New member with 1978 Datsun B210 GX.. new to Datsuns, period!

[LilGypsy78]

Hi there, I'm so excited to have found this website as I just got my first Datsun last week and it's in need of some work and parts, but I love her so much all ready! It certainly helps to find a place where enthusiasts have numerous discussions on topics that are so helpful as we start figuring out where to begin and what to expect. I wanted to start off by posting some photos for any feedback or suggestions. Any info would be helpful and appreciated! I will say, this will not be a super-expensive overhaul project.. just want to get her looking nice and functioning well, then keep her maintained.

 

So, I know this was purchased new (original paint number 905) on March 25, 1979 in Forest Park, GA, by an 18-year-old girl and her mother (records show that a  '69 Mustang was traded in for it!). I have the those original purchase records and a tag renewal slip from 1981... at that point, the next two service records from '98 and '99 show a different owner in Knoxville, TN, then a third owner name in '09 on the last record, also in Knoxville. We bought it from what I presume is the fourth owner in Greeneville,TN (close to two hours from here) making us what I think is the fifth owner. She's gotten around and had a rough go at it somewhere along the line, hence the name I have given her "Lil Gypsy".

 

When we bought her, we were told 64,XXX original miles, but now after digging through these records in the glove box, it is clear that is not the case and it's actually 164,XXX. She also actually has a leaking radiator, non-functioning e-brake, a possible deferential problem (?) and missing a few pieces that would make her a little nicer. I thought it was great she made the two-hour trip after purchase, but now I see the underlying problems...

 

This is how she looked at purchase. Fifty shades of ugly. Yet, this was the side they decided to keep two hubcaps on.

 

Just got home with her... and took a photo of her nicer side to share on social media with my friends. Minus one hubcap.

 

Over the last weekend, we sanded her down and applied rust-colored primer just to go ahead and give her a nicer look - with ONE color. Moved a hubcap over to complete the nicer side. Need to affix the emblem a little better since most posts are broken off.

 

Here she is next to our '76 Ford Econoline, lovely contrast, yes? This is her not so pretty side, but looking much better with the one color primer job. A few dents, big dent in the back, missing side emblem and now the side with a missing hubcab.

 

A better look at the damaged back end. There's not too much we're going to be able to do to fix that anytime soon aside from getting in one color. The bar above the bumper looks super rusty now that I sanded it, getting it ready for a coat of paint. The back window was coated in clear caulking in a hack-job attempt to stop leaks, I guess. It was gummed up inside and all over the seal. We scraped that off. Also removed caulking seal around the driver's side back window. Both were sealed, now at least one is able to pop out. The other side needs a seal replacement before taking of the caulking. (You can also see the other project in the back, '76 Chevy LUV.)

 

An interior view. It was so filthy, but we managed to clean it up a lot with just vacuming and wiping everything down. Back seat upholstery is in great condition. Passenger seat had some rips and driver seat had most damage, so there are seat covers for now until I can figure out if there's a way to salvage them. Dashboard not in good shape. Also have to figure out best way to go about fixing that up on the cheap. Missing the ashtray as well. 

 

So there you have it, so far. Our next step is to locate the missing pieces (i.e. hubcap, ashtray, side emblem, and dome light) and apply one more good coat of primer since it's a little uneven in a few places, apply black rubber coating spray paint to faded bumpers and paint the sanded rusty bars above the front and rear bumpers. Oh yes, and to fix the radiator and other mechanical problems.... that's right. Ugh.

 

 

 

[Datsunocaster]

Looks great. I have a 78 hatchback as well... Might have the ashtray for you but I have to look first. I also have a hubcap for you but I painted the inside blocks black. You can apply paint remover and clean it up if you like. Email me and I will send you pics of the stuff. Let me know what other smalls you need might have a few other things. but have to check my stash first.. I dont know why yhis is coming out all underlined??? My email is tbag1331@yahoo.com...

[LilGypsy78]

Thanks Datsunocaster, sent you an email!

[datzenmike]

You sure it's a '79??? The first 210 was Feb '78.  Possibly this is the registered date.  Look on the driver's door tag for month and year. You'll need to know if ordering parts.

 

 

Also if this is your first Datsun then is that a Chevy luv in the background?

 

I see it's an automatic and that's why it's a survivor. It's hard to drive the crap out of an auto and not much goes wrong with them.

[Dolomite]

My grandma had a yellow manual she bought brand new right around the time I was born, she drove the shit out of it till I was ten or twelve and then it sat. Sadly I wasn't yet bitten by the datsun bug and she ended up selling it when I was in high school because I thought my 76 cutlass was cooler...young and dumb. You got a nice little ride there, they clean up nicely and the dents add character.

[LilGypsy78]

You sure it's a '79??? The first 210 was Feb '78. Possibly this is the registered date. Look on the driver's door tag for month and year. You'll need to know if ordering parts.

 

 

Also if this is your first Datsun then is that a Chevy luv in the background?

 

I see it's an automatic and that's why it's a survivor. It's hard to drive the crap out of an auto and not much goes wrong with them.

