[Roadsters] Restoring my first roadster

[Tom @ Datsun2000]

When I purchased Mr. Hyde he had been stored for 15 years and did not run.

NEW master cylinders and real slave cylinders, along with rebuilding the
front calipers made him stop.  A NEW clutch master and slave allowed the
clutch to work.  I found trying to rebuild these parts was a waste of time
and money.  Then I started the engine for the first time and spun a bearing
within about 5 minutes.  The parts car provided another engine after
installing an upper chain, clutch, and transmission that is still there 6
years later.  I have no clue about the condition of the original tranny.

DON'T FORGET TO PRIME THE OIL SYSTEM BEFORE YOU TRY TO START THE ENGINE IF
IT HAS BEEN SITTING.

If the engine has been sitting without running make sure the engine is free
to turn easily when you put a wrench or socket on the crank nut.  If it is
tight (BTDT - see above) you will have bigger problems shortly after the
engine starts.

After all of that I was able to drive Mr. Hyde for the first time.  I put
about 100 miles on before winter set in.  Then I removed the head to change
the head gasket and stop an oil leak.  That project wound up including a
heater core, sending the carbs to Keith Williams, and several other minor
things taken care of while the head was out of the way.

If you can store a parts car it is well worth the investment.

Since then he has been mostly reliable and a ball to drive while I slowly
work on this or that.

Tom
69 2000 - Mr. Hyde
Portland
http://www.datsun2000.com
http://www.nowroc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: datsun-roadsters-bounces+tom=datsun2000.com at autox.team.net
[mailto:datsun-roadsters-bounces+tom=datsun2000.com at autox.team.net]On
Behalf Of Schlegel, Richard
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 1:15 PM
To: datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net
Subject: [Roadsters] Restoring my first roadster


Hi All!
Anybody have any good steps to follow on restoring a datsun roadster? How
about pictures or websites? This will be my first and thought I would
through
this out to all the experience on this list. I hope I don't ask too many
questions that have already been asked.
Thanks in advance.
Rich