Intoduction from a Roadster lover in Australia

[glamoor]

Gooday from Cairns Australia.

Owned my 2000 Sports (Roadster SRL-311) since 1971..Just pulled her out of the shed from her 8 year sleep..Have been buying a lot of "bits and pieces " for her off your Ebay.com Very surprised to see so many parts still available and all you US folk swapping info and getting it on with your Roadies.
The engine fired up fine after I cleaned out the petrol(gas) tank, there was about 2 inches of rust settled into the bottom even the drain plug was blocked solid. The major drama I am about to face is a rebuild of the gearbox.. Synchro on first is not too bad but second crunches changing up and down. 3rd 4th 5th reverse are fine..I blame myself for the box as I was always a fast shifter down..into second mostly..for fast 90 degree turns at 60 mph.
The THRILL of it always gets me..driving down the road holding her in second at 4000rpm doing just under 35 mph (speed limit) and then BAM foot down head snaps back,Tacho flies to 75000 in about 3.5 seconds.Change up to third and away you flew.. Back in 1971not even a Ford 351 GT could catch you. I think that is why I have kept her these 37 yrs..Only those of you who have the sidedraft carbs and comp cam would know what I am talking about.. It seems that you are just driving along and enjoying the open road and the car "Talks to you" it "says comon give it to me" and well even at 54 I just can't resist it ..How things change my Son just returned from Japan and brought with him a 97 series 7 RX7
like this car was immaculate twin turbo..
This car is like an F1-11 with it's wings clipped.. way faster than the roadser. but nowhere as GOOD to drive..Well thats it from me now that I have made my introduction.. Bert Moorhouse Cairns Australia

[spl310]

Welcome! If you are trying to fix the gearbox on the cheap, I have been told that you could swap the 5th gear synchro for the second gear, but I have not researched that. I doubt that you will speed shift into 5th much...

[S Allen]

Welcome Bert-glad to have you on board with us.

Steve

[Primm69]

Hi Bert, and welcome! Nice to see another local (sort of!) sporty lover. I'm in Brisbane, and there are a couple of others around here who hail from the sunshine state also.

I'm assuming you aren't a member of our Qld club? http://www.earlydatsun.com/joinus.html That will take you to the membership form, and there's an email address there as well.

Look forward to hearing from you!

[wgb1]

Welcome aboard Bert.

Walter

[Nick64]

Hey Burt Welcome to the forum.
I'm in Sydney...if you hadn't guessed by the bridge.
Have nearly got my 1500 back on the road. I've yet to drive it .... don't think it will snap the head back but it should get the heart racing.
There are quite a few Aussies in the mix... All with good ideas and directions... esp Nissanman . enjoy the ride
Nick

[sgriffin]

You can easily and successfully use 5th for 2nd as Sid suggests. G'Day. Sam

[Craig Martin]

Welcome,
Great to see more Aussies on the site.

[mattywood]

If you can't get a 2000 box is there any others that you can mate to the U20? Such as box for H20, L20 or skyline etc?

[spl310]

The Roadster engines have their starter on the wrong side for most Nissan transmissions. The H20 would bolt on, and Daryl figured out that an early 80's Nissan Diesel pickup transmission works well too.

[mattywood]

Thats good news. I think I may have found a U20 to replace my H20 engine. Fingers crossed.

[Primm69]

The H20 that will bolt straight on to your U20 is a 4 speed.

If you want a 5 speed, and I can't see why you would bother changing a U20 into your car without one, then you need the bellhousing from a H20 engine out of an E20 van, and the internals from a 1970's Skyline. The E20 van gear boxes were a column change. Good luck finding one of those down here. After 2 years of looking I've just come across one.

Cheers.

[mattywood]

The H20 that will bolt straight on to your U20 is a 4 speed.

If you want a 5 speed, and I can't see why you would bother changing a U20 into your car without one, then you need the bellhousing from a H20 engine out of an E20 van, and the internals from a 1970's Skyline.

all sounding good so far. My current H20 is mounted to a skyline 5 speed. Not sure of the bell housing but from what you said I could be lucky.