New World Datsuns...

Probably fine. Tack it in, drop motor down, don't rest full weight on it. Worst thing is to plate the ends to slide the middle section forward.

Well luckily for you, thats a fairly common part. Should be able to get another if this one can't be fixed.

I do have two in my garage. But one is not mine...

Good to hear, haha.

I just bought a coupon on Ebay, it's for an engine crane at Harbor Freight for $99. Coupon cost me $5, finally got tired of borrowing my friend's all the time. Still can't believe I paid for a coupon, a Harbor Freight coupon at that. haha

Should be doing a test fit sometime this weekend...

One of the most valuable tools in my shop is that HF engine hoist. Congrats in advance.

I acquired mine through my cousin. It has been thoroughly whored out.

Mine looks like some sort of sea serpent combined with the motor, lol.


I've been doing a lot of straightening of things lately, hood hinges, hood support, bumper, valence, etc... The 510's face. I even stripped the grille and polished all the trim.



My only complaint, I've got the worst eyebrow trim.

That emblem was a repaint by me, here is the old (when I had only painted the blue and red):

Crossmember is all welded up except for the bottom seam on the passenger side, car is holding itself up now at least. As soon as all this rain goes away I'll get the welder back out and finish it up.

Grill and emblem look sharp props

Looks really good. You sure stay busy.

Thanks, guys. I'm trying to use all this time off wisely, before work picks back up in a month or so...

I seem to either have money or time. Rarely both.

Here's a preview of the latest project.

Fan shroud:





Plus some more awesome interior goodies ready to go back in:

I need to do a fan shroud for my car... probably gonna do it out of the same aluminum as my gas tank...

Laecaon wrote:I need to do a fan shroud for my car... probably gonna do it out of the same aluminum as my gas tank...

I'm interested in the tank. Are you building it? Don't think I've seen someone make a tank before...

Will be. Too scared to weld a used gas tank.

But it's down the road.

Oh yeah, I get that. Speaking of welding, I just don't know if my HF 90 amp welder is up to doing this crossmember. I'm having second thoughts on my welds. I may just reinforce it with 3/16" plate, or break down and send mine over to McKinney to do it for me... So that sucks...

I did start putting the rest of my engine bay back together, photos of that are redundant at this point, it's the same, but it has big patches of self etching primer now. lol

Fan shroud is coming along nicely. Both long edges are double folded and there is a 90 degree angle brace that runs horizontally between the fans. It's already feeling really rigid and will only get more rigid with the fans bolted to it and it bolted to the radiator. Actually, the shroud will be sandwiched between the fans and radiator. I am also going to use 1/2" silicon vacuum hose with a slit in it around all edges of the shroud that will touch the radiator. Almost done, just need to soften the edges and drill some holes...




Ignore the rough holes, they'll be hidden by the fans...

Well all holes are drilled to mount the fans and it was all together. The rubber seats firmly all the way around and it's nice and sturdy, perfect. I even hooked the fans up to my drill battery (mostly dead 18V) and they pull tons of air! Looking through my photos now and I don't even have one with it all bolted together. It's all apart now waiting for paint.


I also found some good little bits and pieces that came off and will be going back on soonish.



And these big ass thrust bearings and washers:




Also, I figure anyone that reads this gets first dibs on these Is $250 fair?:

Question about those offset LCA bushings... They look to give about an extra .5" of roll center (that's probably not how you say that, but I hope someone understands, lol)

The plastic (maybe delrin) bushing that goes around it looks to be custom made and I'd have to make more if I want them to be new, and I do want them to be new! Also, with them being offset, the bushings should be solid, right?

Is it worth it to go that route, or should I press in the OEM rubber bushings I have?

I was thinking about this last night, if I had to categorize this build, I'd say it's a resto-mod for sure. Basically stock with a new motor/trans, and few variations (tasteful! I hope) from factory on the interior. I originally had plans for a fun little track car, but then I spent way too much on the interior and I wouldn't feel right with it on a track now. I want this thing to be driven, not on a trailer, and not on a track. Nope, no stickers or tow hooks, sorry

I don't know about any of that^^^

But I did have a question about the shroud. It looks like it will be flat against the radiator and not coned out like a regular shroud. Would that restrict air flow through the radiator and air only move through where the fans are?

Great question! Mine is actually about 1/2" away from the rad. I'm not sure, but I think it would pull about the same amount of air if it were flat against it, but I think you're right, it would probably only pull it through the spots where the fans are. Like moving a little water through a small hose, and then that same amount of water through a huge hose. The water will flow either way, but which is better, I don't know. My guess is it's best to space them some though... Hopefully someone with the science shows up and schools us, lol.