New owner in the SF bay area (Antioch)...

[mellis18]

Welcome Rudy. You definitely have come to the right place. Bought my first Roadster a year ago April and the help on this site has been tremendous…and they don't charge too much. Good luck with the starter issue.

[notoptoy]

I second that you can get it out from below with out having to remove the carbs. If you have the original "Long" Roadster starter, replace it with a gear reduction starter to make the job easier. Check out the tech wiki for options.

[rudesvx]

Fyi the starter can be removed without taking off the carbs by turning the wheel and pulling it out through the small gap between the frame. It looks impossible but trust me that if you angle it right it slides right out. I'm close by in travis afb and willing to drive down and help get you driving to those car shows.

Wow, ACote! That's awfully kind of you to offer such a generous offering! I'm really awestruck! However, if you're serious, let me know how I can repay you and maybe we can set a weekend whenever at your convenience. That said, I'm seriously thinking of purchasing a new gear reduction starter and solenoid so I'll know that if the starting issue persists, then it's something else. I'll be double checking/cleaning all the ground/electrical connections, as earlier suggested, hopefully this weekend. I can't wait to get this car running on the road!

Tonight, I spent a couple of hours replacing the driver's side window as it was shattered before its arrival. Found a guy off of CL who was selling parts and he happen to have the replacement I needed. He's also sending a set of headsets that I recently purchased since mine didn't come with any.

Thanks everyone for your insight and suggestions! This is an AWESOME forum and thankful that there good people who share the same common interest.

[Skyman]

Fyi the starter can be removed without taking off the carbs by turning the wheel and pulling it out through the small gap between the frame. It looks impossible but trust me that if you angle it right it slides right out. I'm close by in travis afb and willing to drive down and help get you driving to those car shows.

Wow, ACote! That's awfully kind of you to offer such a generous offering! I'm really awestruck! However, if you're serious, let me know how I can repay you and maybe we can set a weekend whenever at your convenience. That said, I'm seriously thinking of purchasing a new gear reduction starter and solenoid so I'll know that if the starting issue persists, then it's something else. I'll be double checking/cleaning all the ground/electrical connections, as earlier suggested, hopefully this weekend. I can't wait to get this car running on the road!

Tonight, I spent a couple of hours replacing the driver's side window as it was shattered before its arrival. Found a guy off of CL who was selling parts and he happen to have the replacement I needed. He's also sending a set of headsets that I recently purchased since mine didn't come with any.

Thanks everyone for your insight and suggestions! This is an AWESOME forum and thankful that there good people who share the same common interest.

I have a new starter, just like the one Dean sells. It measures about 8 inches long. Let me know if you are interested.

[rudesvx]

I have a new starter, just like the one Dean sells. It measures about 8 inches long. Let me know if you are interested.

Thanks for the offer, Skyman. But, I'm going to go with the gear reduction starter.

Yesterday, I spent all day changing points, condenser, wires, cap, plugs, and fuel filter (transparent). Today, I changed the oil and filter and decided to take the car around the block. Again, she dies about 1/2 a block away. This time, she cranks. But, no turning over. Figured I flooded the carbs and decided to push the car the rest of the way back to the house. I checked out the transparent fuel filter and there was no gas. Just some gray matter trapped at the bottom.

I decided to try a something I read during research and disconnect the hose from the filter and blow whatever is blocking back to the tank. I blew until I heard bubble noises at the tank. Plugged the hose back to the filter and started her up. This time she turns over and runs again. I was able to drive her back up my inclined driveway into the garage under her power. I knew that I'll continue to have clogging issues with the fuel if I don't clean the tank out. So, I ended up dropping and cleaning it out with soap and water. Also, took some KY jelly to some rusty areas around the tank. I also checked out the sending unit and it looked like toast. Along with the fuel neck hose and panel grommet, I'll be ordering another from Datsun Parts on Tuesday. Will be dropping the tank off at a local radiator shop for some deep cleaning and sterilization. In the mean time, I plan to drill a couple of relocation points on the frame for the J-hooks that hold the tank as recommended on the forum.

fuel tank.jpg

[seabiscuit]

Welcome Rudy. Great intro story. There's so many similar stories from way back that get told here. I dig hearing them all.

Congrats and hope to see you on the road in the East Bay!
(I was hoping to see a Subaru SVX in your stable after seeing your screen name)

[rudesvx]

Welcome Rudy. Great intro story. There's so many similar stories from way back that get told here. I dig hearing them all.

Congrats and hope to see you on the road in the East Bay!
(I was hoping to see a Subaru SVX in your stable after seeing your screen name)

Thanks for the welcome seabiscuit! Would like to get together with you and other local owners in the bay area as soon as I get my car roadworthy. Hoping to get her going soon as I still need to get a vin verification done at the local dmv in order to complete my registration transaction and get my CA plates!

Well, I managed to get the newly cleaned fuel tank, w/ new sender, re-installed and replaced the in-line fuel filter with another fresh one. Also, replaced new air filter and rotor. The car runs smooth and will probably need some more tweaking with carb adjustments and/or timing. However, for some reason, my idle sticks high after revving a couple of times. It happens intermittently. I tried cleaning linkages with carb cleaner. But, issue still happens. Last time I drove the car, before I removed the gas tank, after I shift gears, the idle would stick high. I had to tap gas pedal to bring the idle back down each time I'd shift a few times. Still researching on that issue.

I have a new gear reduction starter that I'm planning to install this week and just ordered a new tach cable from Dean to resolve my non-working tach and oil-leaking tach cable. Slowly but surely, she is waking up again!

