Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Alvin wrote:^ WHAT?!?!!! More details please! Did I miss the build in the engine swap section? That is THE cleanest V8 swap I've seen into a roadster would love to know more.

Agreed! Inquiring minds want to know more!

Dave_Car_Guy wrote:

Mainer311 wrote: That motorcycle...it seems out of place.

It might seem so, but not in the context of my life. Every vehicle in the garage is a touchstone for some point in my life. When I started collecting cars a few years back, I went for things that had meaning to me. The 1985 Ninja 600 was the first thing I bought right out of college. I was riding one just like it when I met my wife (now 26 years married). The 1968 Datsun was the car I drove off in when I went off to college and worked my way through it as a grease-monkey at the Montgomery Ward Auto Center. The 1986 Porsche Turbo was the dream car I wanted when I first started making money in the world. The Aston Martin was the first new car I really had to have... bought after I was made a Partner in my investment firm in 2006. The Fisker Karma and Latigo were the result of investments I made. The Cayman was a way to save all the money I was spending driving Skip Barber cars once I wanted to start racing/tracking. The Corvette was the car I wanted more than anything in High School. And the McLaren? Well... It's just fast as balls. So, my garage is me. I love that bike.

Cool. Thanks for sharing. Now maybe someday I'll have my Shelby Cobra. Or at least a kit car.

jhayden wrote:She runs and drives, but my job currently interferes with final touches -- looking forward to summer.
Thanks to all for helpful submissions to this site, and to Steve.
Jon

HOLY LT1 Batman, that's beautiful!! I can't imagine the sound she must be putting out! I particularly like the LT1 badging on the side, warning would-be pursuers (as if the side pipes aren't enough to do that!)

Mainer311 wrote:

Dave_Car_Guy wrote:

Mainer311 wrote: That motorcycle...it seems out of place.

It might seem so, but not in the context of my life. Every vehicle in the garage is a touchstone for some point in my life. When I started collecting cars a few years back, I went for things that had meaning to me. The 1985 Ninja 600 was the first thing I bought right out of college. I was riding one just like it when I met my wife (now 26 years married). The 1968 Datsun was the car I drove off in when I went off to college and worked my way through it as a grease-monkey at the Montgomery Ward Auto Center. The 1986 Porsche Turbo was the dream car I wanted when I first started making money in the world. The Aston Martin was the first new car I really had to have... bought after I was made a Partner in my investment firm in 2006. The Fisker Karma and Latigo were the result of investments I made. The Cayman was a way to save all the money I was spending driving Skip Barber cars once I wanted to start racing/tracking. The Corvette was the car I wanted more than anything in High School. And the McLaren? Well... It's just fast as balls. So, my garage is me. I love that bike.

Cool. Thanks for sharing. Now maybe someday I'll have my Shelby Cobra. Or at least a kit car.

I've always had a soft spot for the Cobra's too so I picked this up about ten days ago: It's an ERA kit that weighs in at 2200 pounds and has a 500 HP 351 Windsor built by Andy Dalool performance. Also has a wet nitrous setup capable of another 450 HP but the car is already so scary fast that I haven't even played with that yet.
[rimg]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/instdoc/_fcoo57_zps1744d19a.jpg[/rimg]
Had a little trouble squeezing it into the garage but she fits! Top left is a 67 Firebird convertible with a very well built 400 and a GTO tri power setup. Top right is SRL00489 which is restored to pretty much stock condition and bottom right is a 65 Corvair convertible. (Which as you can see has clearly marked it's spot)
[rimg]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/instdoc/20150124_130756_zps898f2f88.jpeg[/rimg]
Not at home right now is the 67.5 SPL with an SR20VET which should give the Cobra a run for it's money. Yes that's Kevin on the left checking out his handy work
[rimg]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/instdoc/santamonica2639_zps2a6aac52.jpg[/rimg]
And last but not least is SRL00003 still waiting for re-assembly
[rimg]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/instdoc/00003painteddissasembled012_zpsdf52a08e.jpg[/rimg]

Jon
Huntington Beach

This makes me want to come out to Jon's place and play in his garage. Dual lifts? Dang, you are the man!

The '67 Firebird Convertible is one of my favorites. Jon your collection mirrors what I dream of owning!

caraddict wrote: [rimg]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/instdoc/20150124_130756_zps898f2f88.jpeg[/rimg]
Jon
Huntington Beach

Hey Jon, nice collection. I have 2 questions for you.
1)How tall is your garage ceiling?
2) What brand lifts do you have?

