Tracking The Z

Well we finally got to do it... when I bought the car she needed work, I did what I could so she could run a few autocross events. Even managed to win the STR Solo Class for the year in 2010 for the SB Region of the SCCA (Event Pics). I always wanted to get her on a track and today was the day... 

It's been about a month since I got her back and finally running. We did a Cars and Coffee event (car show) and then I registered for the Festival of Speed open track time at Gingerman Raceway. I had to do a lot to prepare for the event. I decided to pull the Shelby Cal500 wheels that were on her when I got her (14x6) out of storage. Cleaned them up a little, and made the decision to just throw some cheap used rubber on them as I knew I just need to learn the car and get used to driving her. 

I had to get all my race stuff back together. Luckily my SA2005 helmet is still good, my air tank and compressor got to work, and I pulled together my race day tool bag and found most of the things that went in it. I had the anxiety of prepping for the race all week and of course didn't sleep the night before. I got up early, packed food, packed the car, and rolled out... 

I had a beautiful sunrise drive on the way to South Haven. I rolled up into the track, signed my waiver, found a parking spot and headed to registration and tech. It eerily felt like old times, but also so new or like I have never done it before. I signed up for the open track event portion. We got three heats of 20 minutes each on course. No timing, passing only in the straight aways, but still workers on corners, and about 20 cars at the same time. 

I was probably the car with the least horse power... much less than half (more like 1/4 or less) of the HP in the Hellcat, McLaren, Porsche, and the monster prepped Bells Brewery Camaros that all passed me like I was standing still on the back straight... I will say though, I think I was the best looking though... 

The first trip out I really took it easy... I have never been on a track on regular street tires, and I was on some used all season radials and I kinda regretted right away not spending a little more on tires. I soon got over that as I was just having fun driving, taking corners, trying to stay on line, listening to the tires, enjoying the track, and watching for the McLaren creeping up quick to pass me. 

The break between the 1st and 2nd time on track was short, I got another coffee quick and walked a bit and chatted with other drivers. The 2nd run I pushed it more. I tried thinking more about shift points and planned ahead where to shift and watched the braking markers better. My other times on the track I was in cars much more prepped for the track, so it was different for me learning what she could, or more importantly, would do for me. Also realized she is capable of much more so I felt like I was letting her down. 

The final set we got, I really pushed it more. I got the rear end loose a couple times, and was honestly then glad I got the cheap rubber. I feel like I got to feel the car kinda raw, how she came from the factory (she is really bone stock) and then I can build up from there. One car broke down on course so that sucked a little of our track time while they cleared the car, but I felt like my laps were getting better, I was learning how she liked to turn and how to keep traction on the rear tires so we could pull stronger through the turns.

Once we finished... I didn't stay long (it was a whole weekend event), I mingled with a few friends, and then I rolled home... unlike many of the fancy cars there the Z arrived on her own power, and then got us home. No trailer here. 

So what was my favorite part of it all... well it was time with the kids on it. The night before, N asked to go for a sunset cruise to take pictures with her new camera. We did (first picture) and had a nice chat as we drove from spot to spot for pictures. It was really fun working with Cruz to get her ready, especially with all the trouble getting the race wheels on her (Blog: Garage Lessons). He helped get the wheels on, new bumper, and learned tools and applications and why I put more air in the tires. Mari well, when I told her I was going to race against a McLaren, she replied, "I rather just see a monster truck". 

I posted videos on my youtube channel... ha... here is my arrival, search the page for more from that trip and others: 

Back to Black

Well it wasn't black before, but it is now, and so are the bumpers (well bumper for now). I will say it has been maybe one of the most refreshing things to happen during quarnatine is that I got my Z back. 

After years of lying to myself that I would get the Z fixed myself, and then time to save up some money... I sent her off (Blog: There Goes My Z) and most recently got her back (Blog: Here Comes My Z). 

The first project, which was the project I started just before sending her off, was new bumpers and new hatch (well new to me). I came across a deal to trade my rear hatch for what is called a "Pantera Hatch" for my Z. It is a custom fiberglass insert that replaces the rear glass. It is very rare, and while it was in terrible shape, I figured I could get her under control. 

Well the hatch is kinda under control... she came with mismatched paint, tons of cracks, paint chips all over... and I made the decision to not spend money to have it professionally painted, and that I wasn't going to spend a ton of time on body work for her. What I did was remove her, clean her up well, sand her down and prep her for just a simple matte black paint. It will buy me time, and save me money, but make the hatch less obnoxious for now while I focus on other projects. 

