Savage42

And I'm hoping that I might find an R200 with 3.36s. As least you have what you are needing. Guess that is another reason for everyone to upgrade to a 6 clutch setup in their Z31 LSDs, eh? You drag racers blow my mind with that kind of grip to tear stuff up like that. Being a road racer, I just can't imagine that kind of "off the line" grip. With a 4L60E and DOT race tires (road course), I'm thinking I won't my stuff. (hopefully)

For autocross: VQ For roadracing: SR Does that answer your question? You asked! If it's one or the other, I'd go VQ, as torque is king and you can get good HP from a VQ. You can get torque from an SR, but that requires a turbo and once again makes it the less than optimum setup for autocrossing. How about a turbo VQ? Best of both worlds, if you are stuck with just one of those two options, I'd say.

Lockar throttle cables are nice. Jegs or Summit has them.

You won't find stainless headers for "a little more". I'd bet you can find a fab shop to make up a set for about a grand or so, but that's probably your only option.

My first was a '79 Datsun pickup that had custom interior and paint, cost me $3k back in '86. The second was my '67 Chevy pickup (short wide) that had a built 350 w/ TH400. It ran 13.2 in the quarter and it was $5k in '88. Wish I still had them both!!

Oh, you better use the search button. There is only one maker of a kit and that is John's cars. Headers from JTR.

Can't take credit for it, as it was written by long-time 510 guru (of sorts) Kelvin Dietz and our very own tube80z!! It was done many years back, but since it's Datsun related, I thought some of you would enjoy it! Merry Christmas to all!

My buddy Dustin (BURRL) is putting one in his 240Z, but will need some hood work, I'm sure. I'd think the one built for the GTO would fit under the hood but doesn't look as cool. This one has the radix intercooler setup, as well!

Twas' the night before Christmas, I'm really quite bored. Not much to do. The 510, it's now stored. Parts catalogs spread out all over the house. The list just keeps growing, and there's threats from the spouse. She's thinking of carpet, a new sofa and chair. While I'm dreaming Goodyear race tires, so fair. Then out by the garage there arose such a clatter. The wife and I wondered what was the matter. I got to the door and unlocked the latch. Then opened it slowly, and looked outside, (natch) The security light shone on new-fallen snows. I thought, "Five more months 'til all this crap goes!" Then rounding the corner, but what should appear. A Kenworth Transporter, with a pit crew, (no deer). The driver, he shouted, as they pulled up out back. "Get the door, and some coffee. Make it strong, make it black!" In a flash they jumped out, and I thought I was dreaming. I hit the remote, to the garage they went streaming. There was Devendorf and Brock and Harris and Morton. Smith and Sharp and Waar and yes, Newman! >From the front of the grill, to the welded rear-end, they mapped out a plan, and then started right in. It wouldn't be easy, but they said they would try. They'd give it their best. They'd make my Dime fly. So to the transporter, a few of them flew, for carbs and some sparkplugs, a PanaSport or two. And then in a twinkling, they all had returned, And Devendorf said, "You got money to burn?!" As I drew out my wallet, (and looked round for the spouse), Sharp, he just grinned, "This one's on the house." He wore red, white, and blue, from his head to his foot. Out of his pocket, came his black tuning book. The boxes of parts were spread out on the bench, and they all grabbed their tools, and started to wrench. My eyes, how they twinkled, as the plan was now hatched. New headers and cam, heads ported and matched. The tranny was dropped and closely inspected. The lap times would fall from what we'd projected. Titanium valves and some new, stronger springs. New pistons and bearings, and FOUR GOLD-DEN RINGS. The suspension was lubed and all readjusted. While one worked on bumpsteer, another de-rusted. Their work almost done, and I said, "This is great!" "But it's twenty below. I've got five months to wait!." With a wink of his eye, and a slap on my back. Pete Brock transported us all to a track! The car sounded strong, as I drove out of the pits. Harris nodded and said, "Yes, it seems it all fits. I warmed the beast up, and lapped kinda slow. Then they gave me the nod. To downshift! To go!. I launched real hard, the Mikunis did whistle. And away I flew like a well guided missile. They could hear me exclaim, countersteering hard right, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" Dietz & McCallister

No substitute for technology. You'd be hard pressed to find any new modern sports car that has anything like the stuff you find on a Z. Typically a double A-arm setup, better geometry, etc. All that aside, you can probably make an S30 handle as well and be as fast as many top supercars, but it won't ride as nice, would be much noisier, basically not hardly as civilized. We all try to have the best of both worlds, but decades of engineering and billions spent in technology makes it very hard to compare a nearly 40 yr old car with anything of this modern era. I was at Daytona years ago for the Rolex 24 when they launched the C6 Vette. In stock street trim, that Corvette ran the same lap times as the full blown, factory Corvette race car from only 10 years prior. Vehicle and tire technology closed that gap. So, it's tough, but I've seen many old Datsuns (and other '70s & '80s vehicles) set new track records at road courses, hillclimbs and autocross due to improvements in setups with new shocks, tires, spring rates, etc. You can have it all, if you can live with a street legal race car.

From all the 280ZX front struts I've seen, the front brakes are the same, although the struts have an early and late design with different spindle angle. The calipers and rotors are the same, from what I've seen. The rears definitely had a redesign from '81 to '82, as did the 200SX.

Hey Ron! I stopped by ESP (largest parts supplier in Eugene) and Carquest, but no luck at either. I'll try Napa, as they are often good for "odd ball" stuff, but didn't think they'd be the place for those. I'll find out tomorrow and if not, I'll have to check around some more. Thanks for the input!

OK, I know my fellow Datsun enthusiasts and I have always salvaged & saved the ends of the steel brake lines. Is there any place to get the metric fittings? I believe Datsun, Honda, etc use the same stuff, but does anyone sell them without being on a chunk of steel line? I've got to make a new set of front lines and would prefer not to use the old (somewhat crusty) fittings. Thanks.

I hear ya! I like a sharp line, too! You have the right idea, as we spent a bit of time on my car (silver hides a bit and the light isn't too good, but you get the idea) and BURRL has awesome lines.