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.