Laguna Beach,Ca. 69 & 70 SRL311's

[Vinnyz]

Well I managed to figure enough out (fuel and timing)..and got her fired up and running on high rpm idle but still dying or back firing to a stop.I'll dig more within the idle adjustments as I know the float bowls are operating well. Spark is strong at all four plugs. I remember massaging the SU's back in the day with taking them apart and really cleaning and polishing them well to get reliability and quick response. Maybe that's just the ticket as I can tell she really wants to purr!

[Solex68]

Just typing in to say hello from Laguna Beach Cali. I had a 68' 2000 with a VG30det for many years and it was my favorite car. Sold it when I moved out of state to Cali. Just bought a 70' 2000 to restore with a frame off and doing a SR20det swap. I have not hate for the U20's......I just love 3-400 hp in this lightweight platform.

Any Socal'ers nearby?

~Vince

Vince.
I am real close, Laguna Hills. Roadster Mike and I are buddies.
Text me {Same area code as you, 357-618 three} and I will drop by in my 311. I'm still loving the U20 but I do appreciate the swaps as well. The U20 just has a place in my heart since that was was what I had when I was a kid.
We may be able to swap some parts.

Greg Messemer

[Vinnyz]

Hi Greg! I'll text you today. Looking forward to meeting roadster peeps in Socal.

In looking at pix of stick carb arrangements, I'm noticing that there is a piece or perhaps one way valve missing in my line up.im also wondering if the prior owner rerouted the fuel lines backwards or bypassed things.
Oh well.. no glory yet for idle... I've moved on to getting the wheels/brakes unfrozen and managed to get all the fluids drained and cleaned for the brake master cylinders and clutch master. Nice hard peddle feel.
Looks like I'll have to pull the tranny... clutch fork is not moving! 22 years of sitting will cause so many things to corrode.
The rubber fork boot had turned into a high quality block of plastic. I carefully squirted PB Blaster on the fork area (not to get any on clutch disc) in hopes that MAYBE it will loosen its death grip and move!

[jsshapmd]

Vinnyz,

Welcome from another new Datsun owner a little to north of you in Glendora, Ca.

[Solex68]

Vinnyz,
I'll come down next week. My roadster had a battery cable break right where it clamps on the terminal so it's on break this week pending a better cable from Jegs.

[Vinnyz]

Vinnyz,

Welcome from another new Datsun owner a little to north of you in Glendora, Ca.

Thank you for the welcome!

Vinnyz,
I'll come down next week. My roadster had a battery cable break right where it clamps on the terminal so it's on break this week pending a better cable from Jegs.

Great! Love to chat with another roadster lover! I'm trying to stab the Pertronix igniter in and set timing etc. Almost there.I think,lol.

[Vinnyz]

Well, got some time and took my distributor out,cleaned it after full disassembly,lubed it and made sure everything was experiencing full range of movement and reinstalled....with the new Pertronix unit.
Checked harmonic dampner condition and demarkations.....cleaned plugs and cap......verified TDC on piston #1......cleaned rotor blade.

She fired up immediatly and for the first time in 22 years came up to full temps and revved free!! It took about 15 minutes for the smog to clear from the tail pipe....but runs clear now .
Now onto dialing the carbs in properly.

[notoptoy]

Congratulations! Great progress, enjoy!!!

[Vinnyz]

Thanks notoplay.......I'll have to pull the engine/trans next before I can enjoy.......throwout bearing is stuck from what i'd guess is corrosion from sitting.

[notoptoy]

Durnnit, , One step forward, 2 steps back strikes again!

[Vinnyz]

Durnnit, , One step forward, 2 steps back strikes again!

I figure once I've gone through revamping that clutch assembly and master/slave and hose etc........at least I'll KNOW its road ready instead of always wondering how long it would have lasted,lol.

I pulled the super crusty valve cover off and bead blasted and sanded it.....then painted it Wrinkle red today. Block sanded the 'NISSAN OHC" letters tonight. I'm trying to get all of the previous owners (plural) black paint bombing removed ....one part at a time. Once I get the SU's better synced and efficient, I'll sand and polish the housings, and replace all the old stripped screws with polished stainless. I for one really detest soft mild steel yellow zinc plated hardware. Waste of money and time.

As you can tell, I'm not much of a purist. I prefer upgrades when possible...or more like, no maintenance.

[Vinnyz]

I received a really nice visit Saturday from Solex68 ! It was really nice chatting with such a nice roadster guy.....and WHAT a cool car he has! I love that battleship grey with black canvas top and dark wheels. Really helps motivate me to get the crusty off mine.

[Solex68]

Vinny is a cool cat.
Lots of great ideas and knowledge. Knows early Zs and Roadsters. His U20 purrs like a kitten. Super smooth. It will be heading to Solvang 2017. Hopefully with RoadsterMike and myself as think we'd all get along pretty well.

We talked for 3 to 4 hours and would have gone longer but my better half was waiting for me to return home. This guy knows a lot about restoring cars and gave me some great ideas. Some I have already acted on.

My car didn't present well as my idle has gotten rough and I have something dragging down my car. it doesn't roll easily like it should.

[Vinnyz]

Vinny is a cool cat.
Lots of great ideas and knowledge. Knows early Zs and Roadsters. His U20 purrs like a kitten. Super smooth. It will be heading to Solvang 2017. Hopefully with RoadsterMike and myself as think we'd all get along pretty well.

We talked for 3 to 4 hours and would have gone longer but my better half was waiting for me to return home. This guy knows a lot about restoring cars and gave me some great ideas. Some I have already acted on.

My car didn't present well as my idle has gotten rough and I have something dragging down my car. it doesn't roll easily like it should.

Hahaha , Solvang might be a lofty goal for this polished turd Greg,lol.....but I'll keep after the phases. And your car is beautiful! Certainly gave me a boost in the arm for working on mine.

While back in Missouri over Thanksgiving I located some of my old Z goodies and shipped them out to SOCal in hopes to ready the clutch and flywheel update.....as I still have yet to actually drive the ol girl under her own power due to that proposed stuck throw-out bearing.

I want to see if my Tilton aluminum flywheel can accept the U20 ring gear so I can re-stud it for use with my Z car pressure plate and clutch disc. Money is super tight these days and I have to work with what I have for now.

Anyone know if the U20 flywheels are close to a s30 Z car's flywheel diameter? I've not pulled mine to lay side by side.

[Vinnyz]

A little update. Finally got some free time to pull the engine/Trans set with a few local roady buds. We discovered ( much to our suspicions) that the U20 had a light aluminum flywheel ,Atsugi Kevlar clutch and pressure plate. We installed a new ( Deans kit) clutch slave and hose and reinstalled the engine set. I'll have to dial in the last few bolts as time comes again.
Anyway...what a great find. Makes the purchase price feel better with each revelation!