A/C fixed, just in time for spring

A/C compressor had frozen up and threw the belt. Hunted down a used compressor from a junkyard on the east coast and got it for $100.

Spent saturday pulling the dead one out and putting the used one in. Tested the system for leaks and then added the good old Freon to it.

Presto! It worked like a champ. Getting the monster belt back on it proved to be quite a pain but it went back on.

Hooniverse

Just Googled a 78 Datsun 810 wagon... and behold a posting on Hooniverse about my car.

We to be exact, this is the second posting about the 810 wagon;

before I bought it.
http://hooniverse.com/2010/09/04/hooniverse-craigslist-search-four-different-datsun-810s/

and after I bought it.
http://hooniverse.com/2010/12/29/hooniverse-wagon-wednesday-the-hooniverse-1978-datsun-810-wagon-finds-a-new-owner/

Success

Got a new heater control valve from Japan just a few days ago! What a find, thanks to zman who restores Z's in Snohomish WA. Thanks to his connections I was able to get a new one shipped right to my door. Need to get it installed and back in the car to get her back on the road.

A few bits of progress

Took off the old tie rod ends. Didn't seem like there was any play in the steering but the boots were ripped.

Replaced them with new and discovered that after only 60,000 miles, there were shot. Loose as can be.














Car is out of commission right now waiting for a new heater control valve to come from Japan.

The estate seller told me it needed a new radiator since the water level would drop. Turns out it was leaking into the carpet in the car. Once the car warmed up I smelled coolant and the windows started to fog.

Drained the system and took out the heater box. Hoses were really crusty as well so replaced those too.

Few more pics of the car

I just love the dash layouts of all these 70 and early 80's japanese car. This one is right up at the top, much like the Toyota Supra and Celicas with the nacelles and small pods for the extra gauges.










Nice center stack with A/C. has no vent function, just fresh or recirc with A/C on. Chrome trim around everything. And has the old "digital" clock that even shows the seconds.















Information center shows when the headlights, tailights and break lights are on... these aren't the kind of lights that show you what has burned out.

Love the little extra design element at the bottom of each stack as a place holder.

This is not the only place that these little icons appear.





Tach and speedo showing 60,228 miles. And that is what I call a survivor.












Nice set of nacelles with oil pressure, fuel, temp and voltage. Love the way they are angled to the driver and tucked in the dash like the 280z.

All this in a wagon with an automatic!









Nice shot down the side of that fab wood grain! Nothing better than a piece of Japanese Americana... is there such a thing?

Why do I do this?

Every time I see a vintage japanese car, I HAVE to buy it.

I'm lucky if it is out of state, or on eBay and has an auction time ending where I cannot be the highest bidder.

But when the car is in Seattle... and I live in Seattle... I feel tremendous guilt that I have to be the one to save these cars.

I saved it. Had to. Now I am back up to 15 cars.


Great car though. Pick it up tomorrow from the seller.

60K survivor and the car shows it well.

Sigh....

At least it is the first wagon I have that has wood grain... and plaid!