johnc

Laser, steel ruler, level.

Why not weld up a plenum out of .035" stainless sheet? You can weld that with your welder.

You should be willing to sacrifice comfort and convenience for safety. Another issue is smacking your head on the door hoops in a minor accident.

MSA is probably the only Tokico dealer that will step back up. I knew about 5 Tokico dealers and WDs and all bailed on the company a few years ago. I don't know how Tokico will get them back.

I can still make the composite parts for the s30. Contact me at coffey@bentonperformance.com. Early next year I'm probably going to scrap the Datsun molds and start making Porsche composite parts.

Should be fine as long as the lower control arms are installed and everything is tight.

Check with your insurance company. In some cases you can only get liability insurance on a salvage title car. They will not cover the car for damage. And if you are in a wreck where the other driver is at fault their insurance company will use the salvage title to deny compensation.

Looks great.

Your old Datsun expert is mistaken. Lots of R180s get serviced with new bearings. Your noise issue is more likely with the ring and pinion then the bearings. It would be a good idea to completely service the diff including preload, engagement, and backlash adjustment. You should also check your diff mounts.

At some point the local cops will pull you over and ask about the out of state plates. It you have a CA drivers license with a CA address you'll get a ticket.

There are good and bad undercoating materials. Now that I'm working on vintage Porsches (which were under coated from the factory) I see how proper undercoating can preserve a chassis. Nothing from a spray can is effective over the long term because its thinned and diluted with carriers to make it sprayable from a can. We use Wurth Stoneguard which also requires their spray gun or any spray gun that can handle high viscosity material. We shoot it at 60 to 80psi.

Been discussed here about a year ago. Nothing new.

Lift kit, 35s, Fox shocks, and a winch.

It takes about 10 to 15 years for hard core engine development expertise on a specific engine to become generally available in the public domain. Until then that knowledge is thought to be still worth enough to be kept for paying customers. For your research finding one of those paying customers from 10 years ago would be your best source.

There has been a lot of development here in the US on the VG30DET. That engine was used as an early base for Nissan's LMP2 race engine program. I saw one built by Sunbelt on the dyno back in 2001. With two 25mm restrictors it made 435hp and 450 ft. lbs. of torque.

You need to learn Automotive 101. This is not really the site for that but there is a lot of informaiton here. Download the factory service manual, read it, and spend a lot of time searching this site. As said above you're car's electrical system has been hacked up and you need to get it back into stock condition.

On Monday the crew chief makes a list of things that need to be done to the race car and then prioritizes that list based on: 1. Safety. 2. Reliability. 3. Repeat ability. 4. Speed. The list gets worked until the car gets loaded on the trailer Wednesday or Thursday. The list gets reprioritized after the first session the track to: 1. Speed.

It sounds, from your measurements, like everything is fine.

Yup, saw Wilkins video earlier. If you autocross or race your car, then the stub axle is an inspection item and will need to be replaced on a schedule or at the first sign of pitting or cracking at the fusion weld. I've broken 2. One at an autocross which wasnt a big deal and one at Buttonwillow which almost became a big deal. A worn brake drum kept the wheel on the car after the flange broke in a 70mph corner. If you're running rear disks the wheel will stay in place but the wheel and tire will lock up, which is what happened to Wilkins. With drum brakes the wheel generally leaves the car. As you can see, there's no warning when the failure occurs and it always happens in a corner.

Check the flange to make sure its not bent. Also check the fusion weld between the flnge and the shaft for pitting and cracking. The flanges are known to separate from the stub axle flange with hard track and/or auocross use. The metal shield on the inside of the flange may also be bent (best case scenario). Youy can push push out the wheel studs and remove that shield.

At least on lower control arm is bent and you have structural damage to at least one front frame rail. It's also a moderately rusty car.

"Sure...Cut out your floor pans on a stock car and set the car on the ground. Now shut the doors." I have, dozens of times. Not an issue. The doors shut the same way as when the car came into the shop. And welding in new pans does not improve door alignment.

The floors are structural in the context of their support for the trans tunnel - which is a structural part of the car. But on their own you dont really need then except as something to support the seats and keep your feet from dragging on the ground.

Again, no car registered in CA is exempt from complying with the smog regulations applicable to the model year of the vehicle. That is a state law, not a BAR regulation. The only exemption is from bi-annual and sale inspections which are regulations implemented by BAR. That distinction is important.

No you do not. It's voluntary. They will pressure you but just ask the officer if you are under arrest. If he says no then ask him if you are free to go. He will argue a bit but just keep asking that question. Works at sobriety checkpoints too.