Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Looks like I'm a bit behind Ed Mason. This is a 66 that I bought and drove in high school (circa 1974). It sat in the barn for about 30 years. I yanked it back out in 2011 and started in. Serious rust. Inner and outer rockers were gone. Nothing left of the front pillers from the bottom door hinge down. Rear quarters and front fenders were toast as well. I posted a few shots of my progress.

tease!
pics won't enlarge for me
so what are your plans for the build?

I'll try to get them full size. Not sure what is going on with that.

I'm leveraging (another way of saying copy) what others have done and I am using Michael's information extensively. Here's the rundown

S14 Kouki SR20DET with mating 5 speed
Ford 8" rear with explorer disks
Newly constructed 2X4 X member with Torque arm to manage spring wind up
26mm aluminum 300ZX front disks
Comp lowering front springs
Rota-RB's with 195F 205R
68 large flare rear quarters
67 1/2 large flare front fenders
Stainless Bumpers


Right now I'm waiting for my NOS drivers front fender, then the plumbing fun begins. Radiator, Intercooler, Turbo plumbing etc.

I'm hoping to have it as a driver in primer by this time next year. Then I'll break it all back down for final blocksanding and paint.







Regards,
Steve

WOW, that is some serious work. This is going to be very impressive. Please keep the pictures coming>

Steve has been doing an amazing job on this conversion and has been regularly giving me sneak peeks of his progress during his build-- it is going to be an amazing example of a SR powered roadster when it is done!

Keep up the great work Steve!

Michael

Nice work, but why did you make the X member solid rather than have the center removeable for transmission servicing?

I'm going to try to AutoX this car, so I was going for maximum torsional stiffness instead of easy maintenance. With the full 4" section, it should be nice and stiff + it makes a nice reinforced hole for the exhaust.

Here another shot of the rocker rebuild



And the X-member

burly!
torque reminds me of a GM F-body Spohn arm

Alvin,

Ding,Ding,Ding your're indeed the winner!

I drag raced a 4th gen M6 Fbody for years. I have broken or bent just about everyones torque arm on the market. Finally I made my own to fit a the Ford 9" in my Pontiac. I found that torque arm suspensions work pretty darned good. It sort of works like a streetable version of a 4 link from a geometry and instant center standpoint.

I looked at just doing the original Datsun version of a tramp rod, but for the life of me I could not figure out how it worked without putting the suspension in a funky bind as the suspension moves through it's travel.

The jury is certainly out on how this will work with leaf springs in real life. However, I have run the Roadster suspension through it's full travel with the torque arm and everything seems to behave properly.

The Datsun torque arm looks heavy but it's really not too bad. I fabbed it out of 1"OD X .065W DOM. It wouldn't last 1 pass in my Pontiac, but should be fine in the Roadster since I'm not planning 5500RPM clutch dumps.

If it doesn't work, I'll cut it off and regroup. That's why God created torches, grinders, and welders.

Regards,
Steve

Updated Photos




With NOS 67 1/2 Drivers front Fender


If all goes well we should have the body straight by Thanksgiving.

I started in on the dash. I blasted and painted it with gray Hammertone. The jury is out on the hammertone look. Once I get the dash pad and gauges in it I'll decide if I like it or not. I won't be a big deal to strip it and put wrinkle fininsh on it if it looks stupid.

Regards,
Steve

OK, so I'm curious now, how about a picture of the dash?

So glad you're bringing a previously loved car back to life... Wait for the flood of memories when you first drive her! Don't forget to either fill the side marker light hole on the passenger front fender, or add it to the drivers! Great work.

Finally Pictures of the dash with grey hammertone.

It looks much better now that I have the dash pad and new gauges installed. It kinda looked like a Craftsman toolbox earlier.



and a close up of the hammertone



I think I'll keep it. Should be way easier to clean than wrinkle finish.

Regards,
Steve

That's very pretty!


I like

WOW! I love it!