Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

raylim wrote:Thanks for the info. I will definitely look into the ford falcon hubcaps. Until then... I'll be flushing the fuel and brake lines and getting it to start and stop.

NO NO NO, Mark was joking about the hub caps.
PLEASE keep this rare survivor STOCK.

On quick inspection, here are a few non stock items that you can change to keep the 1500 correct.
1. Black stripe painting on the trunk ridge and around the handle.
2. Shift boot. Have seen a survivor 63 with what seemed to be the original shift boot and it was close but different than the 64-65
boot which is still available from Dean. The boot shown is from the 70's.
3.The map light chrome base goes behind the console, not in front.
4. The choke knob that the keys are hanging on.
5. The fuel feed was from the front. The carb fuel bowl top should be oriented so the inlet faces the radiator.
5. The 63 1500 had wide white wall tires.
And of course your gas cap is not oriented correctly. ( I am the gas cap inspector/enforcer )

Send some more pictures and we can help further.

Ted.

1500 hubcaps are up to $800-$1000 a set now, there's a set of Falcoln ones on EBay for $170. They're close enough for now, real ones might take a year or so to find

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1960-1961-FORD ... qx&vxp=mtr

I will have to look. I may have a spare set of hubcaps.

spl310 wrote:I will have to look. I may have a spare set of hubcaps.

I will be very grateful!!!Ray

A couple more pictures from the car. I am amazed how well this time capsule held through the years!
Here's the aftermarket speaker attached to the 8-track. Sorry no tapes were found in the car.
Penmanship is such a lost art!

You're lucky that the PO had the plastic battery tray and used it. Otherwise there would just be a rusty hole there!

Great little car keep them coming.

James

So much fun to watch the story unfold. Enjoy the adventure and discovery.

Did you find any weed tucked into the heater.....
I did on my car Maybe you should check.

Linda

My 64 was in similar condition when I became the new caretaker, i documented much of the build here but stupidly used photobucket so all the pictures no longer show. Keep posting progress! Looking forward to seeing it become road worthy again. How is your distributor? Mine needed some attention but overall still good. They are hard to find parts for. You might find japanese coins in the driver door! I found one and someone else had said they found a coin too in their roadster.

"They are hard to find parts for. You might find japanese coins in the driver door! I found one and someone else had said they found a coin too in their roadster."

This maybe a good luck thing. I few times when buying parts from Japan, the part has come with a Japanese coin. Maybe the guy on the factory line added them for the new owner...I like those sort of touches.

Was it a brass colored coin with a hole? 5 yen coins are considered a good luck thing.

I will disassemble the doors soon but so far this is what I have done.
The fuel bowl is incredibly clean as no gunk was on the bottom! I may have to update the float.
The brake pedal seemed a bit too high... check out the pictures. The M/C is just mixing air and not compressing the fluid when pumping. It does look new but I wonder if I just needs a new rebuild kit... I am open to any suggestions...Ted?
Also, pedal doesn’t reach down to the carpet... perhaps it’s the wrong M/C?
Here are some pics of what the PO left in the car.
Oh, and one last item is it has a generator, can I assume this is still positive ground?
Thanks everyone, your help is much appreciated!

Congratulations on such a nice find.

Hi Ray,
Thanks for more pictures. You 63 is so early it has a lot to tell.
Did not notice before that the generator was on the lower left!!. The brochures etc do not show this as the change to an alternator
on the right must have come quick. There are some clues. The Japanese owners manual has a mix of early and later pictures.
The alternator is shown on the right but pics of the oil filter show a big space where it would be.
The 1500 introductory article in a Japanese magazine shows the generator on the left as does the Parts catalog on page 50.

Do not resuse the old copper carb floats. The modern plastic replacements are still available from Nissan.

My take on the pedal height is that the brake is OK. The clutch is too low.
The brake master cylinder is not original. The 2 correct MC look like the ones on the top left (clutch) and below it the brake.
The clutch MC may have been replaced also. A different MC with a different length actuating rod will cause a change in the pedal height.
There are shims to place between the firewall and MC to make minor adjustments.
Us a modern threaded adjustable rod to get the height where you want it.
The new MC pictured looks the same as the one installed. Could us it or for rebuild parts.
Check that it is the correct diameter for the original brake MC. It looks too skinny. 7/8" on the 64 1500.

Not sure what you mean about the pedal not going to the floor. It should never go to the floor unless there is no linkage to the MC.
Remove the brake MC, dismantle it and clean it up. From your description of its action it not working right but may just need to be bled.

The generator would appear to be original and thus positive ground. Confirm that your battery positive post is going to ground.

Those pedal pads are really different. Never seen them. Nissan? Other period car replacements?. Sid, Mark, others?

Ted.

I believe that you may be mistaken about the master cylinder Ted. The generator was on the left side on the single carb cars. I believe that the master on the early cars is as shown in the photos. The change to the plastic tank master came some time around the switch to dual carbs as well. I think that I may have a single carb shop manual and the service bulletin for the switch to dual carbs. I will try to remember to check them.