Hey, where's my car??

[MicVelo]

Picking it up today! Been in the Sea of Zs for a bit of freshening up.

Fuller report tomorrow. <===Sorry, bad pun for those that know where it is.

[PMG]

I am envious of your location, there are actual Datsun specialists that can care for our cars. Nothing out here in Illinois, except taxes and corruption

[Alvin]

Mic! Judging by the shadow and car placement in the photos we both snapped, I'd say we missed each other by a few seconds!


Excited for you!

[jrusso07]

Love the pics. Dont forget the dime

[Gregs672000]

Such a beautiful car. I don't like all reds, but I dig the color and the stripes. My wife recently got a different Z3 that's red. I've never owned a truely RED car, and at first I balked, but it's really grown on me, and we plan to add some black vinyl accents.

There getting some tuning?

[AidanDawn2000]

Red > everything

[MicVelo]

Thanks, all! Sorry I missed you Alvin!! Yup, that's where I left the car last week.

So yes, brought the car to Rob and Josh at Z Car Garage for a full go-through inspection and tune after testing my own mettle with basic stuff over last two years. They found a few items that were likely causing a couple of minor issues (that I wouldn't have ever tracked down). Even though I'm well versed on Z cars and even owned/raced my own SRL (when I worked for Datsun nearly 40 years ago... dayummmm, just realized I'm old ), finding gremlins around the SRL hasn't been in my personal tool chest for years.



Among the few issues:

- Fuel pump shim/spacer missing. Pump arm was too far in and contributed to the pump making inadequate pressure (and starting to wear the pump arm). This led to both hot-start and mid-high rpm stutter issues. Both issues gone.

- Also had what felt like a big parasitic battery drain from sitting. I'd tracked down what I thought was the issue, a huge aftermarket amp installed by the previous-previous owner that was drawing down the battery in key-off mode. I disconnected that (and am going to remove/replace with a "sane" four-channel unit) and thought I'd licked that problem. Apparently not completely as my battery cabling needed some work. (Or that I, ahem, created when I R&R'd the starter?) All fixed now. Still going to use my battery tender during extended garage sitting but now it won't be "required at all times."

Besides those items, a full tune to spec and some fluids. I should note that Rob doesn't usually work on roadsters so I feel very lucky he found a spot for me on their busy schedule!!

Some pics from my visit...

Oh, and Greg, I once said I'd never own a convertible or a red car. And now look... had two red (just sold my red S30) and still have two 'verts. And neither to accomodate a mid-life crisis. Haha!


See, Joe? I didn't forget Rob's Dime. Just thought it needed its own personalized coverage. My all time favorite 510.... subtle yet loud at the same time. Both in its looks and with its fire breather under hood.

A butt view following the post-work test drive.


Ahhh, yes, eagle eyed people note from above, "Wait, that white car there....."


I can almost always be assured to get a Skyline fix visiting the shop. R32.


Further proof that Datsun enthusiasm will never die. This - and all of the other S30s always there - are obviously owned by enthusiasts. I could eat off of this one.

Next, we move to the "Famous Cars for $1000 please" category:

If you follow Alvin's Z Car Blog, you'll recognize this immediately. Mister K's personal 240Z!


And a visit to the shop MUST include a shot of Rob's ex-Joel Anderson IMSA GTU car.


Finally, my favorite shot of the day, the famous #46 tribute car as driven by THE John Morton at Historic events. (Well, at least a few times last year as I recall.) Awesome.


After picking up my car and really getting into it, was going to head up to the hills. But alas, it started raining so, safe back at home in the garage with its little brother.


Oh, and then there was this...

[youtube][/youtube]

I was pleased with the results! (Despite the high rpm blowby. Not worried about that for now.)

[Alvin]

Excellent, another data point for U20/Solexes! That makes three cars with similar output of ~110whp.

