Bonkers

Sydney Datsun Club may want to clarify what they want to do as a "rev off" may not be something that Bunnings would allow. I know they have a very ridged set of rules just to be able to do the fund raising BBQ or sausage sizzles. I can't see them being any easier on car club events

I don;t know . There can be a lot said for yelling at clouds. I seem to get a lot of it these days and like everyone else they don't listen to me ether. But jawing with you mob at the pub . Well lets just say I have seen many an event get its legs that way.

A number of weeks back the Queensland Zed Club organised a run to the home of Lofty Drews and for anyone who doesn't know who he is a quick google search will bring you up to speed. Needless to say he has a very long history in datsun rally cars along with other makes as well. One of his cars that he drove is in the Nissan Datsun museum Japan and sports the classic red and black colours you see on so many models. The run it self to Lofty's home was most enjoyable and took in some challenging roads and scenery. How every according to the event organiser this was a very tame course and he had a much more sporting route planed for us follow. But wet weather called for a last minute change . Not sure if my exhaust would have been part of the car on the other route . As it was I lost half a U-bolt to grinding on some of the bumps and I am sure others on the run may also have similar stories to tell. To add a little adventure to this drive I decided to keep the lead driver in sight as we were not sure of the course we were to following. As it turns out he was also the Championship driver from the Bathurst event last year . So how do I put this " the drive was SPIRITED" and fun had by all. There was one moment that stands out over all others on this event and it involved three red S30's and a cow. Apparently there was a warning in the Nav notes about wild life may be on the roads .These warnings need to be taken very seriously as on a sharp bend going up hill with cliffs on both sides three red Zeds encounter one cow, with no where to go. Now one modified zed can make a audible note. Three can scare the crap out of a cow and being last in line with steak on the Hoff wanting to be on the other side of the road. Well it was time to move and see what triple carbs and second gear can do. All I remember is the daughter saying " Cow dad, COW DAD, LOTS OF COW DAD ".So that was a lot of fun and no damage to beast or car . Everyone arrived at Lofty's and enjoyed the lunch time BBQ and were treated to high lights of Lofty's rallying career. It sort of made our drive up look very tame . At least we didn't have locals throwing rocks and wanting to kill us and we had at least what can be called a road to travel on . A few pictures form his collection and car on the run . I guess that 71 car from the British rally could be a early girl car . Have will have to ask him if he knew the chassis number. Lofty is also a avid shell collector and has shells from South AFRICA and New Guinea. But the lengths he had to go too to get them hauling around an uzi, puts a whole new level on walking along the beach.

If it's not stinking hot, it's blood cold . Or at least for a while it was it was cold. What Queenslanders call cold. I don't think we reach the 1000 or even came close for that matter. Perhaps that was because of the Street Machine Show on at the same time. Yes there were a few Roadsters , but the MX5's out did them at round 3:1.Still a good day had had by everyone present and a dyno to watch as well.

Does your better half know about this project ? If so what did you tell her to go along with it ? You might have better luck fronting the mob from the ZCCQ to get what you want . Don't wait for someone to want to sell . Make some offers ,say at the up coming Banyo show to owners of what your looking for . You never know what might fall in your lap.

Hard to believe that these two are best of friends when face to face . I think BS is just for us to keep us entertained . Both are ex-Presidents of the ZCCQ and both have organised NDN events and know what is involved. It will be interesting to see what happens when the 50th birthday of the Z comes around in a little over 2 years and as any one who has organised one of these events knows things need to start happening about 18 months out from the day. I have heard of one proposal and if possible it will be an event not to miss as the 50th celebration will only come once.

Yeh Chris is one of the good guys Gilltech .He had I think his son digging around for about an hour to find a good second hand door lock for me. But I did say it didn't need a key. As for the colour of the car . I walked into Autobarn in Moss Street. Handed them the petrol cover and said can you match that. They really went to some effort mixing it as the number 110 meant nothing to them. So I only have 750ml spare if I damage anything. Was a good day Richard, that pile of your's would had drawn some attention

Well a very good afternoon . I was the lone zed at the meeting but every one was very welcoming. There was a strong focus on the 1200 ute and 120y cars. In all most early Datsuns were represented . This company is just starting out and does not have a lot of stock parts to cover all Datsuns, but he is willing to try and hunt down what you may be looking for. I was great full that he had a door lock in stock as I have been hunting one for some 20 years now and search now over. He may also be open to swaps depending on individual requests. Organizing the odd event for customers may not be out of the question as well. Something like happy laps (breakfast and 1/2 hour track time=$35 per person last time I checked) at Lakeside or QR raceway.

Another 200mm and it would be a different story and now the sweet smell of drying river mud. I was lucky but others on this forum were not so. See if I can make the Lofty thing. Having him at this friday thing would be a draw card for the owners or May be some other time .

You know Richard I said the same thing to She who must be obeyed . That was some 28 years ago and she is still waiting for when now will arrive.

I will make the trip over to the north side and take in some datto atmosphere Friday afternoon.

