The regular road tests were reprinted in the Brooklands book "Datsun
Roadsters 1962-1971" (yes, I know there were no 1971 roadsters, but
apparently Brooklands hasn't figured it out).
I'm conservative when it comes to firing up an engine that hasn't been run
in 20 years. If it was mine, I'd just tear it down and rebuild it, but YMMV.
I'd at least drop the pan and inspect the bearings, plus pull the plugs and
check the cylinder walls. If gas was left in the carbs, it's no doubt turned
to varnish and will cause problems. Fill it with oil, use one of Tom
Walter's priming rods to get the oil circulated and then see if you can turn
it over by hand. Check to see that all the valves are moving properly. Do
the basic tuneup (points, plugs, etc.) and see what happens.
I suspect the bigger problem will be the brakes. All the seals are probably
toast by this time.
Don't forget to change the gear lube in the tranny and diff, too. 20 years
of condensation won't lubricate things very well.
"Fred L. Coover" wrote:
> From: Chip Coover
> 1967 SPL311 06322
> Engine U20 06869
>
> 2901 Hunt Valley Drive
> Glenwood, Maryland 21738
> (H) (410) 489-4923
> (F) (410) 997-3780
> flc@CooverLaw.com
>
> Sunday, January 23rd.
>
> I have crude photocopies from three (3) issues of Road & Track as
> follows:
>
> 1. May 1967-Technical Review of the "Datsun Sports 1600"-pics,
> performance chart, specs including "Price as tested$2621.00-Cover plus 3
> pages;
>
> 2. November 1967-Technical Review of the "Datsun 2000
> Sports"-pics, performance chart, specs including "Price as tested
> $2950.00-Cover plus 3 pages; and
>
> 3. October1968-Comparison Test-"4 Basic Sportscars"
> "Austin-Healey Sprite, Datsun 1600, Fiat 850 Spider, Triumph
> Spitfire"-pics, performance chart, specs-cover plus 7 pages.
>
> I have no idea whether these are readily available, old news,
> coveted-whatever, but I'd be happy to share them with anyone interested.
>
> I do not know how to "publish" them on the internet, but can fax them to
> someone who does.
>
> Also, I recently found Mark Dent on "my side of the world". Are there
> any other Roadsterites in the greater Baltimore-DC/east of the
> Missippi/anywhere but the west coast (sorry guys-I'm just jealous)
> area???
>
> I own a 1967 1600 with a '68 2 liter and 5 speed. Soft & hard tops.
> Garaged/not driven since 1980 (marriage has its disadvantages). I'm
> interested in getting back into car and doing a ground-up restoration.
>
> The bottom end of the car is badly rusted-especially door pillars (doors
> sag/hit
> frame/must be lifted to close).
>
> The mechanicals were in good shape in 1980 when the car went into
> "storage"
> Nothing was done to prep the car for storage.
>
> Is there anything I should do to the engine before I try to start the
> car??
--
Gordon Glasgow
http://www.gordon-glasgow.org
|