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I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:09 am
by mattywood
Hi all,
This is my new toy. I have joined the roadster fraternity and couldn't be happier. Its a 1968 2000.
Good bits: restored chassis and body in 2006.
Not so good bits: No U20, solexs, 2000 trannie or 2000 wiring loom. It has a H20 (van not forklift) running twin sus with some locally made ceramic coated headers and a skyline 5 speed. The interior needs a cleanup but its really only cosmetic.
I drove it from Melbourne to Sydney (900kms) in one day with only one minor ignition issue with a loose wire. Apart from that it went fantastically passing many modern cars with ease. 120kmh at 3000rpm.
Plans: If I can source a U20 solex etc it will go back to original. If not then its off to stroker territory.
I will also be looking to fix the minor interior issues and put in 68 2000 wiring loom and add some 15" performance superlites. oh ya get overriders and chrome trim for windscreen.
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:07 am
by S Allen
Glad to see you finally scored one. Nice looking car. Enjoy the ride before you tear into it.
Steve
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:32 am
by spl310
S Allen wrote:Glad to see you finally scored one. Nice looking car. Enjoy the ride before you tear into it.
Steve
Sage advise from the Admin - heed what he says!! Also, since you have the H20, that is the same as a stroker. If you want to increase output, a weber/solex manifold and some 40's would bring it to life along with a new cam...
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:10 pm
by fj20spl311
mattywood wrote:
120kmh at 3000rpm
A quick check points to a .75 overdrive....
IMHO a much better ratio for touring than the 2000s .85 which would be turning ~3450 at 120 kmh
BTW, I have a .75 5th gear.
FJ20 SPL311
Phil
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:02 pm
by ppeters914
Congrats. Nice looking rig. What Sid said.
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:26 pm
by mattywood
S Allen wrote:Enjoy the ride before you tear into it.
Steve
Thanks guys,
Ya I know I should wait for big projects but a guys gotta dream. If I can manage it I would really like to go down the U20 path.
I took it out for a burst around the burbs yesterday and the power as is is fine. I will be working on the ancillaries first, missing buttons, fixing console etc.
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:28 pm
by wgb1
Welcome. Nice ride you got there!
Walter
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 9:25 am
by Sisko99
Nice car. Color is pretty sweet too.
Congrats.
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:00 pm
by ppeters914
mattywood wrote:If I can manage it I would really like to go down the U20 path.
Have you driven a U20 roadster? If not, I highly suggest you do before spending money to replace a perfectly good engine.
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:57 am
by mattywood
ppeters914 wrote:Have you driven a U20 roadster? If not, I highly suggest you do before spending money to replace a perfectly good engine.
only once and it wasn't well tuned. I was thinking U20 for originality and the sound of twin 44 solexs.
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:05 am
by 1600dave
Looks very nice. I was always admiring that one on carsales (or was it tradingpost ?) while looking for a fairlady of my own.
I'm a bit jealous too, as I ended up getting a restoration project a month back that will require quite a lot of work before I drive it - I'd love to have been able to just pick one up and drive off in it
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:15 am
by mattywood
1600dave wrote:I ended up getting a restoration project a month back that will require quite a lot of work before I drive it - I'd love to have been able to just pick one up and drive off in it
My search was only about six months. I missed out a some great cars. In the end budget determined what I can get. If you want a beautiful resto your looking at about $22-25k. Which car did you end up buying?
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:48 pm
by 1600dave
I ended up getting the "package deal" on ebay a month or so back - two fairladies in the one sale. One is a '65 SP310 and the other is a '66 SP311.
I don't mind mine being non-operational as I enjoy tinkering and restoring as much as the actual driving. Gets me down in the shed every now and then, away from the wife and kids
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:53 am
by mattywood
I had seen those on ebay very good buy for the price. post some photos of your resto project. are you doing the white one first?
Re: I finally found my first Roadster in Melbourne
Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 9:22 pm
by mattywood
My little roadster is starting to come together.
I just bought a rebuilt U20 and box and I got given a repairable set of chrome for the side of the car. Motor and box will be in the car mid next year once I get some rebuilt Solexs off Lou Mondello in Melbourne. I have rebuilt my konis and got some lowered front springs and volvo 360 rears. My interior is 80% rebuilt, just the carpet and steering wheels to finish off. I am half way to saving the $$ for my superlites and yokohamas. Oh ya and I have started to hoard parts, I got a hard top in need of a rebuild off a club member. Here is the first of my latest pics.
