Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Well I thought I should start reporting what I have been up to with my new toy.

The roadster has been here for a few weeks now and I have been looking through a few different areas checking things out before I go for registration.

I have fitted some amber taillights because we use this in Australia.

I have purchased a wiring harness from the US to replace the current one as it has a few shorts and the mystical smoke is being let out of the current (pun) wires.

I have found that the wiper motor has four bolts, I thought that it had two which had fallen out over the years, but seeing a picture of one on ebay I see they have four. I will be buying some bolts and possibly use some loctite to use to keep them where they should be.

I found that my winning number token was in the ashtray which was a really nice touch, thanks.

Today I spent most of the day pulling apart the front suspension on the drivers side, I know I am a bit slow, these roadsters take some getting used to, I took my time to see how things work under there, very messy job.
I have been replacing the rubber boots that have disappeared over time, I was concerned that the ball joints maybe worn out because of it but they seem fine, while I had the springs out I put some urethane tops on the springs, they were a slightly different diameter to the springs but would be fine once under compression, so to keep them in the right place during assembly I used some electrical tape tying them to the spring in four places, it will probably work its way out over time.

The top wishbone seemed to have some slop in it, I was a bit concerned as I thought that the bushes may need replacing but after close inspection I noticed that the two bolts that hold the top spindle to the frame were loose, I tightened them and used some loctite and then there wasn't any slop, wonderful!

I put new urethane boots on the ball joints and steering joints on the drivers side so far.

I am getting used to the inch sizes in bolts and spanners, I have to read and check the sizes all the time as I am used to using metric for my Zcar.

I have purchased some SSR three piece wheels from Japan to go on soon after they are powder coated and polished.

I also got a pair of fender mirrors to go on soon as well.

In the engine bay I have set the plug gaps, the timing and the valves and done a compression test.

The results are (1)170 (2)180 (3)175 (4)165

I have machined the chokes in the Mikuni's out to 35.5mm as I wanted a compromise between the 34 and 37mm sizes.

I have been getting help from the guys in the DSOA nsw from both Syd and Barry C, Also Lou Mondello and David Premo in the States, Thank you guys for all your help.

Rob

Awesome to hear Rob! I was worried we'd never hear anymore about the car. please keep us updated with lots and lots of pics.

Dave

Cool!
them ball joint boots deteriorate quick with our sticky, smoggy air. The joints will be fine.
The a-arm to frame botls usually have a bend-over-clip to make SURE they don't come loose. pretty important to trust to Loctite, but use your experience as your guide, not saying you are doing it wrong.
Glad to hear all is going well, a "spirited shakedown" is deifintely in order, and in keeping with its lively past.

The tabs must be hard to get at, what do you think about longer bolts with lock nuts?

Thanks for posting, we want to see more!

rp975 wrote:The tabs must be hard to get at, what do you think about longer bolts with lock nuts?

I used a lock washer under the head.

How does alignment look? Hopefully you have not lost a shim or two.

OK here are some pics to start off with, I will post more as it goes along.

Are the shims a "U" shape? There was not a lot of slop so I am hoping I have not lost one. I have yet to look at the passengers side though.

Do the bolts just come out and then you replace with longer ones or do you have to jack up the suspension?
Linda

rp975 wrote:The tabs must be hard to get at, what do you think about longer bolts with lock nuts?

Its normal to use longer grade 8 bolts and "double nuts" when adding enough spacers to get to Race specs.

I think you can use washers as spacers....takes a lot more time to set the front, but they don't fall out.

Phil

rp975 wrote:Are the shims a "U" shape? There was not a lot of slop so I am hoping I have not lost one. I have yet to look at the passengers side though.

My 69 was a bit of a mixed bag, some crescent, some round. I reinstalled as removed.
this is the pass side, the driver side has 6 total. As a safety measure, I reinstalled longer bolts on the driver side for 3 thread protrusion, common to the block plate. Previously the OG bolts were flush.

Thanks for the great picture David, tonight I removed one bolt and tomorrow I will buy some longer ones with washers and nylock nuts, the shims appear to be in there still they look to be the round washer type. There weren't any tabs to bend over the bolt head, just a star washer.

Notice how David "torque striped" the nuts, so you can tell at a glance if they have moved.
Great oic, BTW.
The roadster looks at home in that garage.

i think it's great that you are carrying on Vic's appreciation of rare JDM wheels

Fergus, Thanks, It is my own Datsun Dream Garage.

This morning I went and bought new bolts for the upper wishbone plus nuts and washers, I will assemble with the paint as well to show if they move.

I also bought new bolts for the lower ball joints as they were a bit dodgy.

Alvin, Thanks I thought that I should look into the same brand thaty Vic liked, it took a little while to get some but I think they will look good.
I tried 5 different paint colours to see what I liked. I have gone for a metalic brown-bronze colour. Now to see if I can find a match in powdercoat.

Yesterday I recieved a jack base and wheel holder from one of the club members here.

Rob