EPTXDatsun Posted September 10, 2012 Report Share Posted September 10, 2012 I recently picked up a 1200 sedan in Tucson. I'd been wanting a 1200 for awhile and did a CL search out of the blue and this one came up. I called the dude and it soudned good so I made plans to pick it up a few days later. It was pretty much original one-owner car with the exception of some minor crappy bondo work on the passenger side. It had original paint and engine, etc. Suspension seems pretty solid too. My plans are up in the air at this time. However, the first stop was the body shop to get it to look good. While patina is cool, I decided to take a different route with this one. I am having it repainted in the original orange color. I am also going to get the bumpers and trim repaired and chrome dipped. I would like to lower it a bit and throw some rims on it ASAP. I found a set of 14x6.5 mesh wheels I had on my AE86 Corolla at one time which will have some 185/55R14 tires mounted shortly. Long term plans are an engine and drivetrain swap. Not sure which to go with, though. I like the idea of a 13BT or an SR20DET, but I have an F20C sitting at my warehouse that would still give me good economy and plenty of power. Choices, choices. Here's some pics: Previous owner sent me this one: I never got to take any decent pics before the shop started tearing into it. Here it is at the bodyshop: Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Dumb question, how sure are you it's a '72? That front valence only came on '73s. :thumbup: Love it, BTW. And glad to see one more Texan here. B) Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted September 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Dumb question, how sure are you it's a '72? That front valence only came on '73s. :thumbup: Love it, BTW. And glad to see one more Texan here. B) Interesting. :confused: The title says its a '72. Yup, gotta represent our big ass state!!! B) Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Possible the front valence was replaced at some point? :confused: Another tip-off is if it has the little "fasten seat belts" light on the top center of the dash? Or wiper/headlight knobs that light up? Got either of those? Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Oh, and quite often back then the car was titled as the year it was sold, not necessarily the year that it is. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
AZ_L320 Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 I recently picked up a 1200 sedan in Tucson. I'd been wanting a 1200 for awhile and did a CL search out of the blue and this one came up. I called the dude and it soudned good so I made plans to pick it up a few days later. It was pretty much original one-owner car << SNIP Dang, so you took another 1200 out of Arizona!!!! We need all the Datsun's we find in this state! JK B) LOL. Nice looking sedan though. Looking forward to seeing more about it. Possible the front valence was replaced at some point? :confused: Another tip-off is if it has the little "fasten seat belts" light on the top center of the dash? Or wiper/headlight knobs that light up? Got either of those? My 72' Coupe has the "fasten seat belts" light on top of the dash, but I don't have lighted knobs. So maybe some of the years got mixed in???? B) Dale - AZ 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 My 72' Coupe has the "fasten seat belts" light on top of the dash, but I don't have lighted knobs. So maybe some of the years got mixed in???? B) I will scratch the "dash-mounted seat belt light" from my '73 spotter's guide list then. ^_^ Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted September 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Thanks, guys. I have some big plans with this car and don't plan to be too slow with it. Paint should be done in a couple of weeks and then its on to the suspension and engine swap. Quote Link to comment
CGS1948 Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Dang, so you took another 1200 out of Arizona!!!! We need all the Datsun's we find in this state! JK B) LOL. Nice looking sedan though. Looking forward to seeing more about it. My 72' Coupe has the "fasten seat belts" light on top of the dash, but I don't have lighted knobs. So maybe some of the years got mixed in???? B) Dale - AZ Same here, my '72 has a build date of 1/72, no lighted knobs, but a "Fasten Seat Belts" light on top of the dash. Quote Link to comment
