Firstly a hello to all datto enthusiasts out there! I bought this datsun 1600 about 7 years ago, cleaned it up, by that i mean gutted the interior took most of it back to bare metal repaired rust and repainted it
( didn't touch mechanical side of things). Not long after this was finished, i was pretty much very pissed off when someone thought the datsun was a dodgem and ruined 6 months of blood and sweat.
I couldn't even look at it anymore, so my best mate who happens to be my uncle offered to drive it around for me. Since that offer, i moved to and lived in Queensland for 5 years, the rego ran out and the datsun became a dust collector.
Anyway, I'm back and i have my car back and have 5 years of energy ( i hope) to splash out on my car. My plans are to get it resprayed, engine bay too and put a nice little CA18DET into it and drive it daily.
I've started with the brake upgrade and bought some R31 front struts from the classifieds in ozdat, rebuilt the calipers new, slotted RDA rotors, braided hoses and nice pair of kyb shocks. Doing rears as well but trying to weigh up my best and cheapest options.

Now please if anyone wants to give me advice or ideas on anything, it would be much appreciated as i'm no mechanic and am actually pretty dumb when it comes to this sort of thing but i love getting my hands dirty! I read the threads and get plenty of ideas from them so hopefully i should be sweet.
I'll get pics up as soon as i work it out.

So now it begins...... 1971 Datsun 1600

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!

Hey mate, good to see another datto getting the attention it deserves.
What sort of damage was done to it?, by the picture it looks like its just the left front guard that's off it, i too have been in the same situation well actually I'm in the same situation, i spent months cleaning up the engine bay of my 1600 only to have a truck run over the front of it, and I'm still waiting for the smash repairers to finish it off.
I was also planning a ca18 conversion but my l18 died before i had the dollars to do it so i just ended up rebuilding the l18 for now.
Would love to see some more pictures

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My names Travis and I have a Datsun problem.

Yeah trying to work out how to post more than one pic at a time. More details when I have a chance.

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!

Welcome to Ozdat!

Another white Datto 1600 joins the squad.

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

Well the front left guard was turned into a crinkle cut chip, the bumper now has a bit of wave in it but it should be ok for re rolling. Other than that the light surrounds faired pretty well and my bonnet chipped a little paint off. Oh and my front drivers side rim hit the curb, so that i can hopefully get fixed . Not much damage really, but still enough to piss me off.
These are some of the photos i've taken so far, the only ones that would upload anyway. I've got the car in stands now and have taken off all rims and brakes. Sent the R31 struts off to have the 1600 perches welded on (Pedders Hawthorn). Bought discs all round from Better Brakes in Bayswater, gotta think about front end now as i want to replace it all for new without pissin off the wife too much

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!

That'll be harder than doing the work on the car!

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that looks cool
GL

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Shean Connery ish Shexty shex and shtill shexy

1964 hillman minx under resto at the moment
BUT DATSUN COMING AFTER THAT
FORMERLY JDM120Y

Had a very interesting day and night working on my car, couldn't remember exactly how much work i did last time, or even the quality of it . Have decided today I'm gonna go a lot better than last time i hope! I started sanding back where some rust has come up on the rear drivers side wheel arch and also on the sill. MORE DAMN BOG THAN THAN METAL! So i cut it all out and ordered some new sill panels ( i love buyin stuff for my car). Will post pics when i can so all can see. I think what surprised me the most was how many repairs had been on the car already you'll see these in the pics too. I got some pics of the calipers, brakes and shocks. Also a question to all, with the R31 strut tower, I use the R31 shock absorber? Only askin because I've read that every thing else used is 1600 stuff but the very top part ( can't think of it's name right now) where the thrust bearing sits is too small for the thread to fit through on the shock absorber. Have i done something wrong? And shouldn't there be a rubber of some sort that sits on top of the shock when it 's in the strut tower? Oh and does anyone make rust repair panels of the wheel arches? Or will i have to be inventive?

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!

I know that Nissco makes the rust repair sections for the rear quarters.

The strut top you have that wont fit the thread, you can possibly use the R31. I'm not 100% sure if the PCD of the strut top is the same, but try it!

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

Didn't think of that, I'll give it a try. If it doesn't work though would I be able to enlarge the existing hole by the 1.5mm without affecting the strength of it? I like the idea of using as much stuff from the 1600 as possible except of course motor and brakes.


By the way, I've read through your thread about 10 times, great car! It's what gave me inspiration to start again.

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!

Hey thanks for the feedback!

Also to answer your question about the rubber thing protecting the shock.
On the factory strut tops I think the rubber 'bump stop' is built in? Just check to see if there is a rubber grommet or something underneath that would absorb the impact of the shock if it bottoms out.

The best bet would be to remove the bearing in the 1600 strut top. BUT it's heaps easier to use another Datsun part such as 200B, R31 skyline etc. See if they fit first before busting out drill bits.

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

Yeah already checked and nothing there, it's a pretty snug fit though. I'll go to the guys i bought them from and see what they reckon. thanks for the replies, most helpful.

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!

Well it's been a while and I've been busy with work then the hols, but during this time i managed to take out the motor,strip it of all its paint and crap, take out the dirt and longrass filled rear x member and paint it all up. The engine bay took about a week to clean including both front wheel arches. I used POR15 to paint in the wheel arches, let it dry then sanded it back lightly, then 3 coats of underbody. Also did the chassis rails the same. The engine bay received 3 coats of POR15 last coat in black. It's no where near a professional job but I'm proud of my efforts. I"ll put up pics as soon as i get onto my home computer. The rear crossmember had me thinking because i changed my mind about which motor to put in, the exhaust hole is a bit small for a turbo motor so I;ve decided now to put in an N/A SR20. Don't need turbo, besides that was made redundant over chrissy hols and this will be a cheaper and safer (killer wife) option for me. So the x member got a couple of quick coats of POR15 too, looks almost brand new. I made up the brackets for the rear R31 calipers and put the fronts together they look pretty good me thinks. I've nearly finished replacing the drivers side sill (too hot for welding today) other than that progress is slow but steady, I'll put pics up soon as i can.

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!

Ha ha!..... the Minister for war and finance said no to turbo the datto!....
Oh well, just keep up the work and updates mate... you're doing well getting out in the garage and having a go mate.....

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http://ozdat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=14169
D4TSUN
Engine Management Sytem: Screwdriver!

Unfortunately I'm not in a garage, I'm on the front lawn at my olds place. I live in a unit close to the city, no space for mess there. And my parents have the 2 car garage but try tellin 2 old stubborn wogs to park their cars outside while I fix mine inside, LOL!


Here are some of the pics

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Fixed my car (1970 1600)
Crashed my car
Gonna fix it again!
Go the Datto!