Ready for 2024

Its been a year since I blogged about Me and My Z... so no promises this won't be the only post for 2024, but I at least need to share a post of what I have done, or er had done to get before season started. 

I slowly in 2022 and 2023 amassed brake upgrade parts and once I had all the parts I planned to install them all myself... but well life and time has gotten in the way. So while I know how to do all the work, I paid my friends at Dave's Garage on Main Street in South Bend to do the work. They have worked on my daily drivers for the past 15 years, I trusted them to work on the Z. 

While taking classes at Ivy Tech I did the stainless steel brake lines and took everything apart and did some OEM replacements, but now it was time for a little upgrade. So what did I buy? 

Powerstop Slotted Rotors
Hawk Performance Race Brake Pads
Rebuild and Silver painted calipers
FutoFab Adjustable Tension Rods

I also failed to post in the fall when I got another set of shoes for the Fairlady. I documented the previous pair my Shelby Libres that I restored. You can ready about those here... Fairladys New Shoes. I wanted to get some better rubber for racing so I picked up some 15 inch Konig Rewinds wheels from MotorSport Auto and then some of the new Bridgestones from the Tire Rack. 

A couple weeks ago I polished her up for a Cars and Coffee at the Studebaker National Museum and this past weekend got her dirty hitting cones and racing at the Tire Rack Test Track. The brakes are a loud noisier for daily driving, but VERY grippy for autocross! Next month we will test them out well at Gingerman Raceway! 

So Me and My Z are back in action... I have a few projects I want to get done to her this year but for now enjoying her as is, and glad to have a garage I trust to work on her. 

13 Lucky Years

If you know me, you know I am not big into luck or fate or any of that type of stuff... I think success is created through hard work, opportunity and maybe a little good timing... but not just luck. 

March 2010 to Today
(well on a non-snowy Indiana day)

Well March 15th, 2010 is when I got my car, and today marks 13 years of ownership... not gonna lie for some reason I feel like I need to be extra careful with my baby in its 13th year with me. To say that each time I tackle a major project with the car that worry always clouds me... what could go wrong, how much more will it cost, how much longer will she be out of commission... 

Luckily, I just got one of the more major jobs done on the car I have been worried about... I got a new floor pan welded into the driver floor (you could see the street from a few spots...) and new frame rails on the driver and passenger side. They were not in great shape when I got her, and they got worse the past few years. I bought replacement patch panels three years ago... and two winters in a row had a shop back out of doing the job. Luckily this year, through a mutual friend I found someone to tackle the project for me... and it turned out great! 

Not the sexiest picture of my Z...
but a very important upgrade

While I was at it, we welded in some single point jack plates. All the parts were from Bad Dog Parts and were well made. My welder said it was not mega tricky to get it all done and got some rust proofing done and while you can't tell at all it was done... she is stiffer and a little safer. 

Coming up next? Assuming the tension rod install goes okay, I have new calipers (OEM style just rebuilt) for the front and new pads and rotors up front (OEM size but slotted). 

Well at least great so far, it looks good, and should be protected for years. Now going to mount new tension rods and finished a few suspension mods I didn't want to do until the rails were done. Ideally I get those parts in, and installed before the first few events of the year. Super pumped! 

So mostly just a short blog... and I want to tell you all I have started to think about doing some Datsun Z part reviews on my YouTube channel... Yes I made one, not much content now, but send me some suggestions I want to get that active this year! 

Me and My Z on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@meandmyz4961

Come on lucky #13! 

Z and Coffee

Well she has been in two Cars and Coffee events and I thought I should write a little about the fun, and work, that goes into taking her to an event. The first event a few weeks ago at Car Guys was just a few days after I got her back from the shop, so I had some quick fixed and things to get done (mounting bumpers, painting hatch, cleaning the inside good, etc.). For the second one at the Studebaker National Museum I wanted to get my street wheels back on and had to wash her she was all dirty still from the track. 

I have always enjoyed car shows and car related events. Maybe something I got from my grandpa Harold who owned a garage and knew a lot about cars, or something I remember from going to the Detroit Auto Show with my dad growing up. Whenever there was a local show I loved going, always dreamed that I could own something cool enough to have in a show... 

Now that I own something cool enough I am glad that I can take it to events. I love answering questions, what year is, do I race it, did I paint it, what motor is in it, or my favorite is when a younger guy asks... SO how much horse power it? Usually they are expecting (or hoping) to hear something outlandish... but my reply it, "Well stock horsepower was 149, and I bet she is pulling a solid 135 HP now." Their jaw usually drops, naw, really? Yeah, I mean she is 45 years old and bone stock. I am fairly sure she isn't pulling what she did on day 1, but I can you tell you she is probably just as fun. 

Today a base Mustang or Camaro is pulling mid 300s HP and weighs close to 4,000 pounds. My little baby had 149 HP and weighs about 2,400 pounds (she dropped some weight with bumpers and other items I took off). Cars just have a lot more horse power these days, lots of technology plus more money... stock Corvettes today at 500 HP... in 1975 it was 165. I mean in 1975 a Porsche was the king of the road and they pulled 175 HP... so my little Z was not far behind, and in all honesty back then my Z could hang with Porsches and Corvettes. 

So anyhow I digress... well I love my Z, I love coffee, Cruz loves donuts, and I like talking cars with people. So these Cars and Coffee events are just my style. At my first cars and coffee event I got parked between a Ferrari and a Nissan GT-R. Whew... the competition for looks was fierce, but we got our attention and everyone was friendly and fun. 

The Studebaker event was also great and the hosts for this event was the Avanti Drivers Club... if you don't know what an Avanti is... well now you do. It was always one of my favorite Studebakers, even more than the iconic bulletnose. For sure a cool place for a Cars and Coffee event, I have judged real concourse shows there, I have toured the exhibits and now I have displayed my car there... pretty cool. 

Unfortunately the morning of the show a little rain came into the forecast, I think it kept some people away but many of us braved the elements. It was dry maybe 75% of the time, not bad and we all had to get out towels out and wipe down the rides. Still had fun, still had some friends stop in, and still enjoyed chatting up people about my car. The Lotus and I were the only non-USA built cars there which was interesting. (Click photos to enlarge)