66 Datsun 1600

[C.Costine]

Finally got the body off! Its going to make the work so much easier. Funny thing is that I can say I have to roadsters now

Congrats on getting the body off! I didn't but I should have. I could have saved a lot of time.

[iloveredmeat]

This is a great post to follow! I feel that I'm looking at a lot of the same things I'll need to do. And you're getting stuff done!

So... as you're the most recent brave soul to do it... just how difficult would you say it is to take the body off?

Is it really as easy as some have said?

I kinda feel my car is closer than I think to "should just do it"... that it may even save some time in the long run. I think I'm right on the hassle/benefit edge.

Thanks,
Peter

[Mochi]

Yeah the body is pretty easy to get off! The multiple write ups on this forum are invaluable. My dad came over and we had the bulk done in a day. I had a couple of friends came over to help with lifting the body off later and took about 30 minutes with a couple of wires we missed the first day. We lifted the body up from where the shifter comes out. I had 2 pieces of square metal to shove into the tranny tunnel to attach to the hoist. I would totally do it again if I had to. The work I can do now is so much easier and faster. Hopefully off to the sand blaster to get the frame done up. What paint do most people use for their frames?

[C.Costine]

My observation is that a lot of people get them powder coated. I am not a fan of powder coating because I have had so many things that suddenly started to have paint coming off in sheets and it turned out to be powder coat. The problem is that there is no "bond" between the plastic and the metal. If you are confident that you won't scratch it through to the metal go ahead. If not, I would thoroughly clean it, kill the hiding rust with phosphoric acid rust converter according to instructions, prime with epoxy, and paint with 2K urethane with hardener.

[iloveredmeat]

Yeah the body is pretty easy to get off! The multiple write ups on this forum are invaluable.

Thanks Mochi!

[Mochi]

My observation is that a lot of people get them powder coated. I am not a fan of powder coating because I have had so many things that suddenly started to have paint coming off in sheets and it turned out to be powder coat. The problem is that there is no "bond" between the plastic and the metal. If you are confident that you won't scratch it through to the metal go ahead. If not, I would thoroughly clean it, kill the hiding rust with phosphoric acid rust converter according to instructions, prime with epoxy, and paint with 2K urethane with hardener.

i was talking to blue hands media and he said the same thing that the powder coat while hard will chip and flake eventually. I will do some research on the epoxy primer and urethane. i have not heard of that before. sounds freaking knarly! thanks for the advice. The plan so far is to not make it a show car but a driver so more durability is what i am going for.

[theunz]

They make paints specifically for chassis’ that will also inhibit rust. Eastwood sells one, as do auto paint supply stores. The big drawback to powder coating the chassis and suspension components is that you can’t just touch it up when it gets nicks and scratches (and it will) like you can with paint.

[greydog]

Por 15 is a 2 part paint that can be brushed on but cures to a smooth, very hard coating. If you manage to chip it, you can touch up easily.
Dont get it on your hands.
If you want to spray your coating, epoxy primer with catalyzed urethane enamel will be very tough. Eastwood's chassis black is easy to use but not as tough as either of the others.
Dan

[Mochi]

Por 15 is a 2 part paint that can be brushed on but cures to a smooth, very hard coating. If you manage to chip it, you can touch up easily.
Dont get it on your hands.

Dan

i just saw that you are from vancouver! there are a couple of other owners in the "couve" as well that I have met. I like the idea of the POR 15 stuff. I might coat the outside of the gas tank with it while its off too. when i get my little roadster going that would be so cool to go on a little cruise and mob the streets with little cars!

[Mochi]

Got the engine out and started cleaning years of rust and grime. Hopefully I can strip it down and get it off to the blaster by next weekend! I think this might be the start of putting it back together!

[eye]

If your powder coater knows what they are doing, you have to grind or burn it off once done. Blasting the surface to get the junk off then phosphate spray or dip prior to powder. If not, then it is just a sheet of plastic laying on metal. Find a good coater if you go that route.

[Mochi]

I haven't updated in awhile but finally got the frame to get powder coated. I figure while they are at it powder coat the fan shroud too. Thanks to devo for hooking me up with the powdercoater.
I did get some cool parts for the engine. Can't wait for them to come. Will take a pic asap as soon as they come in. It was a hairbrained idea. Hopefully I can make it work!

[bmccarthy67]

Ask your coater to mask off the serial number on the frame. They should be putting plugs in some of the threaded areas and masking off the shock threads anyway so a small strip over the SN will take seconds. I have had two frames powder coated and it's pretty hard to read the SN on one of them. It may not be important and others may have avoided the problem, but if you need police or DMV to verify for title/registration it may matter.

Also, on your front end...did you remove the two small steering limiters (stops) threaded into the frame (they will get PC into their current position if you didn't)...ask me how I know

v/r
Buddy

[Mochi]

Ask your coater to mask off the serial number on the frame. They should be putting plugs in some of the threaded areas and masking off the shock threads anyway so a small strip over the SN will take seconds. I have had two frames powder coated and it's pretty hard to read the SN on one of them. It may not be important and others may have avoided the problem, but if you need police or DMV to verify for title/registration it may matter.

Also, on your front end...did you remove the two small steering limiters (stops) threaded into the frame (they will get PC into their current position if you didn't)...ask me how I know

v/r
Buddy

dang! thats a good call! on the steering limiters. i was wondering what those screws were for. will go back and take them out. the coater stated that he has a long lead time and wont get to it for a couple of weeks

[C.Costine]

Is the powder coater dipping it or at least spraying it with phosphoric acid to neutralize the residual rust before coating as "eye" suggested on Friday? Coating rust with plastic protects it from drying out enabling it to grow 24-7.