Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hi All,
Im the new owner of a 68 1600- it is in "good" shape but needs some mechanical & paint work. I got a pretty good deal on it and am happy with my purchase.

One thing that im concnerned about: the soft top which was included appears to be the wrong one for the car. The previous owner said that it "needed to be adjusted" and it "didnt close right" but it is WAY off. with the corners of the top touching the (high) windshield the center is maybe 4" from closing. I didn't fuss with it much, but is there a easy way to determine what year the top is from?

The car also came with a hard top with the round port hole windows but they hadn't used that in a long time either. How do these typically mount in the back? the clips work fine but they didnt remember how to secure the rear. They gave me a bag of parts which include a couple of eye-bolts... i might be able to get this to work but ???

Thanks,
Neil

Here is the car:

Welcome, you start happy and will only get happier, these are a blast.

I'll let someone else speak to the soft-top, in 14 years I have used it 4 times, so my advice on tops is worthless. (some would say on other topics as well, ask my wife!)

Hard tops latch in the front with same soft top latches, then there are different approaches in the rear, but the eye bolts come up thru the hole that are 1/2 way back along the "cockpit surround" from the door opening.
What Phil in San Diego has done is have the top NOT pulled down to the car, as then it chafes paint, as both top and car are moving around during flight.

So eye bolts hold the top snugly above the surface of the car, with a D seal (or P seal is better) taking up the opening. That way the seal "rolls" on the surface, not "drags". Drag = chafed paint.

Welcome, nice looking ride!

Sounds like the front bow is broken. If it doesn't sit parallel with the top of the windshield before clamping, you have an issue. If you run your hand over the vinyl on the top front above the clamps is the sheetmetal under the vinyl nice and flat all the way across, or is there a big dent or deformed section? Best thing is meet up with another roadster owner and compare. It will be very apparent.

Thanks for the tip. There is a swap meet coming up by me soon, hopefully another 1600 owner will be there.

Why haven't we met we are in San Jose too!
Welcome!

Hey Alvin, We should! My car is in pieces right now, need to sort out the brakes and a fuel issue before I drive it much.

Also, regarding the soft top- im a big dummy and was trying to put it up incorrectly. I have since figured out the proper installation method and it seems to be OK (though it needs to be lubed and adjusted)