Come on Mike , be adventurous and spend a little more money and get two machines. One for tig and one for mig. Yes that means you will be spending up around the 2k mark . But they will last for years . My mig is ticking over 22 years this year and I am waiting for the boss to free up some coin to get a RAZOR DIGITAL PULSE AC/DC 200 AC/DC Inverter TIG/ARC Welder Something that can punch out around 180amp in a mig will cover most projects that you can do a home. As a Safety and risk bloke I know you don't need to be told you need a 15amp outlet and don't break into the wall oven circuit and install and outlet.

PM sent

Jason (Dave and I) got the only photos of mist there was and it all seemed to be in the next state. Road rider I did have my shirt off there for a minute and may have cause some confusion about gorillas, but it was only for a minute. I must admit the food was good and at a reasonable price. They also have a well stocked gift shop to pick up something for someone special in your life. Soap may not be the ideal gift to purchase as I was greeted with " So you think I stink do you " Someone did not have a good day at work. We did see a gold rapped Lambo as we were setting off on the drive . Unfortunate not a good photo of it.

It sounds to me that perhaps you should look a TIG welding. Specially if you plan to do alloy welding as well as steel. Lots of videos on you tube but you will need a ac/dc machine as ac is required for aluminium or at least preferred.

The ZCCQ hosted their first run for the year yesterday and this was only a short run by their standards of just over an hour long . So it was from Oxenford to O'rielly's Cafe in the Lamington National Park and the drive from Canungra was spirited and a lot of fun .However I was sporting a right arm with a little nerve damage and I am paying for it to day . That road is a fine set for finding out how much power steering in a S30 changes the driving experience. There were a few AUSZCAR members and Peter T lead the way . Unfortunately this meant he and his wife Ros had to chew down truck fumes for some distance. Seems they will have to deal with the taste of diesel when ever they eat something over the next week. In total there were at least four from AUSZCAR. President of ZCCQ Paul put a spectacular blue 2+2 through its paces. But best thing about the day was getting out of the car into the cool air at 950m above sea level. It made a nice change from the 33 degree heat we left behind. Sounds like the ZCCQ has a number of exciting events planned for this year . Joining their club may not be a bad idea.

and a few more pics

Big thanks to ZCCQ for their tent. If you were out in the sun you knew about it. The temperature on parked cars at 10.30 was getting into fried egg territory. Dave R may be able to give an exact reading The Daughter didn't have any sun screen on and is a bit red now. Some of us boiled the radiator just waiting to get into the place.Sorry that I missed you Scott if you were there. So a few pics from today. More to come later.

Is anyone from here going to this year's classic (over 25 years old cars ) show ? Word is there could be around 700 cars and a few Z's in among that number. . But it will be very hot . Corner of Earshaw and Tufnell at Banyo after 7.30am.

That was an interesting read on your old car and I wish you the best of luck in tracking it down

Best of luck for the event . It is a good thing that both you and Dave are not superstitious. Saying that you have crossed all the T's and doted all the I's for a club motorsport event is just inviting Murphy's law. So be extra safe and come home the same way you went out.

I am not sure if I could claim this as a build thread. Does the car have to be off the road for that whole time ? If not then 27 years and counting. But that's only because the previous S30 ( 240Z ) was in an accident and I transferred it's running gear into an another shell (260Z). Club motorsport has a tendency to wear out and break things . So what better reason do you need to upgrade and change things. Unfortunately this process never stops or perhaps we don't want it to stop. Chances are anyone owning a Z or Z's (S30) this long also has a large collection of gearboxes ,diffs,wheels, engines and a very understanding partner. Or you live alone and don't need to explain anything to anyone and that is only something that most of us will dream about.

I would have a look at Thomas Mash Springs. They are manufactures of springs and are located at Coral Park and they will make to your requirements . Many years ago I had them do a set for me as I made my own coil over set up . Helps when you're a machinist. I also worked with a few of there (Thomas Mash) engineers. Still using those same springs in the 260Z today . Goggle them and have a look at their web site. http://www.marshsprings.com.au/

I guess pictures at worth a 1000 words. I am guessing Peter you may have to purchase the whole flywheel and clutch assembly to bolt on to a Lseries engine. But you can drill and tap 3 extra 8 x1.25 bolt holes as the Navara pressure plate or at least most of them use 9 bolts to assemble to the flywheel. Unlike the z which uses 6. But having said that this may just be the difference between the 225mm and 240mm assembly. Looking at the two assemblies it does not make much sense to fit a 240 pressure plate to a flywheel meant to have a 225 assembly as the flywheel side of the clutch plate will only have the contact patch of a 225 plate. Having also said that it will depend on the flywheel you have to start with that is in your Z . I have seen many a strange combination over 30 years or more. Hopefully this will shed some light on the differences between the 2 assemblies.

The Z24 flywheel will fit . But as they are for a Narava they are heavy . Not ideal for competition . But for road use I have been using one for 14 years because the surface contact is much greater than the Z's. They are a machinist delight ,so much metal to come out. You may have to machine down the L series flywheel bolts to clear the clutch plate when you assemble the package. I have left mine standard as on the road for highway you get good mileage out of it . But I have also use the car in a number of sprint meetings and held my own in competition . It is good knowing you can take metal out to improve performance if you want to.