Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

My neglected project was bought 5-6 months ago. I rushed off to buy her after falling in love. I hadn't really thought things through yet, though because I don't actually have a proper garage to put her in yet. I've been keeping her at a friends who has garage space in the mean time while I decided on what to do with her.



Those are a few pictures of when I first got her. Did I mention I hadn't even learned stick yet? When I bought the car I had to drag along my brother who drove it home while i followed behind to check for any smoke coming from the exhaust. But she proved a fun little car to drive once I started learning...but then she developed a bit of a rough idle and started dropping oil pressure like crazy unless I gave her gas at idle. With the help of a mechanic buddy I started looking into fixing it and quite honestly wondering if I'd rushed in and in my inexperience bought a cheap old rust-bucket about to break down?

I stopped driving her after that to avoid the engine blowing up completely and researched my options...which lead me to KA24DE swaps, then on to a SR20DET. The videos on Youtube had me drooling, let me tell you. I looked at prices of motors on Ebay for a while before I saw a 93 240sx drift car that hit a wall when the previous owner was racing it. The body is FUBAR, but all the awesome upgraded internals were still good.

Even though it was a little rough from neglect and had lost any sort of tuning that it had, when it was Dyno'd it hit 388 hp. Perhaps a little too much boost for such a light little roadster, it started giving me second thoughts and I have since decided a Non-Turbo option or even VE would be much more feasible in it.

Anyway, I plan on renting either a house or condo with a two car garage up in Brentwood, CA around December. My roadster will finally have a home of her own and I can make up my mind. I really, really miss driving her. Here's some more current pictures I've taken that shower the Panasport rims I found. I also have ever-wings for her, but alas no pictures. She's still Old One Eye right now with just one brightly shining fog light.







Ironically, the problem with the oil pressure that started all this in the first place was fixed by my friend when I was on vacation with a little tuning of the carbs. She now idles smooth and has no issues with oil pressure. I'd say all the engine really needs is a tune-up.

[youtube]www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI4m1Sz1-Fs&feature=plcp[/youtube]

hello and welcome to the addiction. where are you located? i bet that there are roadster owners close by who might can give you some tips on getting your roadster back on the road.

Ah a fellow 68 owner - best year in my biased view ... Can I make a pleading suggestion..... Get to know the engine ... Get some roadster nut to show you how to tune and maintain them.... The u20 is an awesome engine and there is nothing like a twin carb engine on cam... I mean nothing no sr20 or any other modern motor out of a sedan...
...anyway I'm rambling... But if the engine is now running well and oil pressure is good... Drive it enjoy it and then if after lots of miles and smiles then make the decision .... For a little car the u20 is totally awesome !!!!
Great car .. Love the wheels ... Enjoy and go on a few runs with locals

Welcome, good collection of photos, it look solid - hopefully not the rust bucket you alluded to!
You've come to the right place for advice. There is plenty here on engine swaps - and on keeping it original. Spend a lot of time on the forum going through the topics, you'll learn a lot and be able to make a truely informed decision going forward!

Old one eye looks pretty good!

Always glad to see another 68 SRL

she looks good..

hey and I learned to drive stick on mine too.. easy peesy

Welcome to the group. Brentwood is Bay Area, right? Plenty of owners here.
I learned to use a stick on my car. I learned how to change the clutch not long afterwards.

I too would encourage you to keep the U20 and to tune her up. There are many upgrades you can do to create more power if you want. Granted, you won't easily be able to create 300hp, but a sports car is not all about brute power, and the U20 is well matched to the car and unique to the Roadster. Learn how to drive it proper (it will require you to learn about gearing and engine power bands, i.e. where the engine makes power), learn everything you can about how this engine works and evaluate its condition, then decide. Glad you fell in love! Let the story begin!

I love the u20s sound most of all. I'm still tempted to find some mikunis and go a more stock restoration at times. With the Mufflers the previous owner installed its an angry fart box. Over all the car is actually quite clean. The only rust ive found so far is some minor surface rust in the chrome and some bondo around the fenders me and my friend found getting the new rims to fit. My current plans are to get it on the road again so I can take the roadster to some meets and enjoy it The new rims rub a bit on the rear right now, the stock suspension is a little saggy. I can't wait till I put in the new kit I'm getting from Datsunparts.

Your car looks pretty clean, and it is after all a 2 liter...not too many and they are decreasing in number. I would keep it as is and get the bugs out. It will be a fine car. I have no problem at all with sr20 cars, but I do have a fondness for keeping the 2000's original.
Now, throwing one into a 1600 project car, I'd say do it.

There is also the un-official rule to DRIVE the car for at least a year before entering into major work, weather that is resto, frame off, or motor swap. Violating that rule is how many incomplete projects come up for sale.

panarat wrote: I can't wait till I put in the new kit I'm getting from Datsunparts.

Welcome... I re-did my '68 suspension last year with Datsunparts stuff. You will love it when it's done. As a fellow Bay Area Roaster owner, don't hesitate to ask questions if you need any help with the suspension work!

RFR, thanks for the advice. I've actually thought along similar lines. I've honestly changed my mind a couple times, but while I waited for my lease to end so I could move I could afford to. Only fools rush in. I could honestly do the swap cheaper and more efficiently if I bought a 1600 and I agree, 2000's are special. It's also I reason I thought about doing the swap in the first place...It's easier and cheaper to find parts to keep that running than the U2O and things are going to just get rarer still.

I'm kind of blown away by Datsun culture. I bought my Roadster around June in the midst of a mid-life crisis of sorts. (an early one, I'm only 31) and it's changed my perspective on life. "Welcome to the Addiction" is right. I'm yearning for a second Datsun.

panarat wrote:
I'm kind of blown away by Datsun culture. I bought my Roadster around June in the midst of a mid-life crisis of sorts. (an early one, I'm only 31) and it's changed my perspective on life. "Welcome to the Addiction" is right. I'm yearning for a second Datsun.

Ha! There are worse addictions, believe me, I work in an ER! This really is a great bunch of people, with friends and support around the world. I'm nearly 49 (oh shit!) and as I look back over my life, I can point directly to buying the Roadster 26 yrs ago as a life changer, not just socially but what it has taught me about planning, patience, and the challenges I can overcome. I often use the restoration of the Datsun as a metaphor for rebuilding ones life with the people I work with.
You're always welcome here!

It's part of my life transmogrification too. I've lost 80 lb's since this last Mother's Day when I ended up in the ER with Diverticulitis. Not a pleasant experience. Then I got the bill and almost had a heart attack too. Which would have caused an endless progression of bills and heart attacks.

The best part is, I can fit better in my tiny little deathsled. Huzzah!