Kurt's freshly built SRL made similar numbers, 108hp/114tq:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29922&hilit=kurt+dyno

Sora made 108hp/115tq:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17209&p=144219&hili ... no#p144219

[MicVelo]

Yep, Rob was telling me that exact same thing. I'm actually quite pleased with the numbers, considering not a lot was done. Timing adjustment and re-jetting of the Solexes. That's it. But the difference isn't so much what's on the dyno, but in the car's feel. I can now get past 4500rpm and spin it all the way up with little/no mid-high rev "missing". I guess I was right when I suspected a combination of fuel delivery and ignition (timing float suspected due to its inconsistency). Whatever combination of maladies caused it is of little matter, just glad it's gone (for the most part).

[2mAn]

Excellent, another data point for U20/Solexes! That makes three cars with similar output of ~110whp.

Kurt's freshly built SRL made similar numbers, 108hp/114tq:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29922&hilit=kurt+dyno

Sora made 108hp/115tq:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17209&p=144219&hili ... no#p144219

What cam are the cars running?

[Pjackb]

Excellent, another data point for U20/Solexes! That makes three cars with similar output of ~110whp.

Kurt's freshly built SRL made similar numbers, 108hp/114tq:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=29922&hilit=kurt+dyno

Sora made 108hp/115tq:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17209&p=144219&hili ... no#p144219

What cam are the cars running?

I believe both are running B’s with stock rebuilt bottom ends

[2mAn]

What cam are the cars running?

I believe both are running B’s with stock rebuilt bottom ends

Im not so sure. I read back through the BaT listing and it doesnt mention a B-Cam at all. Just says Mikunis and a Troy Ermish header.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1968- ... -roadster/

[MicVelo]

What cam are the cars running?

I believe both are running B’s with stock rebuilt bottom ends

Im not so sure. I read back through the BaT listing and it doesnt mention a B-Cam at all. Just says Mikunis and a Troy Ermish header.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1968- ... -roadster/

I have the receipts for the engine rebuild (from when the car was originally owned, even before the owner I bought it from). It's definitely a Solex cam (B). Engine is built to stock internal specs, but with the added comp goodies... oil pan, etc. Getting closer to the next ring & seals job as evidenced by blowby on the dyno.

[MicVelo]

So yesterday was "Carb Day" at Indy so as it's become a normal thing with me - unintended - I was out messing around with my "old cars with carburetors!" Unconscious or subliminal suggestion I guess.

So was out killing time in the roadster and somehow, it magically took control and I turned down Hicks Road and then when about to turn around to head home, it somehow or another took over my psyche and turned up Mt. Umunhum Road. (Those of you who have followed Alvin's driving threads know this place well. This is only my second trip up with the first a month or so ago but in my Z33, which I felt more confident driving first time up.)

Went from clear blues skies, temp at around 70 in the flatlands...



,,,to overcast, drop of some 20 degs and challenging light conditions.


But by the time I had gotten enough views from altitude, it was starting to clear. Beautiful no matter what!


And headed back down to Altitude 82' (San Jose), all clear again! Awesome microclimates and an exhilarating drive up/down.



Wasn't without its minor drama however.... on the descent, the car started to go clunk-ckunk-clunk in time with wheel speed. Check for flat, nothing. Hit the flatlands and it was getting worse. I knew in my mind what it was by then and confirmed it getting out of the car with socket wrench and lug socket in hand. Loose lug nuts! Yep, the car got a workout like I've never pushed it so if something broke, I'd get it... but.... lugnuts? Second time on two diff cars in the last year or two. Moral: I use a torque wrench so doubt it was operator error. So...Do not trust inexpensive lugnuts.

Have a great holiday weekend all! Er, wait.... have a great INDY 500 WEEKEND!!

[2mAn]

So was out killing time in the roadster and somehow, it magically took control and I turned down Hicks Road and then when about to turn around to head home, it somehow or another took over my psyche and turned up Mt. Umunhum Road. (Those of you who have followed Alvin's driving threads know this place well. This is only my second trip up with the first a month or so ago but in my Z33, which I felt more confident driving first time up.)

Growing up in Almaden, we drove Hicks Rd all the time, and I make it a point to try and drive it when Im up there with one of my own cars, but I am disappointed to say that I never have driven Mt Umunhum... Hopefully I can cross that off my list sometime in the near future