O bachan - 1972 Bluebird DX 4dr granny car

[INDY510]

This is the only one I've ever seen for sale in the US: http://www.the510realm.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=27709&sid=9660fa3308f6dea61932d45548e6b9e1

 

... I think it sold for the $18.5k asking price

[carterb]

At the moment, since it doesn't look like insurance will be sending me to a shop, I will have to plan on performing the repairs myself.  Which means it's not going to happen for a while.  Probably at least a year if not more.  But in the mean time, I figured I should start collecting parts while they are available. 

 

I bought a '72 bluebird grill *gulp* and a 510 front cut from Dave.  The front cut had a fire on the right side so that frame rail is shot, but the core support and left side are good - and that's what I need.

 

 

 

 

Next stop - Futofab!

[carterb]

My insurance company has now enlisted the services of Big Block Appraisal Service to determine the value of the car.

 

http://bigblockas.com/index.html

 

The saga continues...

[q-tip]

This hole is getting deep.

[r0p0doe]

So lame they won't base the value off of where it came from cus there is a big difference in prices

[carterb]

Goodness, it's been a while.  I have probably forgotten a lot of the details now but I'll do my best to catch up...

 

I took a better look at the front clip I got from Dave.  It is obviously an improvement but I'm not sure - with the fire damage to the right front - it's exactly what I need.

 

 

Right side frame rail is completely rusted though.

 

 

Left side does look good though.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely good to have for now though.

[carterb]

Back to the insurance settlement.  All the leg work I did seemed to have paid off.  They used one of the comps I gave them plus a couple favorable ones they found and came back with an adjusted value just under $20,000 - to which they add sales tax and apply a couple other pluses and minuses and come out with a cash settlement of $21,278.53.  Add to that the $500 deductible I would be getting refunded from the other insurance company.

I can't really argue with it but it's still a bummer because $22,000 is not enough to get a comparable car from Japan transported here, licensed, and sitting in my driveway.  The prices over there have skyrocketed!

 

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/72652-bluebirds-for-sale/

 

That's fine though.  I don't really want to replace the car.  I want to rebuild it.  And that should be enough to get the job done.  The bummer is that by accepting the offer, I transfer ownership to the insurance company.  To get it back was a surprising $2,947.50!  I figured around $500 (scrap value) which is what other people have experienced.  Maybe it makes a difference when the vehicle value is so high.

 

Good enough for now, and good enough to pay for a load of goodies from Futofab to put in the garage 'till I have time for the rebuild.

 

I was pretty excited when this order arrived at work!

 

 

 

There are a couple of things in there for other cars too but still, it was pretty FUTOFABULOUS!!!

 

 

New hood, fenders, valance, bumper, etc...  Thanks Dave!

[carterb]

Now granny gets to just sit outside in the cold and wait for a spot to open up in the garage...

 

 

We've had a couple snow days now...

 

 

 

In the mean time, the insurance process continued.  It turns out they filed the paperwork wrong with the DOL and requested my title to be turned over to them and replaced with a "salvage" title.  The problem is, that is only supposed to happen for vehicles from 6-20 years old.  I had to educate the insurance company's "Total Loss" department on this fact - which is clearly stated on the form they filled out.  Frustrating.

 

Then it took weeks to get them to send a letter to the DOL stating their error and asking for a reversal.

 

It has now been months of trying to communicate with the DOL on what to do next, and to verify they received the letter, and they have stopped answering my e-mails.  I'll just have to make time to go there in person now with all the paperwork and hope I don't get fined for not sending in my title within 15 days of receipt of the original letter like it stated.  Nice.

[carterb]

In the meantime, I've been dreaming of what to do with Granny when I rebuild the car.  With the whole front end scheduled to be replaced, it will no longer be possible to present the car in "original paint" so I guess I can do whatever I want.

I will probably ditch the bouncy bench seat and "three on the tree" tranny.  As much of a novelty they are for car shows and cruises, they just don't mix well with the low stiff sporting ride which is much more fitting to the character of the car.

I've got lots of time to figure this stuff out but in the mean time, my eyes are open for inspiration for a new color and other bits.  Like these '71 bluebird tail lights Tokyo2U was nice enough to list on ebay.

 

 

I like their style better than the '72 bluebird taillights Granny was born with so, let the facelift begin...

 

 

 

So nice!  Thanks Craig!

I'm curious about the potential wiring and mounting differences between the '71 and '72 sets...  I will find out soon enough.

[datsunfreak]

I'm curious about the potential wiring and mounting differences between the '71 and '72 sets...  I will find out soon enough.

 

As am I. It took a lot of modifications to make these fit a USDM car. 

