Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hi all,

Well, this has been a long time coming, but I'm now going to set serious about doing something about my '68 2000 Sports. I bought it in 1982 (I think) drove it for a few years then decided to start a full restoration. Unfortunately (no, that's not the right word) I also got married, bought a house and had children - what was that phrase of Zorba's again? The poor old thing has languished ever since. Some photos https://picasaweb.google.com/timrobinso ... PbH47LXJw#

Now the kids are old enought to do things for themselves (one doing a PhD, one in the army and the youngest starting uni after a year working in the UK). About 18 months ago I bought a 1993 MX5 https://picasaweb.google.com/timrobinson22/MX5# to keep me going while the Datsun slowly comes together. The guy who sold me the MX5 drove it on Sundays (no, not at Eastern Creek). However, I do actually need to start doing something to it (the Datun I mean) - which first means I have to extend the garage. See what I mean about saying this may take some time?

However, I'd really appreciate some advice about buying parts. With the Oz dollar so high it seems to me I should buy stuff now from the US. Is there a better supplier? and What about shipping costs? Is it better to buy one big shipment, or a series of smaller one. What I'll need are all rubber parts and some trim. The motor had only a few thousand miles on it from a rebuild by Gordon Dobie (?) and the gearbox likewise - except for synchro on 3rd. However, they have both been sitting since about 1984 so what damage could that have resulted in.

Enough questions for now

Regards and thanks in advance,

Tim

Welcome.
I have a similar issue, although I just recently purchased mine. I had a Jensen Healey for many years waiting for work, but marriage and kids got in the way. My kids are also now in college, so I have a 2000 roadster to work on.
I'm not sure about your best choice for suppliers would be, but I can tell you for sure that if you're buying things like rubber parts that don't weigh much, buy them all at once, it will save you a bundle on shipping.

Good luck with your restoration, post photos for us to see your progress.

David

Welcome!
As far as the parts, it depends on what you can afford. I have amassed my store of parts basically piece by piece over 20 years (plus a donor car) - probably too late for you to start your method this way and be done before the turn of the next century!

As far as the car sitting and damage - the biggest factor is how has it been stored? Indoor in climate control or outdoor exposed to the elements. Was anything done to "put it to bed" before you stopped using it? Internal rust and corrosiion are the big enemies - I'd probably tear down the engine and tranny just to clean out the old grease/junk and see what kind of rust is preseint.

Welcome.

There are vendors listed at the bottom on the left. We all have our favorites, best to develop your own or have people PM their choices....As far as I know, I have had positive experiences with the ones listed.

I think it would be best to consolidate your shipments, I do when I buy FJ20 parts from down under. LOL

Thanks all for the feedback. The car has been stored in bits in different places - all under cover and dry, at least. Things were oiled, but not really prepared for long term storage - I kept thinking I'd get to it soon. Foolish thoughts in retrospect.

The engine is pretty much apart, the head is off the block and all timing gear and manifolds etc removed. BTW, it had 45 DCOE Webbers fitted - possibly originally just taken from an Alfa or something. I took it to a carbie specialist who re-jetted them. Gawd know what they are like now.

Clearly, to be sure about things pretty much everything is going to come apart for inspection at the very least.

I will need to get hardened valve inserts to cope with unleaded fuel - any suggestions from Oz members of a good place in Sydney?

I do not think rust is going to be big problem (famous last words). All panels are off, I will need to take the body shell off the chassis once I have the covered workspace. I know that one of the bumpers has a corner corroded through where it was in contact with some fertiliser in a shed many years ago. I presume that is repairable by a bumper specialist.

Regards,

Tim

Please add your location to your profile, I know you apparently are near Sydney Australia - but it's nice to have that info at a glance!

notoptoy wrote:Please add your location to your profile, I know you apparently are near Sydney Australia - but it's nice to have that info at a glance!

Sorry, forgot to do the profile thing. Done!

Hello
To help you get started you might get in touch with some local "lads" to give you some help and support.
Linda

Welcome and I took the liberty of adding one of your pictures as an avatar. Have you registered your roadster yet? If not-please go here and do so http://www.311s.org/registry/input_registry.html As to parts-shop around for the best deals using the Vendors Links. They are all great to work with.

Steve

S Allen wrote:Welcome and I took the liberty of adding one of your pictures as an avatar. Have you registered your roadster yet? If not-please go here and do so http://www.311s.org/registry/input_registry.html As to parts-shop around for the best deals using the Vendors Links. They are all great to work with.

Steve

What a helpful bunch! Thanks all. No, I haven't registered it yet. I will, once I find the requisit numbers. The chassis and engine block at not at my place at the moment (see comment about needing to extend the garage )

I joined the NSW DSOA two years ago hoping that would get me into action. So far I have been a very poor and inactive member. I was spurred to join by seeing a restored 1600 in the local shopping mall carpark. As I was looking at it the owner came back to his car and we talked for a bit (much to the annoyance of SWMBO) and it turns out he lives very close to us. Life then got in the way with a long service leave trip to the UK, and a major bathroom renovation. Funny, my wife (who does actually like sports cars) saw the bathroom as more important than the 2000.

Tim

Familiar story. My car sat for six years "on hold" until SWMBO (I use the term too) and I saw a gathering of the faithful in Arizona.
This site is my morning inspiration to keep working on it.

Hi Tim,

I am in DSOA NSW as well in Sydney. Where are you located?

There is a parts list on our website. http://www.datsun.org.au/partslist.html

Try Lou Mondello in Melbourne. If he doesnt know about it its not worth knowing. He is on 9555 9591.

I source my parts locally. Some through nissan, rubber you can get at http://www.spectrumrubber.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, parts all depends on what you need. When you say trim do you mean stainless or interior trim?

mattywood wrote:Hi Tim,

I am in DSOA NSW as well in Sydney. Where are you located?

There is a parts list on our website. http://www.datsun.org.au/partslist.html

Try Lou Mondello in Melbourne. If he doesnt know about it its not worth knowing. He is on 9555 9591.

I source my parts locally. Some through nissan, rubber you can get at http://www.spectrumrubber.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, parts all depends on what you need. When you say trim do you mean stainless or interior trim?

Hi,

I'm in East Ryde. The DSOA parts list doesn't seem to have anything on it other than Syd's contact details. I need to make a list and make enquiries in ernest. (The SWMBO will start making comments about the packages that arrive at home, just like my last shipment of wood from Slovakia. You think sports car parts can be expensive - try making violins!)

The trim is interior stuff mostly. The car was pretty complete, just tatty in parts. The dask was cracked and I had a trimmer do a coverup job - but it's not nearly as good as the moulded covers available now. The trim around the inside of the 'screen and the sun visors are daggy. The seats were fairly OK - I had cloth inserts done (was called Frontrunner I recall) but I now rather wish I hadn't.

Regards,

Tim

mattywood wrote:Hi Tim,
The DSOA parts list doesn't seem to have anything on it other than Syd's contact details.
Tim

Click on the smaller font "parts list" about mid page. It opens up a .pdf with eight pages.

tim

tputland wrote:

mattywood wrote:Hi Tim,
The DSOA parts list doesn't seem to have anything on it other than Syd's contact details.
Tim

Click on the smaller font "parts list" about mid page. It opens up a .pdf with eight pages.

tim

Ahh - it helps if I actually read what is on the page. The list has a towbar I see, made me remember mine had a towbar. I always wondered why.

Tim