My grill and what will it say about my moral character?

[iloveredmeat]

Morning all.

When I bought my 67.5 1600 from the original owner, I didn’t know enough to realize that the grill was for a 2000 car.

And after learning many of the cool/maddening/expensive idiosyncrasies of the half-year cars, I now know that at some point they changed out the grill (2000), the headlight scoops (the dangerous shiny ones), the front parking lights (clear instead of amber), and of all things, the antenna (dangerous shiny little half sphere).

I can imagine that there may have been some sort of dealer upgrade 2000 trim package with the 2000 grill, scoops, and park lights… but changing the antenna kinda cracks me up. Much effort for little change.

Anyway, as I’m leaning toward keeping my car mostly original - (the exceptions so far being the stroker engine, fancy wheels, and a custom suspension) - I’m questioning the morality of using the 2000 grill. Am I just a big faker and will I be kicked out from a Roadster meet, rocks and bottles thrown at my taillights as I drive away? Or, does the 2150cc stroker allow me a concession to use that grill?

In the interest of saving lives - I have already sourced some nice "Glare Reduced Finish" scoops and my prized possession - a NOS antenna still in the box and plastic with the GRF sphere.

I’m currently on the hunt for some nice amber park lights, and have always been on the lookout for a 1600 grill.

So, actually all my sarcasm and hyperbole above is to ask about the 1600 grills. Are they all the same? Will a ’69 work on a 67.5.

I have the opportunity to buy a one-small-ding-but-straight 1600 grill with what appears to be 'only' surface rust (likely needs a replate) and a backing mesh plate that looks very good.

I know they’re not nearly as rare as the 2000 grill, so do you guys think a grill like that is worth $80-$100? I'm thinking, buy now, decide which to use later.

Should I buy it?

Thanks all!
Peter

[Curtis]

I thought the "anti-dazzle" was silly until my ashtray cover tried to blind me yesterday while driving. The grill, up to you, your car, your grill. Lots out there with 2000 grills on their 1600s. I'm planning to put the 1500 grill on mine. I just like it better and I once owned a 1500. Nostalgia for me and I don't give a crap what anybody thinks just in case anyone missed that about me. I have a really good and excellent 1600 grills I'll save to swap back.

Price is good.

[DAC21]

"I’m currently on the hunt for some nice amber park lights"

Still available as new from Nissan.

ASSY-LAMP, PARKING & TURN SIGNAL (AMBER)
P/N 26120-12901 SPL

[spl310]

The satin finish or as you call it anti glare headlight scoops were a 67/68 2000 thing. Yours should be all shiny if you want to restore originality. The grill that you describe is well worth the $80-100, and yes - 65 through 70 1600 grills fully interchange.

[iloveredmeat]

I thought the "anti-dazzle" was silly until my ashtray cover tried to blind me yesterday while driving. The grill, up to you, your car, your grill. Lots out there with 2000 grills on their 1600s. I'm planning to put the 1500 grill on mine. I just like it better and I once owned a 1500. Nostalgia for me and I don't give a crap what anybody thinks just in case anyone missed that about me. I have a really good and excellent 1600 grills I'll save to swap back.

Price is good.

Thanks Curtis,
I only joke about the shiny chrome because I imagine the mandate as being a bureaucratic, somewhat random, knee-jerk kerfuffle.

However! I do concede that the ashtray slider is the one piece that I've always thought could actually cause a problem! And you just confirmed that.

And I'm actually not concerned about others' judging my grill, only goofing. I just can't decide which grill I prefer, I'd always figured I'd just use the 2000 that came with it (it's in excellent condition, too), then when I saw the grill surround images, it really got me thinking that might look great with the 1600 grill. And I could sell my 2000 grill and pay for my daughter's college!

I'm not familiar with the 1500 difference, is that this one here? I think this looks amazing! I'd like to see that surround on a 1600 grill. Do you have that setup?

IMG_1956.jpg

If the price is fair, I reckon I'll just pick it up... hopefully today.

Thanks for the info.
pm

"I’m currently on the hunt for some nice amber park lights"

Still available as new from Nissan.

ASSY-LAMP, PARKING & TURN SIGNAL (AMBER)
P/N 26120-12901 SPL

Oh gosh, that makes it easy. I never even think about new. Duh. Thanks Dac!

The satin finish or as you call it anti glare headlight scoops were a 67/68 2000 thing. Yours should be all shiny if you want to restore originality. The grill that you describe is well worth the $80-100, and yes - 65 through 70 1600 grills fully interchange.

Hi Sid,
I thought 67.5 scoops were satin, no? Are you saying 67=satin, 67.5=shiny, 68=satin?

And good to know it will fit.

