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Penny: Two to make one '69 SRL-311, in Durango CO

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 5:43 pm
by tig
Hello there.

I'm DIY car enthusiast who lives in Bellevue, WA. Previously I was into Toyota FJ40s (see http://www.uglina.com) and am currently obsessed with late 80s BMW 5-series (E28) (see http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=115049 for one of my builds). I also am a bit of an old-skool Porsche 911 fanatic, owning a 1988 Carrera since 1997 that currently has just over 40k miles on it <big, sh*t-eating grin>.

Some of my previous and current rides:
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I do almost all the work on my cars myself. I still have no idea what I'm doing, but so far I haven't died or killed anyone with my project so I must be doing ok. Paint and bodywork is still outside my realm, but I've rebuilt engines, installed suspensions, rebuilt diffs, programmed ECUs, and even pulled some leather over seats. I'm motivated mostly by the challenge of learning to master some new skill. I love an excuse to acquire new tools. I recently taught myself to weld (badly).

My current big project is a 1985 BMW 528i that I'm putting a 2006 M3 (S54) motor into. It should be done in 2018 (or 2021 given how slowly things are moving and how busy I am at work). I plan for it to be my last BMW project for a while.

For many years I've maintained a short list of other cars I will own and work on someday. That list is about 150 cars long. At the top is a Datsun Roadster...even though I've never actually driven one. I can't really say why I've always loved them, but I have. I committed a few years back that once I ran out of BMW projects, my next car would be a Roadster.

As chance would have it, last year an E28 friend gave me a terrifc deal on somewhere between 1 and 3 311s. Long story. There are 3 titles with 3 VINs, but two chassis. Both 2000s; one a 68 an one a 69. One is apparently silver and a basket case. The other is white and in some form of disassembly. Or that might be backwards. I've never seen pictures because he's not visited his storage place in 10+ years. The project started and stalled in 1990 and the cars have been sitting in storage since. In Pennsylvania. I need to figure out how to get them out here and where to store them while I complete my current project. But it sounds like an ideal insanity-driven project for me.

I love the communities around cars, and have made a lot of good friends over the years both via the Toyota folks and E28 folks. I figure you Datsun folks are probably nice too.

I love the online aspect, but also the in-person aspect. This year I attended E28 events in Seattle, San Diego, and Portland.

Fair warning: My build threads tend to be epic-length, with pictures of EVERYTHING. I love pictures. Also, fair warning: Threads without pictures bore me. I love pictures. See the my "Vlad" thread linked above as an example, or this one for my FJ40: https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/uglina ... ead.79672/. I love pictures. Oh, and I have a massive disdain for Photobucket. I warned people in 2013 that Photobucket was going to screw people, and, sadly, as I lurk around here I see many a thread with those damn placeholder images preventing me from seeing the good stuff. Pisses me off. Anyone who uses Photobucket should be thrown into the Sun. Also, also, fair warning: I might be a little opinionated.

I wasn't going to post an introduction thread here until I actually had the cars in my possession. But then I realized I may be missing out on an opportunity to learn more by connecting with the community. So my first question is: Can anyone clue me into any local (Seattle-ish) events up-coming where I can potentially just chat with other Datsun owners? I have so much to learn and reading online forums only goes so far... Yes, I realize I just missed the Mt. Shasta event. Rats.

Cheers!

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 7:42 pm
by notoptoy
You sound like you could be a good fit with this group of enthusiasts. Welcome! Plenty of Seattle area owners to help keep you entertained!
My brother has a '78 FJ40, so digging your thread there too.

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 11:43 pm
by datseen
tig wrote:Hello there.

I'm DIY car enthusiast who lives in Bellevue, WA. Previously I was into Toyota FJ40s (see http://www.uglina.com) and am currently obsessed with late 80s BMW 5-series (E28) (see http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=115049 for one of my builds). I also am a bit of an old-skool Porsche 911 fanatic, owning a 1988 Carrera since 1997 that currently has just over 40k miles on it <big, sh*t-eating grin>.
the FJ and Porsche :shock: very nice. You are going to love the roadster.

