Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Loading it up on the trailer...



And off it goes to paint jail...



The painter should be sending me update pics as we go...

That's great. Mine took about 8 weeks. Looking forward to seeing it soon.
Keith

cktrap wrote:Mine took about 8 weeks. Looking forward to seeing it soon.

Yeah, he told me 3-4 weeks. But I know this guy. That means at least 7-8 weeks.

No rush though. I won't be heavy back into it until the 1200 is finished. Hoping to have it mostly done within the next 8-10 weeks. Then I can take the Roadster to the shop and bring the 1200 home.

Then I have to actually decide what engine goes in it...

My car seems to have exploded a bit...

datsunfreak wrote:My car seems to have exploded a bit...

John I am excited for you, quick progress!

BTW, is that a DODGE?

Have you checked the trunk floor for cracks? Many floors are cracked at the rear, due to the weight of a full fuel tank.
You've been lucky so far,,,,

Alvin wrote:BTW, is that a DODGE?

Not sure. I'll ask.

pebbles wrote:Have you checked the trunk floor for cracks? Many floors are cracked at the rear, due to the weight of a full fuel tank.

Will do.

pebbles wrote:You've been lucky so far,,,,

My luck may be running out...

We noticed during disassembly that there was, inexplicably, about two pounds of sand inside each quarter panel. Vacuumed it out and just thought, that's weird. The car did spend a few years in Lubbock (desertish climate with lots of sand storms), so...

As it turns out, in the same area as that sand, was this...




And you can also see, that rocker panel has a fairly good bit of bondo on it. You can see how much sand poured out of the rocker after grinding some of that bondo off. And that was after vacuuming it out...

Mark says he will spend the rest of the week stripping all of the paint off the car to see how much trouble we have gotten ourselves into...

Not too bad actually.

Dont forget to check here as well.
http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/download/fil ... &mode=view

I had a very similar experience with Damn-it Bill's '70 when I did it... I swear I lightened that car by 10lbs once I got all the sand out of it. I just kept hitting it with a rubber mallet and sand just kept pouring out if it!

pebbles wrote:Not too bad actually.

Dont forget to check here as well.
http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/download/fil ... &mode=view

About 10 years ago I bought a "rust free" 510 that had holes the size of your fist in that exact spot. Ever since then, that is literally the FIRST thing I check.

What I should have done, but didn't, was try the magnet trick looking for bondo. But hey, it was a decent car at a great price (and the right year) so I have no beef with the seller on this one. Even knowing the rocker was mostly bondo, I would have bought it anyway.

Supposed to stop by the body shop on Saturday to discuss going forward with Mark. Obviously the body was much worse off than both of us thought, so he just wants to make sure I know what I'm getting into, and to revise his cost estimate a bit.

Went for a visit to Mark's this morning...

Both of these look good...




Right side rocker rust/bondo. Will cut all of this out and replace it soon...




Right rear corner rust/bondo. Lots of work to do here also...




Left rear corner...




Left quarter/rocker not half as bad as the right...




I knew when I bought the car the right fender was not original, and I had my suspicions about the left. Turns out both were replacements. They were originally light blue...




And appear to be from a '69...




They are in decent shape. Just need to redo the light delete and smooth them over a bit. No real rust there...




Both doors in good shape and appear to be original to the car...




Apparently it took a light smack in the front at one point and they replaced both fenders and the lower valence, but there is no evidence of frame damage/repair. Then either at the same time, or in another incident, the right rear took a shunt forcing them to add about ten pounds of bondo to the rocker and quarter panel.

The rocker/quarter will be straightened this week, then welding in new metal starts. Stay tuned...

Right side rocker now straightened, all the rust has been cut out of right side and new metal has been welded in. The slot for the side molding on the quarter has been welded up and smoothed. Right side is about 90% done. He's starting on the left side quarter rust repair tomorrow.

Also told him that after the quarters are derusted to roll the fender lips as much as possible.

The wheels I want to use are 8" wide all around, so I need all the room I can get...

I have some 68 sheet metal. To good fenders, front valance and two doors
Just saying
Keith

cktrap wrote:I have some 68 sheet metal. To good fenders, front valance and two doors

The doors are the best part of the car, so...

Text me a price on the fenders if you can.

These should be back on Monday...





Going by Mark's to check on the progress tomorrow. He says body work is all done, and he should be priming the whole car and blocking it early next week. So here's hoping it gets some color soon...

Also picked up another L18 this week, and this one is freshly rebuilt, so...