Jump to content

B210 Coupe Score of the Decade!


BestyBlue77

Recommended Posts

Hey gang! I randomly called about a 1977 B210 Coupe I saw for cheap on Craigslist. It's been sitting on a clean title Non-Op since at least 2014 from the scarce few reg records I have on it. However, it's only been owned by 2 older women. It's an automatic, it's turquoise, it's super clean, especially the interior. Even the the seats & carpets are perfect. Of course I bought it! But here's the even sweeter deal they had another one, damn near the exact same car down to to color, but it's a 1974! I have the few receipts on it. It has a salvage title, but it was less than a year old when it got rolled in an accident. It was the husband's of the old lady that I got it from. He was a body guy he was trying to fix it up. He had started doing some work on it but probably got distracted, and it was in their yard since damn-near 1976. He stripped it mostly all of the interior out to do the body work, but most of it was there in the car, just no seats, headliner, or carpets. The entire engine and transmission are there. Everything's pretty rusty on the outside because it had possums,rats, hornets, and wasps living in it over the years, but miraculously nothing of import was ruined or chewed. All of the wiring harnesses are complete with no sign of damage. Get this: They threw that one in for FREE just to get it out of their yard. Woo Hoo!!! I've spent the better part of this week stripping every single thing that's usable out of this vehicle and the last thing I'm going to do is pull the engine and transmission. This thing only has 8,256 miles on it!!! So the '77 has an automatic transmission, but the '74 has a manual transmission. Can I take that manual transmission out of the '74 and swap it into the '77? The '74 has an A-13 engine in the 77 has an A-14 engine. Not sure they are compatible, but I know you guys will know.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • Replies 28
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Wait, all those words and no pics, that is gonna cost ya. B)

 

The "A" blocks are mostly the same and either trans should bolt to either block.  I just put a 5 speed from an A14 onto an A12.

 

Someone smarter than I will probably stop in here with better specifics.

  • Like 3
Link to comment

Nice score. What other future plans do you have for it? I have that same blue on my right door and fender but the rest is yellow. I like me a b210 coupe.

 

I seem be be having trouble seeing the pics of the bay and interior. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

This one is a salvage, so there's nothing to really be done with it, but strip it and scrap it. It's always sad to see one go across the rainbow bridge, but unfortunately this one is too far gone to be saved. However, her pieces and parts will live on, in at least 3 of my cars. :) If anyone wants or needs ANYTHING off of the BODY this car speak now, because after Saturday it's gone with the wind. I will be selling a ton of other parts from this car including the engine if anyone wants or needs it. I'm pulling it out tomorrow. Let me know!
  • Like 1
Link to comment

I only have one pic of the 1977 one that I am going to fix up and get running. I don't have that one in my possession yet. I only have storage space for one project car at a time, so I had to very quickly strip the 1974 down, and it has to be gone by Saturday, so I can bring this one over.  This one is on a non-op, so it can't even be on the street.  Bummer!

00p0p_3xzmPITD3EY_1200x900_zpsvkgtains.j

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I only have one pic of the 1977 one that I am going to fix up and get running. I don't have that one in my possession yet. I only have storage space for one project car at a time, so I had to very quickly strip the 1974 down, and it has to be gone by Saturday, so I can bring this one over.  This one is on a non-op, so it can't even be on the street.  Bummer!

00p0p_3xzmPITD3EY_1200x900_zpsvkgtains.j

 

 

If you have the title the 74 is much more valuable in California as it is SMOG exempt. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment

If you have the title the 74 is much more valuable in California as it is SMOG exempt.

 

I realize this, but the title is SALVAGED. I have no pink slip just a receipt from the junk yard the old guy bought it from. I looked into it & there is no way to unsalvage the title. The only thing that can be done is that the car would have to be completely rebuilt, you have to pay a shit ton of fees and it would have to be inspected several times by the DMV in order to pass what would be considered a rebuilt Salvage. Either way it's a salvage and it's not worth messing with. If the title wasn't salvaged, it would be a whole different story!