Thanks everyone! If it looks good and I get it, I'll post an update.
pm

[Curtis]

So the parts manual lists the same headlight scoop to 68/09. From 68/10 a new number which as I know it are satin finish.

https://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/s ... nt-outside

Here we go.

132 HANDLE-PULL ANTI DAZZLE
80691-25500 ALL 6703 6709 2

[iloveredmeat]

So the parts manual lists the same headlight scoop to 68/09. From 68/10 a new number which as I know it are satin finish.

https://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/s ... nt-outside

Here we go.

132 HANDLE-PULL ANTI DAZZLE
80691-25500 ALL 6703 6709 2

Sheesh... just when I thought I knew 67.5 details...

Wish I hadn't sold my one absolutely perfect shiny scoop. I do have a very good right and very good left shiny ones, but they're different depths.

Yay. More stuff to buy.

[spl310]

The 67 2000 is often called a 67.5 2000. The 67.5 1600 had shiny chrome headlight trim as did the 68 1600. The 67(.5) 2000 and 68 2000 had the satin trim.

[JT68]

Yes, this is the 1500 setup:

https://www.datsunrestorationproducts.c ... grill-back

(My personal favorite, followed by the 2000 grill)

My opinion is the 1600 grills are PDU (pretty damn ugly) -Replating a marginal 1600 grill is serious money too- probably not worth it unless you are trying for a 100pt resto on a 1600 IMHO.

[Curtis]

If you want to build a 1500 grill it's not hard and not terribly expensive now. We just did a group buy from Viet Nam of the 1500/2000 surrounds. Get a stainless back from JT and add the mesh behind. I was given the stainless back so I'll have a shiny new 1500 grill soon.

[iloveredmeat]

The 67 2000 is often called a 67.5 2000. The 67.5 1600 had shiny chrome headlight trim as did the 68 1600. The 67(.5) 2000 and 68 2000 had the satin trim.

Thanks Sid, good info and yet another idiosyncrasy...

I'm very partial to the "anti-dazzle", "satin", "glare reduced finish" look, and am not looking to enter any car shows... but at the same time I like the idea of original...

So many critical decisions!

Yes, this is the 1500 setup:

https://www.datsunrestorationproducts.c ... grill-back

(My personal favorite, followed by the 2000 grill)

My opinion is the 1600 grills are PDU (pretty damn ugly) -Replating a marginal 1600 grill is serious money too- probably not worth it unless you are trying for a 100pt resto on a 1600 IMHO.

Thanks JT, I saw that yesterday on your site yesterday after I posted. That really is beautiful. And personally I don't dislike the 1600. And I'm definitely not going for points over what makes me happy.

But to clarify, does/would/could that shiny surround work with a 1600 grill, or just the 1500 and the 2000?

If you want to build a 1500 grill it's not hard and not terribly expensive now. We just did a group buy from Viet Nam of the 1500/2000 surrounds. Get a stainless back from JT and add the mesh behind. I was given the stainless back so I'll have a shiny new 1500 grill soon.

This is a definite consideration... are there any surrounds still available from your buy, or were they all spoken for? Would I need to source individually?

Thanks a ton you guys, I really appreciate it.

And finally... after all of this info I may have wasted $70. I went and bought the grill yesterday before the replies. It's mostly straight with no creases or kinks or pitting, one small ding that looks repairable actually. The backing mesh is 90% solid, a couple of kinked verts, but I've already bent them straight.

I'll clean it up and pending the surround answers, I'll go from there.

Here is what came on my car - needs a black paint touch up, but after I cleaned it all up it's very, very nice.



Here's the 1600 grill I bought yesterday, I think I'll go see how it cleans up.



Thanks again. Hope you're all having a great weekend! Cheers to you vets and those serving! Thank you for your service.
Peter

[Curtis]

Ted Heaton can give the details on where we ordered the surrounds from.

[spl310]

Would have liked to have gotten in on the group buy

[JT68]

"But to clarify, does/would/could that shiny surround work with a 1600 grill, or just the 1500 and the 2000?"

The 2000 grill surround can be used with the 1500 (and 2000) grill backs only. As you can see there is no separate surround for the 1600.

Your 2000 grill looks very good and someone will certainly want the $70 1600 grill, so you will do fine with that purchase

[Pjackb]

I personally think the 1500 grill looks the best of all 3 available and that’s why I have 2 of them
Since I’m making MrGreen as a 2000 clone I will be using a 2000 grill on it but I may still change my mind

The great thing as JT mentioned the 1500 and 2000 surrounds are interchangeable so you can just get a 1500 back grill from him and use the surround you have.

Regarding the 1600 grill , it will cost more to fix the chrome on it than to get a good one I sold my last 2 1600 grills for 400$ each