Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Very nice Roman. I think that is what someone intended to do with mine, but it looked like two different people did one side or the other! After that it just went from there and I did what I could... I'm happy.

I would go with the newer more reinforced frame given the choice. I assume the steering box etc all line up the same way, but I've never done the conversion. I hear that the later box is much nicer, so if it's already there then you're a bit ahead unless you're going to pull it all off anyway. The final determinant might be the shape of the top cap where the pads sat between it and the body as they can rust through (mine were).

rfr - could you take a pic so i could see the entire side of the car, low, perpendicular to it so I can see the front and rear wheel all in one pic? Did you do this so you could fit wider wheels or just to change the look?

Do you have any pics of the entire process?

I like it. Nice job!

Gregs672000 - I think the frame with the extra reinforcement is too out of wack to use. It must have been a good hit. the big heavy duty cross member under the engine is not symetrical anymore. ouch! Some datsun fanatics were filling me in that the fenders on my red car were of a later date which would make sense do to the front end damage. When I pulled the a-arms, the driver's side had almost an inch of shims compared to 1/8 or 1/4" on the other.

I'll just add the additional strengthening plating to the earlier frame. I also heard the info before about the steering boxes and was planing on using the newer one. All the mounting holes looked the same.

You can cut the reinforcement off of your bent frame and weld it to the earlier frame. The steering will bolt right up - you may have to bend/grind the lip of the frame to clear the box.

Gregs672000 wrote:Very nice Roman. I think that is what someone intended to do with mine, but it looked like two different people did one side or the other! After that it just went from there and I did what I could... I'm happy.

Thanks Greg, you got pics of yours??

mshort07 wrote:rfr - could you take a pic so i could see the entire side of the car, low, perpendicular to it so I can see the front and rear wheel all in one pic? Did you do this so you could fit wider wheels or just to change the look?

Do you have any pics of the entire process?

I like it. Nice job!

Matt, this is the best I have. Right now it is cramped in my shop to where i have no vantage point to get a full side shot.


I did this a looong time ago. Before I knew of a community, before the internet being a common thing, back when cell phones weighed alot.

This was one of my roadsters when I was much greener, and the back lips had bondo on them, that the PO used as a solution for the rusty lips.
So I just cut out the lips and grafted on the front fender sheetmetal. I had some slotted Z wheels with the incorrect offset, and as a side benefit it eliminated the rubbing.

If I had to do it over again, I would have just put on some late year sheetmetal. (stock fender flare.)
chalk it up to young and dumb.

The direction of progress has finally changed. I got busy with work, house repairs, and finishing other projects ahead of the Datsun, but now I’m back into it.

After tearing the cars completely down and storing the parts I was able to start putting it back together this summer. I started first with frame rust and damage repair. There were at least a half dozen areas that I worked on. I also modified the ’67 1600 frame to become my ’69 2000 frame. I grafted in the frame down tube strengtheners found adjacent to the engine. I also swapped the frame mount for the 2000 differential brace.

Sandblasting was next – what fun. I followed that up with primer and paint. Now I’m working on cleaning up the suspension parts.

Any advice at is always welcome.

WOW impressive work. it's looking great. did you keep the "correct" vin stamp on the frame so it will match the ID plate and title?

You guys amaze me! Seems like magic how you all cut this, graft that, and ta da! Roadster frame!

Don't tell anyone. The vin stamp got grafted into the new frame so when I register it will be a 2000 and not a 1600.

Did you use a mig or tig welder?

Nice work Matt. Are you going to use the 5 speed? If so, take a close look at the rear trans mount.
The attach point plate/doubler for the support on the late frame is horizontal, the early frames are vertical.

Used a mig welder. I forgot to mention above, but I also grafted in the trans mounts to the underside of the frame for the 5 speed transmission.

Sand blasted suspension parts (some parts) this weekend at a friends house. Decided to get desktop blasting cabinet for myself from Tractor Supply. It's working great except for the media pickup is all the way on the left side of the cabinet. Other than that, I'll keep at and post some pics of the finished parts when I got them.

Hey another VA roadster! Looks good so far, keep it up

Hey s15to311, I might have to call on you in the future if I forget how somethings go back together.

Looking for advice.

I tore down the U20 (motor was frozen) this past week. It came apart real easy. Turned out that the #1 and #4 pistons were frozen to the cylinder wall with rust. I was able to break them free and get the engine all apart. I brought the parts over to my uncle’s who’s an American motor engine machinist. He honed the cylinders to see the extent of the rust damage. There’s some pitting. He said if it was his motor, he’d bore it and get the oversized pistons. He also said that he’s seen some guys just go ahead, re-ring the pistons and put the motor back together, but not what he’s do

Now the advice – Where are some places where I can get engine rebuild kits and oversized pistons? I’ve seen http://www.datsunparts.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, but are there any other suppliers?