The Brown Hornet - as NEW 1971 240Z - SOLD

[acf321]

Hey Dave,

 

Thanks so much mate, appreciate the kind words. Must say, yours and others on here like John's AMG car are total works of art, mine ultimately a fairly standard car (with hopefully a good sting in its tail!).

 

Gav just mentioned he might like to pop over if James is there tomorrow, so if that's the case I can meet Gav, and take some more pics. Suspect i'll be looking for a milk crate or spare tyre to throw in there to AT LEAST drive the thing around the industrial park. I have never ever driven this car, as it was a total pile of p00 when I bought it. God it's been epic build!

 

Adam

[KatoKid]

Epic is a great description!

 

Your tenacity and perseverance speaks voumes for the quality of the build....put another way....you only get out what you put in...

[PeterAllen]

Well done Adam - I hope to be in a similar position to you this time next year.

[acf321]

Had to write this up ...

 

Just back from seeing the Hornet down at Jim's MIA Engine Service where I met for the first time Gavin Doolan (who I briefly mistook for a rock star!). Good news is the car starts and runs, but needs tuning. James said he wants to take off the carbs and re-seat as there is a slight vacuum leak, and idle speed is yet to be set. First thing I noticed was just how quickly the engine revs, I guess as a result of the very light flywheel in it. One breath on the throttle and very fast throttle response. Gav took a movie, so depending on quality we'll post that up today or thereabouts. We saw a nice and big backfire through the front carb too - with flame! - that may also be in the vid.

 

Car is lowered at the rear and front, but may need just some adjustment as time passes and the interior is completed and the car settles. Despite concern over clearance, there is plenty below the car wrt the exhaust, so at least that won't present a problem. Sound is very nice too, without being obtrusive or plain loud. Thanks to Peter Mac, I can highly recommend the Mangaflow mufflers. James build a very smart looking heat shield too, that sit atop the engine pipe and runs under the passengers (Wife's) seat.

 

We took out the old struts, but I note they are Koni Red. I have no idea of condition (they look clean), but if anyone wants a set of red koni's for their Z, let me know.

 

Here are the pics, Jims car is in the foreground!

 

Adam

[acf321]

more pics

[acf321]

and the last one.

[mossy]

Good stuff Adam, looking forward to movie 

[gav240z]

Hey Adam,

It was great to see your car and James' car (again) and of course meet you. Car is looking great. Here is the video I took, unedited and raw, but the quality is pretty good apart from the noisy skyline on the rollers in the background.

 

 

You can see the back fire through the carb if you look carefully at the second carb.

 

As I said in person the colour looks even better in person than the photos or video for that matter.

 

I would call it almost yellow, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

[acf321]

Thanks Gav,

 

Shame about that roudy Skyline, but I think the video gives us a reasonably good idea of what's what. I could hear that slightly whiney kameari chain adjuster too, which made for a slightly more metallic sound. I saw that flame, very quickly at 0.38! James needs to do quite a bit more tuning and will be reseating the carbs to eliminate the air leak. Next time we do it, hopefully its registered and driving.

 

Thanks again for your help and interest today Gav.

 

Adam

[NZeder]

Off cause the clock works - it was the calendar clock I sold you

[acf321]

James called today ...

 

The Hornet's been all fixed up with the carbs and extractors removed and refitted, linkages all sorted out and the car dyno'd only today for about 15miles according to James. Said he was very gentle on it, but its good to run in now. Will be coming home this weekend for belts and seats to be installed and final bits and pieces before heading back in Jan / Feb for blueslip. Won't be able to drive it of course, but i'd be mad to not let the oil move around a bit .... maybe, kind of..

 

Another important decision has popped up ... to Mikuni S5 on correct factory Datsun Competition manifold or to not Mikuni S5?!?!?

 

cheers

 

 

 

[Cozza]

Cool, you must be stoked Adam. The best Chrissy present you could ask for!! Any video of the dyno?

[luvemfast]

Mikuni all the way bro! 

[acf321]

put the seats and drivers belt in today and could not help myself......

