Bringing a 1967 Datsun 1600 Roadster back to life in Upstate, SC

[Mac11]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post and introduction. My dad and I bought this 1967 Datsun 1600 Roadster in the early 90s in South Carolina. We drove it off and on up until maybe 1998. It has been rolled around and parked in a garage since that time. The license plate tells the tale. The car, then, was drivable but had issues. Here are some of the things that I remember about it as a driver:

1. I remember using the E-brake to augment the regular brakes, as they had very poor performance.
2. Second gear would grind every time, no matter what you did.
3. The occupants would be enveloped in white smoke at every stoplight/stop sign.
4. None of the original gauges operated on the dash.

I’m not sure of any history on the car before we got it. Using the resources, it looks like the car is a 1967, but the engine (possibly transmission) is from a 1965 1600. My original thoughts after learning this, were to go for the SR20 swap. However, in the last few days I am thinking that I need to get it running and drivable now, while figuring out what my long term goals and desires are for the car at a later date. My goal is to have it drivable and safe for the road by spring/summer next year. I am not a mechanic, so I have a close family friend that has agreed to help me. I am attaching photos, to assist in ascertaining/validating exactly what I have.

Several very nice folks have already provided some very helpful info and pointed me to this forum, specifically. Hopefully, I’ll be able to ask some pertinent questions after I get it moved and the project started. I guess we need to see exactly what we are dealing with first. Looking forward to having fun and learning!

Thanks
Sandy

[S Allen]

Welcome. We are here to help and encourage if needed. Look forward to watching your progress.

S

[Alvin]

Welcome Sandy, glad you made it here!

[notoptoy]

Great looking project, all the pieces seem to be there. It's a good starting platform. I agree with getting it driving and then deciding on a swap or further course of action. At least one gauge has been changed, and the mirror is not original. They painted the grill. How about some under the hood shots? Make sure to place this in the Roadster Registry as well!
app.php/page-registry

[spl310]

Nice early car to start with! Jason Rector is in Columbia SC - you should get in touch with him.

[Mac11]

Thanks for the welcome, everyone! I’m excited, but a little nervous about what I’m going to find...and how it will probably “snowball” into something more as it goes. “Well, I might as well do this....and while that’s apart, it would be crazy not to upgrade that..” I noticed that grill, and think it needs to return to chrome/silver. I do like the interior appointments on this car. Thanks for the additional info on the car and for the contact. I’ll look up Jason, as he’s not far from where we are located (in my terms, anyway). I’ll try to get a shot of the engine bay and serial tag, and then I can get it on the registry. Thanks again!

[Mac11]

Here are some shots of the engine bay, and the serial numbers for the block and body. The block looks like R-01259, which doesn’t match the car. I think I remember this being a 1965 engine.

[Fairlady5150]

As mentioned above I live near Columbia. I sent you a private email with my contact information. Glad to help if you need it.