I picked up another Roadster today. I think this one is a he. This one is really stripped, but I can’t wait to get back and stat tearing down and getting the parts I want.
I Have Datsun Roadster Fever
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Disassembly
I’m having a great day tearing down all the parts and cataloging where they go. I got a paint scheme example sprayed last night and I am really excited to get to the painting stage on this Datsun.
So this morning I had my dad hell me rip the roll cage off the car and I have been blasting away at it with a scruff pad on a air tool. Problem is my compressor, that I thought was awesome, is a piece of crap. Lol. It can’t keep up. So every five minutes I have to stop for five to ten minutes also to let the compressor catch up. Oh, it just shut off…. Back to work.
I Own My Roadster!!!
It’s cloudy outside, but my future is so bright, I gotta wear shades!! The unthinkable happened. I now own my Datsun Roadster and it was way easier than I thought.
Ok, it took a couple trips, but $67 later, I have a title coming in the mail! I’m so pumped!!!
The DMV lady did mess up a little and put the VIN down as a 5RL311 instead of an SRL311, but I pointed it out and bibbidy bobbidy boo, I own my Roadster.
I’m so happy, I think I’m going home to rip off the roll cage and paint it. 
The Elusive Datsun Roadster Title
Here I am again at the DMV, this time with an appointment and vehicle verification form in hand. One problem. The entire State of California’s DMV computer system is down. And the hits keep coming. So I still don’t “own” my Roadster. Sigh.
Well, I can dream can’t I?
Parts from the Roadster’s Rear
I spent some time last night removing all the trim from the rear end I the Datsun. I think I am convinced that no one had ever heard of Stainless Steel in 1969. Because every bolt and but is rust.
I’m trying to not break everything, but it’s hard removing without snapping rusty parts.
Next I’m on to the bumpers. I think I’ve found the six bolts that are required for removal. I also want to remove the vertical pieces on the bumpers. My dad calls them Nerf Bars, I just call them ugly. Lol
I have seen some Roadsters with no bumpers and I think I like the bumper look, just without the vertical parts.
My First Example of Body Work
I got out some hammers and tried my hand at metal bending last night. The inside lip of the trunk didn’t look so hot, but after beating on it for a few minutes, I think it turned out nicely. Looks like it was never bent.
As soon as I get it stripped and painted, my hope is that it will look perfect. I mean, I have to drive a nice Datsun Roadster, right? 
A Little Sanding and Paint Stripper
I got started last night with some paint stripper. Spent the morning today sanding and disassembling. I am having fun, but I really need the soda blaster. I am worried that I am sanding too much and I really don’t want to heat up the panels to make them warp. They are already dinged up enough.
I started on the driver side and have almost all the trim removed. I had my first finger crunch this morning trying to remove a metal piece just behind the driver side door. Oh well, the first of many I’m sure. :) This Datsun Roadster better be as fun to drive as I’m imagining.
Vehicle Verification for Drop Off Title
Well, it happened today. I thought that it would be a big ordeal, but $30 later, I have my Vehicle Verification Form for the DMV! I had a guy come out from a local DMV service and do the inspection. He was pretty quiet, checked out the VIN and Engine Block numbers and then filled out a form. It was pretty painless.
Best part of the whole thing was him asking me what my plans were to do with it. I started telling him and he says, “Well, with some good luck and 1,000 man hours, that should be possible.” Then he just walks away. lol
First Soda Blast on the Datsun Roadster
I couldn’t wait this morning to go ahead and try the soda blaster. It took about an hour to get it working, but I think I have the hang of it.
I think I’m going to start with a paint stripper chemical and then attack it with the soda blaster.
I did find out that there are one or two coats of red, very thick, black and then red again before metal. So I think there was a red primer, black primer, then the car was sprayed red. I found a paint code in the glove box, but I’m going to have to do some research to see if red is the original color.
Soda Blasting My Datsun Roadster
I have been trying to figure out what to do about the prep work needed on the frame and on the body. I was at a Paint Shop today and spoke with a fellow customer at the counter.
I told him that I was contemplating using a sand blaster to remove the crud from the car. He told me that the sand can cause friction and electricity, which ends up altering the molecular structure of the actual metal. He said, “You can start with a perfectly good fender. Sand blast it. Then look at it and it will be all warped. It’s because of the molecular destruction that happens from sand blasting.”
Then he recommended I use a Soda Blaster. So I went and bought a soda blaster at Harbor Freight. I know, I know. Crappy tools. But I’m saving my money for the Nissan SR20DET motor that I want to put in this baby. So I am dying to see how this works, but haven’t had time to try it out yet. I’ll keep you posted.
I hope this will do a lot of the stripping on my Datsun Roadster for me.