I'm considering adding one if I can make it fit.
Thanks, Dale

Damn, nice Cobra. Even has real spinners on it. 351 Winsor is a nice engine. I'd have to have downdraft webers on it, without a doubt.

notoptoy wrote:The '67 Firebird Convertible is one of my favorites. Jon your collection mirrors what I dream of owning!

L320 wrote:

caraddict wrote: Jon
Huntington Beach

Hey Jon, nice collection. I have 2 questions for you.
1)How tall is your garage ceiling?
2) What brand lifts do you have?

I'm considering adding one if I can make it fit.
Thanks, Dale

Mainer311 wrote:Damn, nice Cobra. Even has real spinners on it. 351 Winsor is a nice engine. I'd have to have downdraft webers on it, without a doubt.

spl310 wrote:This makes me want to come out to Jon's place and play in his garage. Dual lifts? Dang, you are the man!

I wish there was more room to play Sid but unfortunately it's pretty cozy as I pretty much used every available inch to store the cars.
Thanks Tom and I've drooled over your Impala convertible a few times myself and if I had more space would likely be searching one out.
Hi Dale, my garage ceiling is only 8 feet 5 inches high so I had to modify the ceiling to clear the windshields for the cars on the lift. The lifts are made by "Direct Lift" and I purchased them through Best Buy Auto Equipment. (Phone 855-275-5141) Cost about $2000 each plus tax and installation so grand total around $2500.00 ea. They actually make a unit that will lift two cars side by side but I purchased mine on two separate occasions so I missed the boat on that one.
[rimg]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/instdoc/20150204_175926_zpsb630cb45.jpeg[/rimg]
I'm pretty pleased with the way the engine performs now and I'm not sure how the downdrafts would get along with the nitrous. The car originally had fuel injection but was changed over to a highly modified 750 Holley when the NOS was installed.
[rimg]http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn193/instdoc/_eng57_zps9a3fde15.jpg[/rimg]

Damn, look at all those AN fittings. Purdy.

OMG Jon, I had no idea you had a collection like that! Wow, I too have a real soft spot for the Cobra. There is a "chrome" one that runs around here.

[rimg]http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q726/SkymanSLC/IMG_20140622_183111_587_zps26500164.jpg[/rimg]

caraddict wrote:
Hi Dale, my garage ceiling is only 8 feet 5 inches high so I had to modify the ceiling to clear the windshields for the cars on the lift. The lifts are made by "Direct Lift" and I purchased them through Best Buy Auto Equipment. >>Snip

Thanks Jon,
Direct Lift is one that I have been considering. My ceilings are 9'. I may look into finding someone who could tell me if its possible to modify my ceiling height or possibly do it. If I attempt, my luck the house would fall down. LOL.
Thanks for your info.
Dale

Dale -

Depending on how your roof is constructed - specifically, the direction of your roof trusses, the modification to the ceiling is either straightforward, or a considerable pain. With a gable roof, meaning a roof that looks like there is a vertical triangle in plane with your garage doors, you would typically have your trusses running perpendicular to the garage doors - this would be the ideal scenario. Most often on 24" centers, you would hopefully be able to align the car on the hoist such that when lifted, the windshield would go up between the trusses. Same thing if you have a rollbar. For a finished ceiling, you would simple build a box between the trusses - this could get complicated by a shallow roof pitch... Worst case, you can header off the trusses to cut one bottom cord out to make a bigger hole, this gets more complicated and might need some basic engineering - less of a concern for you guys with no snow load to worry about...

Post a pic of your garage...
With a cottage style roof, (Slope on all 4 sides) - it gets more complicated depending on which side the hips are built on...

The other important thing to consider is the garage door clearance. You can often make this easier by getting a side mount opener (Liftmaster make the best ones in my experience and they are reasonable). This takes the clearance challenge away in the middle. Next, you likely need to have your tracks adjusted to get your door up as close to your ceiling as possible. This usually takes a good garage guy an hour to do and costs $100... assuming a pretty straightforward scenario - lengthening the track and sometimes going to different elbows at the top.

David, Thanks for the detailed post, it helps. I will get up in the attic and take a look tomorrow, I cant remember which way the trusses run.

Dale

Jon, have you seen the Weber IDA style fuel injection? I saw one of those setups with nitrous...