WhangareiKE70

I would like to say something has happened with this. But basically it hasn't. I'm still very much looking for an auto for this, may have to look at getting the old one reconditioned, have one last place to hit up so will do that tomorrow afternoon. Other than that, I have finished the sound install, and will put the seats back in etc soon. I will be potentially heading to Auckland on Saturday, so might hit up pick-a-part while down there.

I think the title pretty much spells out my idea (not sure if it's a good one yet that's why I am making this thread). Only piece to add is that it will be going in a Datsun 720 4wd, and I am already committed to the idea of a VG30DE at least. However I have a few questions on this one: 1) Where/who would be able to make up a manifold for this? 2) If I were to perform a body lift on my 720 ute, would I get more space to mount it under the bonnet? (seems like a very simple/dahuuur question, and it is, but I have a tendency to miss the obvious things). 3) Another dumb question, will the VG30DETT (minus the turbos) work better than the VG30DE? As it probably has a lower compression ratio and is already made for boost? 4) Can anyone recommend a suitable supercharger? Not looking for super boost, just increase in low down torque for towing, as well as obvious wank factor. Also any other thoughts on this, let me know. It seems like a good idea to me as opposed to turbocharging due to the instantaneous torque of a supercharger vs. a turbo(s), as well as space in the 720's engine bay. Thoughts/answers?

As well as all the rest, I am looking at putting in a 2" lift kit when I do the engine (only want to pay for cert once). Do I have to worry about crush tubes, or just crush rating? Also do I just measure the width of the mounts and chassis rails to determine the diameter of blocks I want? I need 16 all up as well as bolts, washers and nuts, so if you know what ones are good or have hook ups let me know. Will probably not be seriously looking to buy for a little while yet as isn't an immediate priority.

Good news! (for once) After extensive searching in NZ, trying to find a good front bumper, I had gotten nowhere. However recently I saw an add on Trademe for some mint 720 doors. I don't need these as mine are good, but I decided to ask a question on the auction to try and see if they had any other bits, especially seeing as the guy was local, and every other 720 wreck was down South. Long story short... THEY DID. When I asked the question on Trademe I specifically asked if he had a good front bumper. He replied saying yes, he did, so I gave him a ring and organised to go and see him on Friday. He was only about 10 minutes drive away. BONUS! Turns out the guy had basically two 720s he is wrecking, one that was mostly stripped and one that was sitting rusting in the paddock. The bumper is mint apart from some moss growing on it, and comes with the irons. He also had some nice sun visors, that I desperately need as I only have a passenger side one, which is mounted backwards on the drivers side, as it is needed for a WOF. However the best part of it all is that the 720 sitting in the paddock is off to the scrap heap soon, and because of that he said I can bring my own tools and take whatever I want off it for the measly sum of TWENTY DOLLARS. So I am going to go and grab all the stuff off that I can. This also means I can take cuts out of the tray to use as patches for mine as the sides are rooted but the deck is all good. TL:DR, FRIDAY WAS A GOOD DAY. Stupid me didn't take cash cause I was only going for a geez, so I am going back some time this week for a bunch of bits, and then going to go out some time in the school holidays when I am not working to strip down the wreck. Will get pics then of everything. Anyway, all this got me motivated to start on the tray rust in prep for patches. Started on the worst bit, between the arch and cab on the drivers side. Luckily most of this is a single piece of folded steel, so I drilled the spots out, CHUR TO VG FOR THE HOOK UP ON THE SPOT WELD DRILL. Works mint. Then basically just popped off, most of the spots along the other sides had rusted out. Remaining hole: So this rust will be getting fixed aswell, but maybe not quite yet, as it's quite hard to get at, will probably wait until I take the tray off, so will need to get the Bluebird going first. Also took the rust out of a little bit at the rear, cleaned, converted, sanded, bogged, sanded, primed. Looks like this now: Pretty good, not too shabby. Also, will have this on my way too me in the next week: Thanks to DJZ for coordinating that effort, it's in CHCH at the moment. VG30DE in need of a rebuild, will be going in at some point in the future, probably after the painting is done. Comes with loom and computer, not sure if I will try for factory comp or aftermarket yet, but will be handy. So that's the progress I made this weekend, pretty proud of myself. Discussion/comments here: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=30255 Chur.

Yeah a RWD box is the go, the 4WD 720 has a divorced transfer case so will just need to get a custom d/shaft made to mate it up to the transfer case. I tried searching all those gearbox numbers that you gave DJZ, couldn't find much locally. Will keep looking though.

