TomoHawk

Yeah, there have been numerous significant inventions from Ohio, from icecream to cars, rubber tires, airplanes, and the World's most beautiful girls. I thought the Vanderbilt Cup was held on Long Island. Maybe it was another guy. Back then, any race took 24 hours, or longer! The early Indianapolis 500s took days. The first ever American race from Chicago to Evanston was 54 miles and took 8 hours.

In stead of spending a million to get to Sebring or someplace like that, you could just get a bunch of friends together and go at it yourself for the next 24 hours. I'll bet you the police will think it looks odd, seeing the same dozen cars going by every 20 minutes, in the same direction. Here is the idea: You plan out a looping course in your area, using the local freeways and highways, from say, 5 to 12 miles (the Circuit de La Sarthe is about 8 miles) and you get some scorekeepers to keep count. Maybe you need scorekeepers in two places, so people can't cut the course. You could also setup basic rules, like you need 3 or 4 drivers on a team, and a driver can be in a car for up to 3 hours at a time. You could have different classes, like economy cars that only get say, 25 gallons for the whole 24 hours.

I get my Datsun shirts from Rod's Datsun parts in San Jose. If your order is $100, you get a free shirt.

I agree that using the LED bulb might produce a brighter light with what is likely to be a slightly lower supply voltage. Why not substitute a longer lens made of a more transparent plastic? The lamp is new, why not the cover? You would just reuse the old base and add a longer dome.

In my area, all engine bays are blacked-out, because they're all vintage muscle cars. I like it black, because it hides some dirt, the black wire bundles are less visible, and if I need to touch up the paint, I have a few spare cans. I think it highlights the blue engine block with all the cast and polished aluminum parts.

I noted to the eBay seller that I'll wait a week to see how many others would like to get in the group to negotiate a deal, so spread the word, so we can get a good deal!

they go for $47 plus $6 shipping. Would you consider that reasonable for ONE? What would you suggest to pay if we can get a group together? Yes, I think a photo or two would be nice to see.

OK, so I think that makes about 5 rolls? I suppose you're on your own to decide what tools you'd put in a tool roll, but IMO, we should get a list of (required) tools: Combination spanners: 10,12,13,14,17,19mm (duplicates?) adjustable crescent wrench, channel-locks Sockets spark plug wrench pliers, snippers Lead hammer (not! haha) My list is probably biased for my 280Z, so I don't need tools for carbs, points, etc. I think there was a thread about emergency tool, but AFAIK, it wasn't decisive..

Shall I propose a lot of 3, or 4? I'm very much tempted to get one. Even if you get a generic one and have it embroidered with a Datsun logo, you'll spend more than $50, so IMO,this roll is a bargain.

A quick response from the eBay seller was received: Aside from a lack of punctuation, the seller seems cooperative.

You're welcome to do so. You might even consider a few ex$tra if the idea work# out$$? **Ahem** I looked around today, at some stores like Sears, Harbor Freight, even a old motorcycle shop. Nobody carries tool rolls anymore. I originally thought of making one from leather or suede, but it seems like a job with all the little pockets. Even my mom doesn't have one of those computerized sewing machines! She sewed the wedding dress for every girl on the fambily, including my cousins. At least I do know of a lady that does the custom stuff like the Z emblem on the back of my jacket.

I will make an attempt to contact the eBay seller wit the fancy custom-embroidered Datsun tool roll, and see if he will make a deal, but so far, there is a total of about 3 people interested. That is not much of a quantity to impress him with.

You could even get rid of the scissor jack, by using an air bag lifter that runs off the exhaust! You won't hear any rattles with that...

And you keep all that in the trailer you pull around? Hahaha I did the same thing basically with the back deck, but the front lid is the original panel and I made a new back deck from 1/4-inch luan, screwed to the stock supports. My tool bins include jumper cables, an air pump, a quart of oil, a small spritzer of glass cleaner, some newspapers & a large shopping bag. the kneeling pad is in with the spare wheel. I'm thinking about how to reinstall the luggage straps, that make me lose points at a Z meet, even thought I'm in the DD class. I prefer a cargo net anyway, to hold down any "luggage." Right side panel, rear mounting Right side, front mounting Front supports reversed Left side panel Tool bin lid

I've read comments about flex fans both good a bad; the good is the lesser rotating weight and drag, and the bad refers to high-speed noise and un-predictable cooling. I tend to prefer using the underdrive pulley system because it uses the stock parts (pulleys) although they pulleys are of an odd size, if you look closely. Considering the age and peculiarities of the electrical system, I'd rather not add to the complexity if I didn't really need to. But on the 280Z, with a modern alternator, powering an electric radiator fan shouldn't be much of problem. So if you wanted to try a flex fan, you need to measure the diameter of the stock fan, and then guess at the length of the extension. Does anyone happen to know the diameter of the stock fan?

