Datsun Roadster: 2020 Challenge Build

The pile gets larger:

The body gets lighter (and floppier):

And we get closer:

395 hours.

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Are you approaching the point where it makes more sense to cut off everything that isn't yellow?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

Are you approaching the point where it makes more sense to cut off everything that isn't yellow?

Not quite, but I did think about it. I still have the dream of making this so the body can tilt up and off into a 'service position'. Like a funny car, but backwards. For that, the body should retain some of it's own strength. And actually with welding the doors in and leaving lots of the rockers, and inner front fenders, it should have strength front to back. But I've had to cut out much of the bulkheads, so its the side to side I'm slightly worried about. Might have to build something back in that way. 

In reply to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ :
Why stop there?

Weld the doors shut and cut it to the grill opening!

jr02518 said:

Are you welding the doors shut?

I'm planning to, but from the inside. There is a nice 'lip' inside the door where I think I can bend it toward the door a bit with the hammer and then it will be a perfect place to weld the doors shut. We will see when I get there. 

If you add some material into the cocpit opening ala a tonneau and utilize the empty space to add diagonals to "brace the box" if you know what I mean. 

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

jr02518 said:

Are you welding the doors shut?

I'm planning to, but from the inside. There is a nice 'lip' inside the door where I think I can bend it toward the door a bit with the hammer and then it will be a perfect place to weld the doors shut. We will see when I get there. 

This actually worked pretty well I think!

Also, lots happening today but here's a teaser:

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

This is like the Challenge equivalent of a Reese's peanut butter cup. 

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

That looks great.  How about a sideish view showing the cockpit.

Awesome, awesome. 

Looks like your hands will be under the cowl? Have you sat in it with the body lowered down yet?

What is it like wearing a Datsun as a trenchcoat?

Move the rear edge of the bonnet forward enough to retain some cowl. Keep the bonnet hinged for service access. Install a vertical upper bulkhead below the vestigal cowl for structure/ mounting points

Do you have the weight of the body?  Front / Rear weight differential?

Can you build a front splitter/ end plates, to work with the blunt front end?

A/M gives you lots of wing room!

Looks like you have decent enough engine access to pull it out the top, not to mention, need to move the cowl opening forward to get in/out. I say weld it to the frame and cut the structure out of the shell. K.I.S.S.

Of course, it's always easy to armchair quarterback. It does look fantastic.

Cut the cowl to the back edge of the hood?

Here's the other half of the square tube I used to make the chain guard.

Ahhh. Nice. Between this and the welded doors, the body got a lot more solid.

Now, to start mounting the body to the frame. Carefully mark.

Cut and prep.

Weld.

Find some scrap, this black pipe had nearly perfect OD to fit in the other tube. 

Prepare your hinge.

Drill holes and weld and weld in bolts.

Bolt in, using large washers and what I'm pretty sure are original lug nuts!

Hinge works great. Service position unlocked.

More was done today, in the next post, I'll detail the rest.

That's berkeleying cool.  

Robbie (Forum Supporter) said:

Hinge works great. Service position unlocked.

Black pipe hinges! Just like my clutch linkage on the car UTDMV won't let me drive. Service position is rad. Keep it up. 

This things is soo cool! You are killing it.

Took a few minute break between front and rear mounts to measure and cut the trunk lid. And test fit the wing.

​​​​​​

Now I was onto the rear mounts. Not nearly as easy as the fronts. Lots of air, no easy solution.

Grabbed my cardboard angle, and a chunk of scrap angle.

Got to work. The square tube is bolted on for now, and there is lots of factory bracing below it. I think it was a seatbelt mount. I'll probably weld it in when final. Mocked.

Welded.

Done (ish?)

I'll still have to drill some holes I guess. And I will add some triangulation to this one.

But for now, a couple more angles to answer some of the questions. 407 hours.

SO awesome!

Cool. THAT looks lik a Datsun!

I am surprised to see the steering wheel behind the cowl. All the other photos made it appear to be 6" or more forward of that. This negates my previous post!