My 67.5 SPL/SR20

[Alvin]

Definitely one of my favorite roadsters. Are you still rockin factory paint or have you done a respray during your ownership?

Not factory paint, but it was painted sometime in the late 80's by the PO. Lacquer!
A full repaint is on the to-do list.

[Gregs672000]

The nice thing about lacquer is you can pile it on and cut and buff it to a deep mirror, and you can fill chips and have them disappear. Then again, it chips easier, but it looks so nice!

[Alvin]

2008

I was contacted by Jeff Koch to do a photo shoot for Hemmings magazine. We never hooked up after several tries and eventually we did a shoot at Solvang in April '08. The feature was in Issue #44 of Hemmings Sports and Exotics, April 2009.
https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hsx/2 ... 96484.html

The author also wrote a driving impression on their blog:
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/index.php ... -roadster/
A few shots from that day:





I started looking for a limited-slip unit to replace my original open setup. From all the abuse, drag launches, track days, etc I thought it would be prudent and in my search I found the factory units to be expensive/rare. Best leave them to the real roadster racers is what I thought.

So I started a new project to replace the rear axle with a Mazda GSL-SE setup.

I got the Mazda setup from a friend ~ along with an entire stock roadster front suspension that was all destined for his roadster project.


Sold my rear end+NISMO leafs:


Neat thing about the GSL-SE axle is that comes with vented disc brakes, factory clutch-type limited-slip, and 4.08 R&P. All for a fraction of the cost of factory roadster LSD unit alone. It just made sense!
Axle about to be shortened:



While I was there I thought about improving the travel and getting rid of the skittering that comes with running the NISMO leaf rear springs. A 4-link with Panhard rod using coil-overs was the solution.

the build thread for this rear end is here:
http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... qa1#p65266

A new exhaust aft of the muffler had to be fabricated around the links/suspension.


Later switched to Eibach ERS500 springs (red), made a few height adjustments too:


My first order of business was to make sure the limited slip unit was working. A burnout ensued:
[youtube][/youtube]

I've put over 25k miles on it and it has taken a beating since 2009, still no sign of failing. We are thinking of doing a re-design soon.

Next up: 16" Panasports, over rider removal and a 1500 grille!

[Yeep740]

You should not do a redesign, but sell it to me, and start a new project!!........

[Alvin]

You should not do a redesign, but sell it to me, and start a new project!!........

Got married, and had roadster with a few other Datsuns at the reception:


2010
I got a set of 16" Panasports. Went through different sets of tires and sizes over the next 7 years:





Drove to JCCS in Long Beach, CA




2012
I wanted to run a 1500 grille. I went with Ross Mullen of Sports Imports and he did a brilliant job of restoring an old grille. You can see the installation here:
http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... 500+grille




The grille was rad but the front end looked busy. I was a fan of over riders for a long time and finally caved, removing them front/rear.
Before removing, I replaced the amber turn signals with clear ones:



Then finally removed the over riders:




2013
SS award at JCCS led to feature in SS magazine
http://www.superstreetonline.com/featur ... -roadster/


Did a track day at Laguna Seca with a '67 2000, it was one of my favorite roadster moments!

[RCMike]

2013
SS award at JCCS led to feature in SS magazine
http://www.superstreetonline.com/featur ... -roadster/

Which led to a new photo in every "rusted in a field but I wanna sell it for a lot" Craigslist ad..

[Alvin]

2014-2015
I didn't add/remove anything to the roadster.
Just Enjoyed The Ride.

Took her to Solvang

http://www.zcarblog.com/2015/05/02/even ... -show.html
Even tried a Spocom show:

http://www.zcarblog.com/2015/08/10/even ... -2015.html

2016 was a big driving year!
Mike Garrett of Speedhunters did a feature on it in January:

http://www.speedhunters.com/2016/01/lov ... -roadster/

In April was invited to participate in the 2016 Touge California rallye hosted by Japanese Nostalgic Car.
One of the requests of my co-pilot was that the exhaust must be quieter. To satisfy them we installed a larger muffler and added a resonator in the factory location. Much quieter:


http://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... ow#p238033

I drove all the way down to San Diego, back up to the rallye, and returned home! It was the most memorable automotive event of my roadster life!

http://www.zcarblog.com/2016/04/12/even ... eport.html

Visited Nissan Design America after the rally:

http://www.zcarblog.com/2016/05/08/even ... ornia.html


In October JNC invited me to be part of their booth at the Japanese Classic Car Show. I drove back down to SoCal again!
Before driving I installed a steering wheel from my collection. A BNIB MOMO Jackie Stewart:


http://www.zcarblog.com/2016/10/06/even ... -show.html




2017

Started off with a neat feature on Petrolicious. By far my favorite one as they mentioned 311s.org!

https://petrolicious.com/articles/this- ... es-to-tell

Drove to Solvang again:

http://www.zcarblog.com/2017/05/04/even ... -show.html

Did some sliding for a fun, family-made July 4 video:


And here we are! What's in store for the roadster after all these years? V.2 is coming stay tuned!

[Alvin]

Some pics from one of the rallye participants (with a real camera!) last week.

[Pjackb]

Man I love this dash , simply beautiful

[Alvin]

Man I love this dash , simply beautiful

haha thanks. It will look much better when I return it to the stock finish

[Woody66]

Bump
Alvin can you PM me? I'm new to the board and my PM's to you keep getting stuck in outbox and won't go through.

[Shamus980]

Alvin.. you’re an inspiration pal.. Each of these roadsters have their own personality. It somewhat reflects their owners as well. That’s what I like most of all. Whenever I get mine up to presentable., (I don’t want to say finished, in reality their never finished), I will make the pilgrimage to Solvang and hope to meet you and all the gang.... the evolution of your roadster is a great read. Shamus...

[Alvin]

Bump
Alvin can you PM me? I'm new to the board and my PM's to you keep getting stuck in outbox and won't go through.

Done!

[Alvin]

Alvin.. you’re an inspiration pal.. Each of these roadsters have their own personality. It somewhat reflects their owners as well. That’s what I like most of all. Whenever I get mine up to presentable., (I don’t want to say finished, in reality their never finished), I will make the pilgrimage to Solvang and hope to meet you and all the gang.... the evolution of your roadster is a great read. Shamus...

Solvang is a must-do, "presentable" or not!

[Shamus980]

Lol... Alvin.., I live in Chicago... I have to make it across 2200 miles in my Roadster that isn’t road worthy yet. Hahaha. But I agree.. it’s a must do but I wanna do it with my roadster. Call it a “Scott Fisher” aspiration...