I have a 280Z that came with heavy bumpers. With changing crash test requirements, the later model Z cars had gas shocks (heavy) installed behind humungous chrome bumpers (mega heavy). Just the bumpers weighed 76 pounds combined, and the 240z bumpers I got combined weigh under 16 pounds! I removed the bumpers right away when I got her. So my car lost I would guess 60 pounds including the shocks. She was kinda naked looking, some people like them without bumpers, but I really could not wait to her these on the Z. 

The front fit, but not perfect. Cruz helped me hammer, tighten, bend them in as best we could but I might have to mod those brackets as well. Unfortunately the rear brackets I purchased don't fit at all, I am deciding if I return them or if I try to mod them myself. The joys of working on a car that is older than you are... she is 45 now and while she looks better than ever in my opinion... she needs work. Also the work is more fun with my son, as we learn together, as I teach him, and we get some fun joy rides when we complete something (Blog: Garage Lessons)

Not only has she lost weight during quarantine, but she looks better, and is running! 

Here Comes My Z

This afternoon I drove my 1975 Datsun 280z. I got to shift gears, got to roll the windows down, got to take Cruz for a drive along the St. Joseph River. I got to remember what it felt like to just drive for the fun of it, for pure enjoyment, to smile ear to ear while smelling exhaust and cruising past corn fields. 

I had not driven her since 2013. When I started working at La Casa the combination of my pay cut and crazy schedule meant no time to race, no time to work on the car and no money to spend on her either. 

My last post on this blog, "There Goes My Z" was posted on May 3, 2018. For a few years I would push her out of the garage, washed her, and put her back (Winter Nap). It was a sad ritual. After years of collecting dust, I finally got her towed away. 

My friend Jim over at EurAsia Import Specialists offered to take her and start slow to figure out all that was wrong, and make a plan to get her done. I owned her since 2010 (first post) and she never ran great. I did a lot of little mechanical things to keep her moving, but I mostly did a lot of cosmetic stuff. She wasn't a super looker but I got her looking good, but she wasn't running as well as she looked. I kept chasing fuel pressure issues, injection issues, electrical bugs... so I needed an expert. 

In just over a year we did a lot to her... Jim lead the charge, I tracked down 40+ year old parts, some modern updates, but mostly keeping it originalish, if thats a word. We did:

new injectors

new fuel pump

new battery

new fuel lines

new fuel sender

nearly all new sensors

new cold start valve

new front bearings

new sway bars (front and rear)

new alternator

new battery

new plugs

new front brakes

rebuilt fuel tank

rewired fusible links

So much I can't even remember... 

I want to thank Jim and EurAsia for their time and flexibility. Jim's knowledge of the car, and the attention to detail was second to none. From the tire shine when I picked up her up, to the detailed and cleaned up engine bay, to the help putting the grill back together and pulling the old 280z bumper shocks, and even tips on where to get the best gas. 

It was fun to drive today, looking forward to enjoying her this summer and here is to whatever the future brings for her... paint job, motor rebuild, race track visit... who knows. Either way, here comes my Z... 

There Goes My Z

I finally got to drive my Z... after 4 YEARS of sitting in the garage today I drove her... unfortunately it was just a glide the driveway so the flat bed could pick her up from the front... Tear, tear, tear...

I got the Z in 2010 and had a ton of fun with her. I got to drive her for two seasons in autocross with my club. On this blog you can read about my seat restoration, picking out parts, driving around the state to get used Datsun stuff, and work that I got to do on her. I love just time getting my hands dirty.

I won my autocross class (Street Touring R - STR) in 2010, but didn't get back to the trophy range cause the car started to struggle. She had fuel pressure issues, and try as I might things just got worse. New fuel pump, nothing. Dropped and cleaned the fuel tank, nothing. Took it to a local mechanic, nothing. At that point it was over my head what was wrong so she sat waiting for help.

Then I changed jobs, got too busy to work on her, and then she got put under a cover and sat... each year I thought, this year I will have time (and $) to get her running... well as you can see from the time stamp on the posts... neither happened. I work in non-profit world and have three kids, its hard to save money to get her the work she probably needs. So fingers crossed that we can get her back on the street.

Well so today she got towed, Tony's came and got her for me and hauled her off to EurAsia Import Specialists. They have a Datsun Master Mechanic there who will finally get to the bottom of my baby's issues. Hopefully I can afford to get her fixed...

