Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I purchased this numbers matching car several years ago from the Dallas area. It was originally listed for sale as a Datsun 3000 without pictures, but as it turned out it was SRL #565. It was originally Thunderblack with a Red interior and came very complete with dealer optioned rims and a complete Empi GT Steering wheel. However, she had been off the road since the 80's and needed a mechanical refreshing. Somewhere along the way, it was repainted a pearl-red color...very ugly.

As found:



I hired the Previous Owner (SHOP #1 - who owned a hot rod shop) to mechanically refresh the car, however after several months there was no progress.

So I dragged the car to another shop (SHOP #2) in Houston to help restore. The shop already had my Datsun 510 and had big hopes of getting her going! She received a quick wash and wax





Well...once again...weeks turned to months..to over a year of the project being ignored and crapped piled on top of the car (Body parts, spoilers, bondo dust everywhere)... So once again, I pulled the car and put it into my storage unit. My storage folks don't allow me to work on the car at the unit, so I put the project on hold for a year, or so.

As the saga continues...I brought it to a another shop (SHOP #3) but again...more than 6 months of no progress & the owner informed me he was shutting down the business in November 2014. So I coordinated to pickup the car.



She is now at SHOP #4 and the team quickly made progress.



Appears to have a newly rebuilt head. Found the distributer was a tooth off and needed a new Dizzy as well. Carbs cleaned up a bit and awaiting a replacement gas tank.

After only a few days at the shop ....here is the video of its first start!!!

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Lots more work to do..but the goal is to make this a driver first, then onto the cosmetics.

Nice! Looks like a nice solid car.

There is much to be said for patience! Glad you are seeing some progress!

Just flabbergasted that these first 3 shops ignored and simply stored the car for so many years. Within literally just a couple of hours of work at the new shop, the car is running.

Initially the newly rebuilt head was leaking, but after torqueing down the head, the leak has stopped. Next up is the hydraulics. The clutch master still holding, but the front brake reservoir is empty. They will bleed the brakes to determine if/where the brakes may be leaking. Not sure if is the Calipers, Master Cylinder, or something else.

Great news on the car Dan! If the MC seals are shot then it won't be possible to bleed the brakes to find the leaks - since you won't be able to build up pressure.

HTH
James

Stopped by the shop on Friday to check on progress.

The engine started beautifully, carbs have been cleaned up, choke connected. The engine sounds really smooth. I installed a temporary ignition switch (before it went to the shop). Pulled out the choke cable just a bit, and the car starred and idled fantastic. Car is still dirty and filthy, but that will be remedied in the future.

Dropped off a replacement gas tank today. Next up is bleeding out the brakes (and repairing where needed),clutch hydraulics and fuel system.

And....I gotta get a megaphone exhaust tip

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Ok no picture yet...

But, Best I can guess is that the roadster was last refurbished some time in the eighties. To go with the Night Rider fad...found a small light bar jammed inside of the hood scoop.

Hit a milestone on Jan 16th..

Took a drive in #565 around the parking lot. Brakes still need incremental work, but she is once again mobile. Video to come later.

Fantastic Dan! Progress, no matter how glacial, is a good thing. Congratulations on being mobile!

Well, tomorrow, I pull from Shop #4.

Over the past 2 months, he has been not been adequately communicating, nor responding to my calls or messages.

I provided the shop with all new brake parts: New 510 Master, Eaton 1443 Adapters, all new calipers, wheel cylinders, hoses, shoes and pads. Everything new.

Shop owner fires the entire mechanical crew in December, and decides he is just going to focus on his own projects?!?!? So, instead of working my vehicle (which I paid for) the brake system has been messed with by three different people, In the end, though I repeated over, and over to use the metric/sae adapters provided, they were not used. I expect to have a brake system that will need to be redone after paying a unfair sum of money for bad work.

Serious Delusions of Grander. The owner is now planning on turning his shop into a 'design studio'. Oh, he says he also owns other large tracts of land and is going to build a race track and create paddock garages with live-in lofts.

It coming home, and I'm fixing the damn thing myself.

Wow Dan , you have has some seriously bad luck with the shops in your area. I am sure you will be glad to get this project completed.

Steve

Bipolar disorder, or good ol meth... Rampant in the auto body and construction fields these days... That sucks man. I have ONE mechanic I trust for things I don't want to do or don't have time for on my daily cars, otherwise I do the wrenching.

Way to go Dan - if they can't do it right you may have to do it yourself. Or take it to that shop on North Main I recommended. I went by there today and they are working on my E9 right now. They also have a TR6, a porsche 964, and a shelby Mustang...

Cheers
James

I do have to say today was a new low in my Datsun Hobby. I towed my Datsun away today.

As I expected, the brake system was leaking, and the adapters weren't used. For the grace of putting the braking system together improperly I had already been charged $1200! (Labor Only). He was kind enough to try to bill me another $500 for complete bull. And of course, he lost my only factory ignition key and I found the sealed package for the brake adapters still sitting in the car, never touched. That is just the start...

Time to practice my breathing exercises...

Let's round up a posse! Don't they still hang people in Texas?