1970 SPL resto finally started...

[funkaholik]

If anyone is interested in the velocity stacks, I got them from Mikuni carb builder Mike Malone, 831-521-8706.
The screened covers were purchased through Rob at Z Car Garage, 408-452-0350.

[funkaholik]

What I did for my Datsun today: I finally figured out how to imbed the photos from Flickr into my posts, instead of just showing a link. Or should I say, I finally bothered to Google it and learned how in 10 seconds. Then I went back and fixed all my old posts so that the photos would show. What a nerd.

[spl310]

Very nice. Great score on the washer tank. If you want some solid aircleaners that won't vibrate spot welds loose, and match the style of the valve cover, look at CB Performance. Inexpensive and well made.

[Gregs672000]

A very easy filtration option for stacks are the Ram Aire foam filters that fit over a pair of stacks. They are not tight fitting individual socks which are known to impede airflow around the edge of the stack, and allow for the "dome" of air to sit in front of the stack as what happens when airflow is unimpeded (from what I've been able to research anyway). Lots of controversy over filtration out there. I do plan to do a power run on the dyno with and without the filters just for my own curiosity.

[nismou20]

I’ve always found the various foam filters to be very restrictive? My present SU filter is some rain gutter screen shaped over a couple 3 in stacks all covered with my wife’s nylons. Not the most cleanest setup by far but hey it breathes nice!

[Gregs672000]

Restriction vs filtration... that's the rub! How much HP is actually lost? What size dust particles are allowed into the engine? Oiled or un-oiled? I asked the guys who run the 4AGE YouTube website where they test all kinds of things, including various velocity stacks with all kinds of designs on the dyno. He reported his Pipercross foam set up showed no HP loss and that's what he runs. He had not personally tested tight fitting velocity stack foam socks but did say he had seen "significant" losses when being run on a buddies car. It wasn't so much the material but how they shrouded the mouth/edge of the stack that caused an interference in airflow. On other sites I've seen 2-3hp difference with various filtration methods... bragging rights but not something you're likely going to notice on a street car. I'll run mine on the dyno soon to finally finalize my timing map, and will try to do a back to back run filter vs open stacks and report back.

[23yrRebuild]

Speaking of air filters and "quality" testing, I came across this YouTube video a while back. I thought it was pretty interesting, and possibly useful info.
I'm guessing this guy must be an engineer of some sort, from the way he conducts tests on all sorts of things, including adhesives, gasket sealers, etc., etc., the list goes on and on.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ3L-E-ufYo

[Gregs672000]

I too watched a YouTube video where they tested various pancake type filters for both airflow, hp and filtration. Basically no difference for hp etc on the dyno but significant differences in filtration, with the KnN flowing the most air and gaining maybe 2-3 peak but not really filtering anything. This was on a "low hp" daily driver, not a race car, so he noted that most stock systems/filters are designed for more flow than the engine is expected to require.

Sorry for the hijack of this thread! I'll stop now...

[funkaholik]

Last Wednesday, April 17 was the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the Ford Mustang. Bear with me here - Datsun Roadster content is coming! My local Mustang club did a 100+ mile drive through some beautiful Delta backroads, to the small town of Rio Vista. There we had lunch at Foster's Bighorn, a restaurant that's been there for 90 years, and the entire place is covered in hunting trophies from the 1920's and 30's. Everything from a small monkey to a giraffe and an African Elephant. Quite a sight.

Since my Mustang is currently disassembled, I brought the Datsun and they welcomed me to join in their festivities. It was a great day of driving and hanging out with car people. One of the cars in the group was a 1967 Shelby GT500 that the guy has owned since '73. Pretty awesome story.

A few photos from the day:

[fairlane292]

In the first picture, the S197 Mustang you are driving behind has no spoiler is likely an 08-09 S197 Bullitt in either green or black. I just sold my black S197 GT with 8k miles, last year. I had ordered it new with "spoiler delete". In all the years I had the car I never saw another GT with spoiler delete. Only saw some V6's and the Bullits with no spoiler. Most of the GTs were bought from dealer inventory and dealers would not be checking the spoiler delete box (there was no charge or discount for "spoiler delete"). All the money from the sale of that car is going into my Datsun roadster build. I've already had more fun and satisfaction in the early stages of the build than I had with the Mustang GT. They are nice cars but nothing all that special as driving experience goes.

[funkaholik]

Good eye. Yes, that is Tom's 2008 Bullitt. It is immaculate and he's won a bunch of trophies with it. Fun Bullitt fact: Suzanne Somers (Chrissy from Three's Company) was in Bullitt. She was 21 and it was her first ever listed role, though uncredited simply as "woman".

The blue '67 Fastback parked next to me in the church photos was a stripped "parts car" back in 1990 when the current owner bought it for $600.

[funkaholik]

Did a bigger, badder brake upgrade last week. During the initial restoration, I swapped the front brakes to the Volvo setup. It works well, but since I doubled the stock hp of the engine, I felt like it needed even more upgraded brakes. I got all the parts together and did Spriso's 300ZX brake upgrade. Everything went very easily and they work great! My Panasports clear the calipers just fine without any need for spacers.

While I had the front end apart, I also bolted on a set of Apex Engineered's quick steering knuckles. The shortened knuckles definitely make for quicker steering - it feels like a go kart now. Got my alignment redone and it's a hoot to drive.

Last thing I did was source an Infiniti G20 space-saver spare to help free up valuable trunk space on road trips. If I get a flat front tire, I'll have to swap a Panasport from the rear and put the spare on the back since it won't fit over the calipers, but the stock 14" wheel would have been the same.

Speaking of road trips, I'm joining a roadster caravan next Wednesday, starting in Cameron Park, CA, taking a few days to drive through South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Chester, Lassen National Park, Burney Falls, and finally to Shasta for the 40th anniversary of the Datsun show there. Round trip from home will be about 800 miles through some amazing scenery. If anyone else is in the Bay Area / Sacramento area and wants to take the scenic route to Shasta, come join us!

Some photos:

Original


Volvo


Stripped


300ZX


Wheels on


Caliper clearance


Micro spare

[fairlane292]

So on the Spriso's 300ZX brake upgrade, you buy your own rotors and is there then machining that is required on them?
btw, what was the front rim diam, width, offset? Thanks, Jim

[spriso]

Fairlane292 wrote:

So on the Spriso's 300ZX brake upgrade, you buy your own rotors and is there then machining that is required on them?

The rotors for our kit are made to our specifications from Coleman Racing Products-- they require zero machining-- it is a 100% bolt together kit. We provide the specs for the rotors with your brake kit order (they are not listed on Coleman's website).

If you have any further questions regarding our brake setup, please don't hesitate to send me a PM or contact us via our website.

Now back to Eric's post!

Michael

[fairlane292]

Oh thanks Michael. I will check back in before I place the order. Jim.