Greetings

[Z Greek]

Hi folks, I just joined your group. I am an old Datsun nut. I have been working on, restoring, driving, Datsun Roadsters, and other weird ol' Japanese cars for 30 years. I have always admired Z's, I owned a 72 rust bucket in the early eighties, and finally bought (and drug home) a 74 260Z a few months ago. I had really been looking for a series 1 car, but came across this car down in the Bend, OR area. The car was so incredibly solid, I had to own it. And since it does not have the collector value of a series one car, I feel like I can take a bit of artistic license with the way I put the car together. I do still want it to look very stock from outside, and under the hood, but the car will have a few things that were not on it when it left Japan 37 years ago. There was no engine or trans in the car, but I already had pulled a l28 and 5 speed from our local pull and save wrecking yard. I have spent the last few months gathering parts. Round top SU's, N36 intake, P79 head, LD28 crank, KA24E pistons, 133mm rods, 240Z tail lights, and bezel (I think they look a lot better), early air cleaner assembly, complete factory A/C from a 76 280, and on and on. I have had such a blast gathering parts. Compared to my other fetish's, my 67.5 Datsun 2000 Roadster, and my Honda S800 coupe, there are SO MANY parts out there! Pretty reasonable, too. The block is at the machine shop, and I am getting ready to tear into the P79 head. My plan is to have it running before Winter, and then spend the snowy months on bodywork and paint. Looking forward to "meeting," some of you in the near future.

Andy Kazanis

Z Greek

[LeonV]

Honda S800? You need to post pictures and any video you have! You are a lucky man, those are such sweet cars!

[Z Greek]

LeonV,

Thanks for your interest in the S800. The S800 was (is) pretty rough. I decided it should be a race car, rather than spending the rest of my life restoring it. My original plan was to go vintage road racing with it, but recently have been bit by the Bonneville bug. The current record for stock coupe, naturally aspirated, 31-45 cubic inches seems attainable (103+ mph in 2009, have not seen if the record was upped in 2010). I would have to sleeve the liners to get "down," to 45 cubic inches, but that can be done. The cranks for the S600-s800 are made of unobtainium (roller rod, and main bearings), once the crank is toast, so is the car. So I figure I'll run it until the crank fails, and then put a super-bike engine of some sort in it, and go into the modified classes. Currently, I stripped the interior out, and had a full cage fabricated for it. I had plexi windows made for the front and rear, and patched most of the rust in the body. I think if I can coax 100 horsepower at Bonneville (density alttitude of approximately 7500 feet in August), I have an honest shot at going 110 or so. I know, doesn't sound like much, but we are talking less than .8 liter! I have some pics I'll post, but no video, the car has not moved under its own power in over 20 years.

My 67.5 2000 on the other hand is almost as good as it can get. I have invested a lot of blood, sweat, $ restoring it, with the only deviation from stock being my Nardi steering wheel. I even have the original steel wheels and hubcaps, and 5..60x14 bias ply, whitewall tires. I drive the car on radial tires mounted on BWA vintage alloys, the bias ply tires are just no fun to drive on, particularly long distances.

The Z is going to be how I want it to be. It will still look very stock, I love the classic good looks of the cars, but will have A/C, a nice stereo, and a 3.1 liter engine because at 49 years and counting, I am still a speed freak at heart.

Tell me about your car(s) Leon.

Andy K

[Carl Beck]

Hi Andy:

Sounds like you are building a nice collection of fun and interesting cars. Hope you aren't too tall - that S800 can be pretty cramped.

I bought my first Datsun 240Z from "Valley Datsun" in Spokane 14 March 1970. Now it's Jaremko Nissan. Paul and his son still race a 2.0L roadster - Paul has been racing Datsun's since 1963.

Spokane is a beautiful area and the Pacific Northwest is great country for Sports/GT's to be enjoyed.

Keep us Posted on your progress on the 260Z...

FWIW,

Carl B.

[LeonV]

Andy,

Sounds like you've had your hands full! The roller crank is what really does it for me. Well, the chain driven axles do it as well! Honda used such cool and unique designs on their S-cars. Good luck on your speed quest!

I have a 2/71 240Z that's stripped and ready for paint, but I've been focusing on my early 260Z, so if you have some 260Z-specific questions then I can try to help. I agree that it is easier to justify modification of the 260Z than 240Z, but both are fantastic cars and honestly nearly identical if you don't go deep into the details. I have a little thread here, with some pictures and video if you're curious.

I've typed out a much longer story of my Z-experiences in my hybridz thread, if you have the patience to read it!

You Roadster sounds like a sweet car as well, can't wait to see your projects unfold!

[Z Greek]

Hey Carl, Thanks for the reply. I have corresponded with you before. You tried to help me track down HLS30 00198 a few years agot. I own Datsun Roadster number SRL00198 and I thought it would be really cool to own the Z with the same serial number. Anyway, I had no luck with 198, so I broadened my search, and came across the 260 I am putting together. I know Paul Jaremco and his son's Mark and Dave pretty well. Dave still has a Z in the 6000 range that was originally sold at Valley Datsun, and was traded back in 10 years later when Dave was a "lot boy." I tried to buy that car for about a year, but Dave was not ready to part with it. I was in the other day, and Mark told me that after trying for 15 years, they have finally been accepted to run his Dad's 2000 roadster at the historics at Laguna Seca in 2012. I am going down later this month for this years Hisgtoric's, so I am not sure if I can make it two years in a row, but I am going to try.

A group of friends of mine ran a Datsun Roadster in a 24 hour Chump Car race in Spokane last weekend. They were handicapped 11 laps due to a victory in Portland earlier this spring. After 24 hours of racing, they won it running away 10 laps ahead of the field. I spent about 8 hours at the track watching and helping in the pits, It was pretty exciting.

Thanks again for the reply,

Andy K

[Z Greek]

Thanks Leon. I will definitely take you up on 260 specific questions. I'll keep everyone posted on my projects, please do the same for yours.

Andy K