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 11:48 am
by Gregs672000
Welcome! The local group around here is DROPS, or Datsun Roadsters of Puget Sound I believe. I'm sure that Ted will be contacting you shortly. There are upcoming meets in northern Oregon in 2 weeks (Shedd BBQ) and you will meet a great bunch of very welcoming people from all over the place and Canada. Unfortunately I have a previous commitment so I won't be there. There is also an all Nissan meet in Canada shortly thereafter.

I would be happy to share information with you. My wife has a 2001 Z3, and my daughters car is a well worn '95 325i convertable... very worn and probably needs to go if you know someone who may be interested!

Thus is a great group of people here, like a family. We're here to help!

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 12:52 pm
by GeoffM
Welcome!

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2017 11:10 pm
by tig
notoptoy wrote:You sound like you could be a good fit with this group of enthusiasts. Welcome! Plenty of Seattle area owners to help keep you entertained!
My brother has a '78 FJ40, so digging your thread there too.
I so very much regret selling that rig.

Noticed your C43 AMG in your sig. Previously I owned this (2010 C63 AMG P21). Amazing car. I used to leave the door open when starting it just to hear the bark.
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datseen wrote:the FJ and Porsche :shock: very nice. You are going to love the roadster.
Thanks. And thanks for datseen.com! Made my day better.
Gregs672000 wrote:Welcome! The local group around here is DROPS, or Datsun Roadsters of Puget Sound I believe. I'm sure that Ted will be contacting you shortly. There are upcoming meets in northern Oregon in 2 weeks (Shedd BBQ) and you will meet a great bunch of very welcoming people from all over the place and Canada. Unfortunately I have a previous commitment so I won't be there. There is also an all Nissan meet in Canada shortly thereafter.

I would be happy to share information with you. My wife has a 2001 Z3, and my daughters car is a well worn '95 325i convertable... very worn and probably needs to go if you know someone who may be interested!

Thus is a great group of people here, like a family. We're here to help!
Looking forward to hearing more about the upcoming meets. And I really appreciate the offer to help.

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 8:15 pm
by pebbles
Blue Lake, next week. 1.5hr drive in the Porsche.
http://www.bleachgarage.com/events.html

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:28 pm
by zippy67roadster
You will fit in just fine here!!!

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 11:12 pm
by Linda
That is funny that you mentioned having a short list of cars you want to work on, then state that the list is 150 cars long. :shock: Ambitious!
Linda

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 10:51 pm
by tig
pebbles wrote:Blue Lake, next week. 1.5hr drive in the Porsche.
http://www.bleachgarage.com/events.html
Rats. Have a wedding to go to Saturday. If I went, I'd take the reverse of this route I took back from www.5erwest.com a few weeks ago:

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https://goo.gl/maps/4jrY4q8Vgto

Amazing drive. Will absolutely do again. A few rough spots where the road was bad that might bust an oil pan if you're not careful, but ~30 of the best mountain turns I've ever taken.

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 10:52 pm
by tig
Linda wrote:That is funny that you mentioned having a short list of cars you want to work on, then state that the list is 150 cars long. :shock: Ambitious!
Linda
Tee-hee.

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 10:51 pm
by tig
I now actually possess a Roadster!

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Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 11:43 pm
by pebbles
another frankencar :smt011 1500 vent wings, 69 front fenders, whats up with the Renault wheels? or are those alfa? :smt064
It doesnt matter tho, you have one!!

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:28 am
by Alvin
welcome!
LOVE the S54 engine it is a gem...and goes with just about all the older BMWs. You are in the right place to find a roadster!

Re: Getting Started in Bellevue

Posted: Fri Aug 11, 2017 11:24 am
by MicVelo
I joined 311S.org only recently as well because my long search for a roadster was finally getting hot enough and I needed to "go learn things". This forum is so unlike many of the other forums out there (including the one I co-moderate, laff) in that the folks here are always willing to actually HELP OUT with none of the usual snarky, condescending, and judgemental comments I see elsewhere.

I used to be into many of the same cars you are - at least the Bimmers and Benzes. I've managed to whittle down the fleet some....
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And one more will be shipped off soon.

Only included that since you said you like pictures! :lol:

Welcome!