommet for the gas filler neck in the floor, routed the overflow hose to the elbow instead of along the neck and to the tank and reoriented the neck so the gas cap is vertical. Also had the reproduction horn button painted and again didn't win a trophy at the local car show. I parked/hid next to the thunderbird that won best in show