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My Datsun 710 Violet (actually close to plum?)


PaulPBui

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Hello all - first time posting but have been lurking around trying to learn about my new car.  It's a 1976 Datsun 710 with an original plum colour?  Very 70s...and very groovy indeed!  The car definitely had seen better days as the exterior/interior is completely sunbaked and all interior pieces are brittle and the dash is cracked.  There are rusts, of course, but looks to be minor from what I can tell so far... rusts through behind driver seat, trunk spare tire pan, and a few other areas.  That said, the good news is that it seems to be all original and is currently intact. 

 

I didn't know anything about the 710 until I came across a Craigslist ad a few weeks back.  I didn't know much more when I bought it either.  I have experience with 240Z/280Z and have owned both in the past.  Both Zs were projects.  I ended up overwhelmed with the 240Z project and donated it to a charity.  The 280Z came after the 240Z and I learned a little lesson from the failed 240Z project but wasn't able to completely finished it either.  I ended up selling it 2 days ago.  (I actually bought the 710 before selling the 280Z which made the wife fairly crossed...)

 

[sorry, I am a bit long winded...]

 

I want to use this forum to document my progress on restoring this 710 to the best that I can. I want to take it slow and hopefully don't have another failed project.  (3rd times the charm?)  I wasn't born with a wrench in my hand and only started working on cars while I was in college 10 years ago as I was too broke to have a mechanic fixed my college car, a 1990 Nissan Maxima.  I didn't own a car while in high school.  Since college, I have owned a few cars from various make and model... I learned a bit more about cars each time.  I have owned: Integra GSR, AE86 GTS, RX7 FC, '04 STI, '06 STI, 240Z, and 280Z.  I currently drive a '00 Impreza RS2.5, '02 E39 M5, '76 Porsche 911S...and a Tundra.

 

 

I will surely seek advice from the experts on this forum as I go along... thanks ahead!!  Now onto pictures as that's what I read is a requirement here.  I read the upload tutorial (thanks Telkwa)...hopefully I am doing it correctly.  I have begun tearing it down.  I was too excited and forgot to take pictures...

 

But learning from my earlier failed projects... I bag and tag everything coming off the car...including screws/nuts/bolts with notes on how it was removed!

 

Checked out the working fog lights... and the previous owner welded a towing rig to the front bumper.

 

http://IMG_0396.jpg

 

Engine bay is intact including all the SMOG goodness that will eventually go away... very dirty but it run and drives great!  Drove 3 hours home when I picked it up.  Even the AC works which is very much needed in the hot and humid South.

 

http://IMG_0443.jpg

 

 

Taking the rear bumper off trying to remove the tow hitch that the previous owner also welded onto the rear bumper.  He put 2 bolts directly on the spare tire pan as well which allows water in that caused the rusts.  I will put the bumper back on or may run without it.  Still don't know what to do with the bumper support/shock... saw a post that recommended a hacksaw to get it off.  (911S to the side)

 

 

http://IMG_0400.jpg

 

Still has the original hubcap and sporting whitewalls... seat covered.

 

http://IMG_0399.jpg

 

 

White interior...very dirty but the vinyl actually in decent condition!  Plastic trim pieces are brittle and cracked though.

 

http://IMG_0397.jpg

 

Bought some old school 14" rims... in decent aged condition.  Probably not going to restored it but tried to clean it up a little...which didn't get any better from when I picked it up.  These rims are needed to clear the upcoming 280ZX front strut assembly.  (see M5)

 

http://IMG_0405.jpg

 

 

And now... need help removing the dash!  If I should start a new topic, please let me know.  I am removing the dash for a few reasons... getting it restore and getting to the tachometer location to install a NOS tach that I just bought.  I've never driven a car without a tach before and this is a weird feeling.  This NOS tach was the very first thing I bought.

 

My question for now is how to remove this dash... I have removed all the screws and bolts that I could find.  I've highlighted the locations of screws/nuts I removed.  I also removed the screws by the windshield.  The dash moves and shift a bit but I feels like there is something holding it back.  I am being extra gentle as I don't want to break these brittle plastic.  Are there more screws?  Does someone has a blow up image of the dash? 

 

I can lift the dash pad from the passenger side up already.  The gauge area/driver side is where I am having difficulty.

 

http://Datsun%20710%20Dash%20Removal%20Screws%2

 

FYI, this is the tach I bought.  It said its for the 710 and I also read up on a few posts on how to wire but we'll see once the dash is removed.

 

http://tach1.jpg

 

http://tach2.jpg

 

I think that's it for day #1.

 

 

 

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The speedometer is still connected and why the dash won't come out.

 

The bumper shocks just unbolt. Or you can hacksaw a hole in them to let the high pressire gass out and then the bumper can be pushed in several inches... looks way better, and better than no bumper at all. You may have to trim the rubber valance on top for a good fit.

 

The tach is just plug 'n play. You'll see.

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