That car looks good. Congrats on the purchase. Some day I plan to purchase one of these, and do something similar to what you are doing. I first need to build my additional 4 car garage - no space in the current garage.

Depends what you want to do with the car. If you are going for a full showroom restoration then keep the matching engine, it makes a big difference in the value in that case. If you just want to have fun with it then do whatever you want.

I think I would probably fall into the second category, I would store the original engine if I had space for it, although if you are doing heavy modifications then I wouldn't bother.

The best forum by far for information on these cars is 311s.org-Datsun Sport Roadsters

Here's a race ready car that's been heavily modified.
1968 Datsun SPL-311 Roadster "Small Bucks Racing" Ready to Race

Thanks for the info.

That site looks great, I'll dabble into it this weekend. That race one is a bit much but cool just the same. 2000 Lb car could be interesting with a 300HP motor..

Thanks again for the hookup on the site...those guys are already proving to be really helpful. Now I have two sites to watch but that's cool as the Nismo is nearly done for a while anyway.

Here's some pics of my first day wrenching on the Roadster, pulled out the interior, carpet, ripped the dash apart and some trim. Now I'm going to pull more chrome off and try and get the motor and trans out when I return from Hong Kong. After that, pulling the body off the frame to prep for the motor swap...going to be a cool little car when she's done.

Considering its age the body looks to be in really good shape!

Thankfully it is... Little spots on the floorboards but that's to be expected. Tell you this, pulling it apart for the last couple of days and I think half of the bolts snapped in half. Missing the NISMO right about now...HHAHA

Spent another 6 hours on her today. stripped it down even further. I'll shoot to get the body off the frame when i return from my trip. Lots of work to go on this one...

Trying to get the motor out tomorrow before I leave. Would like to get the frame off to the shop so they can cut and weld it to fit the new motor in.

Should be a pretty quick car, figure they are weighing in at 2000 lbs or less with the right parts. Throw in a few hundred HP and that's pretty respectable!

Wow, lots of progress in a short time. When you start something you get right after it. Looking good.

Thanks for sharing the pics!

Don't spend too long away or you wont remember how the pieces go back together, LOL. (Been there done that :)

I'm not using much of the stock parts anyway. I was thinking about just building a track car but my wife wants us to use it on the street too...pretty basic car, shouldnt be too tough (famous last words)

You move quick. I thought you had kids? I can never find this kind of time with the 3 rugrats I have; it would take me months to do it. I plan to repaint my race car over the off season, and so far I have only taken the decals off and some sanding, and that was over the last 2 months. :icon17: You'll be done in a few weeks, with a lot more work.

My daughter is 14 and a cheerleader, doesnt want to hang with us anymore. son plays so much World of Warcraft that I think he's writing the damn program.

No one wants to hang with good ol dad so I just wrench away. Met the nicest family today, came to my house to pick up some of the Roadster parts I don't want and the son is going to put the Turbo motor in it for me and mod the frame to hold it. He said it takes a while but it appears I'm done with my part for now. His father brought over his, my God is it badass! Thing is a rocket with Nat, Sat Radio, Alpine, power windows and here's the coolest thing, about 350 HP to the wheels and the car is barely 2000 lbs...NUTS.

Fate took a play on this one, met some great people, getting my car built by a Datsun/Nissan expert and I get my garage space back.

No more projects for a while!!! Yes Honey, I mean it this time :rolleyes:

If I was local I'd come hang with ya - looks like a fun build. I've had some great times working on cars with friends. I'll have to settle for pics on this one :)

Thanks for the great deal on the Nismo wheels man, let me tell you guys if you ever have an opportunity to do business with Motoextreme he is a class act. Thanks again man and I'll post pics in my journal when I get the Nismo wheels powdercoated and mounted on my car in the spring. Can't wait!

No worries bro, sorry for the wait on the parts but its taking a little longer then I thought to get done. No terrible rush now since I'm gone for a while.

Thanks for the biz man. Look forward to seeing it all done.

Had to bring this back alive. How's it going? I saw this one for sale on ebay - in my mind, one of the best I have seen in a while..

Datsun : eBay Motors (item 220549894578 end time Feb-11-10 09:37:09 PST)