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Need Datsun 5-speed

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I've heard of the Ford conversion but don't know who if anyone makes the adapters. And like Drew, I really would rather not have to do any cutting. A local restoration shop owner buddy of mine has already installed 9 of the Rivergate conversions and currently has another in the shop. According to him they are a real snap to install. Everything just fits with no mods needed. Unfortunately, he doesn't know of any availabel boxes. The recent ones on eBay seem to be going for $450 so unless I get lucky, it looks like I may have to fork over that much. Then add the overhaul and the conversion kit. That on top of the rebuilt 1275 sitting in my garage now will eventually make this a rather pricey set of wheels. Oh well, it should still be worth it.

Bayless
 
Bayless, I'm trying very hard not to think too much about the money I'm putting into the Tunebug. I'm just doing a bit at a time, and enjoying the process as much as possible. Really, the cash invested isn't too much, though it's certainly not money I'll recoup at any point. I just do my best not to add it up. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
Morris said:
Still half as much as a new car and twice as much fun.
Click to expand...
'nuff said there Morris.
 
I agree guys. I'm really not begrudging my toys the small amount of money going into them. No question, it's much cheaper than a new car and a lot more fun. Besides that, it's something I can maintain without those periodic $400 trips to the man-with-the-diagnostic-computer just to find out that the "Check Engine" light means that a tire is low or whatever. And like you implied Drew, getting there is half the fun. I am sort of kicking my butt for not finding one a few years ago when they seemed to be plentiful and cheap.
 
Well said all. Now seems to be a good time to grab one of the Datsun trannys -- it's why I made the move when a reasonable deal came up. Now I can relax and get to the conversion when the rest of the cash comes along.

I'm convinced that the "Check Engine" lights are timed to coincide with the mechanic's boat payments... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif
 
I was talking with my mechanic the other day about the money we have invested so far and he advised me to forget how to add if you own a midget. Fine...I'm much happier just driving it. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/driving.gif
 
Your mechanic is very wise -- if you really need to know how much you are spending, just drive by his house and count the boats. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

Driving is definitely much more fun.
 
I have had a five speed in my bugeye for about five yrs and it is something you will really enjoy. Also, I've had four others pass through my hands and they all were OK. If you set up an electric motor and some pulleys and a belt you can spin the tranny and hear if the sincros and bearings sound allright. There is a good chance you won't have to rebuild the tranny. We have made a bill for the local small scrap yards in our area to put on their board to remember us when they have an old Datson pass through the yard. Good luck.
 
Got to bust my you-know-what to finish up this computer project that will pay for my shop and help support my car adiction. Guess ASAP I'll have to start shopping all the lock bone yards. Already have feelers out to those internet types but no response yet. Watching eBay too and have missed a couple of rather pricey ones for not being quick enough to decide. Well, maybe soon.
 
I guess I was darn lucky when I purchased my Datsun 5-speed for the Rivergate conversion I am working to complete. I think I bought the tranny a little over a year ago from a salvage yard out in Portland or Seattle. I live in Texas and really hadn't found any locally and the ones on eBay were pricey. I did a google on 'salvage yards + Datsun' (I think) and then went throught the results list looking for yards in out of the way places that carried Datsun things. Then I called about 3-4 that had 800 numbers to see if they had the specific one that Rivergate needs. The guys I found had a running 210 that was their yard clunker to run around the yard. They checked the tranny in it and there it was. Said it ran and shifted great, no noise, etc. They sold it to me for $200 + $35 for shipping. The tranny showed up a week later in a box... only thing wrong was that the box was leaking bright red (fresh) tranny fluid!. I paid a local shop another $25 to go through and check the tranny out and replace any worn parts... which they didn't find any!.
I am getting closer to the point to where I can go try this thing out... I just have to somehow stop the 'honey-do' list that neverends.

Larry
 
I was in Tucson with a day to kill last fall. I went into the yellow pages, looked up a couple of junkyards,(ever notice how they are clustered in one part of town?) and drove over to have a look. Within an hour I had found 5 Datsun 210's: two w/autoboxes and 3 w/5-speeds. Any were available for me to remove myself @ a first price of $300. I think I could have made a deal for all of them @ a lot less money. The point is that there are still lots out there, just don't look at a junkyard that is full of new cars, find a place full of older cars. The run-down Mom & Pop type place where you have to scare away the snakes with a stick is your best source, and forget the modern salvage yard with it's fast turnover of late model cars for insurance work. Unless you want to pay full price: somebody has to pay for all those computers after all!!

I think that more Datsuns were sold new out West back in the day, so they are more likely to turn up on our scrap heaps than in the East.
 
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