Guy,
The Datsun (or Nissan for you in the UK) that you need is a 210.
There are only three years that work '79, '80, and '81. However, the
'79 is not quite as desirable for two reasons. First, reverse is
located up and to the LEFT - which is where first gear on the Sprite
was. Second, the '79 tranny is about 1 1/2 inches longer than the
other two years which causes some difficulty.
Finding the right car can be a little confusing. The car you want is
a model 210 (or 210SL depending on trim level). However, the title
to the car may or may not say 210 - it may say 310! Apparently,
Datsun's were titled by chassis number, not model number back then -
but not always.
BE WARE!!! Datsun made a car with the model number 310. I'm pretty
sure that this won't work. A call to Bill Perry at Rivergate
Restoration (the guy who sells the conversion kit) will verify this.
For example, I found an '80 Datsun 210SL wagaon which was titled as a
310. This car had the correct tranny.
Finally, if you have old literature from Rivergate, they tell you
that you need to keep the Datsun driveshaft. This was because the
Sprite drive shaft was press fitted onto the Datsun yoke. This is no
longer true as Bill makes this entire part. He was having problems
with customers sending him damaged and ultimately unusable Datsun
yokes.
No cutting of the Sprite body is necessary. However, there is some
question as to whether or not the metal gear shift lever cover is
going to fit. Hey guys, did you get this cover to fit?
I hope this helps and if any of it is incorrect, you can be sure the
the List will let us know about it.
Good luck, it's great when it's installed.
Paul
> From: "Guy" <Guy@weller-lakes.freeserve.co.uk>
> To: "Spridgets" <spridgets@triumph.cs.utah.edu>
> Subject: UK Datsun 5 speed ?
> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 1999 21:16:31 -0000
> Reply-to: "Guy" <Guy@weller-lakes.freeserve.co.uk>
> Having put the overdrive gearbox into my 1500 Midget, and been so impressed
> with the improvment for everyday driving, I am begining to think about how
> to deal with my '71 Sprite which I have been rebuilding for the last 9 years
> !
> Yep, its nearly ready, and being what I expect to be the nicer of the two
> models I am really looking forward to driving it.
> Now. about 5 speed 'boxes, over here in the UK the commonest conversion
> seems to be to use a Toyota box, but this requires quite a bit of chopping
> of the frame and tranny tunnel. Others have use a Ford (sierra) box which
> also needs modifications to the metalwork.
> As I understand it the Datsun conversion that is so popular in the USA is
> pretty straightforward and dosn't need bodywork mods. Is that right ?
> Datsuns were sold in the UK as Nissans, and I am trying to find out which
> was / is the UK model name / number of the version that you go for in the
> States? Was it sold in the UK? What year are we talking about? We had a
> thing called a Nissan Sunny, but I don't know if it was 5 spd. Havn't seen
> one for ages.
> Then there was a Nissan Prairie, a sort of small proto-MPV (Van?)
> Any ideas ?
>
> Guy
>
>
--------------------------------------------------------------
Paul A. Dolloff, Ph.D.
East Kentucky Power Cooperative
P. O. Box 707
Winchester, KY 40392-0707
606/744-4812 OFFICE
606/744-6008 FAX
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