My registration for the Datsun Roadster Show in Solvang California is in process. The event is the weekend of April 28-30, I can not wait!
My registration for the Datsun Roadster Show in Solvang California is in process. The event is the weekend of April 28-30, I can not wait!
I am confirmed for the event. The car will be in the event as a "diamond in the rough", it is not stock. It is not a race car. It's a driver.
I understand the competitive nature of people. I have seen examples of the cars that compete for the ribbons and bragging rites. My car will not be one of those. I am classed correctly.
I do wish there was a driving event. But I will do that locally, soon.
The countdown to the event, beguines. Its too early to predict the weather. The car will be washed sometime over the next three weeks. The families' schedule is looking like I will be solo for the event. Driving the car is looking like that might be an alternative. The event attendance is over 75 Datsuns, of all stripes.
This is going to be fun.
I have always liked this color, it's very similar to the paint on my 1964 Lotus Elan.
These pictures are from last years event, this is not what I normally do with one of my cars. I have entered a class for cars under reconstruction. That is as far as I chose to take it.
The build up to the event weekend has taken a turn. I was not planning to have a shiny "Diamond in the Rough", but it's been detailed. The paint is a lacquer respray that was done many years ago when the front passage fender was flattened on a trip to San Francisco. Having someone working on the car that knows how to work with this old paint is again an affirmation that I do my best work writing checks. I have no dilution as to what I am good at.
This morning I drove the car from it storage facility, no issues. The temperature of the motor was with in the correct range, even going up the mountain. The oil pressure was also not an issue. When I got home and started to cover the car I found an issue with one of the tires. Three of the four tires, not an issue. But one of them is cracking around the transition from the side wall to the tread, This could be nothing, or catastrophic. I have a tire coming tomorrow.
We are home. The car ran great. No issues. Adding 450 miles to the car has been what it needed. The front breaks are starting to work as intended. That is an affirmation to why I have stayed the corse and not chased an upgrade.
Going to the event was fun. My expectations for future events is now in line with what my car is and not what it could be. After the application of money that will not be spent on it. Instead I will focus on the driving. And sharing a meal with like minded people. Lunch in Santa Barbara on the trip up and driving Hwy 152 to Solvang was the start of a fantastic weekend.
Sharing the event with my 17 year old son, spectacular.
Lets see, old car and no issues. Easy answer, yea right. Turns out that noise I was hearing has not in fact healed it self and the driver side rear out board axel shaft bearing is the source. The pumpkin is fine, no leak from the pinion seal replacement. The passenger side is rotating as intended. Getting the brake drum off to inspect the axel was not an issue. It did not have enough miles to have bonded in place, yet. But my years of being a tech inspector do not let my personal denial have sway with my situation.
How does a sealed bearing offered up as an upgrade fail in less than a 1000 miles. I could chock it up to a "1984" moment during the application of grease before the seal was applied to the bearing race. Having had bearings as a commodity I was responsible for during my tenure as a purchasing agent in the aerospace industry, this could be karma.
The bearing world has changed. Production methods have evolved. The ABEC rating scale has been, forgotten? But in my case a pre lubed and sealed bearing may not have gotten its full measure of permanent lubrication.
I am so glad this is not an old, airplane!
jr02518 said:I will focus on the driving. And sharing a meal with like minded people. Lunch in Santa Barbara on the trip up and driving Hwy 152 to Solvang was the start of a fantastic weekend.
Sharing the event with my 17 year old son, spectacular.
outstanding! to me, that's what this hobby should be.
Old cars will always need something. Mine is no exception. Getting to that wheel bearing is going to happen, before the next event at Salvang.
But the car is acting like it wants a clutch. It's still drive able but the friction point is not where it should be. To be serviced, the motor has to come out. As it turns out they do make a 2000 cc pushrod motor, from a fork lift that will bolt up. My 1600 has 135,000 miles and is getting long in the tooth.
What if...
In reply to jr02518 :
Contact Bill Wessel from Madison, Wisconsin- he's an SCCA racer and went to the runoffs a few years and runs a 1600. Check Facebook.
He says he can change the clutch and not pull the engine.
Good luck with that.
This last weekend, was the Datsun Roadster Show in Solvang. The bottom line, now the car is running great. Getting it dialed in, was an adventure.
The car started the morning without an issue. Yes I was still getting a rear end noise, but that fix, would come on the drive home.
It started to run rich, extremely rich. I limped into Solvang pulled into the parts store parking lot and did not have a clue. I did attacked a fellow Datsun owner how knew his stuff. It turns out the float in the front carb was taking on fuel. Not enough to sink, but enough to allow fuel to gush out the puke tube into the air filter.
One of the vendors at the show had what I needed, and with the correct parts, even I could get it back together and make the opening event on Friday.
My car has mag rims, the lug nuts get torqued. On the driver side rear, when all snugged up the rim was still not seated on the drum. On that one location, the the lug nuts where too long. A quick to the parts store for a set of mag washers, and the two year issue is solved.
No more rocking rim. No more noise from the rear end. Driving the car is no end of entertainment, lots of smiles and waves.
I love it when this thread pops up. Glad you had a successful outing to Solvang - and a successful in field repair as well!
I always liked the look of these, but I don't really know much about 'em.
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