GAS 1600

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Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Spent a couple of hours tonight fixing all the photo bucket dead images. Gave me a chance to reminisce along the way. Original goal of this car was to build a cheap car quickly, however the car required far more work than I thought and I definitely chose the hard way with most decisions. Some of the things I underestimated:
- Wasn't expecting so little steel and so much bog/rust
- Didn't expect to replace both floors/tunnel to do an engine swap
- Didn't think I'd need to build a new radiator support to offset the radiator
- Hadn't expected crash damage
- Completely forgot how anal I could be

Well my eldest who was 2 when I got this car turns 7 tomorrow so thought it fitting to remind myself of a few old naive posts.
22-09-12
Plans for this car are a quick (like to get it on the road late next year) and cheap build to give me something to enjoy while the Z sits in modification jail.
26-09-12
I'm not so sure about the "optimistic" quick and easy build statement.
Always fun nonetheless!
BP
This man had a Crystal ball!
03-02-13
Cheers mate, hope to have body work done by March/April.
Still doing body work, ha.
17-04-14
the original plan was a quick and cheap build that was going to be 12-18 months. Which if you go by my first post would put me at around October last year to March this year.
06-04-14
First engine start
Congrats bud. Downhill from here
16-05-15
Drove out of shed under own power.
Pretty much a black hole end of 2015 through early 2017 due to various other projects.

One thing I'd do differently, build in a bigger shed with another hoist as a car on your hoist for 5+ years is not cool. Ha.
Three B's Racing
Supporter
Posts: 1288
Joined: 03 Mar 2009 11:58
Location: New Hampshire

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Three B's Racing »

[quote="Well my eldest who was 2 when I got this car turns 7 tomorrow so thought it fitting to remind myself of a few old naive posts.
[/quote]

That's cool, my eldest was 8 when I got started on my 510. She's 32 now :shock: and on occasion metions she did the sanding on the rear light panel prepping for paint, and she you such a good job sweety DOH!! Wrong sentence for an ex MP Sergent 8>o
"Lastnight the wife said oh boy when your dead you can't take nothing with you but your soul oh "Think"
- John Lennon
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Ha, yep can imagine you might end up in the fetal position on the floor, ha.
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Another 3 items off the list and I think i am finished with all the rust repairs on the main body, only rust on doors to go.

Had a boot channel to fix, wasn't real happy with how this turned out as I couldn't get the mig in far enough to get a nice weld and then since the weld was a bit large couldn't grind it out nicely due to the lack of space to get a grinder in. But, it will do, must avoid rework.

ImageGAS1600_065_01 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_065_02 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_065_03 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_065_04 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_065_05 by Garvice, on Flickr

Minor holes behind the rear light.

ImageGAS1600_065_06 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_065_07 by Garvice, on Flickr

Rust hole above rear driver's side door

ImageGAS1600_065_08 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_065_09 by Garvice, on Flickr

Rear valence around exhaust. Need to get a smaller sander so i can file the weld. Also need to cut and weld a turndown on the exhaust outlet.

ImageGAS1600_065_10 by Garvice, on Flickr

And I fixed a dint in the rear quarter. Just realised while doing this post that you can't really see the fix in the photos. But it used to be a dint, now it's smooth.

ImageGAS1600_065_11 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_065_12 by Garvice, on Flickr

To keep me honest/motivated, here is the job list. Decided to cull the jobs that are now done from the list rather than underline.
Wiring
  • Headlight Wiring
    Turn Signals
    Brackets for Engine bay wiring
    Fuel Pump/Sensor
    Rear Lights/Demister
    Radiator Temp Switch
Rust Repairs/Metal Work/Fabrication
  • Drivers Door
    Passenger Door

    Dashboard strip down/fabrication
    Steering Column Mount
    Exhaust outlet
    Brake line mounts radiator support
    Heater Install
    Air intake/filter
Purchase
  • Heat shielding
    Windscreen seal
    Rear Window seal
    Door Seals
    Window Seals
    Boot Seal
    Bonnet Seal
    Seat belts
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Started on the dashboard, but taking longer than i expected.
Using foamex board for the majority of the shape as it was free, easy to work with and will give that new car smell as it degrades over time.

