the DAILY DATSUN

December 31, 2012December 31, 2012

Happy New Year from Daily Datsun!

Well it’s another year of motoring in the rear view and a new set of twisty, winding roads on the horizon!

It’s been a great 1st year for the 280z and certainly a memorable one for DailyDatsun.com. Since getting the 280z in late 2011, I’ve managed to restore and renew this car into a daily driver. We’ve replaced the rubber weather stripping, side molding, attended Datsloco, installed new carpets and seats, and even got married in it on top of all that! It’s also been a historic year for Datsun, marking 40 years of the Nissan Z!

Looking toward 2013, there isn’t too much more I need to do: bumpers (!), fuel pump change. Though, there certainly things I WANT to do with the car: shocks / lowering kit, bushings. I’ll certainly have my hands full with Datsun activities like rides and events as well. Additionally, my brother, dad and i recently picked up a beautiful 1963 Corvair Monza 900 (remember that post?), so some of my car fixing time will be devoted to that.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the help of a few friends and family along the way. A sincere thanks to my Mom & Dad, Kris, Dana, Kathryn, Jake, Erik, Jerry and Kennie for all of their help. A special thanks to my wife, Thanh, for her love and support… and allowing me to keep the car :]

With that, i’ll leave you with a nice video from MotoMan about the 40th Anniversary of the Z.

Cheers & Happy New Years!
DailyDatsun

December 31, 2012

New Digs – Part 3: New Shoes: Final

Well it’s the end of the year and i best wrap this segment up!

Back in January (whoa), i was talkin about some new wheels, which would ultimately mean new tires. Well, I’ve decided to keep the Nissan 280zx Iron Cross wheels on, and just go w/ new rubber. It was certainly the right timing because the two fronts were going bald like racing slicks, rain is coming down, and…it was Christmas. Yep, Mom and Dad got me new tires! woohoo! :]

We went with a nice set of Falken Sincera SN-828 (195/70R-14). It’ll be the first time having Falkens on anything as we’ve been pretty loyal to Yokohamas on all our toys. But they’ve been great so far – handling has been so much better, lighter steering (especially for non-powered steering), great in the rain, and quiet. So yep, two thumbs up and happy!

Maybe later when we’ve cruised out the 50,000 mile warranty on these puppies I’ll think about getting some new wheels – till then, I’m happy the car is on the road, safer and better.

December 6, 2012

Yellow Doppelgangers

I’m an avid craigslist watcher – about 4-5 times a day I’ll be on there looking for Datsuns. In the past month or so, there’s been huge spike in Z cars in the Bay Area. Everything from $875 (sold by the time this was posted) to nearly $40k (see below), daily drivers, barn finds, weekend track stars, show cars, you name it. Two of which caught my eye – these two yellow Z’s. I had to do a double take on the first one because my work garage looks exactly like the pictures, I thought someone was selling it from under me. The $40k version looks like it’s been severely Hulk’d. Which one would you pick? Enjoy!

Datsun 280z – $5350 (mountain view)

1976 Datsun 280z manual transmission
– new fuel injectors. all replaced. OEM
– new ignition coil and ballast
– new alternator
– new fuel pump

the engine runs great, has never had any problems. the body is in excellent shape. she is sweet and sexy, nice and lovely.

**1971 HIGHLY MODIFIED 600HP 240Z** – $39500 (dublin / pleasanton / livermore)

600 (NORMALLY ASPIRATED) HP OF PURE FUN!! READY FOR A FUN DAY AT THE TRACK OR ON THE STREET. HAS WON NUMEROUS CAR SHOWS INCLUDING SEVERAL GOODGUYS AWARDS.

“Complete, detailed AD with ALL specifications and Photo Gallery at:
http://zcartrader.com/wp/?auto=1971-datsun-240z-v-8

Daily-Datsun-CL-yellow-280z-600hp-121205-2

Just a note, these links may not work after a while because it’s either sold or too old on Craigslist.

November 26, 2012November 26, 2012

Wipers, Hazards, Turn Signals.. oh my!

Winter is upon us in California, or as I like to say, ‘spring time’. Only because it’s just a few rainy months till the only other season: summer. There’s been a long intermittent problem that wipers haven’t worked, and with the coming rain, I thought it would be a good idea to get that fixed. Along with the trusty 280z manual and a little luck, all three systems worked brilliantly.

Previously, the wipers weren’t working because of a corroded contact in the steering column switch, in which a few on/off turns cleared it up. This time it wasn’t the case. Not only were the wipers not responding, but also the blinkers and turn signals had also failed! My hunch was that since the same lights used for the hazards / turn signals were still turning on, it was perhaps a relay or fuse. Fuses looked okay, so on to the relay.

Both the hazard and the turn signal relays are located under the steering column area in the cabin. Yanked both of them, headed straight to the auto parts store, and was greeted with a, ‘whoa, those are hecka old’. Unfortunately, O’Reilly’s only had the hazard relay but luckily: it was the only one I needed.

The original hazard relay for a 1977 Datsun 280z is a Niles HF566-12V, 32CP Max 6, 80C/M relay.
The replacement hazard relay is a Littlefuse FLR577BP 12V relay with the same markings.

I reconnected everything…low and behold, the hazards flash. Doesn’t hurt to try the others, right? The turn signals started blinking, and the wipers precariously make their way across the windshield. Nice – ready for the rainy season.

Old relay – found just hangin’ out…

New relay – still hangin out.

November 25, 2012

Zpotted: Yellow 350z.. like me!

