My dat rebuild

1962-1965 Datsun L320 and NL320 forums - The truck that started it all in the US. All 320-specific topics and discussion can be found here.
matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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I modified an old singer sewing machine to take industrial thread. (It was an old machine sitting in my dads shed. I had to do a bit of improvising with the motor to fit a pedal to it) Any way this has allowed me to try my own upholstery. I unpicked the vinyl cover and used it as a template. I had some pink/silver denam in the cupboard so I used it as a mock run. I'm happy with it so now to try some more fancy tricks.


matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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I ripped apart the instrument set to find the temp gauge was stuck and a lens was missing from the oil light. The ignition light lens had bleached and gone clear. I freed the temp gauge and bench tested it. Painted the needles white. I have drilled out the ign and oil lights holes and inserted leds with the legs cut off. I used heat shrink to create the tunnel for the light to pass through and now she's all peachy.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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I was missing the high beam light lens in this dash panel so I drilled out the hole to fit a nice blue lens in it that I got from d!ck smith.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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and the end result with everything working!

Pac. coast Datsun
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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You are a do it yourselfer gone crazy! Awesome work my friend.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Now that I looked at the picture again I've decided that speedo needle deffinately has to be painted white. I'm doing that tomorrow.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Installed new brake cylinders and flex hose on the rear today. Had to uncease the adjusters and give em a going over. No pics as I'm sure everyone is quite familiar with this scenario. It's my wifes B'day tomorrow so I dare so no work on cars for a while;)

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Got back into it today. I have installed the front brakes and master cylinder and partially bled the system (finish that when the wife has more time to help). I have  welded the sill section onto the backing plate and threw a bit of colour that I had left over in the  shed onto  a few parts.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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heater grill

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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I have bought some toggle switches and a relay to hook up the lights. I had to grind down the back of the alloy dash and drill out the holes to suit. I'll post pics later.
:D

71-521
Posts: 621
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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very nice job!
Love the color...
mine will be purple, pink and green...
unless I change my mind again

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Sounds like you have the same colour picking trouble I have. Total indecission. I think the pink will turn to purple, as it stands I'm moving in January to Sydney so I have put the pink on as a backup in case I don't get to the paint work before I need to register it. The clock has started!:shock:

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Just for the heck of it! This chassis is the beggining of my first L320. I still own it and it looks exactly as seen here.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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and the diff

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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This is a close up of the 120y engine set up.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Today I installed the rear g/box seal and installed the tail shaft. I finished off welding the left hand A post as I found a few more small pits. Put the left hand door back on and it's all looking good. :)

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Yesterday I made a start on the right hand sill section. The first thing is to weld in the rear cab mount for ease of getting it in place.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Next, get the sill section into alignment, hold it in place and put the door into place to check for clearances. I use jack for height, a rope slung around the floor of the cabin to pull the sill back plate against the floor, and a G clamp to hold the A and B posts. Then do the welding!

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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The B post has a bit of rust in it that I will cut out and replace.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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The rear of the sill needs to be shaped. Simply use a band of steel and curve it freehand to fit.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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For the front of the sill I use one piece of steel and shape it to fit all the way up to the first bolt hole.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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The inside of the A post will be cut out. The floor pan will be welded in. Then the inside of the A post will be made and welded in to suit.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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More rust work to do on the inside of the pillar. So looking at all the rust in the pillar it looks like a complete remake of this section. Fun times ahead.:?

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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A look at the left hand side.

71-521
Posts: 621
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Nice work! The only one else I know that can do that type of work is Mklotz...
I imagine Mike is dreaming of what he will be doing with his NL320...he's a great Fab guy as well.:D
Keep up the great posts!

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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I saw some of mklotz posts. He's a whip! I make do with what I've got and sometimes it works other times it's crap. Any way an insight to how I do things. Today I was looking after my  two infants by myself so it was go for broke while I had the chance. This is how I start a panel piece. I just trace out the shape directly from the car to the steel.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Then I select my weapon. For smaller pieces I chose the 4" grinder. (This is not the easy way, It's the bush mechanic way) I then cut out close to the line. Then I hold it against the car and make any minor adjustments, like bends and more grinding in certain areas to make the shape as close to original as possible.

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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And so the tradition carries on!

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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Bring out the mig!

matti
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 5:00 pm

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And that's one part done.


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