Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Greetings!

I don't usually register and contribute to sites like this, but you all seem so kind and helpful that it seemed like I should, not to mention I noticed a couple of your members are VERY close to me geographically. (Moscow, ID and I work in Pullman, WA)

I picked up my '68 1600 (66 according to the title??) on July first this year, from under an old tarp, and onto a trailer. The last stickers on the plate were from '02 and the seller told me he'd driven it once since he purchased a couple years before that. The cracked old tires held air, and they all turned, but a bit grudgingly. A 2-ton winch eventually got it loaded onto the tilt trailer. Its been in garage since, save a couple trips around the block to see what's broken next.

I've never been much of a mechanic. I try to do the simple repairs on my vehicles myself, but I figure a 2-hour estimate from the shop is going to take me a week. My goals right now don't include pretty or flashy, just to say I got it running and to drive to work and around the beautiful rolling hills around my home town.

I'm a software/firmware engineer by day, and I am yet to even find where the ECU is on this little car. Seriously, this car was 14 years old the year I was born. I do love working with computers, but have a lot of respect and love to learn the ways things were done before computers. We can get into all my hippie/quaker hobbies another time.

So far I've got the engine running pretty well. I replaced the standard ignition components (wires, plugs, points, cap), replaced fuel filter, air filter, radiator cap, then leaking fuel lines. I haven't gone through the carbs yet, and the engine does stumble right off idle. It will start first try after a day of sitting, which I saw as a major accomplishment. The clutch hydraulics needed some love, but a slave replacement and fresh fluid/bleed has that working. Then the back brakes were both seized, so I replaced the cylinders and they seem to be working although I think a master rebuild is in order.

As of today, I drove it around the block and its... getting there. There's a periodic drag and sound (wom wom wom) somewhere on the right side. I thought it was front yesterday, but now I'm thinking back (maybe my brake "fix" didn't take). These are just the joys of resurrecting a tired old car, and learning along the way though, right?

Anyway... I've gotten so much good information from this site already, I really appreciate it. Maybe those of you who are close, I'll meet some day, and maybe those of you a bit further as well. I think I saw there was at least one member from the Coeur D'Alene, ID area, as well as Seattle which I visit at least 2-3 times a year.

Excited to share my journey with my first Datsun,
Shawn

Welcome, you'll find lots of help and camaraderie here. Nice looking Roady, more pictures are always welcomed. With the "wom, wom, wom" sounds like it could be the rear brakes, are you sure you got the shoes oriented correctly? If not that would be an out of round condition and create an irregular sound. Do you think you were able to adjust them properly?
Have you checked to make sure there is Gear oil in the rear end and transmission?

I'm certainly not sure I have the shoes oriented correctly. In what ways could I have got them wrong? I felt like I got the adjustment close to right as I had the back end up and could spin the wheels and step on the brake a little and watch them stop.

I have not got to the read end or transmission oil, which I'm sure is a very big sin to not even look at with almost a mile on my odometer already but I was so excited to get it rolling! Thanks for the ideas, I'll look there soon.

In the spirit of "More Pictures" here's a few more from the day I went to check it out, and decided I was definitely going back to buy it. The engine bay was full of spiders, and much of the paint is worn from a loose tarp beating on it for the last decade and a half. The first picture is it in the driveway a couple weeks later after a quick bath, side-by-side with my daily-driver pickup lol. The Datsun fits my stature much better to be honest.

If you didn't note how they went on (or took pictures) it's actually easy with many shoes to get one or both inverted, there are a lot of threads here on the brakes that can help you with pictures. As far as adjustment, you might want to use the "click" method, http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... nt#p247415
There is also a way were you tighten with the rear adjuster nut (7mm square head) until the wheel stops spinning easily by hand, then back off 3-4 clicks The manual says 2-3.

That's a heck of a hill to be working on! You might want a better more reliable wheel chock!

Enjoy the ride.
This is a great group.
Welcome!

