MikeRL411 Posted April 30, 2016 Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 BTW, Nissan used to stock a water pump rebuild kit that fit both Roadster and RL411 water pumps. Just might be still available. They also stocked the water pump seal as a separate item even though it was included in the rebuild kit. Only "downside" was that you had to pull the cast iron impeller before you could withdraw the pump shaft to the front of the case. Unless you proceeded slowly and were gentle there was a 20% or so probablity that you were going to crack the cast impeller! The 311 roadster and the RL411 water pumps are identical except for the 1 inch difference in length of the inpeller shaft. That and the "accesory" fan spinner, with the "flat" 311 roadster and the "bell shaped" RL411 spinner. A gear puller and a hydraulic press solves this problem as long as you can find the correct RL411 bell shaped spinner. If you crack the cast Iron impeller, any later stamped metal impeller can be pressed on even though it is less than the idel replacement. Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted May 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 Still in a holding pattern. Hope to see some progress this week. Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted July 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2016 Update: The major missing pieces are now at ZCG. Raceneely has assisted the RL411 project with the following: Reupholstered seats A functioning water pump A functioning exhaust manifold Looks like I'm sticking with the 4 speed for this stage of the build, unless a cheap 5 speed becomes available and bolts on easily. Not sure I will be ready for JCCS, but trying. 2 Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted July 15, 2016 Report Share Posted July 15, 2016 Hope to see your car at the JCCS! Let's tear and compare on the restoration! It's really lonesome when last there are only 2 411 sedans at the whole show except for the new Nissan USA addition to their collection. Which had the wrong trunk badge. Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted July 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2016 Hope I can make it! Didn't realize how few 411s were at the show. Have to figure out if I can drive it there or trailer it. BTW, not sure how I feel about red on red, though. One cool thing. If I color change to cream white, it'll look just like my high school car! Quote Link to comment
bkippen Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Looks like you're doing quite well on the build. One of these days we should meet up. What rear end is in your 411? Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted August 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Update: A functioning exhaust manifold Rats! The exhaust manifold arrived with a crack. I believe we are sending it down for magnesium coating as we speak. Too bad, I was hoping to get to JCCS and Concours d'Lemons this year. Ah well, there's always next year. Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted August 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Looks like you're doing quite well on the build. One of these days we should meet up. What rear end is in your 411? It's going on three years in September so it has required a lot of patience. One day the car will be roadworthy once more!! I have no idea about the rear end. I assume whatever the other RL411s are running. I can check if you need more info. Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted August 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Update: Rob has located a 5 speed transmission from a Roadster donor. I'm not sure of the exact spec, but I have forwarded him the "5 speed swap" thread already. Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 It's going on three years in September so it has required a lot of patience. One day the car will be roadworthy once more!! I have no idea about the rear end. I assume whatever the other RL411s are running. I can check if you need more info. There were 2 different ratio rear ends. I believe that this choice is the real factory difference between "SSS" badged and plain jane RL411s. It's late and I am in no mood to spend time searching the parts manual [which by the way is on this site, so happy hunting] just remember, when you are about to give up, the WRL and RL411 parts are hidden in the very last pert of the manual. Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted February 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2017 Update: Rob has located a 5 speed transmission from a Roadster donor. I'm not sure of the exact spec, but I have forwarded him the "5 speed swap" thread already. Update: We've decided against the 5 speed for now and saving the money for other parts. Carbs are on the engine and bay is being prepped: https://spark.adobe.com/post/FoRBa66p53zdM/ Existing water pump repaired Exhaust manifold is recoated Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted February 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2017 Update: Engine and trans are in the car. Engine fire is imminent. Interior (seats and carpet kit) and paint being worked on. Tires and wheels (Panasport) being installed. 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted February 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 Update: Engine has fired! 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted February 15, 2017 Report Share Posted February 15, 2017 Congrats :thumbup: Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted February 16, 2017 Report Share Posted February 16, 2017 Update: We've decided against the 5 speed for now and saving the money for other parts. Carbs are on the engine and bay is being prepped: https://spark.adobe.com/post/FoRBa66p53zdM/ Existing water pump repaired Exhaust manifold is recoated Nissan did [and still may] list and stock a water pump repair kit that successfully rebuilds the RL411 and 311 roadster water pumps. The only trick is to pull the original cast iron impeller without it breaking. The water pump guts withdraw to the front after pulling the wire retainer [on the original pumps], replacement water pumps do not have the wire shaft retainer.! Nissan also separately listed the shaft seal [which is in the repair kit. 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted March 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2017 Update: Engine has fired! Update: Two steps forward, 1 step back Engine fired but didn't run well. Water pump didn't hold water Action: parts being sent out for refurbishment Water pump Carbs Brake calipers 1 Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted March 3, 2017 Report Share Posted March 3, 2017 Update: Two steps forward, 1 step back Engine fired but didn't run well. Water pump didn't hold water Action: parts being sent out for refurbishment Water pump Carbs Brake calipers If the water pump refurb doesn't work, you can always find a 311 roadster water pump and do a transplant on the fan "spinner" which will leave a one inch shaft protrusion once you have successfully pulled the roadster fan hub and pressed on the RL411 fan hub. Better have good engine mounts! The clearance to the radiator is scary, but good engine mounts will overcome the fright. I have been running a modified roadster water pump "since Christ was a Corporal." With a total North American production run of a little over 4400 RL411, and a few more WRL411, vehicles it was not economical for production of proper replacement water pumps, not like the roadsters. 1 Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted March 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 If the water pump refurb doesn't work, you can always find a 311 roadster water pump and do a transplant on the fan "spinner" which will leave a one inch shaft protrusion once you have successfully pulled the roadster fan hub and pressed on the RL411 fan hub. Better have good engine mounts! The clearance to the radiator is scary, but good engine mounts will overcome the fright. I have been running a modified roadster water pump "since Christ was a Corporal." With a total North American production run of a little over 4400 RL411, and a few more WRL411, vehicles it was not economical for production of proper replacement water pumps, not like the roadsters. Thanks, man. I think we solved the motor mounts issue, so it's a viable option. I'll keep it in mind. Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted April 2, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Got the word that the carbs are at Z Therapy. Though the cost is getting high and the wait is getting long, it's going to be one of the sickest 411s on the road once it's done. We keep rollin' Quote Link to comment
JDOM310 Posted April 2, 2017 Report Share Posted April 2, 2017 Any photos of progress Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted April 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Any photos of progress No. Nothing over the last year. The engine is in the bay now, though. See the last photo on the previous page for the latest: wheels getting test fitted. Quote Link to comment
JDOM310 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 Wow it looks like it indeed will be an awesome. Ride soon. Enough Jccs in missed it too last year Your seats look Chery and The exhaust looks so nice Quote Link to comment
JDOM310 Posted April 3, 2017 Report Share Posted April 3, 2017 I'm trying to make room for my potential 411 purchase but not looking so good . That r16 looks so clean too!!! Quote Link to comment
Datsun Dude Posted October 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2017 You'll never believe this. An original NOS water pump was found while ZCG was sourcing other Datsun parts. It had been sitting on the shelf for 38 years. Might be the last one in the world! LOL. Not sure what the price tag was, but I'll soon find out. :geek: Project rapidly coming to a completion due to the water pump being a perfect fit. For a couple of days, the engine has been running, the clutch is working, and the brakes are restored and functioning.Today, sound deadening and carpet going in, then the reupholstered seats. Test run will be this afternoon should all go as planned. This Bluebird should be singing again soon.Cheers! 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted October 26, 2017 Report Share Posted October 26, 2017 That's good news. Any chance of 2 being in stock? Quote Link to comment
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