My bad.. No, it's definitely a '78 and was purchased on that date I mentioned in 1978, not 1979. Don't know why I typed that. The '76 Chevy LUV is my boyfriend's. He got it back when he was in highschool about 10 years ago and it's been his on again off again project since. He let it sit at his mom's for the last several years, we just brought it up within the last year and he's getting it closer to road ready finally.

[datzenmike]

I like the B. Bought a new '76 4 spd. sedan back in the day because of a 7 year old $50 510 I had bought a year earlier that I was so impressed with. Excellent mileage and fun to drive. 

[dat521gatherer]

Very cool and welcome to Ratsun. I'm glad your so exicited about it. We have a 75 b210 that our daughter drives. I can't wait until she buys her own car so I can get it back.

 

Nice package tray under the glove box there. I have one but am missing the two mounting brackets.

 

Can we look in the engine bay and trunk?

[dat521gatherer]

Our bumpers were black when we bought it and they got touched up this last summer and the grill too. Here is the thread with the bumper removed if you want to see. http://community.ratsun.net/topic/33268-a-new-addition-to-the-family/page-5

[datzenmike]

 

Just noticed this steering wheel is identical to the first gen 200az (S-10)

 

 

Much nicer than the earlier one and somewhat like the early S30 240z. (and it has a D on it)

[LilGypsy78]

All right, so I got some more pictures today. The day started off on an interesting note as I was majorly hungover from Christmas Eve festivities and I'm pretty sure I was still intoxicated. I, randomly, found myself in a very nostalgic mood and began thinking about all the sweet Janet Jackson tapes I had and danced to in 3rd grade... then it dawned on me... I HAVE A TAPE DECK in the Datsun! I will play Janet Jackson ALL THE TIME when I drive it!! (Not really, I have recovered a bit since.) So I went out with a tape. Oddly, it ended up being a Tool tape as that was all I could find, and extremely opposite music of Janet Jackson. Much to my dismay, the tape deck does not work. Radio is great, but no cassette love to be had. Also, I pushed in the cigarette lighter and it's now stuck, luckily it doesn't work either. I all ready knew that, but pushed it in anyway because nothing made sense about my morning so no reason not to.

 

Onward to photos:

 

The engine bay... I was taking these pictures when the bf asked what I was doing. When I told him I needed to post stuff for my Ratsun friends, he decided these photos weren't proper and we needed to clean. Two paper towel rolls and a 1,000 Q-Tips later...

 

That's not really that fun of a job with a hangover, but I'm glad we did it.

 

The metal epoxy "fix" for the radiator leak the last owner did. It's leaking elsewhere now and is a rusty ugly mess, so we just ordered a new radiator and it should be here next week.

 

And here's the back area.. I'm guessing there used to be a cover for this spot? Do people still have these or is it just better to make a new one?

 

 

Remember earlier I mentioned that we scraped the extremely thick gunked up caulking off the hatch window? I was certain it was there to fix leaks, but surely there was a better way to address it than that eye sore... well, I need to tend to that sooner rather than later. It rained yesterday and I found this:

[Datsunocaster]

Yes there was a piece that covered the back area and folds up and down. You might be able to find an original if someone is parting out a hatchback but making one might be easier and better as well... Looks good. after seeing your engine bay cleaned I really need to do mine...  I emailed you about the hubcap as well but no ashtray sorry.. Did see an ashtray on ebay though... And for the domelight they sell new ones on ebay as well from like Thiland but they work good I got one myself cuase I had a hard time finding a new one.. Keep up the great work and always post more pics....

[Datsunocaster]

Oh and buy the way, Tool is much better the Janet Jackson!!! LOL :rofl:

[datzenmike]

For the honeycomb wheel cover... you may just want to buy a set of 14" rims for better future tire offerings. Get something that won't attract attention away from the car as this will appear to be an attempt to disguise any flaws. Nothing 'blingy' saying $900 rims on $200 car. No chrome, just aluminum / magnesium or dull silver and gray.

 

I've always been partial to factory mag rim options like these...

 

[datsunfreak]

I emailed you about the hubcap as well but no ashtray sorry.. Did see an ashtray on ebay though... 

 

If you just need the ashtray itself, not the metal mount in the dash for the ashtray, I have one in my trunk right now with no use for it, so...  

[qwik510]

For the honeycomb wheel cover... you may just want to buy a set of 14" rims for better future tire offerings. Get something that won't attract attention away from the car as this will appear to be an attempt to disguise any flaws. Nothing 'blingy' saying $900 rims on $200 car. No chrome, just aluminum / magnesium or dull silver and gray.

 

I've always been partial to factory mag rim options like these...

 

Welcome and nice B210 project. I had a 77 B210 back in HS.

 

If you want a set of wheels like Mike posted, I have several sets of them. I am up in Maryland (suburbs of Wash. DC). I can ship too.

 

They look nice on a B210 and moving up to a 14" wheels gives a few more tire options.

 

Good luck with the car.