I generally work *in* the garage, which is relatively flat. The driveway is one of the few down sides to living in a nice hilly place. I can barely back our camp trailer up the driveway without scraping the bumper (and certainly don't unhook it from the pickup). I will read up on your link regarding the brakes. I could have easily inverted them and/or adjusted too tight. Thanks for the heads-up!

Welcome to the world of Roadster!

I looked at that car this spring when it was offered on Craigslist. A very solid starting point. There are a couple of us locals that have extensive experience and extra parts. I'd like to meet you and offer any help with your project. Will send you a private message with my contact info.

This forum is by far and away the best group of enthusiasts on the internet!

Pat Mahoney

Pat - Thanks for the warm welcome. What I need most now is time, which is always in short supply. What made you pass on the car? Anything in particular I should watch out for?

Maybe when I get her rolling we can draw the name of a local small town out of a hat and meet up for a beer/soda.

shawnj82 wrote: I'm a software/firmware engineer by day, and I am yet to even find where the ECU is on this little car. Seriously, this car was 14 years old the year I was born. I do love working with computers, but have a lot of respect and love to learn the ways things were done before computers. We can get into all my hippie/quaker hobbies another time.

So far I've got the engine running pretty well. I replaced the standard ignition components (wires, plugs, points, cap), replaced fuel filter, air filter, radiator cap, then leaking fuel lines. I haven't gone through the carbs yet, and the engine does stumble right off idle. It will start first try after a day of sitting, which I saw as a major accomplishment. The clutch hydraulics needed some love, but a slave replacement and fresh fluid/bleed has that working. Then the back brakes were both seized, so I replaced the cylinders and they seem to be working although I think a master rebuild is in order.

Excited to share my journey with my first Datsun,
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

Im not sure if you were joking, but there is no ECU on this car. If you want a fun little project you can try out a megasquirt standalone ECU, but if you arent familiar with tuning a car its probably a huge waste of time. It maye eventually add some reliability with changing climates, cold starts, elevation changes, but if you dont anticipate any of these situations, its best to stick with the OEM carb setup. However, you could see a slight bump in MPG to satisfy your hippie "save the world" side.

It sounds like you are on the right path. I recently started driving my 68-2000 and they really are fun cars. Its currently my day-lee driver, as my lights dont work so I cant drive it at night haha

Welcome Shawn! I found my Roadster under a pile of snow 32 yrs ago as a student at WSU... changed my Life! Seriously, it has led to nearly every friend or acquaintance I have, taught me a lot about life, greatly influenced how I work with people to help them "restore" their lives (Social worker in an ER), and has been a source of fun, accomplishment, growth and excitement. I have not had her back to her home in all those years... maybe it's time to make a trip out! Congrats on your successes so far; we're here to help that continue!

P.s. make sure your brake lines are not dragging against the wheel on the front, causing your sounds. They are close and can get bent.

Simon -
Yes, I was joking. Sarcasm is my default tone, and it doesn't come across well in print. Fuel injection would be a fun project and is definitely on my "maybe someday" list along with about 1,000 other projects around the house. What's going on with your lights? That seems like something worth fixing!

Greg -
Great suggestion, I'll certainly take a look at that. I received a couple other suggestions of things to check as well, but didn't have time to pull the wheels off last night as my wife insisted I go out and have a beer with an old friend of ours... can you believe that?

You should definitely come back and see Pullman again some time, you won't believe the recent growth (mostly the university). The rolling hills and wheat as far as you can see are still present though.

Hi Shawn,

I always check out local Roadsters for sale. In the spring he was asking $2500, a bit high for having sit so long. A neighbor of mine saw it on the company board this summer for $1400, which was more in line. The body seemed to be very decent and a very restorable car. Sounds like you are making good progress.

I have a man-land shop with a lift if you care to head over to the big city of Colton, WA. and want to do an in depth assessment of your car.

Pretty much done with major projects as this is my most recent and last, (at least what I told my wife) http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=17915

Roadster buddy Bob Haug is in Moscow and is a wealth of information and knowledge.

Regards,

Pat

check your private messages for my contact info