New World Datsuns...

Alright, so I got the carbs mostly figured. Have a few more things to fiddle with, but after adjusting the needle height in the piston, the car runs and idles fine, just pig rich. Need to move back up a few thousands and check jet valve height and then it should be only a matter of trial and error to get the needles in sync with what the engine needs. Then air balance.

Alright, after multiple needle adjustments, I finally have the car running pretty damn well. Next thing is to re-check the screws for 100% accuracy with the micrometer, then warm it back up and check air balance. Think my O2 sensor is beginning to crap out, going to hook up the wideband before too long now that I have the mixtures roughly correct and the car idles and runs happily.

Then I'm probably going to remove the cat I installed when it had factory EFI and join up the pipes, then should be almost ready for hood on actual driving on the street! Only spent 2 hours on it this morning before I left to go meet dad and hang out with my Idaho buddies. Just got back now, but a very happy day for Wynona.

Oh, I'm sorry, did you want video? I didn't take any. I may tomorrow.

Why TF do you have an O2 sensor on a carbed car? Seems really redundant.


Do you have emissions testing up there? You gonna be able to pass? Or will you need to register your cars here?

Lol, c'mon Flatcat, you know I have tricks! Halmeter narrow band 30 led readout, and I have a wideband setup now courtesy of Mohammed, so if I want to wire that up I can really dial in everything.

I'll be out in the garage tomorrow, hopefully getting stuff dialed in.

Tune in Tokyo?

I play that every night!!

HaHA!!! Not on the car, but since I finally have the new computer and got it all figured out, I finally tried to load photoshop again. Version 5.5 I got in college. Which still works fucking perfectly, so why would I change? And lo and behold, 1989-98 programs still work on the new windows unit! Woohoo! Got my photoshop back! Which means easier manipulation of photos for you guys! And now to bundle up and head out to the garage.

So I'm not particularly pleased with the cheapy air cleaners I bought. They'll work fine, have some foam in them, pretty simple really. The big annoyance is trying to put the bolts in. I just started uploading a video for you all, and had a thought I can just put a nut on the inside of the plate also so the studs stick out in the correct location. It's a real bitch to get the back air cleaner housing on. I'd like to run thicker air filters too, but the master cylinder is in the way completely. I'm thinking maybe I'll get rid of the power booster and suck it back a little. We'll see. I'm running the 1" thick air cleaners and I have like zero space.

Video may not be up for a bit, but here's where it will be: https://youtu.be/CuZUIe3hrEY

Note, PCV system is not hooked up correctly here. The valve cover breather should vent to atmosphere. Both bottom and top sides CANNOT go to the balance tube. It causes an idle drop, then raise, then back to whatever setting. Totally screws with idle.

Snappy!

Sometimes you just have to live with it, you will not like not having power brakes once you have had them.

Pfff, I've had lots of cars without power brakes. The 510, the Z race car. Ain't no thing! But they are nice. So after I got the car running well, I was still a slight bit too rich at idle and I tried to adjust the needle height again, but one of the needles was stuck. It now has a big gouge in it. And then I put in another needle that looked like it had been fiddled with, and guess what? It had! Car ran like shit. But I know roughly where I need to set the needle boss height, now I just need to buy some needles and go at it again next weekend.

Oh well! At least I know I'm in the ballpark.

Still runs better than the EFI?

You cannot leave stuff alone can you, it has to be perfect.
Perfect is overrated, I would rather drive them, close is good enough for me at least when it comes to dual SUs, if the plugs are tan I am good, if two are black I make an adjustment and call it good for the next 6 months.

Lol, well, just want it running correctly. Runs better than the factory EFI so far. Still need to get it out on the road for testing, but I'm sure it'll be great. I had the needles at .016 above the piston deck. I'm going to put them at .020 and see if that gets me just right. As soon as I find some needles. Think I'll see if Z therapy knows where to get some or will sell me some.

Damn dude that thing sounds good!!!


Come build me a race car

So I'm digging into SU tuning information and needle profiles. Lots to learn, and I love SUs! Making me realize how little I knew about them! Since I now have two sets of needles, each one with a dinked up needle, I figured I'd better start doing some research. After not being able to find a needle profile for the stock 240z, only N27 or N54 etc, that have no availability and no needle profile, I figured I would measure my remaining existing good needle.

So, in case you were wondering, there are 13 steps along the needle, starting .125 (approx 3mm) from the shouldered edge of the .125 diameter base unbiased needle. Measurement of those 13 points with a micrometer gives me the needle profile of:

.093
.091
.088
.085
.082
.079
.076
.074
.072
.070
.068
.067
.065

So now, I'm looking through a needle profile chart to find a common British needle available from Triumph/MG/Mini suppliers that is close enough to this profile to work, which will make my life much easier. I also have an email in to Z therapy, but I imagine they're quite busy, might be a bit before I hear back from them. Tried to call today but got a voicemail and figured I wouldn't leave a message since I already sent an email.

Anyway, back on the search!