Hi guys, Putting a VG30DE in my 720 ute (not currently but in near future). Looking at manual gearbox options, not sure on a few things. Obviously a manual g/box from a VG30DE or VG30DETT will bolt straight up. What about a VG30DET manual? Also any idea on other g/boxes? Is there a 5 speed from a VG30E or something that would suit? Not really sure on this. I saw here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=32526&p=804817&hilit=vg30de#p804817, that he was planing on using a T5 from behind a Z31's VG30ET? Is this another option or do things need to be customised for this to work? Any help/suggestions would be great. Cheers.

Brown Hillman wagon belongs to my mate. Could be keen depending on time and date.

So at the moment I'm dealing with a lot of rust. OLDSCHOOLLIFE. Going to buy one of those cheap air cut off tools too get in the tricky bits. Does anyone know any engineering shops/panelbeaters in Whangarei that won't charge moon beams to fold up a few patches?

Well there ya go. You learn something every day.

So I found more rust, seems to be a theme of this ute/OS cars in general/my life. This time was in the tray. Yesterday I pulled the rubber mats, that the previous owner had glued to the tray, off. I did this because after thinking about it I realised they were probably trapping water under them. I was right. Here is what it looked like once I pulled the rubber mats off. Innocent enough... Until I started to poke around. This is just behind the LH rear wheel arch. Goes through the floor, as well as the side of the bed, and the seam is there too, so three pieces of metal total. This is in front of the RH rear wheel arch, the previous owner had pop riveted a piece of metal over it to hide it from the warrant man, and then stuck down the mats. The second pic shows (as best as I could) that it goes down and is quite bad. On a positive note, I have basically started to strip it down as much as possible while still keeping it legal. Lots of little holes to fill in from where badges came off and such. Been removing all trace of the word Nissan. Removed from the guards, And from the front grill, Not sure whether to remove the 4x4 badge as well or leave it be. Will also be removing the stamp from the rear tailgate as I will be folding up/getting folded up a bit of steel to replace the rusted out one on there at the moment. Took the mirrors off too. Will probably go with guard mirrors in the end. THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

Your old lady sounds cool. I heart it when parents do skids. Haha

this confirms my old ladys comment.... she had one of these when i was 14, she kept saying it was a turbo etc.. it was a bloody quick car...and rwd,cos she used to do skids on the drive all the time...she also had a sapporo,haha The U11 never came RWD, in fact no Nissan Bluebirds ever did, just the Datsun ones. From the U12 up I think they were offered in 4wd so I guess it could have been converted? Unless of course it was a Datsun Bluebird.

Now we wouldn't want that now would we. All good man. If all goes well I might be able to afford to take the auto to the place in town for a diagnosis come Wednesday (payday). But things never go well when it comes to money do they.

So today, the ute was running hot on the way to my parents. Found out that the waterpump is leaking. Also, mine is the model with the stupid viscous fan, so the water pump is going to be expensive. Cry. Will be finding out exactly how much tomorrow. On a positive note, this turned up yesterday, YAY! Now I can get stuck into some rust work. Will see if the weather plays ball tomorrow. That is all.

Really? Want to do me a favour and hit them up about it? Also, wish we had Pick-A-Part in Whangarei, but it would probably just turn into Steal-A-Part. Any one in TGA want to go get me an auto if I pay them to remove it?

Progress. Got the auto out last weekend. Just waiting on funds now and I will be sending it to the auto specialists in town for diagnosis. That is unless I can find another spare auto out of one of these somewhere, but I'm not having luck at the moment. Other than that, will be doing some engine diagnosis Friday with Dad to see what state of health the engine is in. Hopefully spending all Friday on it too, so could potentially have the stereo all done and interior back together as well, which would be primo. Just got to get some speaker spacers and mount them to the rear parcel tray which I can suss tomorrow arvo. IF SOMEONE COULD JUST CHUCK ME A SPARE AUTO THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

So, Since the last update... I have investigated the rust in the tailgate and found it to be really bad, and the previous owner has just bogged over it, so it's shit to say the least. Have a spot weld drill bit on the way so will unspot it (or at least the lower section) and get a new one bent up, if anyone knows of a good sheet metal folder/engineer in Whangarei let me know. Plans are to get my U11 Bluebird running and strip this down, fix the rust, and respray. Will also be debadging this at the same time, getting rid of everything I can that identifies this as a Nissan and not a Datsun. So that is guard badges, front grill badge, and potentially the rear stamp on the tailgate if I can get a new skin folded. I will also be getting the strip removed from the windscreen. Have found someone to do work for a very cheap rate (family friend). Will either be going Satin Black or factory green at this stage. Comment on the discussion thread if you have any other colour suggestions. Am also looking for some mirrors, either chrome truck style ones, or fender type. Not sure there yet either. Coming up soon is finally getting the (period appropriate) Recaro seats I bought ages ago into the ute, just have to measure up and drill some new mounting holes in the rails, and they should bolt up. Also potentially getting my Nardi woodgrain wheel refurbed. The ultimate goal for this is a pretty tidy tow vehicle, as well as good general truck, not a hardcore 4WD so I want it pretty tidy. Pictureless update is gay. Essay finished.

