Hi guys What a mixed bag of fun ive had at the datsun nationals in sydney. I finally recieved my crank and rods on frriday morning and machined pistons with new rings friday lunch time. I had the engine all assembled late friday night. Saterday morning I cleaned up the engine bay and fitted the engine. It looked really smick filled up all the fluids oil water ect bugger me water is leaking out of the block between the head!!! bloody copper gasket didnt seal so I decide to crank it down another 15ftlb sweet water stops leaking and all is good. I get it all runing nice and smooth around 5.30 that arvo . Early the next morning i drive it to sydney (250km) for the datsun dyno day it seem's a little flat on power and after checking the timing its heaps retarded (wont adjust anymore on the crank angle) :( I decide not to run it as it isnt worth the risk.
The following day was the show and shine http://www.pbase.com/danfx/datnats
lots of neat cars mainly 1600s my 1200 got runner up in best competition based vehicle. I drove the 1200 home on monday night as I had to work tueday & wednesday. drove it back down on thursday night and spent till 12.00 fixing a mates 1600 getting the brakes ect sorted for the track day at oran park the next morning.
It was a well organized day kind of like an advanced driver training day with several witches hats exercises timed and then some one on one in the car around the track with a instructor before getting let loose around the track bye myself the 1200 was only running 12psi but runnin very smooth power was insane I found it hard to keep the power down even in 4th gear down the main straight. I took Chris AKA dattodude for a few laps. I didnt spin out but was continually loosing traction. Later in the aftrenoon one of the instructors who has raced many 1200's both club cars and sport sedans took my car for a drive he was really impresses with how it went stopped and handled as i was with his driving skill I found it hard to believe that he could push my 1200 as hard as he did without leaving the track !!! we did around 5 laps like that we both came back with smiles on our faces. I always thought I was a pretty handy driver I didnt realise how average I was until someone who constantly races and has lots of skill drove my car to its limits. All I have to do now is pull my finger out and do some more practicing and a lot more hrs in racing conditions to get really good.
Cheers Andrew
PS: The engine is all run in & sorted now running upto 20psi on avgas its pumping close to 400hp at the engine or just over 300hp at the wheels not bad in a 860kg car.

Oh Yeah. Andrew's car really hauls ass. We'd be going up the main straight and with the small amount of water on the track, would mean the rear-end would get crazy at about 4000rpm. Basically this meant not getting all the power down. Andrew reckons his speedo is about 15% out, but during those laps, I saw it go well past 6 o'clock down the main straight.

Cool stuff for sure. I took my '98 Pulsar SSS to the track day. I thought it would be a complete waste of time. I really don't like it as a car, except for getting from a to b kind of thing. But I remained competitive in most events, raising a few eyebrows. The poor car has never been thrashed except for this day.
The tires actually looked like used race car tires at the end of the day, all rough looking around the edges. I only stopped because I'd used 1/2 a tank of petrol for the day's events and my low-fuel light was on...
I didn't think I could get the rear-end to hang out in a FWD car, but it seems the factory do a good suspension setup for the N15 SSS .
I fully recommend anyone getting their cars out there next time it's run.

Good report there Andrew!

It was good to see the car going and not getting trailered

Just need more 1200's for the next one!

I have finally got myself a ca18det for the 1200 sedan, this time I am going to do everything properly, Autronic SMC, gt2535 400hp (the one i told you about), custom manifolds, forgies ect.

So I guess your going to be hearing from me alot now asking for your advise!

I am going to be doing a detailed writeup on DatNet as I go too...

Heya

Great to hear you cars still pushin the ponis Andrew. Too bad you couldnt throw it into the dyno comp. Im sure it would have had to been the biggest HP Datsun at the event.

You let someone else drive your 1200? Thats pretty brave, but i guess in the right hands you would feel safe enough to hand over the keys. And also, if you noticed a difference in him driving the car, it will make you a better driver i guess.

Wish I had my 1200 there up and running. I think it would have been a fun day out. But hopefully soon it will out on the track. Looks like everyone else had a great time thrashing there cars around to.

Scott
Davo

hey andrew,did you get that timing problem fixed on the day.got to say that looked like a problem you'd like to find before the engine went into the car.also,that wasn't john 'frog' boston you let loose,was it.yes,john is a VERY good racer,so it musta been fun.i've gotta say that i definitely enter next year,cause i hate going to racetracks to watch,i get itchy feet to have a go myself.but first i'm going to try to do the bathurst speed weekend in december,should be fun.seeya,paul.

Yeah sounds like John - very experienced and capable driver. Soon to hit the NSW State champs in a Honda I hear

Hey paul yes and no on fixing on the day. What happened is the locator on the front of the camshaft that drives the crank angle broke and was wobling around causing an eratic timing I fixed it roughly bye fitting another oring that took a lot of the play out of it. I have since replaced the part with a new one. Timing is spost on even idles smooth at 800rpm.
It was john boston (Bozzo) that drove my car i had spoken to him several times on the phone and had heard lots about him. It was the first time I have actually met him face to face. A really nice guy and a very capable driver. Ill look forward to seing you at bathurst I cant wait to get the datto thumping for a big day at the supersprint.
Cheers Andrew

Hey guys does that John Boston still have the Bathurst car ??

I was told he had it ages ago im unsure if he still has it. I didnt think to ask him while toaking to him . I do know he has a very good 1200 coupe he is looking at building up one day i doubt it would be the bathurst car as he would want to keep this original and aslo has a mad little honda that he runs in under 2000cc club car.
Andrew

He still has a wide body coupe. I don't think it actually raced at the Bathurst but was a factory race car.