Hello,

Thought I'd introduce myself and my build.

I recently purchased this 1981, 1200 ute with the aim of giving it to my stepson as his first car. He is on his L's and doesnt know I've bought it... yet.

The goal is to give the ute a tidy up and limit the mods to disc brake front end, paint job and resto. I'm not normally into resto's as all my other cars (old Holdens) I've built are modified.

I recently bought stanza struts and I understand these will need some mods like re-seating the spring perches, maybe cutting the strut down to accept a shorter insert from a 240z etc. I also think that my 81 model has all the correct control arms and radius rods for a bolt in fit.

Personally I never had Datsun's before but I suppose it's never too late, and there is alot of good info on this forum.

I do need a couple of things though.

where do I get a tonneau?
Also the tonneau hooks.. somebody has cut mine off at the rails edge, I am chasing a set of cleanly cut off hooks to re-weld on.

some pics of the ute... needs new sills and some other stuff I'm sure.



[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Ed74mnd/Datsun%201200/IMG_3477.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Ed74mnd/Datsun%201200/IMG_3481.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Ed74mnd/Datsun%201200/IMG_3484.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v128/Ed74mnd/Datsun%201200/IMG_3475.jpg[/IMG]

Cheers Ed

Change the IMG at start and finish of the links to lower case img

ahh thanks.. I was reading the FAQ to try work that one out.

So... I finally got started started stripping the tray and found some bodgey previous repairs and lots of bog...

the main affected areas being around the tub front and sides and wheel arches.

minor structural rust in the subframe.

rear quarter was rusty and wheel arch was all bog. I decided to remove the entire quarter to get better access to the inner areas and sill.

I am considering cutting out he entire rear tub floor and putting in a flat sheet. Does anybody here have access to a bead roller? I am in Sydney, would like to run a few beads in the floor if I go for a flat floor.

some progress pics.
rear quarter removed.. i hope the repro ones fit OK.




some of the tub rust.. made difficult by the amount of bog I had to chip out and the underbody deadener everywhere.. that stuff is crap.




the drivers side.. will need to remove the fuel tank and breathers to fix this up properly. thinking of just getting hte plasma torch out cutting it all out.



Cheers

Ed

Welcome and good luck with the build. Might be worth updating your profile with your location so that others know what area your in. I chopped my hooks off to smooth up the look...think I might have chucked them out now, but will have a check of the garage and let you know if I locate them.

Thanks for that... profile updated.

Cheers

Ed

i too am new and am also doing a ute build.

I will be cutting the hooks off mine (eventually) and you can have them.

Cheers

Ed, I had a search of my garage and have located 5 cutoff hooks..if you want them send me a PM with your address detaisl and I'll post them up.

Hi Cadet,

thanks for looking for the hooks. After all that I think I'm going to cut off the hooks completely now and smooth the rail and quarters...

initially I was thinking resto etc, but now Ive pulled the quarters off and sills and need to do the floors and cowl.. I figure.. bugger it.. Im smoothing it up,, Ive never been a restorer.

I really do appreciate your efforts to look for them and offer them to me too.


Cheers
Ed