HOGIE Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 Here is my new 63’ PL312 Bluebird Sedan. I already introduced it in my PL310 Bluebird thread but this one definitely deserves one of its own. @Loren O came out to Oregon City with me to help pull it out of its resting place. The previous owner had given it the name Tony, pretty sure that’s not going to stick. Dragging it out of its hibernation. Once I got it back to the shop it put some rollers on. It’s pretty much all here. Challenges that have already presented themselves are a locked trunk and no keys, only 1 of 4 doors will open, there is no engine (but I was told it might be in the trunk), and the transmission is in gear but the shift linkage is seized up so I can’t get it into neutral. 2 Quote Link to comment
HOGIE Posted March 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 (edited) Today I got to spend some time getting to know the 312. I want to get it rolling more freely so I removed the brake shoes from all 4 corners and disconnected the driveline. I also installed the other 2 wheels that match the one on the back wheels ^^^ but apparently they’re just a little to wide because they’re rubbing on the upper ball joint. Didn’t get any pictures of all that. Next I tried to get the doors to open but only managed to get on more to free up, so 2 out of 4 for now. I was able to roll at the windows down and back up so I could at least access the back seat. One of my favorite parts of the first go through of a new-old Datsun is finding the little treasures. From my first quick go through when I was picking it up I noticed that the original hub caps were one the floor. Unfortunately there are only 3 of 4 but I’ve got my fingers crossed I’ll find more in the trunk. This last one is looking a little rough. As I moved to the back seat I started pulling out goodies, radiator, bumper, valve cover, fan blades, random trim that doesn’t belong to this car, and buried on the bottom are my biggest treasure ever. Sitting next to the valve cover were 3 NOS Datsun boxes so I assumed it was engine parts but when I picked it up I saw beautiful NOS taillight lenses, 2 bottom and 2 top. I went on eBay and bought some blank keys. I’m going to see if a locksmith can make a key from the tumbler code. I need in that trunk! Edited April 7, 2023 by HOGIE 4 Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 Could probably pick that trunk lock in 2 minutes. Pretty cool about the NOS lenses! Maybe instead of Tony, since it's kind of a bone white, you could call it Boney, or Boner 😆 1 Quote Link to comment
HOGIE Posted March 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 12 hours ago, thisismatt said: Could probably pick that trunk lock in 2 minutes. Pretty cool about the NOS lenses! Maybe instead of Tony, since it's kind of a bone white, you could call it Boney, or Boner 😆 Don’t you live around P Hill? If you have pickin skills you should come give it a try. Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 8 minutes ago, HOGIE said: Don’t you live around P Hill? If you have pickin skills you should come give it a try. No, I used to live in CA and now I live in MisseryMissouri 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted March 28, 2023 Report Share Posted March 28, 2023 Wow! NOS lenses. That's a score. A good locksmith can create a key just by trial and error. The guy around the corner from me made a key for my Cherokee tailgate motor by testing old keys until he found one that was close, then fiddled with it until it worked. Quote Link to comment
HOGIE Posted April 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2023 (edited) Minor update. I took the ignition switch to a locksmith and had a key made. Today I was able to open the trunk. No engine, no jack and no more nos goodies. What I did find was the stock spare, floor mats and engine hand crank. Edited April 7, 2023 by HOGIE 2 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted April 8, 2023 Report Share Posted April 8, 2023 Nice little gem you got there 😄 1 Quote Link to comment
Stoffregen Motorsports Posted April 9, 2023 Report Share Posted April 9, 2023 I wonder what the bolt pattern is. If same as AH Sprite, the early bugeye wheels with all the holes would look great on the car. Also, you can buy new OEM Morris Minor wheels in 14". Those are cool too. They come powder coated off white, but they are $200 each. https://www.minimania.com/part/WHL100/Morris-Minor-Road-Wheel-Standard-Minor-1000-45-X-14-new-Old-English-White Quote Link to comment
HOGIE Posted April 10, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2023 On 4/9/2023 at 10:43 AM, Stoffregen Motorsports said: I wonder what the bolt pattern is. If same as AH Sprite, the early bugeye wheels with all the holes would look great on the car. Also, you can buy new OEM Morris Minor wheels in 14". Those are cool too. They come powder coated off white, but they are $200 each. https://www.minimania.com/part/WHL100/Morris-Minor-Road-Wheel-Standard-Minor-1000-45-X-14-new-Old-English-White The lug pattern is 4 x 114.3. From the parts car and what came on this car I have a full set of stock 13” wheels. A couple of sweet eBay finds and now I have a set of stock hubcaps too, plus a crusty one. 2 Quote Link to comment
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