Jason, where are you located?
Mike Faggart
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jason Simpson" <jason@xio.com>
To: <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 8:45 PM
Subject: Another newbie mechanic (and owner)
> On Sun, 22 Oct 2000, Amy & Erik wrote:
>
> I just bought one of the cars I've been dreaming of owning for four
or
> five years now: A 1970 Datsun 1600.
>
> I'm interested in doing three things, basically in this order:
> * Getting it running and driving nicely. (Soon)
> * Collecting all the bits and pieces that are missing. (A year or
two)
> * Correcting some of the previous owners' mistakes and restoring
it as
> much and as well as a complete amateur can. (Three years from
now?)
>
> The immediate previous owner only had the car for about two months,
but in
> that time he fiddled with the carbs a bunch trying to get it running
well,
> while overlooking the fact that the forward-most manifold bolt was
> completely missing and the next one back was stripped. It also
received a
> quick, very cheap paint job.
>
> Some major items that are missing include: latches for the hardtop,
> windshield frame catches for either top, rear bumper, some badges,
and the
> grille.
>
> I'm an extreme novice at this car maintenance and repair thing, not
much
> of a mechanic at all, but I'd like to do a lot of the non-bodywork
type
> stuff myself.
>
> I'm hoping I can come to you all with problems that I need help,
advice,
> or pointers on while staying true to my goals above.
>
> One of my first problems involves a coolant leak around the
temperature
> sender unit. Probably I just need to get a new one. Is this kind of
part
> generally available at your local Schucks/Checker/whatever auto
parts
> store for these cars?
>
> Also, my tachometer isn't working. I've unscrewed the cable from the
back
> of the gauge, and it doesn't spin while the engine is running. The
other
> end of the cable appears to be attached below the distributor. I uns
crewed
> it there and that end looked okay -- the tab on the rod at the end
of the
> cable fits into the slot along the shaft. Is running the engine with
this
> end of the cable unscrewed to see if that part actually turns okay
to do,
> or will it start pumping out oil?
>
> And finally, I have no garage to work in, just an uncovered driveway
and
> my wife doesn't really want me to get a canopy cover 'cause she
thinks
> they're ugly. Any advice? Should I get a canopy anyway?
>
> Any other tips for a very green 1600 owner would also be
appreciated.
>
> Thanks a bunch in advance for your time and patience,
> -jrs, pretty much a complete neophyte
>
> --
> No user serviceable parts inside.
>
>
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