The top section will be wrapped in a thin foam and black vinyl, the gauge surround will be painted black and have a thin acrylic sheet over it.
Still haven't decided what I will stick in the empty space to the right of the gauges or how i'll fix up the glovebox section.

The centre console part i started with some 2mm thick aluminium sheet but it was affected by the heat of the grinder too much, so stepped it up to 8mm aluminium and milled it out. Will probably paint it black and have a few countersunk screws through the front of it to hold it in place. Lost a bunch of photos, so don't have one showing the mount of the air vents, but they attach to that same bracket that holds the radio and controls.

On with the photos.
ImageGAS1600_066_01 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_02 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_03 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_04 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_05 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_06 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_07 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_08 by Garvice, on Flickr

ImageGAS1600_066_09 by Garvice, on Flickr
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two_68_510s
Supporter
Posts: 3894
Joined: 18 Apr 2010 11:20
Location: Ben Lomond California

Re: GAS 1600

Post by two_68_510s »

Freaking cool! Nice to have a mill!
Joel

2 '68 510 2 door sedans
'95 240SX


“We will either find a way, or make one.” – Hannibal
greenthumb
Posts: 261
Joined: 19 May 2013 20:57
Location: Langley, BC

Re: GAS 1600

Post by greenthumb »

That's amazing work. Looks fantastic! Keep the updates coming
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Thanks guys. Mill definitely comes in handy, just need a lathe now for when I need to make round stuff.
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Byron510
Moderator
Posts: 12658
Joined: 01 Jul 2003 23:06
Location: Maple Ridge, BC

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Byron510 »

Just reread this whole page - interesting how projects go from simple beginnings to...well to this! That must have been fun wrapping up your whole thread over a 5 year period.

Great work on a custom dash,few step into custom territory on dashboards.

Way to stick with it, and for keeping us updated.

Byron
Love people and use things,
because the opposite never works.
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Wow, almost another year has passed. Nothing much new on the 1600. I did buy and install another steering column/box last week. The 200b one I had in it was a rag jointed type that I had replaced with a solid coupling. Unfortunately I never spent the time getting it all lined up right so it was binding when bolted up tight (probably just needed some spacers on the dash mount). So it was easier for me to chuck in a uni jointed one.

Also started a metal fabrication business this year so the datsun has once again been left behind. Looking more and more likely it'll end up being finished by one of my kids, ha.
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Wow, guess I didn't work on the datsun in 2018!
Don't worry, I'm not dead. I had planned on working on the datsun on the days where my metal work business didn't have jobs, but the first time I really got to work on it was last Friday afternoon and today. I decided to tackle one of the last rust repairs, the drivers door.

Had to build a new inner skin and outer skin for the bottom corner.

Image
GAS1600_067_ 01 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 02 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 03 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 04 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 05 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 06 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 07 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 08 by Garvice, on Flickr

Also found that the door had a dint that had been repaired with bog. Was a good 5 to 10mm thick, so I beat it back out and while I was at it, also welded up the mirror holes.

Image
GAS1600_067_ 09 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 10 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 11 by Garvice, on Flickr

Then came an interesting job. The bottom support for the window was badly rusted away and I couldn't find the channel profile easily. So I made it from flat sheet and replaced the rusted one. Unfortunately I forgot to take many progress shots, but it was only 2 folds, some chasing for adhesive pockets and 2 reverse folds. Still, I did feel a bit like the binky guys making this from scratch.

Image
GAS1600_067_ 12 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 13 by Garvice, on Flickr

Image
GAS1600_067_ 14 by Garvice, on Flickr
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James
Posts: 2135
Joined: 26 Nov 2007 19:58
Location: Laguna Beach, Ca

Re: GAS 1600

Post by James »

Wow - that's some cool work!
Finished is better than perfect......
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Cheers James
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Byron510
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Posts: 12658
Joined: 01 Jul 2003 23:06
Location: Maple Ridge, BC

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Byron510 »

It great to see some progress- thanks for the updates and glad to see you didn’t drop off the map on us.

Byron
Love people and use things,
because the opposite never works.
Garvice
Posts: 146
Joined: 01 Sep 2012 16:03
Location: Australia

Re: GAS 1600

Post by Garvice »

Just went to sleep for a while Byron ;-). A long while.
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