Last month I acquired a 1969 SRL / 2000 Roadster out here in the East Valley. It seemed like a risky endeavour as the last tag on the car was from CAL/1999 and has sat unmoved in the same garage since 2005.
Pretty much everything will need to be gone through but the more dust I wiped away something told me there were some good bones to this car. I spent the first couple of weeks just detailing and was pretty pleased with the way it cleaned up. Back in the day, someone was taking good care of this car. Another bonus is it really looks like the U20 engine has been recently rebuilt. Extremely clean inside and out. In fact, I have my doubts as to whether it has ever been fired.
The engine/trans was bolted in but pretty much everything else was just 'sat' in their perspective place and not mounted. Intake manifold, radiator, carbs, airbox, exhaust manifold, etc..
The bad: I am finding more and more missing bits. Half the lug nuts were missing and in the process of replacing those I looked underneath to see the driveshaft gone. Radiator supports, hood prop, hoses, horns, the pricey oil pressure gauge hose, etc... So the internet scour ensues and I am just trying to collect everything needed to make the car complete and ready for a test fire.
I got rid of the emissions gear so it appears a recurving of the dizzy is needed according to experienced roadster owners online. Water flowed well through the stock radiator with no rust or cloudiness so I may keep that for now, however, the 3 row aluminum ones are rather cheap on Ebay these days. Just not sure if they are indeed 30% better than stock as claimed.
An interesting back story to the car, it was owned by the former President (CEO) of Nissan, Bob Thomas and his wife Avis. In fact, their registration from 1998 was still in the glove box. My hopes are to have it back on the road this fall if everything goes well.
Photo is how the car looked the day we got it home. Lots of dust, with mouse droppings inside the engine bay and cat claw scratches on the hood.
69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
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Re: 69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
Nice to have another fellow Roadster owner on the site. If you're looking for bits for your Roadster call Scott Davis in the west valley. Scott parts out Roadsters and always has a fair amount of parts. His number is 623-204-2130. Don't hesitate to PM me if I can help you in any way.
1967 1/2 Roadster- 1600 4 cyl.
1972 240Z- 280 I-6
1976 710 Wagon- L20B 4 cyl.
1977 620 King Cab - L18 4 cyl.
2003 350Z Track- VQ V-6
1972 240Z- 280 I-6
1976 710 Wagon- L20B 4 cyl.
1977 620 King Cab - L18 4 cyl.
2003 350Z Track- VQ V-6
Re: 69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
Whatever happened to this Roadster? On the road yet? Sold? Sitting?
1967 1/2 Roadster- 1600 4 cyl.
1972 240Z- 280 I-6
1976 710 Wagon- L20B 4 cyl.
1977 620 King Cab - L18 4 cyl.
2003 350Z Track- VQ V-6
1972 240Z- 280 I-6
1976 710 Wagon- L20B 4 cyl.
1977 620 King Cab - L18 4 cyl.
2003 350Z Track- VQ V-6
Re: 69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
I still have it Randy. That "new" looking engine turned out to be junk. I got it running but it was knocking so bad that I had to take it into a local shop. After a teardown he discovered the PO had really done some hacking trying to make non standard parts work. The head, block, pistons, etc were not useable.
To save myself further headaches, I sourced a rebuilt U20 out of Alabama and had it sent out. A simple drop in and have put maybe 100 miles on it so far. Seems to run well although can use a little dialing in. Now that the weather has cooled I want to try and log more miles. I know fuel gauge is an issue. Driving in 100+ temps the temp gauge creeped up 3/4 way to HOT which I did not like but maybe that is just normal for these. Shifts well and is pretty quiet so looking forward to this winter and driving it more.
To save myself further headaches, I sourced a rebuilt U20 out of Alabama and had it sent out. A simple drop in and have put maybe 100 miles on it so far. Seems to run well although can use a little dialing in. Now that the weather has cooled I want to try and log more miles. I know fuel gauge is an issue. Driving in 100+ temps the temp gauge creeped up 3/4 way to HOT which I did not like but maybe that is just normal for these. Shifts well and is pretty quiet so looking forward to this winter and driving it more.
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Re: 69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
That AL radiator is definitely worth the expense. I have one in ALL of my 9 classics, if that tells you anything.
If original appearance is a concern, powder coat the tanks satin black and never mess with it again.
If original appearance is a concern, powder coat the tanks satin black and never mess with it again.
58 P220, 63 PL312, 64 NL320, 65 SPL311, 66 411 2-door, 67 WRL411 stroker, 68 510 SR20, 72 S30 RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13 coupe, 92 Silvia, 92 SE-R, 98 S14.
Re: 69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
Aaron, I'd love to see that car out and about. I'm running a stock radiator and mine tends to run right about 180 degrees using my infrared and about 190 degrees on the gauge that Paul just fixed an d calibrated. Of course Greg's right if you want to be sure it runs cool go aluminum. Are you running the correct fan shroud? It makes a huge difference on these cars. Does your fuel gauge work at all or is it just not accurate? Good thing is it's so easy to pull the sending unit out to inspect it and move the arm through the full arch to verify if it's the sending unit or the gauge. Car looks decent!
1967 1/2 Roadster- 1600 4 cyl.
1972 240Z- 280 I-6
1976 710 Wagon- L20B 4 cyl.
1977 620 King Cab - L18 4 cyl.
2003 350Z Track- VQ V-6
1972 240Z- 280 I-6
1976 710 Wagon- L20B 4 cyl.
1977 620 King Cab - L18 4 cyl.
2003 350Z Track- VQ V-6
Re: 69 SRL/2000. 'The Presidents Car'
Yes, stock fan shroud. Fuel gauge rises to 1/8 tank and stops no matter how many gallons added. The sender was moving freely when I had the tank acid washed over a year ago. Have yet to troubleshoot any further as another car has been consuming my free time. Hopefully will get it sorted soon. Thanks.