New to the forum from Lompoc, CA

[mark belrose]

Welcome to the fray. Let's see some pics! Sounds like you've got some nice rides.

OK, I've finally got a a few pre and post-restoration photos of my race car posted within the member galleries. Enjoy...

[=Enigma=]

Very nice job. I love the look of the engine compartment. Can you tell me what the two hoses going to the top of the valve cover are for? Is this part of the dry sump oiling system?

[mark belrose]

Very nice job. I love the look of the engine compartment. Can you tell me what the two hoses going to the top of the valve cover are for? Is this part of the dry sump oiling system?

They're part of the dry sump system. The -12 vents the dry sump tank to the valve cover. The -10 then vents the valve cover to the vapor cannister which is mounted on the firewall. I seem to recall that we designed the entire plumbing system including pump, oil cooler and external filter, per the diagram in "How to Hotrod and Race Your Datsun". Since my tank is mounted in the rear right of the car, it required a buttload of stainless ($$$) to get it set up. Total oil capacity is 12 quarts. The tank is a Pederson and the pump is a Stock Car Products unit.

Other details: I run a 1961 Corvette cross-flow aluminum radiator without a fan. Typically during races I see 185 degrees water temp and 240 degrees for the oil. During my last race at California Speedway where the track temperature was 110 degrees, my oil temperature hit 260 degrees although my pressure remained rock steady. I'm not running synthetic, just Valvoline Racing 20-50.

[Ron Carter]

Mark did Monty suggest that you run 20-50? He has recomended 30w racing for my U20 motor.

[mark belrose]

Mark did Monty suggest that you run 20-50? He has recomended 30w racing for my U20 motor.

Hey Ron. I've run 20-50 based on the recommendation of the guy from which I bought my original GT2 motor, which was also a dry sump configuration. Getting as hot as 260 degrees, I've even been tempted to run thicker viscosity oil except that the oil pressure has always been fine. I've heard as many opinions by racers regarding the best type of oil to use as there are cars on the track. I decided not to use synthetic as it gets a bit pricey changing out 12 quarts of oil come oil change time.

[Chino 240Z]

Perhaps that is an advantage of a dry sump system, keeps good pressure? We had that oil pressure dropping problem after a 1/2 hour run using multi-grade oil. Especially when the car switched drivers and went back out for another 1/2 hour, and so on all day long. After we installed the oil cooler and went to Redline Racing 40, it has been steady good pressure and the temp doesn't go above 220. Yep 10 qts. of that stuff gets my wallets attention. I'm actually concerned of not warming the oil enough on a cool morning and having too high of pressure! Currently using the MSA 4 row radiator and the water temp sits at 180 mid summer. We kick on the electric fan once back to the pits.

[Ron Carter]

With an 8qt pan, oil cooler and 2qt accusump in the roadster I can relate to an oil change being a few bucks. I run consistant temps with my Ron Davis radiator and oil cooler (mounted in my front airdam).

Previous events I had internal motor issues that created hi friction problems that have now been fixed.

I run a solid 180 water and 220 oil (at the external filter) with my current configuration at Fontana.

I agree with your statement above Mark, and there could be good reasons to run multi weight oil in a dry sump configuration.

BTW: How were the Historic's Mark?

[mark belrose]

I have to agree my setup is a little screwy. I can sit there for 10 minutes warming up and never see my oil temp gauge start registering while my water temp gets very hot (having no fan doesn't help). Once on the track my oil temp quickly gets up to where it needs to be. I have to time the warm up process so that at the end of the first lap before green flag, the oil temp is good. So I guess having multi-viscosity oil may help during the long warm up process.

The Monterey Historics were great, with a large showing in the Datsun corral. A couple of them were unbelieveable, a 510 with a 300XZ turbo motor installed, and an early VIN 240Z with a Skyline turbo. The Grassroots Motorsports photographer got a nice shot with Bob Bondurant standing in front of my car. I'd like to somehow get a copy of that image. I also fell in love with one of the Lister Jaguars - I think I'll buy one with one of my spare millions.

[Ron Carter]

Glad to hear that Bob made it over to the Corral. Who else showed up at the Corral?

[mark belrose]

John Morton was there briefly signing autographs. He was pretty short of time but tried to spread himself around as best he could. Pete Brock was busy in the paddock and unfortunately couldn't get away. A friend of mine talked with him the next day and Pete mentioned he thought the 240Z was the one of the best race cars ever, continuing to win major events decades after its debut.

Dan Haney was there in his nicely prepped 510 as was Bill Baker with his 240Z C Production race car. There were also two BMWs and an Alfa GTV, which Mark Davey arranged to show next to the Datsun race cars as those marques used to compete against each other.