Slammed on wheels is the plan, not sure about the bolt on flares part? These things have pretty big wheel arches to begin with so I might just find some wheels to fill them out once slammed.

The trick is to not roll them over. But yeah I get what you mean.

Hmmm, might have to just give it a go then. We will see what needs doing once Dad (the mechanic) has a good look over it in the coming days. Towed it out to my parents the other day (Saturday) with the help of Dad, so I can use his shed to do some work, I don't have a proper shed at my flat. Once we were sufficiently in the wop wops, we untied the tow rope and Dad drove it the rest of the way. He said it only slipped like I knew it did in first and maybe second gear, but in the higher gear(s?) it drove fine, so that might help him with diagnosing the problem. I think he is going to have a good look tomorrow. Anyway, some better pics, still from my phone but better weather: By far and away has to be the coolest part of the car for me, pillarless windows. Interior is apart at the moment for sound install. I can see the potential in this thing, lowered, wheels, sounds, cruising. Chur.

Hey dude, that is the eventual plan. Do you know: A) what parts I would need for the manual conversion?, Whether or not the manual will fit any CA engine, i.e. is the CA18E fwd manual the same as the CA18DET fwd manual?, and C) Will the CA18DET fit the CA18E mounts? Yay, lots of questions.

Hey guys, Got myself a new (old) vehicle. It's a 1984 Nissan U11 Bluebird Hardtop. It's the SSS model, and a jap import, so it has: -CA18e 1.8 fuel injected engine. -Electrically adjustable drivers seat. -Pillarless windows (my favourite bit). Got it for only $300 bucks! Rego on hold, hasn't had a warrant in a few years due to previous owner (my old neighbour) not being bothered to fix the auto. Other than that, an indicator lense, and a new windscreen it shouldn't need anything for a warrant he tells me, and he owns a automotive workshop that does warrants, so I will believe him on that one. Plans are: -Fix/replace auto with Dad's help (he's a mechanic). -Fix windscreen. -Service. -Install mild stereo that I have left over from my Corolla (almost done already, because it's free, haha ). -WOF/Rego. -Mild panelbeating on one door (not serious). -Lower, with either lowering springs or compressed springs, preferably not cutties. -Wheels, either widened steels, or some cheap basketweaves or the like. Around 15x8 with appropriate offset. -Drive as a daily while I fix up the ute. -Maybe at some point in the future look at CA18DET and manual conversion. But that will be after the ute is done so may be a while. Some crap pics for now, will upload better ones at some stage. Has a mint interior (which is in pieces at the moment for stereo install) so don't have to do much there. Maybe install my Nardi which was intended for the ute. Not sure. Will take pics at some stage. Will be good to have a four door vehicle which can carry more than one passenger again. Let me know what you think. Also, let me know if you have/know of parts for one of these. Chur, Hayden.

Went and took it for a quote for all rust taken out by a mates dad who's a panelbeater, and panelbeated ready to paint, and that was $2500. So, I will be saving up for that but it's going to take a while so in the mean time I will be doing bits for myself to hopefully save on the overall cost as well. In other news, have done one of the best modifications (in my opinion) to my vehicle. ERMERGERD CERP HERLDERS! Also, mounted a trebuchet (yes it works). Sorry for the crap pics but my phone is my only camera and it was raining. In terms of any actual progress, no, not really this time. Haha But I do have another car which once fixed up will become the daily, and this will become a full time project at least until the rust is fixed. Chur. Discuss: http://www.oldschool.co.nz/phpbb/viewto ... 18&t=30255

Hey guys, Getting a U11 bluebird pillarless hardtop, FWD daily awesomeness. Looking at some lowering springs off the tard, namely these: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 594698.htm Does anyone have experience with Lovells? Any good? Let me know your experiences. Cheers.

Keen on a 2 inch lift with spacers, just not sure on how/where to buy the stuff, and I'm a bit low on funds, doing the cheaper and more urgent stuff first. Rust work isn't cheap but it is urgent. Also, I want to keep the wellside, I like it.