KiloTango1200 Posted July 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I don't have to start spending money just yet. There is a lot of deteriorated undercoating to be removed. The rust out holes at the driver's floor to firewall seam. 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 New LCA bushings. Old LCA bushing right, new LCA bushing left. 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 Hit the left LCA with the soda blaster. Exciting to turn the corner and start to put things back together. 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Had to get a graduated cylinder to re-charge the stock struts. The FSM says the AMPCO struts on my Sedan need exactly 280cc of fluid (Bel Ray shock oil) to rejuvenate the struts. Got my fingers crossed that this will actually work. 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2015 Found some minor rust beneath the old undercoating. The seam between the bottom of the strut tower to inner fender attachment. Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 To fully take care of the rust, clean up and re-undercoat the inner fenders, the outer fenders must come off. It was with much fear and trepidation that I removed the probably unattainable lower chrome trim piece. If I screw this up, I don't know if they can be replaced. Fortunately the removal was straightforward with bolts at each end and spring clips in the middle. Turned out to be a piece of cake. Pulled the Grille off to facilitate the removal of all the trim and main components, to remove the outer fender. 2 Quote Link to comment
Datsubishi Posted July 8, 2015 Report Share Posted July 8, 2015 Cool to see a thread with almost daily positive updates. Your definitely diving in deep and quick. Congrats! Cool story attached, and all my respect to your father (mine was in the Canadian military). 2 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Thanks for your Father's service to your country. Canada had our back during WWII. Not diving in as quick as I would like, but like many on Ratsun, I am doing a restoration on a limited budget.I'm glad you like the updates. Most of the posts are documentation for myself. My memory is not what it used to be so I take lots of pictures in case I can't remember how things go back together. 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 The top front fender bolt, the one just above the headlight bucket, was covered up by by silicone, bondo and undercoat. Had the wire wheel on for about 15 seconds when I decided to stop and take a picture. This is the front corner that got hit 40 years ago. Oops! The bottom fender bolt next to the door broke off in the rocker panel. I'll deal with that later. 2 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Did I say something about putting things back together? I must have been mistaken. Left front fender is off. Now I can strip all the old undercoat and spray new undercoat on the inner fender. 1 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Why are you taking the fenders off? 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Why are you taking the fenders off? Discovered more rust and a questionable 40 year old collision repair. Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 9, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Now I can finish this panel and be done with it, That's progress. 3 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 Removing the left front fender, I encountered a few difficulties. The rear most bolt securing the top of the outer finder broke off. I was able to get this one out. The rear lower bolt holding the bottom of the front fender to the rocker panel broke off. This one will take some work. 1 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 Soak it with ATF mixed with acetone. Then drill it with a small bit, like 3/32", then again with a larger bit just under the size of the bolt threads. With luck, the larger bit will grab and screw the bolt into the rail, rather than trying to unscrew it, since chances are the threads sticking into the inside of the rail are all boogered up with rust and it's easier to drive the bolt in, than out. 3 Quote Link to comment
datsunfreak Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 The rear lower bolt holding the bottom of the front fender to the rocker panel broke off. This one will take some work Sadly, this one always breaks... :bye: 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Soak it with ATF mixed with acetone. Then drill it with a small bit, like 3/32", then again with a larger bit just under the size of the bolt threads. With luck, the larger bit will grab and screw the bolt into the rail, rather than trying to unscrew it, since chances are the threads sticking into the inside of the rail are all boogered up with rust and it's easier to drive the bolt in, than out. Great suggestion, thanks. Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Sadly, this one always breaks... :bye: Sadly, this one always breaks... :bye: All the rusty nastiness built up in that bottom corner is the main reason I pulled the fender. Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 Left front fender connection to front valance. A big hole filled by a big glob of Silicone. Looks like a quick and dirty collision repair. A lot of silicon, seam sealer and bondo ground away. A really rough looking repair. The top of the inner fender had a bunch of Bondo filling in the distorted repair. Quote Link to comment
Mattndew76 Posted July 13, 2015 Report Share Posted July 13, 2015 wow looks like a drywall worker did the fill job on the car too. 2 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 The left lower control arm cleaned up and painted. I told my buddy Mat about my problem with broken bolts and he handed me this set of extractors. He recently upgraded to a set from Snap-On. I think it must be a rule that if you have an aircraft inspection authorization, at least half of your net worth must be in tools. 3 Quote Link to comment
Mattndew76 Posted July 14, 2015 Report Share Posted July 14, 2015 looks new... Cant wait to be at this stage. 1 Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2015 Finally was able to drive halfway across DFW and pick up the last bits of the racing suspension from Datsunfreak. The adjustable rear spring shackles. The front spring shackles and traction bars. Parts are made complying with the the Datsun Competition SCCA C Sedan manual published in 1975. 2 Quote Link to comment
Mattndew76 Posted July 16, 2015 Report Share Posted July 16, 2015 C class doesn't get new tech? Or is it specific to years of manufacturing? Quote Link to comment
KiloTango1200 Posted July 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2015 This was specific to the 1200 when Datsun was actually involved in factory race cars. This stuff is now vintage racing. Quote Link to comment
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