The Datsun Roadster Book TM

1. Here are some pictures of some of the second restoration effort on our 2000. Phase I started in 1974 and is presented elsewhere on this web page. In 1980 we started Phase II, picking up where we left off. Phase III appears elsewhere on this page. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car Click your mouse to advance the slide show.

2. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 The painted body after it’s second lacquer jobbefore it was lifted off the frame. The first paint job had issues so we had it redone.

3. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 The engine after it was redone in 1984. It is no longer black but painted a color match to the engine blue Datsun used. The air pump and crank pulleys are factory paint so you judge the quality of the match. All the shiny parts are new including the head, valve cover, timing cover, air pump, and all belts and hoses.

4. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 The carburetor side of the engine showing the new carburetors, air filter assembly, and exhaust manifold. The only parts in this picture that are not new are the engine block, intake manifold, oil pan, and rear engine lifting hook.

5. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Close-up of the passenger side of the engine. All the bolts are new or re-plated.

6. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 What new carburetors and linkage look like.

7. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 The chassis after it was redone. We completely disassembled it – again! All the parts went to American Metal Cleaning in Toledo, OH where they were dipped and cleaned of all paint and rust. From there the parts went to Dutch’s Glass City Body Shop where everything received a coat of primer and black polyurethane. We even disassembled the rear leaf springs so each leaf could be completely painted top and bottom. It looks much better than brushed-on Rustoleum!

8. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 The chassis with the engine and gearbox installed. It is much easier to install the engine, gearbox, and exhaust system with no body on the chassis. Certainly not practical for normal repairs, but one benefit of the body-off process.

9. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 View from the rear. One drawback of this process is there is no room in the garage for anything else until the body gets back on the chassis! Yes, those are the skinny 5.60-14 Bridgestone tires that the cars came with when they were new. The spare is laying at the back of the covered-up body in the garage.

10. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Close-up of the engine and gearbox.

11. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Close-up of the steering box.

12. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 The left-rear brake before exhaust pipes were installed.

13. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 One of my favorites. Dutch did a pretty good job on the chassis parts.

14. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Here we go again – the chassis on wheels with no tires so it will fit under the body which this time is on double saw horses and 2x6 support “beams”. Everything is wrapped in plastic to prevent scratches and scrapes.

15. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 How’s that front support for a rig-job? I think the jack stands and 2x4’s are on concrete blocks. I think I put the paper on the floor so I could scoot around without getting dirty. Either that or it was January and the floor was really cold.

16. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 All the way under and ready to jack the chassis up to meet the body half-way. Once the chassis was up on jack stands the body was slowly jacked down onto the chassis. When we got to about 1-inch to go we pulled all the plastic out.

17. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 The engine in it’s new home. New radiator, new master cylinders, new electrical parts and wiring.

18. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 We needed a paint label so we had some printed. It needed a number stamped on it so we bought a special rubber stamp that matched the font or the original and then got special “indelible” ink that wouldn’t wash off.

19. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 New trunk mat with a new 5.60-14 spare. Refinished jack and new tool bag for the tool kit. The new spare tire cover is not installed yet.

20. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 New fuse box in the new glove box with the original warranty booklet from 1968.

21. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Our dash was cracked like everyone else’s. At the time we were in a business competing with Rallye so rather than buy their product we made our own. Instead of shaping it so it could be applied without removing the dash we attempted to make a complete cover that could only be applied by removing the dash. Our product was nearly undetectable. The only places you could find the edges of the cap were the glove box and at each end near the windshield post. It was not a success sales-wise but this part works well in our car. Considering all the tooling and development costs, our dash cost more (in 1985 dollars) than most roadsters out there.

22. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 You have to have a red interior with a black car. The seat covers are new using diamond-pattern vinyl we imported from Japan. The only used parts in this picture are the speedometer (original miles), aluminum trim plates, and the seat frames. Carpets are wool with bound edges (like the original) made from original patterns.

23. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 More new parts including everything in the radio console and glove box console. The shift plate with 5-speed pattern is original to the car.

24. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 A Datsun factory roll bar – mounts to captured nuts already installed in every car.

25. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Needed a new smog label so we had some made.

26. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 With the top up and the American Racing Libres. Tires are 195/60 -14 BF Goodrich Comp TA’s. The top and frame assembly are a Datsun factory replacement part. It has a neat little “Datsun” emblem heat-stenciled into the rear window.

27. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Front view of the completed car. It still carries the Ohio license plates even though we have moved to Georgia. All chrome and lights are new as are the grille and factory fog lights.

28. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Back of the completed car Again, all lights and chrome are new.

29. The Datsun Roadster BookTM Our Car 1980 -1987 Close-up of the front end.

30. The Datsun Roadster BookTM We hope you enjoyed our story of the second phase of the “restoration” of our 2000. We finally had some money and could afford to do a more professional job requiring the body to come off the frame once more. Phase III was next! Also, check the rest of the site for some more cars from our past. Use the “back” button to return to “TheDatsunRoadsterBook” Our Car 1980 - 1987