Ok, its getting bloody hot and I need to install this thing. If I was to run a good thick lead (say 3-4mm wire) with an inline 30amp fuse directly from the positive terminal on the battery to the Cig lighter and then install an earth wire from Cig Lighter to the negative ground point on the chassis would this do the trick?

Daz

LRP is slowly on the way out. Country Victoria has bugger all servos left that sell it. I am running Premium Unleaded (either Shell or BP which is supposed to be the best), in my A15. Might cost more at the pump but it is better for your engine. Excellent performane and brillant fuel ecomomy. I recently done a trip from Adelaide to Melbourne. Average fuel consumption was 8.8 L / 100km. Not bad for Twin Su carbies either!! Don't waste your time with the normal unleaded.

Daz

Dattodude,

The fuse that blows is in the fuse block. This is the 15amp for Radio, Cigarette and Room.

Daz

Guys,

Thanks for the info. I will let you know how it all goes. I gave it a run inside the house with the 12 volt adapter and it seems to go great guns. I would think it will be pretty effective in a small cab like the utes have. It has a cooling pack which you stick in the fridge or freezer and a bottle that you fill with cold water. The bottle is spring loaded and lets water out as it needs it.

The problem is reinstalling this bloody Cig lighter. I found a couple of blue wires, one of which went to the CD / radio and the other spare. I spliced the Cig lighter wire into the radio wire but when I turned the ignition the fuse blew. Tried it again and same result. I then hooked it up to the other spare wire and this time the radio stayed on when I turned the ignition, but as soon as I stuck the Cig lighter coil into the plug "bang", the fuse went again. It is not an earth problem as the Cig lighter earths itself on the dash.

One thing is for sure I am not an auto electricans asshole. Any ideas??

Guys,

I have just purchased one of those "Jaycar" evaporative coolers as city summer time driving and Dato Utes do not go well together. It plugs in to the Cigarette lighter but when I looked under the dash it appears that the mob who installed my CD player a number of years ago disconnected it as they must have needed the wires for the CD (nice of them to tell me).

Can anybody tell me how to hook this back up?? I would think that I would need to splice into the ignition system and connect to the battery. A wiring diagram may be useful.

cheesr,

Daz

Guys,

I had this cheap old crappy set that I bought aftermarket and they were ####. Very thin and would not screw up properly. I had some work done on my ute by Datsport in SA and I was suprised when they asked me if I wanted the real ones brand new. They are around $80 each but the real deal. Very solid and well worth the money. Ask for Barry 08 8186 2100.

cheers,

Daz

Guys,

I am very shortly going to stick in a 5 speed box and a TRX diff conversion into my ute which has an A15 with Twin Su's. While under there I as thinking that a bigger fuel tank would be very useful even though I get under 9 Litres / 100 km on the long trips with premuim unleaded. Should be less once the 5 speed goes in. I am pretty sure the ute tanks are only 30 litres as I have run out of petrol a few times and have not managed to get anywhere near 37 litres in the tank.

Looking under the ute it is possible to fit another ute tank on the passanger side. There is room, but how you would link the two with the tailshaft in the way would be difficult. The exhaust would also be an issue as it typically goes down the passanger side. Not sure I want a white hot exhaust within 100mm of a fuel tank!!

An option that has been put up to me is a 48 litre tank out of a Datsun 720 ute. Part of the bottom of this tank slots under the 720 cab but this would not work in the 1200 ute as the tank is to long. However it may work if you turn the tank 90 degrees. The problems here are the handbrake cable and tailshaft again. The brake lines would also be in the way but these can be modified. I am going to take some measurements this Saturday and will let you all know but I expect that this will not work. Anybody else have any ideas??


cheers,

Daz

The ute cross member will do the trick for an A14 or A15 in a 1200. But it needs to be out of a later model ute, 1976 or later. Not sure why but I think around thiis time there were a number of design changes to certain models of dato.

Daz

Guys,

This has been an intersesting thread to read and one of the best for a while. Getting away from all of this other sh*t and back to the original topic I would agree that modifying datos is an expensive hobby but well worth it in the end. I took a piece of $2000 rusted out 1971 dato ute crap and have turned in into something that I am proud to drive.

I have spent over $10,000 in the last 7 years on the following in no particular order:

1) Front strut swap with disk brakes and King Springs. 180B dual master brake cylinder. New front brake lines.

2) Rustoration and respray. Can you believe that I didn't get it all and I will need to have another go at it?

3) A15 upgrade with 25/65 cam, extractors with 2 inch exhaust system, Twin Su's. Engine bay resprayed. Sunny radiator.

4) Steering componenets from Sunnys, 120y's, Stanzas. 13 inch rims and lower profile tyres. Change over steering box.

5) New front guards, back tailgate panel, front bumper. Rhinotough ute lining. New custom made tarp. New windshield and rubber. New door seals & rubbers, window seals. Hood lining, carpets kits, Ford Laser seats. Sports steering wheel. Door trims. Pioneer Stero.

6) New Rear tail light assemblies, Halagen front headlight conversion. Driving lights.

That is most of it and I still have the 5 speed to put in (I finally got one), upgrade the diff to a H165. Install a larger fuel tank, modify handbrake cable as a result. Rust treat underside of tray. Fix the bloody fuel gauge, install a taco and various other meaningless gauges, another rust attempt and full respray, those pesky 1/4 window seals and I reckon I am about done!!!

Most of my mates reckon I am mad but it has been a labour of love and when I first took it out on the highway from Adelaide to Melbourne last week it went like a bird with power to burn. It turns heads and when you can #### on some wog boy in his souped up Commodore from a standing start at traffic lights let me tell you it is well worth it.


Go the datos.


daz

Guys,

Thanks for this. I looked at the spark plugs and they are a little white. It maybe running a little lean. I have taken the jet screws out by 1/4 turn each. Will see how this goes.
Thanks for the help.

Daz