Reincarnation: The White Witch.
Last August, I started looking for a new Datsun to occupy my time and get me from place to place and no where in particular. I found one up in Sacramento that spoke all of the right things to me. "Rebuilt L16 mated to a Datsun Z 5-speed and a differential with a good highway gear ratio. Some dents, no rust, needs paint. 280ZX front brakes and suspension with Ground Control coilovers and 180 pound springs. The interior was rough, but the drivetrain was solid. 30-40mpg to boot!" So began my next love affair...
I began much of the work before building this website, and will continue to work on this wagon and website as new projects come up. The only major thing that has gone undocumented thus far was the blown head gasket due to a warped head that caused my to replace the entire top end of the engine. I also replaced the timing chain, gears an tensioner.
Last August, I started looking for a new Datsun to occupy my time and get me from place to place and no where in particular. I found one up in Sacramento that spoke all of the right things to me. "Rebuilt L16 mated to a Datsun Z 5-speed and a differential with a good highway gear ratio. Some dents, no rust, needs paint. 280ZX front brakes and suspension with Ground Control coilovers and 180 pound springs. The interior was rough, but the drivetrain was solid. 30-40mpg to boot!" So began my next love affair...
I began much of the work before building this website, and will continue to work on this wagon and website as new projects come up. The only major thing that has gone undocumented thus far was the blown head gasket due to a warped head that caused my to replace the entire top end of the engine. I also replaced the timing chain, gears an tensioner.
Interior
The interior floor pans were covered in surface rust. Ripping out the old factory rubberized mats and stripping the pans with a wire wheel was the toughest job I've done so far. I picked up the rear cargo carpet and threw it in on top of some jute padding. I velcroed the carpet to the seat back in case I ever feel like swapping the seats out.
The door panels were old and weather beaten, so I picked up some vinyl and padding and threw some blue thread into the sewing machine and design some new panels. They'll last for a while yet.
Currently, I'm putting in some sound dampening and laying the carpet in the passenger area.
The interior floor pans were covered in surface rust. Ripping out the old factory rubberized mats and stripping the pans with a wire wheel was the toughest job I've done so far. I picked up the rear cargo carpet and threw it in on top of some jute padding. I velcroed the carpet to the seat back in case I ever feel like swapping the seats out.
The door panels were old and weather beaten, so I picked up some vinyl and padding and threw some blue thread into the sewing machine and design some new panels. They'll last for a while yet.
Currently, I'm putting in some sound dampening and laying the carpet in the passenger area.
 click for a larger picture |
 click for a larger picture |
 click for a larger picture |
| Rusty Floor Pans!!! Time for the wire grinding wheel. Had to rip out the rubber mats first, what a headache. | Undercoating Time! Took 3 cans of urethane based undercoat. Now its weather-proofed and has some sound dampening. |
New Door Panels!! Sewed & designed by yours truly. Who knew I was such a seamstress... and a carpet laying machine too! |
Exterior
Poor paint job aside, the body was pretty straight. 3 big dents to work out and skim with bondo. Whoever painted the car last didn't take the time to prep it first, so the white is chipping off. A quick round with a sodablaster might have revealed a nice original blue paint job. I'm working on the body in between rain showers right now. Just need to strip off the white and repaint it.
Poor paint job aside, the body was pretty straight. 3 big dents to work out and skim with bondo. Whoever painted the car last didn't take the time to prep it first, so the white is chipping off. A quick round with a sodablaster might have revealed a nice original blue paint job. I'm working on the body in between rain showers right now. Just need to strip off the white and repaint it.
 click for a larger picture |
| Dents. Metal Shaping. Metal Prep. Bondo. Slowly becoming a body pro. |
Engine
Nothing much to speak of yet. Thinking about a KA24DE swap, but have to get a job first...but then when will I have time?
SO FAR I HAVE:
- replaced the head, camshaft, valves, rockers and adjusted the valves.
- tuned, cleaned, and serviced the carburetors.
- replaced the timing gears, chain, and tensioner.
- changed possibly every gasket on the engine. No leaks so far!
Nothing much to speak of yet. Thinking about a KA24DE swap, but have to get a job first...but then when will I have time?
SO FAR I HAVE:
- replaced the head, camshaft, valves, rockers and adjusted the valves.
- tuned, cleaned, and serviced the carburetors.
- replaced the timing gears, chain, and tensioner.
- changed possibly every gasket on the engine. No leaks so far!
Drivetrain & Suspension
I bought the car with plenty of front suspension upgrades, so I won't change anything yet. The rear leaf prings are crappy, and I might throw rear rotors one if and when I get a KA24 put in. Other than the typical brake jobs, not much needs doing here.
I bought the car with plenty of front suspension upgrades, so I won't change anything yet. The rear leaf prings are crappy, and I might throw rear rotors one if and when I get a KA24 put in. Other than the typical brake jobs, not much needs doing here.