Also, I think the whole "smog exempt" thing is overrated for these kinds of cars. First of all Datsuns have some of the lowest emissions out there. It's extremely easy to keep them passing smog every single time. If you shop around you can find a smog shop that will do it for 50 bucks including the certificate, and you only have to do it every two years. Secondly, it forces people to keep their cars running in Tip-Top condition. There's nothing worse than driving behind a stinky, smoking, old clunker and breathing all of the nasty fumes. You might not care about air quality, but if you have children or grandchildren, it might be something that you want to consider. Just saying.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

The joy of an exempt car though is that it is a non-checked upon slate to do whatever the hell you want with.

SR20 with a big turbo? Yes.

LS? Yes.

KA? Yes.

Pinto motor? Sure.

Doesn't matter. That is the beauty of the exempt status.

Well, sure I get it. That's why I'm moving to western WA state (no snow) where all my babies will be smog exempt! Up there they still have the old CA rule of no smog for 25 years or older. Woo hoo!!! See ya Cali, wouldn't wanna be ya. Lol.
  • Like 1
Link to comment

Also, I think the whole "smog exempt" thing is overrated for these kinds of cars. First of all Datsuns have some of the lowest emissions out there. It's extremely easy to keep them passing smog every single time. If you shop around you can find a smog shop that will do it for 50 bucks including the certificate, and you only have to do it every two years. Secondly, it forces people to keep their cars running in Tip-Top condition. There's nothing worse than driving behind a stinky, smoking, old clunker and breathing all of the nasty fumes. You might not care about air quality, but if you have children or grandchildren, it might be something that you want to consider. Just saying.

That's a very idealistic point of view that will not work in your favor here. You have one chance to make your life easier forever (as long as you own the car), but you'd rather take the approach of cleaner burning cars are better for the road? What makes you think a 40 year old pushrod A13 burns cleaner than a new EFI DOHC SR20?

 

Anyway, it is a score and I'm glad for you. I would have jumped on that in a heartbeat.

  • Like 2
Link to comment

Well, sure I get it. That's why I'm moving to western WA state (no snow) where all my babies will be smog exempt! Up there they still have the old CA rule of no smog for 25 years or older. Woo hoo!!! See ya Cali, wouldn't wanna be ya. Lol.

 

Or...move to Tri-Cities, WA where there is ZERO smog/inspections.

  • Like 2
Link to comment

I realize this, but the title is SALVAGED. I have no pink slip just a receipt from the junk yard the old guy bought it from. I looked into it & there is no way to unsalvage the title. The only thing that can be done is that the car would have to be completely rebuilt, you have to pay a shit ton of fees and it would have to be inspected several times by the DMV in order to pass what would be considered a rebuilt Salvage. Either way it's a salvage and it's not worth messing with. If the title wasn't salvaged, it would be a whole different story!

Also, I think the whole "smog exempt" thing is overrated for these kinds of cars. First of all Datsuns have some of the lowest emissions out there. It's extremely easy to keep them passing smog every single time. If you shop around you can find a smog shop that will do it for 50 bucks including the certificate, and you only have to do it every two years. Secondly, it forces people to keep their cars running in Tip-Top condition. There's nothing worse than driving behind a stinky, smoking, old clunker and breathing all of the nasty fumes. You might not care about air quality, but if you have children or grandchildren, it might be something that you want to consider. Just saying.

 

 

It's actually pretty easy, and only about 50$ for the inspection, which other than brakes and lights is a make sure it is a good vin not stolen inspection and they will work with a bill of sale no problem.

 

https://www.dmv.org/ca-california/salvaged-vehicles.php

 

Also, the big thing to realize in California for a 76 or later vehicle is you must use the ORIGINAL CATALYTIC converter to pass smog, actual emissions doesn't matter at all. Good luck finding an original CAT unless you already own one.

 

The A13, (I have a 74 B210 which I last smogged in 2000 in Stockton California) passes at about 1/10 the allowed emissions easily. I still have my slip around here somewhere with the numbers. Please remember also Sacramento is SMOG II which is more strict.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Great score!

 

If you are going to switch this to the standard transmission you need to swap the complete wiring harness also.  Be sure to keep the doors and the hatch and all the glass.  Pull the complete dash also, it has lower mileage!  LOL

 

I would like the paint code from the 77 if it is readable.

