Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hey guys, I just wanted introduce myself. I just picked up my first 1600 and plan on doing a SR20DET swap on it.

I also plan on doing a full restore on the body. I have already spoke with Micheal at Spriso and started my shopping list. I have never done a full engine swap before so it should be interesting. I have read a lot of the posts on the site and have already started to helped with what is needed.

I am in Raleigh, NC and have a few quick questions. Once I get the title in my name from the State and after I do the swap what kind of inspection will I need on the car to get a tag? Is it safety only because of the year of the car or will they fail me for having a SR20 in it? I was wondering if I should get the engine in it now running and get it inspected and get my tags and then do the swap?

Here are some shots of the 67 I picked up:






Later!

good luck with it all,it looks like a good start.

State of NC does not require any inspections at all on cars over 25 years old! They also do not track modifications (i.e.- engine matching frame matching ID tag!). Once you have the title you can license it with a valid drivers license and proof of insurance - that's it! (in fact, I don;t think you even need the title first, it can all be done at the same time!)
Welcome to the forum and keep us posted on your progress!!
Tom - in Winston-Salem, 1.5 hours west!

Glad to see you made it over here!

You should get in touch with Harrison, he is in Herndon, Virginia (not all that far away) and is also working on an SR20 swap!

Here is the link to his project: http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12770

There are a lot of great resources on this site, so keep reading and don't be shy about asking questions!

Good luck, and let me know if I can help,

Michael

Thanks guys! I will do that.

Tom, that is cool to know you are that close! Pretty funny because I bought the car in Belews Lake just north of Winston and towed it home on a tow dolly only a few days ago.

I will make sure to keep everyone posted. I am going to do a few upgrades to the garage first before I get started on the major stuff but I am going to start to pull the engine ASAP.

Later,

Joe

How cool. Looks very solid and very complete. As good as things look it must be a driver. Thats the part I look'ed forward to. Scoot'in around in the stock, and then bam. 0-60 in 4 sec. or better with your swap. After turbo is installed I would love to see about 8 1/2 or maybe 9 to 1 HP.to weight ratio out of the KA swap I'm doing. You'll be right there as well. Good luck.

Did you get that one off of Craig's list? I saw that one listed in Belew's Lake ( we call it Belews Creek locally) and I thought he wanted a bit much for it, I hope you didn't pay what he was asking! Your pictues look much better than his! I was very tempted by that one and resisted only by lack of "spare" funds! Another local listing has "rebuilt" U20 for "only" $5000!
Tom

He was asking $600 and I thought that was fair for a complete car with a running engine. The car didn't run when I picked it up but I hooked up a battery to it and it does turn over. I figured I could get some film of it running, pull the engine and make a few bucks on selling that by itself and get some of my initial investment back.

I had been watching Craigslist for a few months and nothing nearby with a good frame had come up in quite some time. I found one guy that only had a rolling 69 2000 chassis down in SC and he wanted $900. HA!

The rust is minimal on the car. The floor panels will need to be replaced as they have a cheap patch job but everything else seems really solid. Frame looks really good. Windshield is cracked so that will have to be replaced. This is a sketch I did of how I want it to look. Not sure on the colors but I am thinking either solid black or silver with a black stripe the width of the scoop on the front.

Jeez, nice sketch! I can't draw a stick figure
He came down on his price then, he had been asking something like $1600 or $1900 for a long time. You got a great price on it.
Good luck!

That was money well spent.

Ok, I finally finished my garage modifications I wanted to get that done before I started. I have never done a full body restore. Just some basic body work. Anyone have any good advice on books to get me started? I planned on lifting the entire body off the frame and trying to do a rotisserie style restore on it. I have a few DVDs but nothing from start to finish.

Thanks!

Hi Joe from Canada.
I will be following along with your progress as I also have a '67 1600 and would really like to SR it as well.
Think I will drive it for another year or two first though and work some other kinks out, but please keep us updated.

Ryan

aka wrote:Ok, I finally finished my garage modifications I wanted to get that done before I started. I have never done a full body restore. Just some basic body work. Anyone have any good advice on books to get me started? I planned on lifting the entire body off the frame and trying to do a rotisserie style restore on it. I have a few DVDs but nothing from start to finish.

Thanks!

Definitley pick up the Roadster Book from Scott Sheeler!
Also there is a great step by step in the tech wiki!
http://www.311s.org/pmwiki-311/pmwiki.p ... yFromFrame" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ok thanks! Looks like I will have to wait a little on the book.

http://thedatsunroadsterbook.com/

Zip-loc bags,blue painters tape and a sharpie. Oh a digital camera is the most help in alot of areas. At least for me. I've been plugging away at my KA swap for about 6 mos. now. Things take time. There really arnt any real short cuts that you wont pay for later in hrs. or $. I'm thinking of building a swinging jib crane for my shop just to ease the cherry picker lifts of the body. I'm about ready to pull for the last time before firing. You've got the best help in your corner! Take it in.