Mothra SR20DE Swap in Florida

[Bigtaku]

I also installed a separate coolant temp sensor for my gauge and have the OEM sensor in it's standard plug.

Can you tell me more about this? Did you install the sensor in a different place? And have you driven it enough to get an idea of what the 'normal operating temperature" seems to be?

I placed the sensor for the speedhut gauge on the cast coolant tube below the distributor cap and forward of the dip stick. There is a flat spot on mine that was easy to drill and tap. As far as what my normal temp is now it stays right around 200 degrees even with the air conditioner going and I live in Florida so it's hot outside.

IMG_4218.JPG

[onsight512]

I also installed a separate coolant temp sensor for my gauge and have the OEM sensor in it's standard plug.

Can you tell me more about this? Did you install the sensor in a different place? And have you driven it enough to get an idea of what the 'normal operating temperature" seems to be?

I placed the sensor for the speedhut gauge on the cast coolant tube below the distributor cap and forward of the dip stick. There is a flat spot on mine that was easy to drill and tap. As far as what my normal temp is now it stays right around 200 degrees even with the air conditioner going and I live in Florida so it's hot outside.IMG_4218.JPG

Thanks Michael.

[GoldHawg]

Michael,
Love to hear an update on how the AC is going--any belt slipping since you elected to just go with the 3-rib pulley? Any noise or other issues?

[Bigtaku]

Michael,
Love to hear an update on how the AC is going--any belt slipping since you elected to just go with the 3-rib pulley? Any noise or other issues?

My air has been cold and blows nicely. I do have a moment of belt squeak when I first start the engine but it goes away quickly. I do not know for sure if it is coming from the compressor belt or the alternator belt, although the alternator belt seams to be the correct tension. The box that I have that reroutes the air on the top of the Vintage Air unit works well but it also makes air blow through all the vents all the time when the air is on. I probably loose some air flow because of this but I have plenty and I can close the vents on the dash if I want just not the defrost vent. Not a big deal and having more foot room is a big plus for the passenger. I haven't used the heater really but tested it and it works just fine. If I could put on a four rib I would but the one I have rubs on the sides of the pulley.

[Bigtaku]

IMG_4235 311.jpg

I am really enjoying driving a Datsun Roadster again. So much work accomplished and so much more I want to do.

[William]

That's a beaut! Nice work

[Mattk]

Michael really nice work! Hope to see in person some day!

Cheers

Matthew

[Bigtaku]

Michael,
Love to hear an update on how the AC is going--any belt slipping since you elected to just go with the 3-rib pulley? Any noise or other issues?

My air has been cold and blows nicely. I do have a moment of belt squeak when I first start the engine but it goes away quickly. I do not know for sure if it is coming from the compressor belt or the alternator belt, although the alternator belt seams to be the correct tension. The box that I have that reroutes the air on the top of the Vintage Air unit works well but it also makes air blow through all the vents all the time when the air is on. I probably loose some air flow because of this but I have plenty and I can close the vents on the dash if I want just not the defrost vent. Not a big deal and having more foot room is a big plus for the passenger. I haven't used the heater really but tested it and it works just fine. If I could put on a four rib I would but the one I have rubs on the sides of the pulley.

I now have no squeaking on start up. I sprayed on some belt conditioner and it worked like magic.

[Bigtaku]

IMG_4321.JPG

Little update to Mothra, Yesterday I had my new (bought it in Jan 2018) EZon soft top put on. It did not fit... I purchased it from Cabrio World. They have a 30 day return policy but said they would work with me because the top is way off in size from what it is suppose to be. It sure was pretty for a few minutes though.

[theunz]

Do you have the bows adjusted? One of them should have knurled knobs that allow you to extend the frame a little.

[Bigtaku]

Do you have the bows adjusted? One of them should have knurled knobs that allow you to extend the frame a little.

Yes, they were at the low point but extending them came no where near close enough. The top is 2 inches too tall in the back still and about an inch to short/wide in the front, compared to the top we took off.

[JT68]

Hi Michael, roadster tops are not easy to put on, so I know what you are going through.

We hear this type of description no matter who manufactures the top.

(Had the exact same problem recently from someone installing a Robbins top who had never put on a roadster top,
but had installed tops on other cars)

All that extra material at the rear IS why the top is coming up short in the front. You may need to have it in the warm sun (FL)

We always recommend having a good upholstery shop do the install if you can find an old guy that has done a roadster...

That’s what happened with the Robbins, customer took it to a shop and of course, it fit.

They can be a challenge.

I also typically avoid heavy canvas materials with the roadster as they are really too bulky which makes things worse. The thinner synthetic materials are much more compliant.

Suggest you lower the mounts fully, take everything loose at the rear except the rear bar, and pull it all forward.
It will likely fit.

After you get the front bar on, you will likely find things very tight in the back since you already installed all the rear fasteners and they look pretty “high” on the material rather than close to the edge.

Also, you don’t want to rely too much on the old top, since the new pattern will almost certainly be different in several ways. (No matter what mfg.)

Hope this helps, Best of luck!

[Bigtaku]

Hi Michael, roadster tops are not easy to put on, so I know what you are going through.

We hear this type of description no matter who manufactures the top.

(Had the exact same problem recently from someone installing a Robbins top who had never put on a roadster top,
but had installed tops on other cars)

All that extra material at the rear IS why the top is coming up short in the front. You may need to have it in the warm sun (FL)

We always recommend having a good upholstery shop do the install if you can find an old guy that has done a roadster...

That’s what happened with the Robbins, customer took it to a shop and of course, it fit.

They can be a challenge.

I also typically avoid heavy canvas materials with the roadster as they are really too bulky which makes things worse. The thinner synthetic materials are much more compliant.

Suggest you lower the mounts fully, take everything loose at the rear except the rear bar, and pull it all forward.
It will likely fit.

After you get the front bar on, you will likely find things very tight in the back since you already installed all the rear fasteners and they look pretty “high” on the material rather than close to the edge.

Also, you don’t want to rely too much on the old top, since the new pattern will almost certainly be different in several ways. (No matter what mfg.)

Hope this helps, Best of luck!

JT, I did take to a good car upholster. He says he orders from EZ-on when he needs a top and has installed a lot of tops but never a Datsun Roadster. He did recently install a MG and it went on perfectly. Do you know if the seam closest to the rear window should have the rear (rear, middle and front) support beam close to it or does it not have anything to do with that?
Thanks, oh and a photo of the inside of a top in the up position would help. My old top can't be used at this point.

[spl310]

The seam at the top of the rear window is where the rear most bar on the top frame goes - there should be tabs to wrap around it.

[Bigtaku]

The seam at the top of the rear window is where the rear most bar on the top frame goes - there should be tabs to wrap around it.

That's the thing, the bar is in the Velcro straps and the bar is at it's highest adjustment point and it is still very loose in the back.