KELMO Posted September 16, 2012 Report Share Posted September 16, 2012 Same with my 72....Fasten seat belt deal on the dash and no lighted knobs, build date 4/72......can neither confirm nor deny that the dash is original, ya'll know how it goes right? Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted October 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2012 I got some185/55R14 tires and mounted them on a set of Perrier Mesh 14x6.5 +10 I had previously on my AE86. I needed more power, but how to go about it was the question. Originally, I was thinking SR20DET or 13BT. However, I had a F20C engine/tranny combo laying around that I planned to install in my AE86. Well, after going to my warehouse and starting the Corolla up, I couldn't bring myself to take out the perfectly running 235k mile 4AGE. My decision was made for me and I decided to do the F20C swap in the 1200. After chatting with Ricardo Ramirez at the JCCS, I asked who did the swap on his SR20DET powered 1200 and he told me Wrench-Pro in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Well, after seeing the work on his car and asking if he recommended them (he did-highly), I decided they would be the shop to go to. I spoke with them and decided to take the plunge and ship it over from TX to CA. I pulled it out of the body shop halfway through the body/paint work to get the engine swap done. I had it dropped off yesterday and they were wrenching on it today: Now all I need is a damn windshield! Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 It fits!!! Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Hrm... Not sure what to think. I love the sunny, but I'm not a huge fan of bastardized swaps. I'm sure it will be fun to drive though.. so good luck!! Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Seatbelt light came in 1972 (calendar year). Lighted knobs came in 1973 (model year). Big bumper pads are the most obvious sign. parts catalog says Sedan & Coupe aprons differ. Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Hrm... Not sure what to think. I love the sunny, but I'm not a huge fan of bastardized swaps. I'm sure it will be fun to drive though.. so good luck!! I appreciate the sentiment. I know some purists will frown on the build. It's all hardware to me, and while I have my limits (I wouldn't put an LSX in my Porsches no matter how powerful!) the F20C is an engine I have been wanting to sample. I've never been a big fan of the S2000, but really love the specs of the powertrain. Fun and reliability are key for me on this car so originality never factored in. I'm a lover of all cars, so this car is an experiment as I have never cross-bred platforms and drivetrains before. I plan to install A/C in it and drive it as often as possible. I normally trailer my cars to shows, but this one will be driven to JCCS '13. Quote Link to comment
BRE510 Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 :thumbup: Love it! Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 Is that a S2000 motor? It looks like it fits nice, and having a rocket ship 1200 sounds cool to me! It's your car, have fun with it. Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted October 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 Is that a S2000 motor? It looks like it fits nice, and having a rocket ship 1200 sounds cool to me! It's your car, have fun with it. Yup, S2000 engine. Thanks, it fits surprisingly well. I'm also having portions of the body stitch welded to better cope with the added power. Should be a nice little combo with the light weight of the 1200 and high revving nature of the F20C. Long term plans include a turbo setup and standalone. However, I want to see how it copes with 200whp and stock ecu, etc. before I go crazy down the road. Quote Link to comment
datrod Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Nice job so far. But please tell me your going to clean up that engine bay. I hate to see people go thru all that work and just settle for a black spray can engine bay. With that little car and that motor I don't see the need for a turbo. Unless you have a death wish. :rofl: Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted October 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2012 Nice job so far. But please tell me your going to clean up that engine bay. I hate to see people go thru all that work and just settle for a black spray can engine bay. With that little car and that motor I don't see the need for a turbo. Unless you have a death wish. :rofl: Yes, that was just a test fit. The engine bay is going to be sprayed the same color as the body. I'm not in a huge rush to turbo it...yet. Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted October 23, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2012 And the work continues. Below are some pics Duc and Cesar from Wrench Pro sent me. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted October 23, 2012 Report Share Posted October 23, 2012 nice progress Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Transmission tunnel 1 Quote Link to comment
EPTXDatsun Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 Engine bay stitch welded and painted Porsche GT3 RS Orange. The rest of the car will be repainted this color. It's a solid orange, but brighter than the factory orange. Quote Link to comment
pwee4u2c Posted January 14, 2013 Report Share Posted January 14, 2013 I will scratch the "dash-mounted seat belt light" from my '73 spotter's guide list then. ^_^ I got a 73 coupe and my wiper switch lights up....but not my headlights Quote Link to comment
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