72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

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Rush
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by Rush »

Thanks! It feels a tad squirrely but it's been SO windy here I might just be being blown all over the road. I'll know for sure on a calm day.
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Rush
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by Rush »

I have spent the summer enjoying my car so much but I have a pretty serious rear crank seal leak so he's been parked in the garage for the last few weeks. However, it was SO nice out yesterday, I decided to take him for one last drive before taking him apart for the repair. I sat in the driver's seat, looked over, and saw this! a ¢50 piece size hole in the headliner that I made!
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Damn mice! I NEVER have mice in my garage & now this! I'm just devastated! I almost cried. Not only do I have to remake the headliner, but we all know what's entailed with installing one; front & back glass removal.

I just can't face doing it yet so I'm going to patch it for now, but I will have to remake and install it at some point soon. Maybe once my broken heart heals. Ugh.

I immediately made one of my most effective mouse traps and caught what I think are the culprits right away. I'm now on a mission to eliminate any rodent that dares go near my garage! I'm taking out their entire family and any associates, mafia-style, I don't care! Jerks.
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bertvorgon
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by bertvorgon »

So sorry that happened!!!!

I know the feeling of heart break, I felt that the few years ago in the spring when the motor head gasket, fuel line, clutch died, at the same time, getting ready for spring drive. Just NOT ready to deal with that level of work and frustration.

Your mouse trap is exactly what I have used, especially in our hunting camps. One night...in a log cabin we stayed in, all night was..PLONK..PLONK...PLONK..as the little buggers hit the water.

Take care back there, our winter storms and gray days already, are not helping my SAD's. Like you I want to have driven the car one more time before the salt hits the road, it was 42F on my porch this morning, so salt and brining are not far away.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
510rob
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by 510rob »

Arrrrgh! Damn nuisance rodents. That sucks.

I look forward to seeing what creative solution you'll come up with for the patch.
bradicuss
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by bradicuss »

So sorry. That just sux. I suppose they could've chewed on the wiring so maybe lucky it's just cosmetic? (though the worst as far as a fix goes) i I happen to have an embroidered Datsun 510 patch that would probably just about cover that......
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Rush
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by Rush »

Thanks, guys. I have some VLP coming today (not available locally, as usual). I have an idea in my head of how I will patch it.

I have to start by hand reinforcing the stitching in the headliner seam from the back side so it doesn't separate further, then I'll take a scrap of the same vinyl and sew 2 pieces together using the same stitch length I used for the headliner so I have a matching seam. I'll cut a clean circle out of the headliner to get rid of all the 'fuzzies' around the hole and cut the same shape from the seamed patch. I'll glue a fabric backing behind the headliner & hole, then I'll glue the patch onto the backer in the hole. Once that's cured, I'll use leather filler to fill the joint between the patch & headliner and finally, I may have to color match the filler. It's not going to be fun, I'm sure, but I think I'll do a video of the process and if it turns out well, I'll put it on Youtube & link to it here.
RONSLYCHUK
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by RONSLYCHUK »

That’s a bummer Rush. I am sure that with your skills you can fix it. For some reason I can’t see your pics but I am assuming that you used the 5 gallon pail ,a piece of coat hanger and a pop can smeared with peanut butter. I have used that before and it works great!
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Rush
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by Rush »

Thanks, Ron! You're exactly right, that's the contraption! I haven't had any more customers in the pail after the first night so hopefully, I got the culprits! I'm going to leave it in place, though, just in case!
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by RONSLYCHUK »

Yep, imho the best mousetrap.
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icehouse
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by icehouse »

I hate to bring more bad news to the headliner topic but back when me and Frank used to do ton's of 510 revivals we found that if you found mice had been in the car at all the lived in the headliner and shit up there. We found that if you tap up on the headliner you can hear the poop bouncing around on top of the headliner. If this is the case every time it's hot the car will stink :( I once pulled the welting off the door jams and quarter windows and pulled the headliner down to peak in and see how bad the damage was. Maybe since it was only a few weeks you can getaway with a good cleaning. Maybe get one of those cheap inspection cameras off amazon for 20 bucks and see if there is a nest up there.
"People don't like it when shit doesn't match their rule of thumb." Sam
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Rush
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by Rush »

That's a great point! I did exactly as you said and thank goodness there was no debris other than what was by the hole. It seems like it got in there & couldn't get out so it chewed through. I sure hope that's the case, anyway!

I did my interim repair today. It's alright and will 'do' until I can make the whole headliner. Here's a video; it's kinda long because I showed how I did the repair in case someone else has the same bad luck I did.
https://youtu.be/6Ox_7smRSLk
510rob
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by 510rob »

Impressive techniques and execution, as usual. Good stuff!
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Rush
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by Rush »

Thanks, Rob! I appreciate that!
RONSLYCHUK
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by RONSLYCHUK »

I knew you could do it Rush. Brilliant!
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Rush
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Re: 72 2 Door 510 Restoration-25 years in the making

Post by Rush »

Thanks! 😊
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