Datsun Roadster 1600...To build or not to build

motoextreme · 12-29-2009, 11:00 PM

Chris, one quick question...

Considering the car is not as rare as some and I'll likely keep it, think I really need to keep the stock motor since its a numbers matching engine? I'm not one to stock pile things and considering the new motor will likely require some alterations to the mounts etc I doubt I'll ever need it... Suppose the right thing is to keep it but I'd really rather not unless I'm just blowing the whole value of this car by doing so.

What do you think?

speedworks · 12-30-2009, 07:51 PM

That car looks good. Congrats on the purchase. Some day I plan to purchase one of these, and do something similar to what you are doing. I first need to build my additional 4 car garage - no space in the current garage.

ChrisSlicks · 12-31-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoextreme

Chris, one quick question...

Considering the car is not as rare as some and I'll likely keep it, think I really need to keep the stock motor since its a numbers matching engine? I'm not one to stock pile things and considering the new motor will likely require some alterations to the mounts etc I doubt I'll ever need it... Suppose the right thing is to keep it but I'd really rather not unless I'm just blowing the whole value of this car by doing so.

What do you think?

Depends what you want to do with the car. If you are going for a full showroom restoration then keep the matching engine, it makes a big difference in the value in that case. If you just want to have fun with it then do whatever you want.

I think I would probably fall into the second category, I would store the original engine if I had space for it, although if you are doing heavy modifications then I wouldn't bother.

The best forum by far for information on these cars is 311s.org-Datsun Sport Roadsters

Here's a race ready car that's been heavily modified.
1968 Datsun SPL-311 Roadster "Small Bucks Racing" Ready to Race

motoextreme · 12-31-2009, 05:26 PM

Thanks for the info.

That site looks great, I'll dabble into it this weekend. That race one is a bit much but cool just the same. 2000 Lb car could be interesting with a 300HP motor..

motoextreme · 01-02-2010, 11:46 AM

Thanks again for the hookup on the site...those guys are already proving to be really helpful. Now I have two sites to watch but that's cool as the Nismo is nearly done for a while anyway.

Here's some pics of my first day wrenching on the Roadster, pulled out the interior, carpet, ripped the dash apart and some trim. Now I'm going to pull more chrome off and try and get the motor and trans out when I return from Hong Kong. After that, pulling the body off the frame to prep for the motor swap...going to be a cool little car when she's done.

ChrisSlicks · 01-02-2010, 02:43 PM

Considering its age the body looks to be in really good shape!

motoextreme · 01-02-2010, 05:12 PM

Thankfully it is... Little spots on the floorboards but that's to be expected. Tell you this, pulling it apart for the last couple of days and I think half of the bolts snapped in half. Missing the NISMO right about now...HHAHA

motoextreme · 01-03-2010, 02:55 AM

Spent another 6 hours on her today. stripped it down even further. I'll shoot to get the body off the frame when i return from my trip. Lots of work to go on this one...

Trying to get the motor out tomorrow before I leave. Would like to get the frame off to the shop so they can cut and weld it to fit the new motor in.

Should be a pretty quick car, figure they are weighing in at 2000 lbs or less with the right parts. Throw in a few hundred HP and that's pretty respectable!

12-29-2009, 11:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
motoextreme Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 971 Drives: Nismo NO MODS! Rep Power: 370	Chris, one quick question... Considering the car is not as rare as some and I'll likely keep it, think I really need to keep the stock motor since its a numbers matching engine? I'm not one to stock pile things and considering the new motor will likely require some alterations to the mounts etc I doubt I'll ever need it... Suppose the right thing is to keep it but I'd really rather not unless I'm just blowing the whole value of this car by doing so. What do you think? __________________ Fast Intensions / NST / Mishimoto / Alpine / JDM / Volk / Brembo / Rotora / Seibon / Stillen / Password: JDM / KW / MR Works / RAW / Sun Auto / B&M / Amplified Motorsports

12-31-2009, 05:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
motoextreme Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 971 Drives: Nismo NO MODS! Rep Power: 370	Thanks for the info. That site looks great, I'll dabble into it this weekend. That race one is a bit much but cool just the same. 2000 Lb car could be interesting with a 300HP motor.. __________________ Fast Intensions / NST / Mishimoto / Alpine / JDM / Volk / Brembo / Rotora / Seibon / Stillen / Password: JDM / KW / MR Works / RAW / Sun Auto / B&M / Amplified Motorsports

01-02-2010, 05:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
motoextreme Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 971 Drives: Nismo NO MODS! Rep Power: 370	Thankfully it is... Little spots on the floorboards but that's to be expected. Tell you this, pulling it apart for the last couple of days and I think half of the bolts snapped in half. Missing the NISMO right about now...HHAHA __________________ Fast Intensions / NST / Mishimoto / Alpine / JDM / Volk / Brembo / Rotora / Seibon / Stillen / Password: JDM / KW / MR Works / RAW / Sun Auto / B&M / Amplified Motorsports

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12-30-2009, 07:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
speedworks Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 550 Drives: PW purchased 01/09 Rep Power: 19	That car looks good. Congrats on the purchase. Some day I plan to purchase one of these, and do something similar to what you are doing. I first need to build my additional 4 car garage - no space in the current garage.

01-02-2010, 02:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 655	Considering its age the body looks to be in really good shape!