[notoptoy]

I would look to see if your Choke circuit is closing all the way - they stick sometimes. Then I would look at needle alignment.
Finally look at the throttle shaft plates - does the idle slow down if you push on the throttle adjustment screws on the side of each carb?

[FergO2k]

+1 on what notoptoy says. Don't add a second throttle return spring, all i''l do is wear out throttle shafts quicker. Make sure cables are nice an relaxed, when hot and cold underhood.
I have to double clutch into/out of second all the time, so throttle blips are commonplace. I used to have areal bad prblem with idle "hunting" as you describe, and once I went to E-dizzy (with all smog equip removed) it most all went away. Occasionally on a hot day it still gets a bit sticky.
Welcome to the madness.
That Vehicross in your signature is an unusual, rare bird.

[Dave_Car_Guy]

I have a new gear reduction starter that I'm planning to install this week

I did that R&R and you will LOVE what the new starter does for your car... I took some pictures and gave some tips on the R&R of the starter at this thread... I hope it saves you some time and frustration:

http://311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f= ... 4&start=15

[rudesvx]

@notoptoy...Thanks for the advice. I may be meeting up with ACote this weekend so he can help me with adjustments. Yes, the idle does go down when I push down on the throttle adj. screw. But, I need to push it down hard to get it to drop the idle. Not familiar with some of the carb terminology as I'm still learning. But will take you advice on the choke, needle alignment, and throttle shaft plates.

@FergO2k...I'm considering the e-dizzy. Is that the same as EI I keep reading about? Yes, my engine is smogless which makes thinks a bit more easier to navigate. Yes, the Vehicross is pretty rare. Only less than 5k in the US and a couple k more around the world. Great on and off the road. Will be using her to tow my 1600 to the dmv next Tuesday for vin verification registration if I can't get her tuned by then.

@Dave_Car_Guy...Thanks for the link. Your documented time and frustration in removing/installing the starter will definitely help! Thanks a mil!

As mentioned earlier, ACote may be meeting up with me this weekend to go over carb tuning and timing hopefully. If we're not successful, I'll be towing her to a local Datsun specialist after my dmv vin verification next week. The guy at the shop says he's currently rebuilding a 2000 motor there and will let me check it out. My goal is to get my new starter installed some time this weekend too. Anyways, onward.

[spl310]

How loose is your throttle cable? It should be so sloppy loose at the linkage that you can get a finger under it. (seriously). The sheath tends to expand causing the idle to rise.

[ACote]

Tried to help out Rudy Fri was able to adjust his carbs ok but the butterfly kept sticking so a good cleaning of the carbs was needed. The engine sounded great. We weren't able to get the starter out. I don't know if its possible with the super long original 1600 starter. It was close but no cigar. Were you ever able to get it out Rudy? Give me a call for any questions. Should be a great car after this!

[notoptoy]

With the throttle plates sticking, you need to remove the carb, loosen the two brass screws (careful they mar easily) and close the throttle to center. Check it a few times, then tighten the screws - that should stop the sticking. the bigger question is why are they out of adjustment? Two reasons, previous poor job of adjusting, or your throttle shafts are worn and sloppy allowing them to move about.
I have removed a long starter from a 1600 before, it can be done!

[rudesvx]

Tried to help out Rudy Fri was able to adjust his carbs ok but the butterfly kept sticking so a good cleaning of the carbs was needed. The engine sounded great. We weren't able to get the starter out. I don't know if its possible with the super long original 1600 starter. It was close but no cigar. Were you ever able to get it out Rudy? Give me a call for any questions. Should be a great car after this!

hey Alex...

Thanks for all your help, man! Really made major progress! Yeah, when you left, my bro and I tried to have another crack at the removal of the old starter by trying to remove the steering shaft as per your suggestion. However, that seem to be impossible too. Seemed that the shaft was pretty fused in place and could not come out no matter how much we pulled! Then, my bro in law suggested using a sawzall on the starter. So, I busted that out and cut off one ear and wriggled the starter out through the wheel gap. Finally! Replaced with the brand new gear reduction starter and new ground cable too.

After testing the starter, and getting good results, we decided to keep going and continue to clean out the butterfly on the rear carb with cleaner. Could not believe how much oily gunk was restricting movement and how free they were when cleaned! After re-installation, we fired her back up and she no longer had the high idle sticking issue! Yay!!! Unfortunately, she ran a little rough and backfired a bit when revved. So, I tried to re-adjust the dogbones back to original position and tweaked the air a bit. And for some reason, the fuel adjustment knob was not making any noticeable change in the idle when turned for both carbs. The car sounded great but would still need finer tuning for the carbs to get it perfect. We decided to take the car out for a brief test spin around the block and she rode great!

And this morning, I got brave and decided to take her out for an further outing around the area! She seemed to have pretty good power and managed to push her to 55! She drove great and was finally excited having to freely roam about the neighborhood and local streets!

Things that I noticed during the drive: my speedometer would bounce til I reach 40 and it actually works after that, turn signals worked intermittently and get mixed up with the high beams, and fuel tank guage is set on full even with lesser gas. I also noticed a few oil drops on the driveway and suspect it's only coming from the broken tach cable which I'm expecting the replacement in the mail any day now.

I'd like to hook up with you again Alex to do some further adjustments on the carbs and go on a drive with you. I just ordered a Edelbrock Uni-Syn carb adjuster via amazon which I hope to further learn to tweak my carbs more precisely as you've shown me. Thanks again for the help you given me as it will always be invaluable to me.