  • Like 1
Link to comment

That's a very idealistic point of view that will not work in your favor here. You have one chance to make your life easier forever (as long as you own the car), but you'd rather take the approach of cleaner burning cars are better for the road? What makes you think a 40 year old pushrod A13 burns cleaner than a new EFI DOHC SR20?

 

Anyway, it is a score and I'm glad for you. I would have jumped on that in a heartbeat.

I'm not taking any approach. I was just simply making a point. I'm no mechanic by any means. Just a lover of Datsuns. I'm completely self-taught. Never even taken a shop class. Didn't get into really working on cars until I was in my early 30's. So forgive me if I don't know what a SR20 is. Also, the pics I've shown here are of the decent areas of the car. Some parts are pretty rusty. It would take a lot of money in body work & quite a few swapped pieces from another car to make this thing road worthy. Then you have the engine to work on. Who's got that kind of money just to have to not smog a car, or to put a different engine in it? I'm not trying to say a '74 isn't superior for a lot of reasons, but for me & my situation it's easier to keep the '77 & move to WA where I just found out there are only 4 counties that even smog at all.
  • Like 1
Link to comment

Great score!

 

If you are going to switch this to the standard transmission you need to swap the complete wiring harness also.  Be sure to keep the doors and the hatch and all the glass.  Pull the complete dash also, it has lower mileage!  LOL

 

I would like the paint code from the 77 if it is readable.

 

Oh yeah, the harness....auto to standard, how could I forget about that.

 

 

 

 

I know, because I pushed that car off to the side. :thumbup:

 

The harness swap is not required at all. The pedal box however is probably the only part you must grab as it is hard to find.

 

Mine started as an auto and was really easy to swap to standard, although that was back in 2000. If you have questions for that I would be happy to answer them, I've had 4spd and 5spds in it.

 

I think the only thing required is to override the neutral start requirement, which didn't function on mine anyways (found that out by accident when I first owned it).

  • Like 1
Link to comment

I'm not taking any approach. I was just simply making a point. I'm no mechanic by any means. Just a lover of Datsuns. I'm completely self-taught. Never even taken a shop class. Didn't get into really working on cars until I was in my early 30's. So forgive me if I don't know what a SR20 is. Also, the pics I've shown here are of the decent areas of the car. Much of the car is completely rusted through to the point that I can tear it off like paper. It would take at least $20G in body work & a buttload of swapped pieces from another car to make this thing road worthy. Then you have the engine to work on. Who's got that kind of money just to have to not smog a car, or to put a different engine in it? I'm not trying to say a '74 isn't superior for a lot of reasons, but for me & my situation it's easier to keep the '77 & move to WA where I just found out there are only 4 counties that even smog at all.

In that case I would suggest at least offering it for sale before sending it to the scrapper. Someone else may have the time or a wrecked car they would like to build up and want the frame.

 

Also, Oregon only does an emissions test around Portland and I believe near Bend (not sure on that), it is easily passable as they do the common sense requirement of emissions not equipment, pretty much any reasonably running B210, even without half the smog equipment, would pass it.

 

Anywhere even a bit outside Washington, Multnomah, or Clackamas county has no smog requirement that would effect you.

 

WA is also good if you want to leave the craziness of California, but they are definitely heading that route (OR too but slower).

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Great score!

 

If you are going to switch this to the standard transmission you need to swap the complete wiring harness also.  Be sure to keep the doors and the hatch and all the glass.  Pull the complete dash also, it has lower mileage!  LOL

 

I would like the paint code from the 77 if it is readable.

I picked up the other car today, and got the paint # for ya. It's 225 on the '77. It's 22 on the '74. How come you want the color code? Is there a way to match that with the number?
Link to comment

If you have the title the 74 is much more valuable in California as it is SMOG exempt.

 

I did some more thinking on this & I think I'm going to get the title on the '74 after all. Who am I to deny someone else of a great project car. I think I'm going to continue to clean up both cars & then sell them. Posting more pics from today's mission. Check 'em out.
  • Like 1
Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.