 

David

[LilGypsy78]

For the honeycomb wheel cover... you may just want to buy a set of 14" rims for better future tire offerings. Get something that won't attract attention away from the car as this will appear to be an attempt to disguise any flaws. Nothing 'blingy' saying $900 rims on $200 car. No chrome, just aluminum / magnesium or dull silver and gray.

datzenmike, you speak true words of wisdom. I have considered this and I think that this is what I would like to do sometime soon. For now, I'm partial to just getting the car looking complete and, for whatever reason, I really like those honey comb covers. It's probably due to several critical opinions of non-Datsun lovers I came across (before finding ratsun.net) when I did my first preliminary research upon purchasing the car. I saw several remarks about what a funny looking car, poking fun at the hubcap style and the louvers on the back... etc. I'm embracing those things at this point to truly celebrate the glory of this vehicle in its original beauty. ;)  I'll just keep it like that for a bit, then switch over to what you suggested for the long haul. The tires need to be replaced soon anyway.

 

 

Welcome and nice B210 project. I had a 77 B210 back in HS.

 

If you want a set of wheels like Mike posted, I have several sets of them. I am up in Maryland (suburbs of Wash. DC). I can ship too.

 

They look nice on a B210 and moving up to a 14" wheels gives a few more tire options.

That is great! I will be in contact with you, for sure! Thanks  :D

 

Speaking of, due to the awesome community here, I have located my extra hubcab (thanks Tommy!) and I have a dome light on the way, and possibly a replacement gas door and ashtray as well. So I'm pretty close to having all the parts I need!

 

If you just need the ashtray itself, not the metal mount in the dash for the ashtray, I have one in my trunk right now with no use for it, so...  

datsunfreak, I will get with you about that if the other ashtray falls through for any reason... I do need the mount, but I'd rather collect the parts as I can, if I don't end up needing them, then I can pass on to someone else that does.

 

I've been putting in a little work the last couple of days, but it's raining today so I had to stop. I want to share the progress in the meantime;

 

I thought it would be a great idea to pull off the bumpers to paint, but I could not do the job, so I spent a day sanding down the first primer job and then reapplied a few more coats to get it more even. Glad I did. Then yesterday I painted the side view mirrors which were originally black - and look so much better now - but it got me to thinking that chrome mirrors would probably look pretty sweet.

 

 

Then I took off the grill to paint it up... woo weee! Look at that lovely leaking radiator, gunked upness and stray q-tips that got lost during our engine bay clean last week.

 

 

So the next best method for bumper: lots of tape and empty corn bag. Worked just fine... Will need to get some more acetone to clean up the little bit of overspray.

 

 

So here is the latest as she's sitting now. Small steps, but I'm so happy with how much better she's looking. Just do me a favor and look back at the very first photo and compare.

Sah-WEEET!

 

As soon as it stops raining, I'm going to get to the back bumper which I'm kind of dreading because it's not going to be as easy to do as the front without taking it off... 

[datzenmike]

datzenmike, you speak true words of wisdom. I have considered this and I think that this is what I would like to do sometime soon. For now, I'm partial to just getting the car looking complete and, for whatever reason, I really like those honey comb covers. It's probably due to several critical opinions of non-Datsun lovers I came across (before finding ratsun.net) when I did my first preliminary research upon purchasing the car. I saw several remarks about what a funny looking car, poking fun at the hubcap style and the louvers on the back... etc. I'm embracing those things at this point to truly celebrate the glory of this vehicle in its original beauty. ;)  I'll just keep it like that for a bit, then switch over to what you suggested for the long haul.

Absolutely!!! I had them also and now when I see them I find them... quaint.

 

 

 

So here is the latest as she's sitting now. Small steps, but I'm so happy with how much better she's looking. Just do me a favor and look back at the very first photo and compare.

Sah-WEEET!

What a difference!!

[Datsunocaster]

Looks great!!! Ha thats similar to the way I painted my bumper ends as well.  I agree witht the original look myself... Ugly or not I like these honeycomb caps. They are iconic to the era of the car and the car itself.. I like other options as well but I sticking with the originals myself for my B.....

 

[graveltrapp]

Nice work bringing this little work horse back from sure doom, I really like that you are keen on retaining it's period correct style.

A nice set of H4 headlamps would make a smart addition, looks like you live outside of town on darker roads. these old cars tired incandescent bulbs need to be updated to keep up with our faster speeds.

Also check that they are aimed properly (look it up on youtube)

Tapes Rule!

[floyd17]

major progress  :thumbup:  Still got the honeycombs if you wanna buy them. As ugly as they are, I'm sure they won't be going anywhere but to a purist! And as far as tires, yeah, you have more options. but as far as just a DD, 13" rims will do fine. you just won't find many performance options. But lets be honest, with these engines, serious performance is but an expensive and distant dream... :rofl:

[izzo]

I had that same steering wheel in mine. It's probably my favorite steering wheel nissan has put out.  It looks after market.  Mine came loose once, keep an eye on your shit.

 

Listen to me tho... Don't take the steering wheel button off by just yarding it off. DONT DO IT. they break, and they are a pain in the dick finding another good one. Everyone always brakes them.  unhook your battery, press down HARD and turn, it will come off that way.  Just in case you ever take it off.  Free tip! haha.