[q-tip]

Damn you and your center garnish. Why does everyone keep copying me? :Lol:

[Yakuza]

taillights and garnish are an easy bolt on, i switched these on my old 4dr rhd...

[q-tip]

Those particular lights only the very outside holes line up to the factory usdm holes but I think the JDM deluxe, coupe and gl taillights use the same holes.

[carterb]

taillights and garnish are an easy bolt on, i switched these on my old 4dr rhd...

 

Thank you, that's what I'm hoping for.

--carter

[carterb]

Doing some serious project shuffling at my house.

Granny is headed to the garage to start stripping the front end.

Watch this space...

 

[Draker]

Can't wait to see it come back to life!

[clean71]

After reading the whole post…. I'm sure the make over will be very nice . I hope i can help you out if you need it and stay in touch .

 

- BJON 

[carterb]

Thanks BJ.  I'll let you know what I find when I have the front end stripped.

--carter

[carterb]

After an uncharacteristically difficult transaction with Tokyo2U, I got some SSS trim for the doors.

 

 

 

Going to look so nice!!!

[carterb]

I hope I don't regret this but Rich REALLY wanted the bench seat out of Granny so I let it go.  It's SO PERFECT!

 

 

http://datsun510.com/uploads/monthly_2018_08/large.1038932334_07062018grannybenchseat(2).JPG.85e1b28c654d84f613cb0cfa116e3aa3.JPG

 

 

While puling the seats, I noticed something I didn't see before, look at the wrinkle at the base of the A-pillar.  Man that Avalanche smacked us good!

 

 

 

[five1oh]

any updates on this one??

[DARIN 510]

My insurance company paid me 26 grand plus retaining the car when I wrecked mine. State Farm sent out an appraisal guy to come up with a value. As far as the damage to your vehicle I would highly recommend you take it to a body shop and have them pull the damage out before you start replacing body parts. 

[carterb]

On 11/9/2022 at 9:32 AM, five1oh said:

any updates on this one??

 

For your sake and mine I wish I had an update - at least a positive one.  For now the car patiently waits its turn for my attention.

 

On 11/9/2022 at 2:25 PM, DARIN 510 said:

My insurance company paid me 26 grand plus retaining the car when I wrecked mine. State Farm sent out an appraisal guy to come up with a value. As far as the damage to your vehicle I would highly recommend you take it to a body shop and have them pull the damage out before you start replacing body parts. 

 

I am still holding out for a place in line for what I believe is an inroad to a quality yet affordable shop to handle the work.  I am currently too patient to press for I don't have the time to fully strip down the car, nor the space to store all the mechanical components.

 

In the mean time I flirt with selling the car as is or selling my other Bluebird (Slowpoke) to help make time and space or selling both and focusing on my coupe or selling nothing or selling everything and getting out of Datsuns altogether.  Fortunately I have good Datsun friends that keep my toes well back from the edge of that last cliff.  : )

[banzai510(hainz)]

when I smashed my yellow 510 only one shop would work on it and so called reputal. but later when i looked at the bolts used they were not metric and they used alot of sheetmetal screw to put the stuff togther than bagging the bolt revoved and using the correct metric bolts ect.... I like where the bumper bolt and they used huge sheetmetal screws to hold it in.  I know for use Datsun gys we got everybolt firgured out but the genera; mech at the shop has to deal with hundreds of different cars and bolt just aint lying around. shit my Jeep cherokee has metric and sae stuff on there. the shop isnt going to spent hours looking for the correct bolts that they lost.

[five1oh]

On 11/25/2022 at 12:57 PM, carterb said:

 

For your sake and mine I wish I had an update - at least a positive one.  For now the car patiently waits its turn for my attention.

 

 

I am still holding out for a place in line for what I believe is an inroad to a quality yet affordable shop to handle the work.  I am currently too patient to press for I don't have the time to fully strip down the car, nor the space to store all the mechanical components.

 

In the mean time I flirt with selling the car as is or selling my other Bluebird (Slowpoke) to help make time and space or selling both and focusing on my coupe or selling nothing or selling everything and getting out of Datsuns altogether.  Fortunately I have good Datsun friends that keep my toes well back from the edge of that last cliff.  : )

Thanks for the update....was genuinely curious.....

 

....as for your last paragraph I am going through all of the same emotions lol.  Too many cars all never ending projects and money drains. 😞 I still frequently visit my friend Ralph's house as he is helping me build a motor and he now has just his hako and fairlady z.....he had 4 other datsuns (620, 510's, patrol) and it feels so freeing to only have 1 project and 2 vehicles. I have been going back and forth and currently thinking of selling 6 of my vehicles...and all the damn parts that go with them lol. Too much space taken up.