Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Well as the parts are soaking I decided to try to make the dash cap fit. I cleaned and degreased the original dash as best I could. I used simple green and a mild scouring pad. Worked well and got off quite a bit of old goo. Next up was to scrub the inside of the dash cap with sand paper. I wanted to give the bonding paste something to stick too. The under side of the cap is very smooth and shiny. May even have some mold release stuff on it so sanding is a good idea.

Next up was how to secure it once it was on there. I had many bungies, as per Johns pic, but I decided a better way for me to go was an ocean of wire ties and vice grips. Lesson I learned is you cannot have too many vice grips.

I went and picked up some 14" long wire ties, and cut some cardboard to give it something to press against so it would mar the surface of the cap. I also used one bungie near the gages..So how did it turn out?


This is the scuffed up dash cap...


Let the fun begin!






I call this one...ode to the vice grip, whose uses are only limited by imagination and your ability/desire to crush things.

Overall impressions? Not too bad. Actually I wish the tube of adhesive was bigger. I was starting to run out near the end and found it impossible to get most of it out. I may have to do some touch ups after this first round dries of some ends stick up a bit. We will see. I think I got good adhesion where I needed it. I am hopeful the glue is strong enough to hold the plastic in the position I want it to.

The wire ties are wonderful to work with. They allow you easy ways to make big and short loops to apply pressure. I highly recommend them. I have no idea how long it needs to cure, but I will give it a good 24 hours.

Job was not too stressful. No way it would have been as easy with the gages in though. I recommend anybody else trying this to take them out. NO way I could have done this in the car...

Good ideas! Congrats on knocking that out.

Nice job Zedyone. Thanks for the play by play! Also, love the icon pic of Chesty Puller.

Kudos to all the Marines out there!

I removed my heater core from the evaporust bath and the first part of the heater box. OH MY. What difference. The heater box door is like brand new. I know this stuff works, but I had no idea it would transform it this much. I am super impressed! Shame though, when I removed the heater core, it completely polluted the evaporust in the bucket. I will assume ti will still work even if dirty, but the job it did on the heater box is insane. I will post pics once I get it out and cleaned up a bit more. I need to start soaking the other half. Hopefully it will fit.

AS for the core. Well I think it holds water just fine. I will have to make a check, I am letting it dry out in the air right now. I ran some water through it and put my fingers on both ends. It seemed to hold it, but it was do wet it dripped forever so hard to tell.

Cap is still held on by wire tires, vice grips, and bungies this morning. Perhaps tomorrow I will take them off, or maybe this afternoon.

Pics to come.

Its official, the heater core will hold water under atmospheric pressure.

the first half of the heater core box is just amazing. After I hosed it down, I am letting it dry. I really do not see how people can do this job with out evaporust. Amazing stuff. I made a smaller dish for nuts and bolts and yet another one for tools. My whole garage is fighting the rust monster today!!

I filter my evaporust from time to time, A metal sieve will work, though I used a funnels and paper towels. Works great for many, many reapplications, and you can even add a little water if you need to top up. I share your enthusiasm, that stuff is amazing, and I have been touting it here for a long time!

Okay so I found out the motor half of the heater core box can fit completely inside the 3.5 gallon bucket. I let it soak and the results were outstanding. I painted both yesterday, but due to my rush with playing with kids, I did not do the best job possible. I will do some minor sanding and hit it again. All this for a part you will never see ! OH well, that is the joys of it all.

Some parts never seen are the most important!

So true
My order with Datsun parts has gone through
Now I wait

Be a good time to install carpet now that think of it

Pics of airbox coming
Almost done

Out of curiosity, can anybody recommend how to reseal the heater ventilation box to the dash and how to seal the doors? Do people use door weather stripping? I had to chip away at the hardened foam seal on the box, and I am sure the doors had something on them. Any recommendations?

Zedyone_Kenobi wrote:Out of curiosity, can anybody recommend how to reseal the heater ventilation box to the dash and how to seal the doors? Do people use door weather stripping? I had to chip away at the hardened foam seal on the box, and I am sure the doors had something on them. Any recommendations?

I used the tool box foam Sears sells to do the top part. As for the doors, I used some felt pads from my local hardware store that came with adhesive on one side. Both worked great - doors make a nice "thunk" when closing.

That's a great idea on the tool box foam
And any reason to get to Sears is ok by me

Took the wire ties off the dash cap today
Solid as a rock
I am so pleased

Will include with my pictures when I get around to snapping them

It looks so good !!!
Thanks for the encouragement John

I also ordered a bunch of Dynomat today because , you know , while I am there

+1 on the Dynamat - I love that stuff!

found my T fitting in a box. Will need to clean it up some. But the dash and the heater core box are coming together nicely. I am waiting on parts now...but more work to come.

Oh man, those turned out great!