Thank you guys for all of your help, it took me some time to find the posts that I'd written and to find your reply, haha.
Yes, my Datsun 210 is an automatic, we figured it was a three speed since it has a hard time going up steep hills, hehe.
Today it started to rain a bunch in Seattle, and my left windshield wiper stopped working:p I'm ordering front shocks because I think the lady who owned it previously hadn't replaced really anything since 1982:/ but anyhow, thank you for all the advice:) does anyone know if a datsun 2.0 liter truck engine will fit in my car? eventually I will look for a 4 speed, I've looked at a few junk yards but the few datsuns there had, had them taken out already :p
anyhow, thanks thanks:)

---Allie