69RatsteR Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 Hello everyone, I have been a long time fan of the forums here and have some great ideas and After I sold my 53 Rocket 88 Rat Rod, I have been looking for the perfect canvas of my dream project. I finally found a old rolling chassis that has been in need of some TLC for years now. Enter my 1969 Datsun Fairlady 1600 Roadster This was a former auto-x car that was rolled out of a garage on fire. It was covered in rattle can black and left to sit for a couple years. This was the end result of a weeks worth of tear down. I am currently building a GSXR engine for a lightweight bike powered Datsun. The goal is to chop the windshield, get the weight down to 1500 lbs and 150 whp 100trq out of the 1 liter bike engine. I am sanding and grinding off the rattle can work to real the aged silver below, It will be left in that state over winter and some airbrushed graphics drawn in to pay homage to all the tracks I have raced over the years. In true Japanese fighter tradition this will have the only the basics and nothing more. Quote Link to comment
INDY510 Posted November 5, 2012 Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 At least a Roadster has a "frame" .... your best bet would be to build your own lightweight frame with lighter weight suspension 45yr old stock Datsun suspension is HEAVY .... are you planning to mount the motor in the front, with a driveshaft off the bike trans spoket, or a chain drive differential? Quote Link to comment
69RatsteR Posted November 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2012 At least a Roadster has a "frame" .... your best bet would be to build your own lightweight frame with lighter weight suspension 45yr old stock Datsun suspension is HEAVY .... are you planning to mount the motor in the front, with a driveshaft off the bike trans spoket, or a chain drive differential? The front suspension is being dumped for all aluminum setup, the rear axle is gone now, I have a Chain driven R200 Diff with a 1:1 planetary Reverse gear box, 62 Tooth Sprocket will make the RPMS usable for tight track duties. The rear brakes are a dual wafer disc setup just figuring out the rear hubs and setup now. I thought about ditching the oem frame, but for now the money and investment don't pay off to go down to 1000lbs. If I upgrade later to a BUSA motor, I may be time to look at that. Quote Link to comment
69RatsteR Posted November 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 A couple pics from last nights work, Spent a couple hours removing the black rattle can the previous owner through on. Below it is a beautiful Patina'd car just waiting. A light gray/silver with slight surface rust just bubbling through. Very cool looking. Quote Link to comment
INDY510 Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 I can't wait to see more of this ..... looks like you know what you're doing .... :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
FoxyRoadster Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 Another okie roadster, I'm no longer alone out here lol. From what I've done research wise the heaviest thing on the 1600 roadster was the engine and transmission, I was considering a miata engine swap myself to loose 250lbs but decided to keep my R16 after hearing it run. Quote Link to comment
Datsun DCX Posted November 14, 2012 Report Share Posted November 14, 2012 That's a 1970, per the fender and side marker lights. Quote Link to comment
exit64 Posted November 27, 2012 Report Share Posted November 27, 2012 Right you are. 69's have round rear side markers and tear drop fronts. Quote Link to comment
FoxyRoadster Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 This car is now on craigslist for 1500 dollars lol Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 This car is now on craigslist for 1500 dollars lol And that's how a lot of these wildass dreamer builds end up... ^_^ 1 Quote Link to comment
FoxyRoadster Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 And that's how a lot of these wildass dreamer builds end up... ^_^ Its too bad really, it wouldnt need much to finish this with a simple turbo bp18/b6 which is a bolt in swap or even just stock R16/u20 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Its too bad really, it wouldnt need much to finish this Make it happen. :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
DaBlist Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Takes a lot to make a dream happen Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 28, 2012 Report Share Posted November 28, 2012 Takes a lot to make a dream happen Really? So more than just showing up on a forum with a bunch of wild ideas? It takes actual work and skill? ;) Quote Link to comment
screamer510 Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Looked good on paper. Making car "to do" lists is easier than spending the $$$$ and time doing those things. True about the engine and getting it running but if it was in a fire wouldn't all the wiring be toasted too and suspension bushings and and and Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Looked good on paper. You think? Seems to be so many people wanting to build bike-motored cars and so few of them ever get finished... Quote Link to comment
DaBlist Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Really? So more than just showing up on a forum with a bunch of wild ideas? It takes actual work and skill? ;) Did I tell you about the... I'm building? It's going to be FRIK'IN AWESO... Oh never mind, I'm still sitting at my computer 1 Quote Link to comment
FoxyRoadster Posted November 29, 2012 Report Share Posted November 29, 2012 Looked good on paper. Making car "to do" lists is easier than spending the $$$$ and time doing those things. True about the engine and getting it running but if it was in a fire wouldn't all the wiring be toasted too and suspension bushings and and and Under 2k, even less if you go used. I am taking my time on my own roadster but I've replaced everything on it wiring, brake, and suspension wise. still looks like shat but paint isnt a priority for me. His goals are already halfway met weight wise, install a miata engine and trans and you save 250lbs vs stock and can meet his weight goal easily since the car is pre-gutted.. I know way too much about these roadsters for my own good at this point. When people say cheap I think of sub 1000 dollars complete so I tell them to avoid a roadster, but if you're budget is between 2k-5k you can have a daily driver roadster easily. I value my roadster at about 2.5k counting in the manhours I've put into the car and research on the car. I've spent about 1500 total on parts counting cost of the car. Quote Link to comment
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