Project Unicorn, the resurrection of 1967.5 Datsun 2000 SRL-00342

[garth]

Michael,

Your journalism matches your restoration prowess!

[spl310]

No one has uncovered records to document how many were delivered with the solex kit in the US that I am aware of.

[garth]

No one has uncovered records to document how many were delivered with the solex kit in the US that I am aware of.

That is a righteous mission Sid! Are you the archivist to take it on?

[2mAn]

I’m eerily suspicious that mine was delivered with them or installed very early on.

Back to this car though... seriously jealous

[spl310]

No one has uncovered records to document how many were delivered with the solex kit in the US that I am aware of.

That is a righteous mission Sid! Are you the archivist to take it on?

Nope!

[spriso]

October Update

Things are progressing on Project Unicorn-- the rebuilt U20 and 5-speed transmission is back in the shop, and it did not take long to get that stuffed back in the frame:





With that out of the way, now I could focus on getting all the details sorted out that need to be done before we mount the body back onto the frame.

The stock brake lines were all cleaned out (inside and out) and a few had some nasty surprises from sitting so long:



Clean, flush, clean, flush, repeat until there is nothing but clear brake clean coming out the other end-- and then they were ready for re-plating. While the hard lines were out, I installed the NOS master cylinders, and other firewall brackets, etc. that would be a PITA with the engine installed.

Back from the plater-- the lines were carefully adjusted and reinstalled:





I cleaned up the original rubber cap for the clutch master cylinder, and with a minor mod to the reservoir, it slipped right on:



The rest of the brake and fuel lines were installed on the frame:





The original heater unit had seen better days, so it needed a full restoration as well:







While the heater case was being sandblasted and powder coated, I installed one of Datsunparts firewall padding kits:



A rebuilt heater core was installed:



Datsunparts also makes a nice foam rebuild kit for the doors for the heater:



Completed heater core assembly-- I even transferred over the original sticker as details make the difference:





And installed in the car:



Exhaust

When we got this car, it had an aftermarket header on it-- Tony had explained that he had cracked several of the OEM manifolds when the car was new, but of course, that header now needed to be replaced as well. Not satisfied with any of the current aftermarket offerings, this stainless steel header was sourced out of Japan, and it a beautiful piece:



Nice thick header flange and tidy TIG welds:



On the car, it fits around the starter and clears the frame nicely:









With the thicker flange of the header, I will be replacing some of the exhaust studs and modifying the yoke washers to put a step in so everything clamps down correctly-- had to dig deep in my collection of OEM studs and yoke washers-- and still had to order more.



I just received one of JT's beautiful stainless exhausts, so now we just need to build the header flange to exhaust flex pipe and the major mechanical parts will be done so we can put the body back onto the frame, and that will be a great step forward.

More soon!

Michael

[dynaguy]

WOW! 'nuff said

[s15to311]

Inspirational as always! Beautiful work!

[JT68]

Just gorgeous. It will be stunning! (Already is)

[RCMike]

LOVE that header!

[2mAn]

LOVE that header!

X2!

Any more details on that header?

[aspitfire]

Wow, first time seeing this thread. Truly a work of art.

[spriso]

More Progress

With my new intake/exhaust studs in hand, I refit the intake/exhaust manifolds a dozen more times to get the fit perfect-- small steps in the yoke washers so they would fit flat with the intake manifold as the exhaust manifold flange was thicker. I also went with some crimped flange nuts on the exhaust to keep a positive seal-- not stock, but I don't want to take this off again.



With that done, the intake and exhaust were bolted on final.



The exhaust needed a simple flex pipe added and a flange to bolt to the header:



Stainless flange, flex, and transition:



Were welded into this:



And installed onto the exhaust:



This morning Eric Straw came down and helped with the install of the body-- a 2-post lift makes this much easier than the days when we used to get 4 guys and heft it onto the frame!





And back in it's home:





More updates soon!

Michael

[Karr]

Wow amazing work. Such an inspiration.

[JT68]

As nice as it gets.. no doubt. Beauty!