Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

My first thought is: get out some simple green and a garden hose Sounds really well preserved though.

Cheers
James

jamesw wrote:My first thought is: get out some simple green and a garden hose Sounds really well preserved though.

Cheers
James

Once I pull the engine and trans I plan on power washing the whole thing! I will then remove the body and send it to be bead blasted. I plan on cleaning up the frame and coating it with por 15. I wasn't going to do a frame off but decided that I wanted to put all new hard lines for the brakes and put all new wiring in and it would be easier with the body off. Completely redoing the suspension will be easier too.

Well I still haven't gotten the new work shed up but am making progress none the less. I decided that I would pull the body before the engine and trans. I have removed all of the wiring since it will all be new when I put her back together. I took the gas tank out and disconnected the brake lines. The engine is stripped down so the body should pass over it easily. I have removed the front fenders, hood and soaked all the frame bolts.

I had Chucks66 over and he welded in the door braces. I cut apart a couple of door hinges that were seized to use in the brace. I figured that the holes were in the right places and they are about 1/4 steel so they would be strong enough. I cut all the wood for the body rack from the tech section and should have it completed by this weekend. I will pull the body this weekend and finally get a chance to take the body and frame outside separately and power wash off the layers of Nevada sand off of them. I plan on taking the suspension off to determine what will get powder coated and what will be replaced. I will wire brush the frame and use the frame kit from KBS to seal it. I have attached a few pictures of her in various stages of tear down. I also included a couple pictures of the door braces.

WoW, nice work Brian!! Cant wait to see this one come to life!!

Love the idea of the hinges for part of the frame brace, nice idea - and good recycling too!

I just started to build the body rack. I plan on finishing it this week so I can pull the body this weekend. I didn't see what I was supposed to use to attach the 90 degree braces so I used 1 5/8" deck screws. They worked great.

How about some diagonal bracing to take the strain off the screws?

Brian, I'm sure you're still in the construction phase, but as Bucky said the diagonals really strengthen it up. I also put one cross brace across the back because as I rolled the body around the two bottom boards wanted to 'spread' open. Smart call on those door braces, I was slow to get those installed...you may want to grind the rear plate even with the door profile so you can work that panel and avoid that corner possibly injuring you. Mine was exactly like that and a few passes on the grinder and it tucked neatly into the body. Can't wait to see your progress!





v/r
Buddy

Buddy's castors are a really good idea... Probably $15 a piece at home depot...

I am not done with the construction process quite yet. I have the boards cut for the diagonal bracing and I have casters for it too. I should have them on and the rack completed this weekend. I like the idea of the bottom cross brace and will most likely adapt it to my rack. I plan on grinding down the corner of the brace mount that is sticking out, otherwise I know I will hurt myself numerous times on it.

Somewhere I have a photo of a PO "fix" Apparently there must have been a short in an ignition wire and they patched it - but NOT with ONE single wire - NO - they taped a piece of wire to one end - then another to the other end - and then joined the two pieces of wire in the middle - hello - but my favorite was on my "professionally" restored acquisition - they EPOXIED the passenger door handle. For want of a .25$ clip from OSH. And should I mention the installation of a '70 underdash harness which didn't fit the '69 speedometer (incorrect) "high beam" light - so they CUT IT OFF (rather than just leaving it) - thanks to Gary - he had a trashed harness that I was able to cannabalise.

I just finished the body rack tonight. I will be pulling the body off the frame tomorrow. I am really looking forward to getting a chance to power wash the years of desert sand off the frame and start to disassemble it! I have included a couple of pictures of the body to frame bolts. I have been spraying them with liquid wrench every day for a week. I started to loosen them tonight and they seem like they should come out without any problems. I plan on of having the body stripped and primed in the next week or two. I won't start the body work until it warms up a bit more.

The anticipation must be killing you. Nice prep work, you're smart to take it slow and get well prepped first. I'd probably not be that prepared 'cause I would have so much fun tearing it down I'd get ahead of myself.

Well I pulled the body today. It went well except for the engine hoist tipping over just as we got it set on the rack. It hit the door brace so no new damage to the car. I shouldn't have listened to my wife when she said to turn it sideways and just push a little harder to get it on the rack. Well all that ends well and all. I had a couple buddies come over and give me a hand. I bolted the chains through the outer seat belt holes. It was front heavy but with 3 guys we managed it fine. It feels like there is nothing on the rack when you push it around on the casters. I can't wait to get the frame outdoors and power wash it! After that I will start to strip it and coat it. More pictures soon!!

Wow, great progress!