The Grateful Dead.

[kirslis]

I recently was given a 1969 datsun 2000 (thats the year from what I was told). It was my uncle's car in the late 70s. I'm not clear on the entire story but at some point he was working on it, lock himself out of the hood and it slowly got farther and farther down the to do list. The last thing he remembers according to him was that it was having electrical problems and also needed a starter, which he bought but never installed. It sat for at least 2 decades in Oak Ridge TN at my grandfathers house under a tarp, in a backyard full of other dead cars and boats. In the few times I visited my grandpa as a child, the car always caught my eye. Then after my grandpa passed, his house slowly fell into disrepair and my uncle and dad started tending to the property trying to do what they could in their spare time to repair it. It was a long process and at some point the county told them they needed to remove the dead cars or they would be fined. At this point the dead car grave yard had exponentially grown and something needed to be done, so instead of selling or scraping the vehicles like most would do, they dragged all the vehicles to some land the brothers owned near the Obed River because of course some day they would fixed the cars....Its been 6 years since the vehicles were moved there. The land is on a very remote stretch, with no roads or buildings. Not too long ago my dad asked when I visited him if I'd like to see the land and do some trail blazing. I said sure and off we went. As we hiked into the woods, we came to the car graveyard. There was the datsun and I couldn't help but feel so sorry for it. On the way back when passing by the car I told him if he gave me the car I could at least keep it in my newly built garage and try to get her running again. He said he was open to the idea and his brother was also. He disconnected the drive shaft pumped up the tires and dragged the car through the woods and open fields on the land and then drove all the way to Athens Ga and we pushed it into my garage. According to my uncle the engine and tranny are in great shape, and luckly he had lots of extra parts to the car which I still need to get in my grand fathers basement, including a 2nd engine, transmission, carbs, brakes, back bumper, new starter, and more. It may have already had its engine replaced.
Over the last couple days I've been cleaning her up and getting her ready to work on. I got the hood open (some may have seen me post about the broken hood release earlier), I took out the seats and center console and I started vacuuming out all the animal nests and buckets and buckets of rust. Surprisingly the body is in pretty good shape but the floor boards and interior are beyond shot. I really dont know much about these cars, I own a 1997 nissan truck thats my daily driver, which I work on a good bit. Overall I know its going to be alot of work but I can't wait to get her going. I'm sure I'll have alot of questions for yall. Please let me know if you see anything that catches your eye under the hood. Heres a couple of pics of what I'm working with. In my garage the CD player's eject button is broken so the whole time I've worked on the car I had The Grateful Dead Europe 72' soundtrack playing which I find a bit ironic. Hopefully she'll be alive soon.

[spl310]

Great story!

[jnnt29]

Great looking project! good luck. I look forward to your adventure

[bakerjf]

Great read! A special place in "Datsun Heaven" awaits you if you get that car back on the road.

[AidanDawn2000]

Just change the oil, get a gas can+new filter and see if she'll fire up. Nothing more motivating than having a running engine at the start of a project.

[garth]

Next Grateful Dead tune on the restoration play list: "A Touch of Grey (or Rust)!".

A little work and it'll be shinin and trippin!

Good luck with your project.

[JohnnyMac]

Great story. Looks to me like it might be a 1968 model based on VIN and no side marker lights. From the vender list, Rallye has some great info on "Year your car really is". http://www.datsunroadster.com/INFO_PAGES/what_year.htm

[sgriffin]

The story is as good as your car will be one day. Keep us posted on your progress.

[S Allen]

That is a great read. Good luck with your project and remember-you have plenty of help/advice here.

S

[msampsel]

Truckin ... Sometimes the lights a shining on you

There is a good to do list to follow
For starting an engine which has sat
For a long time.

With the overhead cam some wise folks
Recommend dizzy removal to run the oil
Pump prior to fire.

You might consider removing valve cover
And squirting some oil around the cam parts
If you don't do the dizzy dance.

A little marvel mystery oil in spark plug holes
Is good insurance. And I posted a link herein
To the steps recommended for startup (general car not OHC like the 2000).

[bakerjf]

If it was my car, after a short diagnostic startup (or attempt), I'd just plan on pulling that engine and at a minimum doing a complete reseal job. while its apart you can determine the condition of the head and timing components, etc. You'll save time in the long run.

[Linda]

Congrats, nice story.
There are so many great roads in Tenn for a Roadster. I think there are a few owners there. Where abouts are you? Might want to post your location in your Profile.

Linda

[68DSU]

Good save from the dead! If you have two engines, check to see if one of them matches the engine number on the VIN plate. That would be the one to rebuild.
A long lived band gives plenty of lyrics to choose from:

The brakes don't work and this grade's too steep, her engine's sure to blow
And 100,000 tons of steel, out of control,

[notoptoy]

Nice story and it's cool that you have the history so far back, even if it has just been sitting, keep it in the family!

[Rodster]

Cool story enjoy!!!!!