New Zealand Datsun Club

Minor update since I'm bored. Been doing pretty well by writing off old stock/getting the odd freebie from work.

Got a NOS fuel pressure regulator for nothing, it's adjustable and doesn't have a vacuum port which is actually damn hard to find nowadays. It's twin outlet so I might run a gauge off one port or something. Got a free Chrysler/Mini style 4 post coil pack too which should work for me since I'm only going to run waste spark and batch fire (no cam angle sensor, not pictured).

Also I needed some special sealant for when I put my gearbox together so I looked at what BMW recommend, which is this Loctite 574. It turns out it's way cheaper to buy Loctite from BMW than anywhere else.

I still haven't mounted my fuel pumps because it's damn cold, I should probably get on to that.

Took my crossmember to Wal, he made a big hole in it (cheers Wal!). Then I made the hole a bit bigger and welded some pipe into it.

This was actually a real PITA to do, glad it's all over. I'm almost out of argon so I might finish the bottle by tacking the Datsport adjustable bits on if I get time this weekend.

I really need to clean my garage so I have space to set up the gearbox jig.

Prison spec crossmember:

How are you getting along with the gearbox?

That will look mint when finished and powder coated.

torqued wrote:How are you getting along with the gearbox?

Working on it. The mandrel thingy needs about another 50-60mm of its length machined down in order to work, bit of a bugger that.

Also I have to spend a lot of time carefully trimming to get things to line up - it's not as simple as milling the two pieces flat, as you need to keep the threaded holes for the slave cylinder and starter motor hump from the L bellhousing intact.

I did get some more fuel system parts so might plug away at that this weekend.

Ended up spending almost 3 hours on what should have been a half hour job making and fitting my new shift fork bushing. The plastic really doesn't machine nicely in the lathe when you're trying to make a bush with about a 1mm wall thickness. I think I'll ask for Delrin next time. I stupidly used this Loctite compound from work when I tried to refit the old DU bush and it made removing the old one almost impossible - ended up having to make a rod to stick into the fork to put it in the lathe and slowly bore out the old bush so I could fit my custom one. Also mounted my surge tank and both fuel pumps. I need to run some fuel lines between the lift pump and the surge tank which I think will have to be bundy tube P-clamped to the body as it's a bit of a tight fit to avoid the axle on that side.

Wow, your undercarriage is beautiful
Seriously though it looks awesome.

Continuation of the gearbox saga - had a practise weld on some bits cut off from the L bellhousing, turned out ok. Lots of "fly dirt" and stuff but at least it makes a puddle and can be welded.
Got the L16 block set up with the bellhousing sections and put some tacks down before removing it and checking how much input shaft to spigot bearing engagement I'll have. It's very handy that you can do that with the short S15 input shaft! Only about 5mm so need to get some more machined off the mandrel as it's bottomed out at present. I'm not upset about it, as I can then close up the massive gap between the pieces which is really hard to weld. Also the tacks break spontaneously (and loudly) so I think many cleaning passes and a good preheat will be required too.

Gave up and started making a tool to simulate having a rear arm fitted for when I weld on the Datsport crossmember stuff, didn't get time to finish it though.

Encouraging progress!

Today I finally got all the Datsport kit tacked on.

The instructions say to use a rear arm to hold the brackets, but my rear arms don't have any bushes in them, so I made this doodad on the lathe to hold everything.


Then tacked with the TIG. I think I'll have to go see one of our customers and borrow a mig to finish it, too many weird angles to fully weld it otherwise. Just tacking it was a headache.

Ready to go for final welding