Early 1962 312 Bluebird Deluxe Sedan. Let the HATE begin.

[bob72gts]

Ok, I tried for 2 years to get the owner of this car to sell it to me. I finally convinced him to let it go and it is now sitting in my driveway. It has been sitting for about 34 years according to the most recent registration sticker on the plate (1980). All these years in the Arizona sun have not been kind to any of the soft parts, I didn't think cardboard could shrink. There is a significant amount of rust, by southwestern USA standards anyway. I personally consider the car to be "non-restorable".

 

The good news is the car appears to have had regular maintenance up until it was parked. The oil looks like it just came out of the bottle, which probably would have been a cardboard can at the time. The frame and suspension components all appear solid.

 

The bad news is that even though it has been in AZ since at least 1977, the level of "patina"(rust) this car has means I will never put a real paint job on it. Don't get me wrong, this car is WAY more solid than some of the stuff I have seen rebuilt here on Ratsun. I probably spent an hour the other night looking through the build of a 510 that only had a decent roof and a VIN, but there is a shit ton more restoration parts available for a 510 than there are for my 312.

 

I have not yet decided which direction this project will go. IF the engine will run and the rest of the running gear is in decent shape then I will drive it and just live with the rust because driving a rusty old Datsun is AWESOME. If it won't run I am thinking either Ratrod Highboy Roadster or Gasser.

 

I know "Pics or it didn't happen" they will be in post #2.

 

[ggzilla]

Congratulations!

[bob72gts]

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/rustyhighboy.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/morrisgasser.jpg

http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/140213_0004.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/140213_0002.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/140213_0003.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/140213_0005.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/140213_0006.jpg
http://i842.photobucket.com/albums/zz341/bob72gts/140213_0007.jpg

Hmmmm I have done this before but I can't get the pics to post tonight. I'll just put up the links like a noob.

 

What I'm workin' with.

 

And what I might do.

[bob72gts]

That didn't work right either. *Sigh* :confused:

[bananahamuck]

I think your using the direct link ,, you need to use img

 

[bob72gts]

 

Google Chrome to the rescue????

[ggzilla]

It depends on which editing mode Ratsun is in.

[bob72gts]

I had to use the direct link and Chrome to get them to post. The IMG on photobucket didn't work with IE or Chrome

[ggzilla]

Yes, it depends on which mode Ratsun is in.

[TENDRIL]

such a cool car!!

 

 

and already has moar lows!

[cobra269]

I don't know about the interior, but what I can see on the outside is in way better shape the some of the pre-builders here that turned out looking new. I'm not familiar with your abilities either, but I can see this one looking kick ass either way you take it! Sweet find!

[bob72gts]

Minor update.

 

Did some cleaning and inspecting today.

 

Looks like this is the 39th 1962 Bluebird off the assembly line.

 

I can now open 3 of the 4 doors

 

Somebody swapped a J series engine into this thing. Does anybody know if the J is a descendant of the E, like a NAPS Z from an L? I'm

assuming it is since the original column shift trans is bolted to the J series engine in the car.

 

The sheetmetal rust is even worse than I thought, but the frame and suspension looks great. Seems like I read the front suspension for this car is the same as early roadsters, can anyone confirm?

 

This is definitely going to be a hot rod of some type and will be going onto a different frame.

[MicroMachinery]

 

 

['70dime]

Have the fenders been cut? they look abnormally large, and the front looks like it has a small flare.

[ggzilla]

Yes, the J-series is the 3rd-generation Datsun OHV engine, replacing the E1 with a better design. The A-series quickly followed with 4-port aluminum head, but is a smaller class than the J13/J15/J18 - so the A-series did not replace the J-series.

[yellowdatsun]

The J is the replacement for the E engine. Very similar. Only Datsun people would ever know the difference, and even then, a lot of Datsun people wouldn't recognize the difference.

[bob72gts]

Yes, the front and rear wheel openings have been cut, badly. There are fender lips from some other car screwed to the front fenders and the rear doors were also cut. Just one more reason to cut it up into a hotrod.

 

Thanks guys for the J info.

[bob72gts]

  I figured I should build a small scale version of what I have in mind before I lay my sawzall on this car. So, I bought one of these last night.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOREV-1-43-DATSUN-BlueBird-1961-/111160318801?pt=Diecast_Vehicles&hash=item19e1abdb51 and I just found this now so I bought 2 of them. http://www.ebay.com/itm/321329188695?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

I will go ahead and build one or more of these as hot rods and see which way I like it.