blaze73 Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 This is the question! Any thoughts? Anyone feel its a challenge they need to accept? http://jalopnik.com/5302378/why-dont-datsun-zs-dominate-the-24-hours-of-lemons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PanzerAce Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Fluoridation, be sure. Realistically, it's probably exactly like they say: other than rust, there really doesn't seem to be a consistent problem area with old Z cars, so you can't really prep for all of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeleriousZ Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 If they're in good enough shape to get thrown around a race track, they generally get way more money put into them than is allowed (if my half-assed assumption of the rules is correct lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 As posted above, a Z car that can run reliably around a track for over a few hours isn't a $500 car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 My experience with lemons is that it is all about car prep. Also as John said a $500 Z won't get you very far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 22 hours on our engine before 'engine implosion'... The first car died due to on-track accidents (several)... Teh second suffered from inredible cheapness and thinking that we could run a junkyard engine with over 160,000 miles on it without doing a DAMNED thing to it other than precious bodily fluid changes and a set of spark plugs... I mean, it DID lead for the first 8 hours in Reno...then the rod went. If we simply time shifted the engine hours to subtract the 14 hours it ran at Thunderhill (I mean, guys, it was going over 100mph into turn 1 with no pan baffles!) I think if the Z's simply SLOWED DOWN they would take it. But the inherent nature of Z Drivers is to RUN HARD and running hard in on an unprepped junkyard engine isn't good. Mechanically, save for the Mopar savagely ripping the front 1/4 of our car off at Thunderhill, we have had no problems. Now the car awaits another test. Refine and tweak. The car is sorted, handles great, and over the course of two events we've dialed it in. No serious shunts last event means this car can compete again. Dig out that old accusump off the turbo engine from the junkyard...and we might just stand a chance! It was running STRONG at Reno. And hell, I bought SIX CARS for $600! When you start selling fenders and crap like that, the cost goes down. Especially when you have a European guy willing to pay your $400 for what you normally would toss to the scrap man. Frank raided my scrap trailer and we made out pretty god after Ad said he needed 1/4 panels and roofs... Three of each went his way, muahahaha! The rest went to scrap in Riverside! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 Fluoridation, be sure. CHILDREN, MANDRAKE! INNOCENT CHILDREN! They're after our precious bodily fluids! As mentioned before, the Z for $500 won't run reliably for 2 days at 8 hours a day. The other reason is archaic suspension design. Who usually dominates lemons? neons and miatas. Why? Because they weigh as much as the Z, if not less, handle better, and have reliable stout drivetrains Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I'm unaware of suspension failure being an issue in any LeMons retirement. I think that one is a moot point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 I didn't say suspension failure. I said suspension design. miata/neon suspension > z suspension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Miatas and Neons have drivetrains and suspensions that are 20 years newer than most of the Z's competing. 78 vs 98. If nothing else that explains the retirements. Really, our first outing was nothing more than stupidity. And I'll remind you it was a NEON that lost it's clutch and was sitting in the racing line when we booted him up off the track at Thunderhill. A Neon getting rear-ended by a 77 280Z at 70mph put the Neon OUT of the race. The Z was back at it in the morning. I think repairs took a whole 45 minutes... Advantage: Z! Z : 1 Neon: 0 At least we took out someone before we got taken out by bigger metal... Bigger metal, BTW, that is still out there racing! That thing won't die, dammit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 Think of it this way... Mr. Hanky's development and testing has been two races. How many other race cars do any of us know that lead 33% of the second race entered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted July 1, 2009 Share Posted July 1, 2009 tony, sadly, neons aren't as bad as you think. very stiff chassis, used to dominate stock class at autox. my old neon is 10 years old, still running w/ 150k on the clock, reliably, in texas. it survived 2 thunderhill track days, autox, 3 dragstrip days at sacramento raceway. and i sold it with 113k miles on the stock clutch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted July 2, 2009 Share Posted July 2, 2009 Suggestion with the Neon: DON'T EVER ACCEPT THE BACK SEAT RIDE! Cardomain is down and I got to go to work, so I'll post the photo of 'why' later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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