Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

So I was turning the wheel today with the car on jack stands and heard a rubbing/scraping.

Of course, I've rarely turned the wheel in this car...since it just sits in place, and if I ever did previously, the tires squeaking on the floor may have drown out this sound.

Anyway, from what I can tell, the very bottom of the throttle return spring is just barely touching the steering column, causing the sound. Anyone have this happen before?

Yes, your heat shield is probably bent out a little bit, or it has developed cracks where the bolts go into the manifold. You can try to gently bend it back, but likely will need to get it rewelded/repaired or get a new one from one of the vendors like JT.

I did try to run my finger along the heat shield, as my first thought was that it was rubbing on the column, and it may touch (it's awful close), but from what I could tell, the sound only went away went I moved the throttle spring. The very edge of the bottom hook of the spring.

Does the heat shield position somehow affect the spring as well? I should've grabbed a light to get a better look at it, but I was in a rush. Maybe I'll get some time after work today to get a better look at everything.

Thanks for the input!

LOL at myself. Home from work now and took a look with a little bit of light, and yeah, I guess since that spring hooks to the heat shield, they might be related, and that's why the spring hook isn't quite in the right spot.

Thanks...at least I posted in the Stupid Questions forum...

We had faith that you’d figure that one out!