1970 SPL resto finally started...

[RustyBucket]

Where did you get the Exhaust headeder ?? from Dean ??-- Looks Sexy !!

[funkaholik]

Yes, its a 1 5/8" header from DatsunParts.com. It's funny, because you can't really see it well from above, especially when the intake is installed. But from below, it looks really mean.

[iloveredmeat]

Awesome work!

Go Dog Go.jpg

[Steve_69]

Very nice indeed!

[funkaholik]

Peter,

Thats is hilarious! I had that "Go Dog, Go!" book when I was a kid. Well, maybe all of us of a certain age did.

It's 7:30 am on a Saturday. Back into the garage!

[iloveredmeat]

Peter,

Thats is hilarious! I had that "Go Dog, Go!" book when I was a kid. Well, maybe all of us of a certain age did.

Through some deep hypnosis, I've tracked my dormant car-guyness back to that book...

It's 7:30 am on a Saturday. Back into the garage!

I guess you're allowed to sleep in a couple of hours on a weekend...

Keep at it, it's looking amazing!

[Gregs672000]

Ditto on "Go dog go"!

[funkaholik]

Got lots more done in the last few days.

Radiator is in and all hoses hooked up. Forgot how much fun the bottom hose is to get on the radiator.

Did a bunch of electrical, including a slick auxiliary fuse box for add-ons like electric fuel pump, electronic gauges, ignition box, etc. Still more wiring to finish.

Fuel system is all in, from gas cap to carbs - just add petrol.

Worked on the exhaust today. Won't have time to run it all the way out the back with a fancy tip, but I felt like a muffler would be nice.

Took some pics, but when I tried to upload them to the 311s gallery, it said I had "exceeded my quota". By a lot. I'll figure that out later.

Tomorrow is a work day, which totally blows, because it doesn't help my timetable, and I'd much rather be in the garage...

[Florida Roadster]

Thanks for all the positive comments, everyone.
Dean, a lot of the parts on here are yours, so thanks for providing all these great parts for our cars. That goes for all the vendors on here. We would be in big trouble without you.

Who is this Dean that everyone is talking about? I guess I need to get to know him. I finally made the connection. I guess I will be contacting him quite a bit in the future. Making a list.......................

[Florida Roadster]

Big progress this weekend! Heater core installed and hoses connected, brake and clutch masters and lines are all in, got all 3 pedals installed. and then I went ahead and dropped the body onto the frame. It actually lined up easier than I thought it would. Got all the bolts installed and now the whole car assembly is off the lift and sitting on all 4 tires. Feels like such a milestone!

Still hundreds of little jobs to finish and only 26 days till Solvang, but this felt like real progress.

Your build is looking great! Thanks for some inspiration.

[iloveredmeat]

Huge progress!

Rooting for you!

...mostly because I want a ride in your car...

[funkaholik]

Big update - my Solvang goal has been scratched. A suddenly impending death in the family means that I'm headed to New York this week, not SoCal. He is 93, and lived a healthy life up until now, but his heart just decided it was through working.

So, instead of going back out to the garage after dinner last night, I had a glass of wine and relaxed. I did get massive electrical work done in the last couple days, and I'll keep up the work pace once I get back from NY, maybe with a little less urgency since the next big show at Shasta is in June, not April.

Thanks for all the encouragement here. This is a great forum, not only for the technical info, but for the camaraderie of fellow roadster-obsessed car nuts.

I want to give a big thank you to Dean at DatsunParts.com. I placed an order with him, and he called to say that one of the big parts was out of stock, and that he hasn't heard back from the manufacturer in a while. When I told him I was hoping to have it for Solvang, he got ahold of them and got them to drop ship it directly to me. That is above and beyond customer service. He really went the extra mile for me and I appreciate it immensely.

I guess while I'm at the airport, I'll look for a new place to host photos for updates here, since I've blown past my 311s gallery limit.

[RustyBucket]

Sorry to hear about the death in the family. My FIL passed last just before Covid at 92. He said ‘ I had a good run for most of it’ , time to past the baton’.

[iloveredmeat]

So sorry to hear that, and I hope that all goes as well as these things can.

Well, now you can relax, have another glass or two knowing that you've made incredible progress and you'll be coasting to make the Shasta show.

Take care,
pm

... and high five to Dean, very cool of him to do that.

[funkaholik]

Well, after missing out on Solvang to go to a funeral, I returned home and got back to work on Audrey.

Finished the wiring, fuel system, bled the brakes, and even got the fenders and hood on. Added all fluids and checked for any leaks. None. Ok. I guess it's time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0jOR-Hc1Fk

Spoiler alert - she runs! What a great feeling to hear her fire up. No muffler yet so I'm sure the neighbors weren't happy, but at least it was the middle of the day. I got back in the house and SO says that she heard the neighbor's loud Harley. Nope. Just an unmufflered Datsun!

Working on building an exhaust today. Then I'll put the doors on and go for a first drive.