October Update
Things are progressing on Project Unicorn-- the rebuilt U20 and 5-speed transmission is back in the shop, and it did not take long to get that stuffed back in the frame:
With that out of the way, now I could focus on getting all the details sorted out that need to be done before we mount the body back onto the frame.
The stock brake lines were all cleaned out (inside and out) and a few had some nasty surprises from sitting so long:
Clean, flush, clean, flush, repeat until there is nothing but clear brake clean coming out the other end-- and then they were ready for re-plating. While the hard lines were out, I installed the NOS master cylinders, and other firewall brackets, etc. that would be a PITA with the engine installed.
Back from the plater-- the lines were carefully adjusted and reinstalled:
I cleaned up the original rubber cap for the clutch master cylinder, and with a minor mod to the reservoir, it slipped right on:
The rest of the brake and fuel lines were installed on the frame:
The original heater unit had seen better days, so it needed a full restoration as well:
While the heater case was being sandblasted and powder coated, I installed one of Datsunparts firewall padding kits:
A rebuilt heater core was installed:
Datsunparts also makes a nice foam rebuild kit for the doors for the heater:
Completed heater core assembly-- I even transferred over the original sticker as details make the difference:
And installed in the car:
Exhaust
When we got this car, it had an aftermarket header on it-- Tony had explained that he had cracked several of the OEM manifolds when the car was new, but of course, that header now needed to be replaced as well. Not satisfied with any of the current aftermarket offerings, this stainless steel header was sourced out of Japan, and it a beautiful piece:
Nice thick header flange and tidy TIG welds:
On the car, it fits around the starter and clears the frame nicely:
With the thicker flange of the header, I will be replacing some of the exhaust studs and modifying the yoke washers to put a step in so everything clamps down correctly-- had to dig deep in my collection of OEM studs and yoke washers-- and still had to order more.
I just received one of JT's beautiful stainless exhausts, so now we just need to build the header flange to exhaust flex pipe and the major mechanical parts will be done so we can put the body back onto the frame, and that will be a great step forward.
More soon!
Michael