Bought a 65 1500 and I'm a complete newbie

[GFC]

Hey everyone , name is Sebas. i bought a 65 1500 a couple of weeks ago. This is my second Datsun (first one was a 82 280zx, but it died). I'm absolutely in love with the car; however, in hindsight it was a terrible purchase since it needs a lot of work done on the body, soft top (needs a new one),suspension, and brakes. the engine run strong and all the electronics work except for the fuel and speed gauge. I already replaced the alternator with a GM alt and converted the car to a negative ground. I want my Roadster to become the car that it used to be , and i know that's going to take a lot of work, time and money. Sadly, i don't have much of any of those three since i'm a broke college student (who happens to be obsessed with Datsuns). anyways i should stop b*tching, and get to work! please let me know what are some useful upgrades to make a 1500 a reliable daily driver ;i'm going to be driving it to school and work. Thanks!

[Nissanman]

No major upgrades required!
I have restored a '65 to factory specs and I am quite impressed with how things are.
It is your car of course, but please consider a faithful restoration of the old girl.

[AidanDawn2000]

Welcome aboard! I am also a cash strapped student (high school). I bought my roadster a few months ago and the brakes didn't evan pretend to work:D
It is really easy to look at the fuel level sender which might be stuck, at least on my '68, look under the panel in the trunk. Good luck!

[GFC]

Welcome aboard! I am also a cash strapped student (high school). I bought my roadster a few months ago and the brakes didn't evan pretend to work:D
It is really easy to look at the fuel level sender which might be stuck, at least on my '68, look under the panel in the trunk. Good luck!

Are you using yours as a daily?

[GFC]

No major upgrades required!
I have restored a '65 to factory specs and I am quite impressed with how things are.
It is your car of course, but please consider a faithful restoration of the old girl.

I would love to restore my Roadster to factory specs but that seems way out of my price range. However, i really want to swap the drum brakes for disc, just because i'm going to be driving it a lot and i want feel a little safer

[pebbles]

I think the speed gauge is mechanical. Should be a cable to the transmission.
Get back to work! Lol.

[GFC]

I think the speed gauge is mechanical. Should be a cable to the transmission.
Get back to work! Lol.

I found the cable the other day, the connector is probably corroded to hell.

[Toptech360]

Am i the only one who thinks using a 50 year old unrestored roadster as a daily driver knowing the owner has no $ or time to fix things is maybe NOT such a good idea?

I mean i admire the thought but even somthing as average as the oil filter are comparatively difficult to get for these 1500s. And being a 65 your in a car that only a few hundred were made. Without trying to sound too harsh, butcher something else and leave that car for restoration or sell it to someone who has the means to.

[FergO2k]

While I can see that point of view, I was in a similar position as Sebas way back when, only with air-cooled VW's, and don't see the technology/complexity of a 1500 more of an undertaking than those were. Sure, parts (and sources for them) on those were more plentiful, but between Sid and folks the "1600 swap outs" are known, and we'll certainly be counseling against doing something ir-reversible (like SawZall activity).
I'd say let's try to help him find an abandoned hardtop to start with, to keep the elements from deteriorating it.

Cool car as a project jumping off point. Keep in mind you probably have a non-syncro 1st gear, which requires a different mental approach to driving than most are used to (plan a lot more in advance).... kinda like watching old episodes of Kung Fu. (now that is a really strange analogy)

[jamesw]

I used to have a '66 1600 as my daily driver when I was in college and it was fine. The major difference between the two is that the brakes on the 1500 are crap. Hard to adjust, don't stop well, and VERY expensive to repair.

Other than that, the car is pretty bulletproof in my opinion. Not a lot to go wrong. If you're in San Diego I'd start getting ready for a wet winter and get a hard top. Also make sure the wipers are working and get some of that rain-x stuff for the inside of the windshield because it will fog up a LOT.

HTH
James

[Toptech360]

My drum brakes seem to work quite well. I can lock them up and they have a nice firm pedal. But im sure disc brakes are mo betta.

My first car was a project land cruiser when i was 16. It was a 1972 so 23 years old at the time. Looking back at it that was a terrible first car to have. And i wasn't even worrying about college or bills yet...but it was cool and i loved it!
I imagine the vws and datsuns you guys had back in the day were not 50 years old at the time were they? i understand fundamentally they worked the same new as they do now, but still. Its a little different imo.

What we can all agree on is this forum will help anybody crazy enough to do whatever they want with their car! And cheers to that.

[Bruce]

+1 on the rain ex, anti fog and wipers!

I used a 66 1600 as a commuter in San Diego during the last El Nino winter (97 -98 I think). Ended up going to work bare foot with rain slicker pants over my work pants because water came in through the windshield seals, dripped off the dash drenching my pants and filling my shoes. It was worth it!!! I loved that car and it never left me stranded. Enjoy your new toy, that's why you bought it.