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!
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
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.
Yeep740 wrote: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:
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:
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:
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...
Woody66 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:49 pm
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 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:11 am
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...
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...