Hello from Phoenix, new to Roadsters

[BunnySlippers]

Hello everyone. Just got a pair of Roadsters today. Both 65 SPL310's. These are my first roadsters, but not my first Datsuns. I also have a '75 280Z, and a '78 B210.

And now for a few pictures!

Towing home Red.


Towing home Rusty.

Red is fairly complete. But it's missing the entire intake, and valve train.
The rusty one appears to have all of that intact.. So it's going to get put into Red.

Already pulled it off to clean it up.


It appears to have a few brass parts that I've never seen as brass before.. I've only ever seen plastic screw tops before.


And I've been told that my fiberglass top is pretty rare. But I'm new to Roadsters so I really don't know.




I'll post more pictures when I get a chance to resize them. In the mean time, what do you all think?
Looking forward to learning from all of you!

[sleepyzzz]

welcome to the site. it looks like you have a head start on a nice project. i have a 74 260Z 2+2 along with my roadster, and it sits alot now

[spl310]

Outstanding find! Welcome to the fray! The brass dashpot tops, banjo bolts and fuel nipples were discontinued on the 1600 about the same time that they went to an aluminum head, but there was no definite date. Later cars got the plastic dashpot caps and steel nipples and banjo bolts. The carbs appear to be correct 1500 units. The hardtop is disliked by many but kind of fun and funky. The down side is that the rear window will be tough to replace, and that the top will damage the paint where it sits. That being said, I sort of want one - just because it is odd and unique. (oh, there were at least two versions by two manufacturers - yours is the better looking of the two in my opinion.)

[notoptoy]

Welcome, quite the haul, 2 at once. Most Roadster owners seem to get the fever bad before they go for their second one! You appear to be ahead of the game.
I have seen that top in one or two pictures before, and I agree with Sid - hard to find a replacement glass, but cool just because it's different. You may want to try to use the 3M paint shield product (clear plastic "bra") under it to protect the paint if you decide to use it.

Welcome to the forum! Keep posting pics!

[wgb1]

Welcome to the site Brandon! I've never seen a top like that. Kinda cool but I can't say I like it. Good luck on your projects!

[BunnySlippers]

A friend of mine does auction work and came across these selling as a pair. He didn't have time for the project so he initially wasn't going to bid on them. But then talked briefly to the person bidding on them and learned that he was buying them to scrap for some cash. So my friend said hell no you're not, and out-bid him. He purchased them just to make sure they would get put back on the road eventually. After a couple weeks of sitting at his place he asked me if I wanted to take over the project. He gave them to me for how much he has in them. (cheap) So after we got back home from JCCS we hauled them over to my place.

So I can't really say I have full on Roadster fever yet. I was just offered two for a darn good price and I jumped on it.
I've learned that I can't plan what Datsun to get next, you just have to wait until you find a deal too hard to pass up.

And now onto some info about the cars.
Red has the motor and trans in the car still. The entire intake is missing, as well as the valve train. But the head is bolted on. I found that rather odd.. The dash cover/surround is destroyed. The gauges and toggle switches all appear to be intact. Seats are in decent shape. Carpet and panels are destroyed. Door latches appear to work. Windows roll up and down. Windshield is intact. The trunk hinges were unbolted (I assume because the trunk needs to be removed for the fiberglass top to be on. I found the original jack mounted in the trunk still. Even had a spare tire bolted own in the trunk. That's all I can think of for now.

And for Rusty, the engine and trans are still in the car, as well as a complete valve train, intake, and carbs. Windshield is intact, seats are destroyed. About half the gauges and toggle switches are intact. New tires, full set of hub caps. trunk hinges were cut in half. No jack or spare tire.

That's all I have for now. I'll post more later. I have some questions about several parts. So I'll get pictures of them and get back to you guys.

[dbrick]

Cool find
If you go to a plastics supplier or look under "boat windshields" you may find a guy who can bend some Lexan or Plexi for the window. It is a cool look, but a love or hate on the roof.
good luck with them

[BunnySlippers]

I think I might actually be able to make a new window myself. Cut some fiberglass to a "that looks about right" shape, rig up some supports inside the top/just under the window opening. Take a heat gun to it very slowly and let it fall into place. Might work..

I found the original plexiglass window in the back of the car. It was broken into 5 or 6 pieces. I put the puzzle together and taped it all back together. Turns out it's about 2 inches shy of fitting. Must have shrunk a lot over the years.

[raympac]

Hello Bunnyslippers,
Amazing! Two '65 310's! What are the chances of that? Believe me, having just one for the past 20 years has been a real challenge. I guess you know already, that the '65 310 is a "different" car, part 310, part 311. You have quite an experience in front of you. Feel free to ask questions, to which I probably don't have an answer, but the members here at 3ll.org are all experts. Welcome.
raympac,
seattle.