 

Car is unbelievable, and that is obviously below 4500 rpm and much varied. Just took her down a few streets I know well and immediate impressions; 1) I cannot believe the almost telepathic throttle response, the motor feels like is has NO flywheel and even the slightest brush of the throttle ends in a very real bark, 2) it sits much lower than OEM, but even on some really crappy roads with lots of potholes (ok maybe i did a few more streets) the koni yellow and 1" lower King Springs work beautifully... NO JARRING or harshness that you might expect with full on variable sport Koni's. Remember too, my rear struts were sectioned about an inch and the top bound coil in the front springs are gone ... very initial impressions are EXCELLENT, and this is coming from someone that know's good handling cars, 3) yes ... there was that 'hello its me again' fuel smell that was there in my first 240Z over ten years back ... but to be honest I think there is a grommet missing in the firewall (suspect that won't make it disappear though!), 4) brakes are useless ... they need to be totally re-calibrated, and perhaps there is air in there, 5) the cam is very noticeable at about 4250RPM, lots of torque below, but at this level the car just lurches (not you mate) and wants to race forward, 6) literally every person did a double take, the noise is LOUD !!!!! and that is with double muffler setup and 2.5" pipe.

 

Still very much running in and not registered ... can't wait to get this thing out and totally wring its neck hard!

 

 

Adam

 

[PB260Z]

So from what I can determine

 

Looks great

Goes great

Sounds great

 

Now get some plates on her and start enjoying the results of your hard work 

[KatoKid]

Ive been waiting for your first post after initial drive.....well done!

[WA240Z]

Outstanding.

 

Thought you would like koni yellows their great aint they.

 

Enjoy mate.

 

[acf321]

Update on the Hornet.

 

The shakedown continues, as does putting a whole lot of little bits and pieces on the car. The last few days (well parts of days really) has included re-installing the wiper bottle and getting wiring sorted. I put on the wipers, only to have that annoying problem on when you turn them off, they stop wherever they like on the screen and are almost impossible to get to where you want them (any suggestions here, greatly appreciated), installed newly covered seats - they look awesome, added grill, interior garnish and fiddled with all the switches and so on.

 

Funny story, I was out running her about today early and this elderly woman runs across the road to me shouting and waving her hands ... I think OMG so I stop the car, and lean out the window saying; "sorry I know its not registered and its loud, BUT ..." and she cuts me off saying: "is it a Datsun", 'Yes I say", she then offers; "come over to my garage down the street, I have a near new set of 'Datsun' rubber and carpet mats that we used to have in my Datsun, and this could would look great with them". Drove over there, to be mobbed by another neighbour saying; "is this one of Z cars, my husband had one years and years ago, and we loved it". Actually very funny, these two older woman guffawing over my 240Z, both just loving it and I had never met either of them before.

 

I've just written a list of gremlins, in the main wiring (which is fairly messy) and will take the car back to James tomorrow to have this rectified and brakes properly calibrated. NZeder tells me i might need a bigger MC to take account of the MK63s. Blue slip should happen this week.

 

I'm absolutely blown away by this car ... its unbelievably good and so much want to take it on a very very long run.

 

Anyway, here's some pics I took at the end of the say ... yes I know, there are some unnecessary racey bits there, but I want them (if you can pick it!).

 

Adam

 

[Agno]

You marked the tyres! Nice touch

[mossy]

 

I'm absolutely blown away by this car ... its unbelievably good and so much want to take it on a very very long run.

 

Adam

 

Early morning run Adam 1st Feb, meeting in Lilydale 

[Riceburner]

Removed the centre caps too?

[acf321]

car is being trailered to James tomorrow to iron out those bugs and get blue slipped (I hope). Had to go berserk today and put in as much as I could to ensure it gets through. With the exception of the carpets and centre console, I think we're just about there. I put on the bullet mirrors, and had to make a quick decision to spray the louvres with a can of black satin. Here's the result, i'll let you decide but to me the car kind of does look bit more like a bee (um Hornet) with the black and Papaya Orange contrast. Fouled a few plugs too.... just as I was warned I would. Definitely not one for bumper to bumper traffic, that's for sure!

 

Adam.

[Sirpent]

Adam

 

She looks like a fine piece of machinery, love the look and color, but Buddy, PLEASE, get a new LHF bonnet hinge !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[acf321]

OK, we should have a blue slip either Friday, or very early next week.

 

On another note, got some very impressive quick bits in the mail over the Xmas break. Guaranteed to cut another 2 secs+ a lap they tell me, also used by one Sterling Moss!!

 

[PeterAllen]

.., also used by one Stirling Moss!!

 

Adam, I don't think you heard that too well, it was Juan Stirling Moss, he was a Spainard who drove a SEAT.