So for now the garage has a big empty hole, where my Z used to be. Well now a major cleaning and organizing of the garage can happen. So lets do that while I take my mind off my baby being gone...

Long Winters Nap

The Z got dusty... she sat all summer. I popped the hood once and started to mess with her but never really got into it before I got side tracked again. So she sat and got dusty, VERY dusty.

Well just before the cold really set in we rolled her out of the garage, gave her a good bath, and then put a cover on her. She has settled in for a long winters nap... and hopefully this spring we can finally make some things happen and get her rolling again. I hope so, I didn't do a single race this year... obviously not in the Z, but even worse I never even went to an event to run a borrowed car.

So here are some pictures, washing her reminded me how much I wish I had time to work on her, and how I look forward to teaching the kids more about cars. Novali likes being handy, and hopefully Cruz will as well... and this spring they can help me get her on the road.

The Z looks nice all washed up huh... now if I can just get her running, and then teach Novali how to drive her...

To Build or Not to Build: Datsun EZ

So the results from my last post were not favorable. My poor little Datsun was bounced from one shop to another, to finally come to a slow rest in my garage. What originally seemed to be a starter, turned into a new pump, and what I had hope was just a head rebuild turned into my baby needing a whole new heart (engine).

Obviously when my baby is in the shop it is hard for me to think about much else... visions of car repair bills dance in my head and keep me up. Well my shop was able to get her running, only on three cylinders but she made it home and is at least cozy among my powertools and rakes again.

As I did some research into rebuild costs, looking for a shop to take on the task, figuring out what phase two after the rebuild would be a thought came into my head...

For those who don't know me that well, or know the "College Sam", or the "Beta Sam" or the new "Grown Up Married Sam"... you might need some background on my love of cars.

I love cars. I love driving them. In high school I joined the Electrical Vehicle team. I learned how to draft, how to CNC machine aluminum parts and use a lathe. I designed custom tube frames and learned how to lay fiberglass. We designed a recumbent electric motor assisted bike one year and one year a three wheel electric cart (we painted it like a cow and called it QuickSilver).

One summer in high school I did a week long program at Western Michigan with their solar powered car program and when I attended WMU planned to get involved with the team (other involvements - ie Fraternity took my time and I never fully joined the team). I always followed the progress of the GM Electric car and of course the hybrids.... but over the years my passion for electric cars died out.

So my issue with the Datsun got me thinking... and then Google confirmed my notion that yes, yes a Datsun Z could make a good electric car. I can't rebuild a motor... but you know what I can do, work on an electric car conversion. So if the Datsun needs a motor ($2000), and then new exhaust ($400), and then new fuel injectors ($300) and then I am sure a new this... and a new that...

Why Don't I Make an Electric Z! I feel like if I say it out loud more I will actually make the leap... I could build it for the cost of fixing all the Datsun motor related items and I could get a car that would do 60 miles per charge... I could still autocross it and have fun (gotta make a good battery case to handle the whipping around).

I haven't ripped the gas tank out of her yet... as I am still debating a little in my head. I am actually shopping for a replacement for the Altima right now...

For now... the Datsun is down for the count... how long depends on what I do... electric convert would take a year or two... engine swap a couple months and some loot. No wonder I can't sleep at night...

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

She rolled for the first time this year... unfortunately not under her own power. This winter she wouldn't start. Thought it was the starter, but it ended up the battery got drained. So I charged the battery but she still wouldn't go... I tinkered a little but didn't have time to figure out what was wrong.

So thankfully our AAA came in useful again and she rolled onto a flat bed and went to the shop. I figured, well if she is at the shop lets get that head rebuilt while she is in there all at once. Well the shop didn't want to tackle the head, so I just had them tackle the starting issue.

The fuel pump died... I tracked down and ordered parts. I hopes that iwas all that she needs. Rebuilding the head isn't going to be cheap, so the less I have to spend on the other stuff the better! I was thinking if she runs well enough with a new pump I can squeeze another summer out of the head and do the rebuild next winter.

The fingers were crossed... it was sad watching my baby drive away... and then worse news came. The shop she was at can't rebuild the head, and even with the new fuel pump couldn't get her running. Power isn't getting to the injectors for some reason and they don't have to tools and experience to get it fixed. So now I have to find a new shop and let the work continue...

All this just to get my baby running... ARGH. Hopefully soon she will be rolling, rolling, rolling... on her own power.