New Zealand Datsun Club

I've just seen your diff build in progress, James is doing some excellent work there. I've also got an untested tool for removing the control arm bushes that should make it really easy but it's a bit late for that now.

Yeah that would have been handy. I'd be keen to try it though because if what I want to do works then Adam's arms will be next.

Well it's been a long time between updates, but Luke's got a WOF, ginge almost has a running FJ and Adam's even got his engine fitted so I realised I needed to do some more!

Just been so short of time lately, but I finally got around to wire brushing and wiping the dregs of the old underseal off. I found quite a few pinholes that expanded to larger holes when investigated.

This resulted in significant amounts of floor being removed and patched with the MIG. I also welded up a few small holes where the factory carpet was held down with self-tapping screws. Apparently this was just how they did it back then. No pics of this because I forgot.

Painted some more Hammerite on before dinner, only got this far before I had to leave it for the night. I'll try to finish the rest before the end of the week, I'm pretty keen to get Hamish out to fit the doors and spray the underseal. I kind of want my surge tank and fuel lines to fit up next, but I'm out of $$$ so might have to hope we get a bonus payment next month. I can't find any undercar surge tanks ready made so I'll probably have to make something, which means improving my alloy TIG skills.

Would you look at that then. Well done.

yes!!!! that hammerite is brilliant stuff!

Mean. Get at it! I should have used hammertoe instead of that black tacky tar shit all over the bottom of my car.

Mean. Get at it! I should have used hammertoe instead of that black tacky tar shit all over the bottom of my car.

Finished painting the underside a few weeks ago, just waiting on Hamish to come around and sort out one more area of rust that's a bit outside of my fabrication ability. I ended up having to weld up quite a few rust holes and holes from where self-tapping screws had been through the floor along the way.

While I wait I thought I'd attack one of my crossmembers in preparation for fitting the Datsport kit I've had sitting around for ages. Removing the ears isn't quite as awful as I expected it to be so far. By carefully slicing with a cutoff wheel on a grinder, slotting the vertical welds with a Dremel and some careful application of BFH I was able to get the first one off pretty quickly, and so far without using a grinding disc at all. I should only need it to clean up a few minor daggy bits if all goes to plan.

Pic of what I'm talking about.

From what i remember of setting Gregs cross-member up it was a bit of a pain in the arse.

Ive got a few idea's on improving my previous experience with setting it up and getting it tacked in place ect.

I think welding the new stuff on will be fun and easy compared to removing the ears and the rubber bushes. I must borrow an empty R200 casing from you some time too, just so that I can see where I need to "clearance" the crossmember to fit it before paint.