Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hey guys

my name is René. I´m coming from Germany - more precisely from Beervaria
I´m nearly 24 years old and study mechanical engineering. Before this I graduated an industrial mechanic education.

Now to my roadster.
I spotted it on a online-platform. The seller used it as a parts car for his own roadster. No engine, no transmission and it stayed outside for a long time.
We bargained about the price and one weekend in the summer of 2011 a friend of mine and I drove 300km to grap it.
The Seller had a set of rear lights, some datsun badges and some other stuff which I got with the car.
Finally we push it on the trailer and drove back home.



First I had no space at home, but another friend bought a farm with a big lawn. Yes, of course - you will ask Why outside? but hey it stands outside for many years without something like this nice cap on it



Some time later I started to strip it.



Big problem on all old cars - the rocker panel. Mine was rusty...



and has a hole...



yes okay.. maybe more than one


A split



A hole on the left side



Another hole in the hood (thinking rain was dropping to it from something like a roof)



yammi, it so.....crispy




It was not very difficult to see that this car had an accident

left wheel house



right one looks better .... (Who will find the mouse? )



... I thought



Anybody filled this hole with some layers of FBE


The floor during some de-rust-work



And after



Actually the floor sheet is mostly okay, but the big holes told me "Made a new floor"
So you can see I have a big mountain of bodywork.

But I had another problem - no drivetrain
You have to know this was the interesting thing on this roadster because it was a cheap and nostalgic "frame" for a Rotary-project.
Rotary engines make a lot of bad exhaust gases. So you have to pass emission tests. But there is a law gab Only cars which are made after 1969 have to pass these tests, no matter how old or new the engine is.
Another point, it was done before me ... but with a 12A NA no turbo
check this Link http://bringatrailer.com/2011/03/14/bat ... oadster-2/

Some month later I bought a 86 Mazda RX7 Turbo II accident car. Engine was renewed after 80k km. 10k km later the accident happend ... in 1996!!! Before I bought it the seller get him a service (oil, spark plugs, oil filter) It starts perfectly.
Another time later the engine came out





and there it is a 13B turbo



In this time I cleared my Garage out and bought this engine lift.



and I started to strip it like the roadster, to learn something about the engine and delate parts like the air pump, rats nest and some other emission stuff.



During this I detected this cracks on the manifold ....



... and on the hot side of the turbo





This sould be enough stuff for an Introduction post hope you enjoy it

I will open a new Thread in the Tech Section with project Rotary or something.

@Admin: Please tell me when I should/could use this thread for my Project - THX

Welcome!

Firstly - I would make sure of the model year of your car. Based on the side marker light holes on the fenders you have a 1970 - which could have a big impact on your engine project it sounds.

Secondly, for this car you should learn how to weld sheetmetal.

Cheers
James

Thanks James,

this was one thing I checked first as I knew where it was to found.



You are correct!!!
I looked on an other site which says it is a 1969

But nearly no one knows this car in Germany... Doesn´t look like the second number as a 0 to you?
And I don´t like this big side markers

"Don´t stone me to death for this"

Looks like you have your work cut out for you good luck with your project. I can't tell if you are being humorus with the second number as a 0 or not, so I'll give you a straight answer it appears to me that your vin is SPL311-28759. If this was a 69 car that was has modified side lights, you will find the vin number on the dash, drivers side, by the windshield If I remember correctly. wenkle's are an interesting beast, i'll have to check back on your progress! good luck!

Welcome to the forum!

Judging by the marker lights and the vin I think car is probably a 1970 model.

Does anyone check the vin number on the car when you go in to register it? If not, I suppose you can call it a 0. That would make it a 68 according to Rallye's info. (http://www.datsunroadster.com/info_pages/what_year.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) You couldn't get away with that over here in the states tho as they inspect the vin # on the car when you go to register it.

I doubt anyone will stone you for trying to fool the system in order to bring this roadster back to life... I Just wouldn't tamper with the numbers on the car itself. That would not be good.

Thanks for your answers and the great welcome!

gvpjared, you read my face

I will check if the 0-number would bringing trouble with it.


Hey James,
do you mean welding like this?

Welcome!

I'm wondering how hard it is to rebuild and own a classic car in Germany. So many regulations!

My friend who lived in Stuttgart told me that you are not allowed to wash your car at home. You must go to a car wash, where all the water is reclaimed and cleaned!

I do know that there is a big vintage Alfa Romeo scene in Germany.

Rhänne wrote:
. Doesn´t look like the second number as a 0 to you?

:lol:No, that is an 8. the car is a 70 (At least the body and frame)

One thing is for sure, you have welding skills, and that car needs them!

Quite often it goes the other way. My 68 srl is registered as a 69 because the dealers back then could get away with selling last years model as the current year so they could move old inventory without dicounting it. Doesn't really matter so long as you know what year it really is for correct part fitment.

Welcome, great introductory post, no one had to ask for photos, you got that covered!
I've spent some time in Wurzburg, it's beautiful - did the whole castle tour. I worked with distributor of medical products there.
You can start another thread for your restoration, or if you want I can move this to "members Rides" if you want.

Thanks again and again

Yes your friend told the truth car washing at home is mostly not allowed caused by the envirement laws. You can do that when you have an oil stripper at this place and something else. I hope I can spend a half year by Porsche in Stuttgart next year for an internship.

Germany has a big classic car culture! You will find many many .... european cars from Italy, UK or Germany for example:
Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Triumph, Mercedes, Porsche, and so on
Oh I forgot the American Muscle Cars - not as many as europeans but much more than japanese
You wouldn´t find a big range of japanese Classics.

Many people don´t know them because they wasn´t selled here.
Or only boring models like nowadays the "Toyota Auris".
Look to Japan there it is a better Version of it: Toyota Blade Master
You can get it with 2,5l and AWD or 3,5l V6 FWD (280HP) in a hatchback!
Holy sh.... our biggest thing is the 2,0l Diesel *yawn*

In Germany japanese cars were for the small wallet and "Using-Cars" to get from A to B
It is very hard to find an old Corolla or an 510/Bluebird
--------

@notoptoy:
I´m coming from Wuerzburg and study in Schweinfurt 50km away
nice to hear your story!!

I read that number as 28959

Grüß Gott Herr Rhänne,

My mother's family is from Kitzingen. My sister was born in Wurzburg. I lived in Schweinfurt when my father was stationed there in the Army back when I was in Elementary school. The next time I lived there was when my father was stationed in Zweibrucken - we actually lived in the little village of Homburg. I absolutely LOVE Germany!! One of my favorite castles is Reichsburg Cochem. When my wife and I visited Germany, we stayed in Cochem the first night. The very first day there, we saw a Cobra replica driving down one of the streets! It was neat!

Enough of my blathering though. Welcome to the forum! You are moving fast on that restore, so it will be great to follow. If I can help in any way, don't be afraid to ask!

Hallo Rhanne -

Given the extent of rebuilding on your vehicle, it would be conceivable that a VIN swap on the frame might be essential to it's structural integrity...

I know there are a couple of guys around here who might have a structurally sound chunk of frame and a VIN plate from a 68 or 69 for a reasonable amount of Pilsner Urquell...

Not sure whether that makes it harder or easier to license if it is a VIN that has never been in the system over there...

dw

Thanks for your comments!


@spl310: The world is a village - nice to hear your story!


I started a new Thread in the "Member Rides" area, there you can follow the Project


Edit: Here is the direct link: http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... 14#p151014


I would be glad to see you there