Old meets new on highway 101. This time, it’s a great looking 350z.. in yellow. We were in moderate morning traffic, and I was able to ride up along side him, being greeted by a smile and a peace sign. Love it.

diggin those rims

November 25, 2012

Hot Models

The holiday season is upon us, and it’s got me a bit nostalgic. Everyone remembers being a kid. And nearly every boy has had a toy car of some sort. Maybe they were a Revell scale model kit, slot cars, Hot Wheels or Micromachines – we were lucky to have experienced all four.

Certainly, if you haven’t got the garage (or the cash) for all those dreams cars, chances are they’ll fit on the shelf. And what if those dream cars aren’t in your favorite livery or paint scheme? Check out this sweet build for a BRE Datsun Hot Wheels:

Post like these reminds me of of the larger 1:32 scale slot cars my dad used to have. He and my uncle would pull them apart, paint them, race them, pull them apart again, re-wind the coils, race’m some more.

Of course we grew up racing with the smaller slot cars…and whata know, they make a 1:24 AND 1:32 slot car Z’s!

Silver Line - 240z rally slot cars — 1:24 scale

Sources: JNC, Slot Car Today, Slot Car Illustrated

October 16, 2012

Zpotted: NOREZON

Every now and again you spot a Z on the road – maybe it’s a Z all tricked out, or one just chilling in the parking lot. Some of my friends shoot me a pic every now and again too. This time it’s from Dana spotting “NOREZON”, a first gen 300zx. You don’t see these too often! Looks to be very stock, well taken care of, and even has those t-tops too. Thanks, Dana!

NO REZON – love it

October 14, 2012

Datsloco, Livermore – My 1st Meet

Dat’s right! Datsloco!

My previous posts have all been car shows (which i’m quite fond of) like the Willow Glen classic, but this was my 1st MEET! I was super excited to say the least. Datsloco is a local meet organized by a guy named Gino, usually held in the Livermore area, and simply just peeps and their Datsuns. Well of course they had plenty of parts for sale, bbq (supposedly Gino makes an off the hook carne asada), and even a guy workin on his tranny in the parking lot.

Before the meet though, first things first: a pint. Campfire stout @ Tap25.

Highwater Campfire Stout

Though we got there a few hours from the end, there were plenty of Datsun trucks, and every variety of 510’s possible: 2-dr, 4-dr, Bluebirds, Coupes, and even a RHD from Japan. Two other Z’s remained when we rolled in. Additionally, a Nissan 240sx and 70’s Toyota Corona rounded it out. OK, HOODS UP!

Gino’s Bluebird Coupe – if this doesn’t make you want one…

You can just hear the snarl on this one.

Super hilarious!

Dean’s 240z w/ Fairlady Z432 grill

Hoods up!

Triple carbs on a L28 engine w/ polished valve cover – love it.

There were a few Crown Royal bags around

A RHD Bluebird Coupe from Japan!

Someone testing out some gold Watanabe wheels. I like Wats, but the wheels he had on already looked great.

Powder blue wasn’t no slouch – just check out where all the color is…

October 8, 2012October 8, 2012

Review: Motorsport Auto (MSA) Floor Mats

Swiftly got a package in from Motorsport Auto (MSA) – my new floor mats!

With summer ending and rain just around the corner, it’s always been on my mind to get some floor mats since putting in the carpet kit. Question was, which one?

Could go with a logo’d version, a $50 – $70 ebay one-size-fits-most specials, or even one those Weathertech versions you always see ads for in car magazines. Since the MSA floor mats weren’t that much more, I decided to go with simple. And coming from them, it’ll probably have the best fit. Check them out:

Pros:
1) Great solid looped carpet top
2) Very well stitched binding all the way around
3) Excellent fit, perfectly sized

While the above images show otherwise, the actual color matches quite well with their molded carpet kit. It’s nice when things match. The carpets feel solid and we’ll see how well they last through the rain.

Cons:
1) No heel pad on the driver’s side. So that heel pad that’s on the carpet kit.. covered…and i’m going to wear a hole in these.
2) No clear markings on which side was which. Yeah yeah, they’re only floor mats, but actually it took me a few trys to figure out which one was which. It’s odd there’s an undulating side that runs along the transmission tunnel which is straight… sorry, maybe i’m nit-picking.
3) Foam backing…can’t wait to see how these hold up after a year as it’s been my experience that this type of foam doesn’t last too long. Especially in such a high traffic, elements exposed area. It seems to work for non-slip against the carpet floor, but let’s see how long the foam backings last before making any more comments. I would have thought they used rubber backings.

Other than that, I’m currently satisfied with the floor mats, but the upcoming rain should prove it’s real worth.

October 8, 2012

What can you fit in your Z?

Dear DailyDatsun,
Can an 8-foot tripod projector screen fit in a Datsun 280z? – puzzled, Mr. Didn’t-quite-plan-ahead

Why, yes. Actually, you can fit TWO 8-foot projector screens.

Long story short, I needed those projector screens for a friend’s wedding, and this was the car to do it in. The take away from this? If ever I need 8ft long pieces of 2″x4″ wood, i know how to fit it in. After 15mins of puzzle solving, here’s how you do it:
1) Remove the lower dash valence on the passenger side. This is necessary to get long piece down in the back. An additional 3″ in front that goes up, means 3″ in back that goes down.
2) Remove the luggage bar. Gain an 1″ to work with.
3) Finally, remove the rear hatch inner panel. This was a brilliant move because now you can fit the full length w/ the few inches that goes into the frame of the hatch! haha

or just pick up a Datsun truck.