1978 Datsun B210 - Where Do I Go From Here?

[AngliaGT]

I've got a '78 B210 that's be in my garage since August,
2006.I've wanted one since I read the article in Hot Rod magazine,in 1974.
This one was given to me (for free),but I've tried to
do a meticulous job on getting it back on the road.I've gotten
over $4,000 into it,although it's not worth anywhere near that much.
Where do I go from here?Should I pay a shop to fix what is
out of my abilities,& do the "fun stuff",that I can handle,or dump it for whatever anyone will give me for it?
This car is tying up 1/2 of the garage,& would get rid of a lot of "things that need to be done".
I have many boxes of NOS/extra parts,plus two parts cars in the driveway.
Right now,I don't have any extra money laying aroung,& some of it borrowed from realitives.
I love this car,but would love to see it gone,if I didn't have to lose more money to do it.
Please let me know your thoughts/ideas.

- Doug

 

[racingenglishcars]

I got one for my wife back in 85, actually at the time she was just a friend and the car belonged to another friend. It was new painted, rather nicely. Refreshed engine and clutch. 4 speed. I was always good at helping her with the different small problems. When she drowned the engine on the highway in a massive rain 30 miles north of Washington DC I drove up to get it going again. Because of that she thought I was some kind of helpful guy and considered dating me.

It was a wonderful car. We took trips all over the east coast in it, Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, Charleston SC etc, and only got rid of it when we moved away in 93. It sat for many years behind another friend's house but alas is now gone.

Thoughts on keeping yours... What is it you can't do? They are really simple cars.
Otherwise keep enough parts to put it together - Put it together - Get rid of the parts cars and all the parts you aren't using. This will free up some of your space problem. And yes it can park outside in the "rain".

If you dump it, somebody else will be really happy.

 

[PAUL161]

Doug, You know by now that very few of these cars will return your investment. I compare these cars with something like going to an amusement park and blowing 200 bucks. With the cars, you have at least something to enjoy when it's all over, not just a memory.

 

[JPSmit]

Doug, what actually needs doing?

As we all know, dismantled projects are worth way less than complete cars - even complete project cars. On the other hand, you don't want to spend 3k more so you can sell it for 1k more. (buy high - sell low right?!) On the other hand, if it is complete and running, you or your beloved might actually enjoy it.

So, once again, what does it need?

 

[Banjo]

I finally came to this conclusion: I drivable junker is far more valuable/enjoyable than a never ending concourse restoration.
Unless someone is paying me to do it, I will never put that much time and effort into a car again. My garage has had one bay taken for 14 years by some unfinished/non drivable project of some sort, that I could see the beautiful results of in my mind. But never in my bank account.
I proudly start the "Bomber squadron" for any, just like me, who just wanna drive the wheels of any tatty old car, just for fun. Fix it as you go. get the mechanicals in order and make it look good later.
I guarantee you can pull into any gas station with the nastiest beat up old car, and as long as it's old and cool, someone will say "Nice car!"
I'm so sick of telling people "yea, I got a 54 TR2. But it's in pieces in my garage."
MY VW is rotten. I might put a foot through the floor if I step in the wrong spot. But It's on the road! It's a hoot to drive, and I get all kinds of comments. I'll give it a coat of paint later. It'll never be worth anything with all the rust, but I will never be in it for very much either. All the enjoyment of a classic, none of the expense and stress.
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate anyone who puts the time and effort into a proper resto. and I never want to ruin a car that should be treated to such work by beating it up. I'm gonna buy 'em rough, and keep em rough. If they only last a few years, then that's an excuse to find something new and different.
~Steps of soap box~

 

[Billm]

Doug
I have an '82 210 and it runs great! I just towed my MGA to San Diego and a Midget body back with it! (Yes- I know that I overtaxed it but it didn't complain, I just went slower than I normally would have).
The best place that I have found to get parts & info on these cars is the "Ratsun" forum. It is mostly up here in the northwest but so are you so that fits.
These are simple cars (as has been said) and shouldn't be difficult! What is it that you are having problems with?
BillM

 

[AngliaGT]

I've run into a problem with the rear brakes - the left side
works/fits the way it should,but the right side won't turn at all
when the drum is installed,but at least I can get it back off.I've
used all new parts on it.
The second thing is that I've got the intake/exhaust manifold
off,& would like to clean it up with new vacuum lines,etc.I also got
the "bright" idea to remove all of the A/C system,& replace it with
a non A/C one.
I've gotten lots & lots of parts for it,many of them NOS.The
original idea was to go through everything,& drive it until it dies.
I've tried to sell all three cars as a package deal locally,but got no
takers.I realize that it's only worth something in running condition,
so that's why I posted this.
I'm on the Ratsun forums - definately a different group of people,
but still a lot of enthusiastic owners.

- Doug

 

[Billm]

On the rear brakes did you try swaping drums from side to side to see if the problem changed?

 

[AngliaGT]

Bill,

No - but sounds like a good idea.
I think that I'm a mechanic - until I work on my cars.

- Doug

 

[Banjo]

Doug, also look closely at the brake shoes. There may be mild differences between the leading and trailing shoes (Front and backs) I wonder if by chance both leadings got installed on one side, and both trailings are on the other. I've done that before. the difference may be as small as the depth of the slot that the spreader bar fits into.

 

[JPSmit]

I've run into a problem with the rear brakes - the left side
works/fits the way it should,but the right side won't turn at all
when the drum is installed,but at least I can get it back off.I've
used all new parts on it.
The second thing is that I've got the intake/exhaust manifold
off,& would like to clean it up with new vacuum lines,etc.I also got
the "bright" idea to remove all of the A/C system,& replace it with
a non A/C one.
I've gotten lots & lots of parts for it,many of them NOS.The
original idea was to go through everything,& drive it until it dies.
I've tried to sell all three cars as a package deal locally,but got no
takers.I realize that it's only worth something in running condition,
so that's why I posted this.
I'm on the Ratsun forums - definately a different group of people,
but still a lot of enthusiastic owners.

- Doug

So this is a start - here or the Ratsun boards, I know nothing about Datsuns but I know this crowd can talk you through getting it on the road again. Then either

1. replace parts as needed or

2. sell it then

(and maybe get rid of stuff you don't need - like other body shells etc.) Sounds like you are close though

 

[DrEntropy]

Friends took an early 210 sedan to Sebring once, back in about '74 IIRC. They felt like a traffic cone and running at night was downright hairy. They cobbed a set of halogen headlights outta one friend's 911 about an hour after sundown and swapped those into the thing, just to be able to see the apexes better... and see where NOT to be as the 'big kids' came up from behind 'em. :wink:

Kinda glad I missed that "exercise".