Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hello all. I'm Jim Roark based in Akron, Ohio. I am a long time "Z" owner who in the last year has acquired 3 roadsters. The first, a 1966 1600 I found last year in a barn less than 2 miles from me, where it had set for 20 years. (I really found 2, sold one) It has a U20 with Solex dual throats on it and a 5 speed. It's in poor condition. (I gave $400.00 for both cars and a load of spare parts)
Last week I bought another 1966 1600 for $202.50 on E-bay, it was a local seller, and again in rough shape. (parts car)
Last Monday my MAC tool man told me about a 1600 at one of his stops. I went to see it and bought it for $2500.00. The previous owner had got dis-couraged on the project.
A body shop had put on new rear quarter panels, new fenders, finished all the body work and painted the car before they realized that the door strikers on the 69 quarters don't line up with the 67 1/2 doors. (oops) At any rate being a fair bodyman & mechanic I will overcome this with the parts cars donating.
The P.O. also had bought new front & rear bumpers, grille, emblems, tires door handles , tail lights & pulled the fuel tank and cleaned and sealed it (A lot of money spent) I just got the engine running, it sounds good, but it looks as if I've got a blown head gasket to contend with. Oh well, we'll get it together and look forward to participating on the forum and on the road.

welcome... nothing like jump in with both feet... seems like you have a parts chest that will help you really get started... what are you plans?


oh and pictures pictures pictures

Welcome! You may find that you will need a 67.5 door post. I believe that they are unique. That being said, it should be duck soup for you to swap that out when you find a donor.

Actually the 66 rear post & latch are the same, as is the placement. That part should be easy. Here's a pic of the E-bay, more later. Jim

67.5 1600

Great finds and an awesome parts stash! Where are you lovated, please update your profile. And please post more pictures!!
Looking forward to seeing more on your build(s)!

Here's my 260Z. I bought it in 1985 with a blown engine for $1000.00. The underside looked like new, it registered 97K. Last winter I went through the chassis, ever bolt came out with a wrench or socket (No heat), All the steel brake lines are original, as is the fuel tank. It's an automatic that really runs good. I've put too much into it to list, now it's time to do a roadster. Jim

JR311S wrote:Actually the 66 rear post & latch are the same, as is the placement. That part should be easy.

You might want to look again. The 63-67 is the same except a different latch is used. The spacing on the lower bolts is different. On a 67 1/2 the center to center distance of the lower bolt holes is about 7/8", on the 63-67 it is about 1 3/16.

JR311S wrote:Here's my 260Z.

HPIM0597.JPG

I bought it in 1985 with a blown engine for $1000.00. The underside looked like new, it registered 97K. Last winter I went through the chassis, ever bolt came out with a wrench or socket (No heat), All the steel brake lines are original, as is the fuel tank. It's an automatic that really runs good. I've put too much into it to list, now it's time to do a roadster. Jim

welcome to the site. very nice looking z and i bet that you have the 67 1/2 in great shape soon. good luck on the rebuild and enjoy that roadster. i have a 260Z 2+2 and don't drive it much at all after buying a roadster.

you wouldn't be coming down to Branson Z Fest would you? we may run over on Saturday to check out the rides, maybe we will see you there.

Sleepyzzz, Branson will probably have to wait till next year, I've already committed to the Midwest Z Fest in Chicago. The Wife and I did the Z Nationals in Nashville last year (It was our first cruise) We had an AWESOME time with 400 cars in front of the Nissan Corporate offices on Saturday morning, met a lot of good people (including Mr. Matso, the man who designed the Z), had a lot of fun.
There was a copper colored 2000 roadster there with a turbo Nissan engine that was absolutely beautiful. (Maybe subconsciously that's where I got the Roadster bug. LOL) Jim

Datsun1500, Yes, I know of the bolt spacing difference, but since I will be cutting out and replacing the top section of the rear door post and the latch assm. together onto the quarter panels, it should not be an issue.
Like the Z the Roadster is not going to be a trailer queen, it will be driven, it will be nice when it's done but not a show piece to be judged. (It would be interesting to see if a show Judge would notice 5/16 of an inch)

JR311S wrote: (It would be interesting to see if a show Judge would notice 5/16 of an inch)

You would have to find a judge that even knew what a Roadster was, much less what is correct on one. Since you are in the Z world, you know how much debate there is on what is/was original on the Z cars, the Roadsters are even worse. Stuff was changed from car to car on the line...

I have seen "experts" tell a Roadster owner that a part was wrong even though the guy bought the car new and never took it off.....

It is not a matter of 5/16" difference. The half year latch is different from the early latch. Not a big deal, just some fab work. Like I said, should be simple to fix.

SPL310 Now I see the latch difference, I was just looking at the striker plate. I may be able to mount the 66-67 latch in the door with a little filing, then use the corresponding latch.
I'll measure it out tomorrow, it's cold & rainy here. Thanks again. Jim

I think that the body latch piece from the later cars is the same. They should be easy to come by. Much easier to just drill some holes and bolt it in rather than modifying latch assemblies. I have a 69 in the driveway, so I could unbolt one if you need it.