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Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:02 pm
by notoptoy
The only problem with re-arching is that it will change the resting height and rake, which he wanted to avoid.
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:03 am
by mshort07
notoptoy wrote: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:02 pm
The only problem with re-arching is that it will change the resting height and rake, which he wanted to avoid.
Notoptoy- you’re correct. That’s what I’m trying to avoid. I can go up at most 1/2†but that’s all.
Re-arching - will that both raise the ride height and stiffen the ride, or ultimately just raise the ride height with the same spring rate?
I saw someone on an mg website add coil overs to a leaf spring rear end. He removed most of the leafs, but left one each side to locate the rear end. Then added the coil overs. Is that strange?
The helper spring sounds the easiest way to go, but my mind keeps coming back to taking a leaf from an extra set I have and adding it to my existing leaf pack on the car. Yes it will raise up but only the thickness of the leaf. It should stiffen it due to the additional leaf, correct?
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 9:40 am
by theunz
Since you have extra spring packs why don't you try swapping them out. You may just have a weak set. The rear springs on these cars are generally considered to be to stiff in the first place, so adding an extra leaf may result in a very rough ride and diminished handling.
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 4:28 pm
by mshort07
Well I figure I’ll try the re-arched spring approach. Resting height is reading, from my installed flares, an inch lower in the rear. So re-arch should level out and hopefully tighten up some??? I’ll let you all know how it goes.
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2019 9:19 am
by s15to311
mshort07 wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2019 7:03 am
notoptoy wrote: Mon Dec 09, 2019 11:02 pm
The only problem with re-arching is that it will change the resting height and rake, which he wanted to avoid.
Notoptoy- you’re correct. That’s what I’m trying to avoid. I can go up at most 1/2†but that’s all.
Re-arching - will that both raise the ride height and stiffen the ride, or ultimately just raise the ride height with the same spring rate?
I saw someone on an mg website add coil overs to a leaf spring rear end. He removed most of the leafs, but left one each side to locate the rear end. Then added the coil overs. Is that strange?
The helper spring sounds the easiest way to go, but my mind keeps coming back to taking a leaf from an extra set I have and adding it to my existing leaf pack on the car. Yes it will raise up but only the thickness of the leaf. It should stiffen it due to the additional leaf, correct?
I had a similar issue on a sunny truck we built a few years ago, the rear springs were way too soft combined with the truck being really low. We tried a few different things but ultimately we ended up using motorcycle coilovers for shocks. Admittedly we used a knock off Chinese brand, but it worked really well especially since the spring added additional stiffness. The added bonus is they bolted directly on with no modification. I'll try to find some photos, but this is the truck:
https://www.japaneseclassics.com/invent ... nny-truck/
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2019 9:25 am
by s15to311
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2019 10:01 pm
by Gregs672000
What a cool little ride that. Normally I dislike the stretched tire look, but this is not overdone and it fits the rest of the Car. It's nicely stanced, balanced, I like the graphics, and like a 620 pu it looks like it's moving when it's not. A more interesting engine would have been the icing on the cake IMHO. Of course, how it rode would make a big difference too, but it sure looks right sittin pretty! What happened to it?
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:51 am
by mshort07
Judgement day will have to wait. I got the springs off the car. In the process I dropped one on my finger. Ouch. Anyway, got the spring packs apart and re-arched. I ordered new spring pads so I’ll have to wait until next week to see how they sit.
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 6:47 pm
by mshort07
So the springs are re-arched and back on the car. It’s sitting a little high now. Going to drive it some more and see if they settle any. If not I’ll need to add thin lowering blocks to get it where I want it.
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 6:52 pm
by mshort07
A new question - is there a difference in speedometers? My transmission’s out of a 69 2000, 5 speed. My speedo’s out of a 67 1600. I noticed that my speedo is reading faster than I’m going. Is there a simple fix?
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2019 11:23 pm
by notoptoy
Two questions:
1) what rear end do you have - the 1600 or 2000?
2) What size tires are you running?
The combination of 5 speed and rear end will make the biggest difference, there are speedo pinion gears that go into the transmission with different teeth to accommodate the set up you have.
The speedometers function the same, but they have different displays for top speed I believe.
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 6:22 pm
by mshort07
I guess it’s the tires, 185-60r14, that’s the difference. I thought the standard rear ends were the same between the 1600 and 2000? Anyway, the rear end’s out of the 2000.
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Tue Dec 24, 2019 11:35 pm
by theunz
3:89 for 1600, 3:70 for 2000
Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:43 pm
by mshort07
Been some time since my last post. Not much done to the roadster, just sorting out some bugs. Had the radiator out again to be repaired.
Learned a hard lesson. Stick on wheel weights need to go a specific location on wheels so they don’t get thrown off.
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That’s two dents and cracked paint from where the weight hit the inner side of the fender.
Took my roadster and my 520 to a couple local car shows. Love hearing people talk about their Datsun memories.
DD25CFD3-5EBF-45FA-8BB7-DDBDAA54F99E.jpeg
D03D7751-1755-45CE-8ED8-9FBBFFFA19E6.jpeg
DBCEBEE1-134E-435B-B56C-FD055C4E1415.jpeg
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Re: My first resto project - all in
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2021 10:56 pm
by Dreymar
Too bad to hear about the dents! Nice local car shows.