New Roadster Owner/East Bay Recommendations

[Gauchomt]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Max and I just bought a 1970 Roadster 1600. I found it in Portland and trailered it back to Walnut Creek on Friday. I am the third owner and the car is in pretty good condition. The car needs some minor upholstery work, new exhaust and a tune-up. Can anyone recommend a mechanic that knows these cars? Also, what type of exhaust is everyone running and are you using a performance muffler? 2 inch from what I'm reading. This forum is a wealth of knowledge. Thanks everyone.

[notoptoy]

Welcome Max, nice looking ride! Lots of Roadster owners in that area. I’m sure you’ll get a few recommendations in short order. Certainly lots of choices for exhaust systems. It’s going to depend quite a bit on your budget - with anything from Cherry bomb’s to stainless steel full systems having been used with varying results. Other Considerations include the sound that you want and the look of the tailpipe.

[FergO2k]

Most exhaust shops will not want to do 2" because of minimal clearance thru the X-frame, so may have to do 1-3/4" up to there.
Make sure they put a 1" shim between muffler and floorboard when welding it up, then pull the shim. Because ground clearance is minimal, the tendency is to tuck it up tight, but then you will have a case of carpet-b-q. (ask me how I know.... what's is that unusual smell?)
Great looking car.

[fj20spl311]

Jim Taylor, JT68, makes a nice stainless steel system.

exhaust

[greydog]

Hi Max. Lots of options depending on your tolerance.
First, I think you'll find that there is no need for a 2" exhaust on a stock 1600 engine. Seems like most agree that 1 3/4" works fine and 2" will gain you little or nothing.
I have a header with stock muffler and Monza dual outlet tip on the 1600. Its a little loud if you push on the gas hard but usually not bad.
I have a new header, old Pacemaker glasspak with stock resonater on the '68 2000. It's a big quieter and doesn't make as much "bark" when under throttle.
JT makes a beautiful system that fits perflectly, all stainless so you'll never have to mess with it. JT's stuff is top quality and simply fits and works.
I've read of people replacing Turbo style mufflers because of drone and I've read of folks running straight pipes.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure there is a flex joint between the muffler collector and the exhaust. The motors tend to move around a bit and will crack a header (factory or aftermarket) pretty quickly without the flex joint.
Dan

[S Allen]

Max,

Welcome. I am in Antioch and there are a few folks in Concord that I know of. Looks like a nice car to start your roadster journey in. Is she a runner other than the issues you mentioned? Tune up should be easy. I agree with the fact that a 2" exhaust is overkill for a stock 1600. Is the whole exhaust bad or just the muffler? Fix only what needs immediate attention and start driving her. Enjoy.

Steve

[Pjackb]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Max and I just bought a 1970 Roadster 1600. I found it in Portland and trailered it back to Walnut Creek on Friday. I am the third owner and the car is in pretty good condition. The car needs some minor upholstery work, new exhaust and a tune-up. Can anyone recommend a mechanic that knows these cars? Also, what type of exhaust is everyone running and are you using a performance muffler? 2 inch from what I'm reading. This forum is a wealth of knowledge. Thanks everyone.

Hey Max
Glad to see you made it here, as mentioned you’ll really enjoy this site
If you can you should try to hit the Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic show next month you’ll get a year ok knowledge about these cars in a just couple of days and meet a lot of the folks that can help

https://solvangroadstershow.wordpress.com/

[Gauchomt]

thank for the heads up.

[Gregs672000]

Max, your head will pop off if you go to Solvang ! Very good idea really, as you can literally listen to dozens of cars and ask what they have! You won't find a more friendly and talkative group with no attitude anywhere.

Welcome to the family. I dig the wheels, they work well on the car.

[S Allen]

Met Max in person today as I was over at Dave P's where we are beginning the assembly of the stroker for the 66. Great addition to the roadster community and his wife even likes driving the car which is a real bonus. Well, at least until he starts spending money on it. Nice bones but needs a few things which were pointed out to him. We will have to schedule some fun runs for the folks in the East Bay some day. Not as much fun as the Sonoma Coast but I am sure we can come up with something. Max and Dave P talking roadsters.

20190406_115513_resized.jpg

Steve