carterb Posted December 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Time for some panel beating... Here is a look inside the fender well facing forward. As I started to pull the fender out away from the unibody - I could confirm that the inner fender well was not damaged in any way. I am NOT a professional - but besides the creases, a good bit of time with blocking, prying, and hammering eventually got things back into fender shape. Which shed a little light on the now obvious - the core support is bent back 90 degrees outside the headlight area. Wavy gravy! 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted December 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 I was going to remove the fender for better access to both sides but (and this should surprise no one) the very first bolt I removed broke. I really didn't want to play that game so I just left the fender in place. I am pretty sure the headlight assembly was not bent but just in case, I replaced it with a spare. Here you can see the result of the bent back wing on the core support I don't have a correct spare side marker but I do have this arrow style one I was going to use on Granny. I'll use it here for now. You can see the replacement turn signal lens here as well. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted December 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 It's not pretty but its functional. I'm running a US '69 grill for now. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted December 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Christmas eve snowfall - the beginning of a white Christmas in the PNW. 2 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Why are you not taking the fender off? Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Sorry, I had opened the page before you posted more :) One trick is to go ahead and tighten the bolts untill they snap, rather than reverse which jams up the threads. Then run them through the rest of the way with a regular drill bit or from the back with vice grips or welded on nuts. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted December 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 This is a temporary repair. Cooper really needs to come off the road long term for a proper restoration. Some of the rust is getting beyond "surface". But I need to get my wagon on the road first to open a spot in the garage. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted December 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Sorry, I had opened the page before you posted more :) One trick is to go ahead and tighten the bolts untill they snap, rather than reverse which jams up the threads. Then run them through the rest of the way with a regular drill bit or from the back with vice grips or welded on nuts. Yeah, I understand that works for the upper row of bolts but there is still the one behind the door, the one in the rocker, the one(s) between the fender and valance, and the one(s) between the fender and core support. I'm sure something else would have gone wrong - especially since the lower rear of the fender is completely rotted away. I just wanted to get back on the road. It's way more fun to drive than to look at in the garage. Quote Link to comment
racerx Posted December 29, 2017 Report Share Posted December 29, 2017 Quiet depressing. Very similar to what happened to me, many moons ago. It sucks but you will get her running again. Good luck. 1 Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted January 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 First test drive went well but I found I have no right blinker. Hopefully just a bulb needs to be replaced behind that new lens as everything worked fine before the incident. Got a Christmas present from Japan! A box of Japanese newspaper!!! The packing job was really nice but even so, this grill is pretty heavy and the screen sticks out past the main structure and so at some point in the trip it tried to get out of the box and ended up folded over but I should be able to straighten it out okay. 2 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Good to see this one back to drivable. :) Quote Link to comment
tr8er Posted January 1, 2018 Report Share Posted January 1, 2018 Yup. And get that goon done. Cooper looks cold Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted January 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2018 It's been so nice driving Cooper again. I'm reminded that I need to fix the exhaust though. It makes an annoying buzzing sound as you go up through the revs. In the mean time, I found one of these!!!! Excited that I'll have the right parts to put the car back together with eventually. And in the mean time, I can replace the corrugated hose I'm using for the defroster vents with proper ones from Japan. Also got a fuse box with correct JDM cover. Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted January 27, 2018 Report Share Posted January 27, 2018 wow parts score! Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted March 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 A Datsun guy in the U-district was having to move from his place. He had already sold his car and had a few leftover parts. I told him I'd help him find a home for them and after I was done loading up the truck, he comes running out with a brand new set of RetroBelt retractable seatbelts which he no longer had use for - and just gave them to me. What an awesome community we have! This is the kit - I've installed as set in one of my old wagons. https://www.retrobelt.com/products/european-style-shoulder-belt-with-hardware-included I was excited to put these in my coupe because the belts in there now (from an early Z-car) are quite worn and constantly have to be adjusted and being non-retractable, are always in the way getting in and out of the car. Not so with these: Out with the old: In with the new Takes 15-20 minutes per side and you don't even have to remove the seats. Old on left, new on right. The only thing you have to watch for is that the belts are originally designed for two lower mounting points. Since the 510 only has one lower mounting point, the retractor and fixed end mount to the same bolt. When you tighten the bolt, the fixed end is pressed against the real and provides too much friction for it to work smoothly So I put a lock washer in between the fixed end and the retractor and that eliminates the issue I was going to install the lap portion of the old belts in the back seat but couldn't find any anchors. They may be under the folding rear seat back. I'll have to look again when I'm more motivated as I'll have to figure out how to remove the seat. Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 Not sure on the coupe, but the others sit right above the bottom of the back seat. I'm sure you've seen that before though. Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted March 20, 2018 Report Share Posted March 20, 2018 When I got home I surveyed the damage... I will need... and eyebrow trim. Still need one? I think I have a few if you do. Sorry I didn't see this sooner. I think I have some side markers also... Quote Link to comment
shacks510 Posted March 21, 2018 Report Share Posted March 21, 2018 I have contemplated installing retractable belts, but I actually don’t mind my non-retractable seat belts (not stock, unsure what they came from). I have mine adjusted so it’s just snug on my torso. Makes me feel safer even though it probably isn’t.. I have the passenger belt adjustment almost maxed out to the shortest length so it’s not piled on the seat/floor, and to keep it from flapping in the wind. I rarely have passengers, so it’s mostly unused. Those seatbelts look nice. The price is reasonable, but I’m not fond of the country of manufacture. Quote Link to comment
BrandonS Posted May 23, 2018 Report Share Posted May 23, 2018 Wow awesome thread. I was so caught up in moving that I never realized that grill was because your car was in an accident. I've been wondering if it ever made it; glad it did. Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2018 Paul and I put in an order with Futofab for parts for his '68 bluebird 4dr and crash repair parts for Cooper. It was a FutoFabulous delivery! But before I could get them home, another nice big rock chip to go with my now cracked windshield. Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2018 I made another half-hearted attempt at getting Trouble on the road to take to Canby but it just didn't happen so Brenda and I loaded up in Cooper and headed down. We took the Canby Ferry this year just for fun. Let me assure you - that ferry is NOT made for lowered cars! And this is what Canby looked like when we rolled in! Super glad we went - as always. But the ride home was a little rough. The weather cleared up for Sunday so that part was good but there was a huge accident just south of exit 68. Fortunately, we were watching the the reports and ducked off I-5 South of the accident, getting back on the freeway at exit 68 (Hwy 12) and avoided the whole thing, but after a mile or two I heard a big *clank-ting-BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAP* as it sounded like the exhaust blew off! We had another 100+ miles to go and let me tell you something. It was LOUD!!! I had a massive headache by the time I got home. Turns out there was a reason it sounded like an open header... Check out the end of the Y pipe Fancy cars have exhaust cut-outs like this for performance right? : ) This might be just the thing I need to finally take Cooper off the road and put it under protection until I can restore it so the body rust doesn't get any worse... I really miss driving it this summer! Such a pretty car! Quote Link to comment
tr8er Posted August 19, 2018 Report Share Posted August 19, 2018 Whoa! Treat that rust Carter!!! Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted August 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2018 2 hours ago, tr8er said: Whoa! Treat that rust Carter!!! Exactly. It has crossed over the "patina" line. I was supposed to stop driving it when I got Granny - then Granny was totaled so... Hopefully this time will be a little more successful! Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted November 3, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 Time flies and plans change. My green FJ car needs some work and Cooper was the closest road-worthy replacement in my garage so it was time to put it back into service. But first - a little rewind... It snowed a little last year! And then it REALLY started to snow. Notice the tree behind the car broke and landed on the roof (no harm, it was protected by 6-8" of snow at that point) The weight of the snow on the windshield actually folded over and broke one of the wipers if you can believe that! Quote Link to comment
carterb Posted November 3, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 But we eventually thawed out didn't we? Quote Link to comment
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