OK, I know what the flex fan is, but I don't think they make one for an L28 engine. It might bolt on if you take the fan clutch off, but then you lose the purpose of the fan clutch.

I don't know the vendor, But someone familiar with a quantity purchase could contact him through eBay. He has a large number of those tool rolls embroidered with a lot of different emblems, so either he has been keeping things secret until now, or he does have the capability to make the items in quantity. As an alternative, a local clothing manufacturer could be queried.

I thought that underdrive pulleys would lessen the drag from the cooling fan. But since you also install a new harmonic balancer to start, I will keep that as it is. You would only benefit from underdrive pulleys (usually custom-machined and polished, which is why they're $1100) if you are really into something like drag racing, or for show. Drag racing guys spin the alternator and water pump at an ultra-low speed with underdrive pulleys, just barely enough to keep the engine charging and coolant flowing, or just run totally off the battery while racing until you get back to the pits. Then a small gasoline generator to fully recharge the battery. Even the water pump is powered by an electric motor, with the usual electric radiator fan. For street or highway cruising, the fan clutch will really help in stead of underdrive pulleys, and modern alternators are well built with low drag bearings.

You'd be surprised what kinds of spares some people suggest to bring: Gallon of coolant radiator cap set of wheel nuts set of headlamps full set of bulbs Spare alternator set of wheels spare engine ....

The Harbor Freight web site has a couple tool rolls listed. Maybe you have a Harbor Freight or similar store near you? The Datsun tool roll I referred to has narrow pockets down the sides for tools, and small pouches with Velcro flaps on the ends (for bulbs, sockets, nuts, and loose stuff.) I think it would make a great design for our cars, maybe with just one modification- one wide pocket for the jack crank handle. The Datsun tool roll is neat and spiffy. It even has straps with squeeze buckles and a carry-handle. But at over $50, I don't think I will get one for a while. We ought to work out our own design. If only we could only get somebody to make up one or two for "testing?" The scissor jack itself is stored uncovered, but what about things like folding wheel chocks? You could put those in a separate bag with the jack in a tool bin. At east we don't need to carry those old head hammers any more...

I haven't seen anything on this subject... Is there anything available for the L28 engine in the way of underdrive pulleys? If there is, is it worth the money and effort to use them? thxZ

this is a bag that looks interesting, and would probably handle all the stuff you would want to store: Datsun Logo 280z Tool Roll | eBay

I've had my tools out 12 times since I got the car in 2002. I empty the car every winter. I think that the vinyl bag would dry out or crack even if you never take it out of the car. Heat and air will deteriorate vinyl. The one in my 97 Ford is cracked, and it's in the trunk under the carpet. The zip-lok baggie containing the first Aid stuff is dried out even.

I'm pretty sure the 4-way drag racing has a 1000 foot length, and it's another reason driver's don't like it. Again, I'd like to read some official literature on this concept. You do, however, get twice as many vehicles down the track with the 4-wide system. I don't mind waiting for my call on the local 2-wide track; I go for the social aspect as well. Does that equate to twice as much income? Don't forget the cost of creating two more lanes, barriers, the electronics for timing, and probably some traffic control people. Oddly enough, I saw a few YouTube videos featuring 4-wide funny cars and 4-wide Top Fuel dragsters. That is what made me think of how dangerous things could get. It was also a boring race. The 4 funny cars took a whole 2 minutes to get staged, and the 1000-foot run took what seemed like 1 second. You could compare it to a cannon going off- BOOM.. 1... 2... done.

That's why I like to check the brake lamps (and the switch?) when there is a truck with a chromed bumper or grille stopped behind me, or I'm backed up to a big window. Otherwise, I just get out the long stick to check the brakes (and all the lamps) every Thursday. BTW- I've left the door open once or twice all night, and the engine started just fine, but I don't think my dome light is that bright either.