For those of you who don’t know, I have a 1969 Datsun Sports 2000, a.k.a. Datsun Roadster 2000.
I bought this car a few years ago and have been cruising around in it in the summers. I absolutely love driving this car and the best part is, my GF loves cruising along with me. We can spend literally hours on the backroads (go west and head south along the foothills!). The top down, blue sky, sun shining, open road and the hum of the 40 year old U20 engine; bliss!
Fast forward to last August and we have the famous (maybe not for this crowd) U20 Death Rattle. Basically, the timing chain is rattling around in the guides and is a clear (duh) indication to shut the car off immediately before the thing explodes and prepare yourself to spend more money than the car cost when you bought it. So here we are.
My goal is to get the car back on the road (engine broken in properly) by the May long weekend as I am heading to Vancouver to attend the All British Filed Meet (car show). I go for the trip along with my uncle who takes his 1970 Lotus Super 7 to this event every year (some of you may have seen the Lotus out at track events in the past). I park the Datsun in the parking lot while all the leaking British cars roll into the event. I secretly enjoy fending off disparaging remarks from the hoards of British car snobs.
People at this event love to say, “…well ya but they (Nissan) copied the MGB.” I then love to explain that the design of the Fairlady Roadster happened long before the design of the MGB was birthed. Then I get comments about how the various components were copied from British cars. I then admit that yes, some things were licensed by Nissan from British designs but then revel in telling the detractors that while the MGB is a nice car (I lie) my Datsun has 50 more HP and doesn’t leak or leave me stranded on the side of the road with electrical problems when it rains. …no comment comes back.
Okay to the point of the thread…
Here are a couple of pics when I picked the car up in Seattle a few years ago. The paint is a fairly poor garage job from the 80s. It is begging for a restoration but for now I will just be doing the engine.
Here is a shot that Ryan took last summer on Strathearn Drive after a club meet most of you didn’t attend 
You will see the crap aftermarket side mirror the previous owner bolted on…that has to go! You will also see after market driving lights up front. Those are there until I can do two things: find the grounding problem that keeps the driver’s side headlight from coming on and until I find period correct lights to replace them.
Here is the almost stripped engine. You can just catch a glimpse of my 69 510 in the background. Love that late 60s colour!
Here is the driver’s side of the engine with SU carburetors and shitty 4 into 1 header still bolted up.
Here is a pic of the bottom end (not too exciting).
And here are the Solexes that will go back on when the engine is done. (Muahhahahahah)
