Hopefully this will be taken as the constructive comment it's intended to
be. :)
When at a recent practice in San Diego, which was specifically set up for
novices (applause, please!), while working the course I had an opportunity
to watch two or more vintage Z cars at work. Because both experienced and
novice drivers were on the course at the sime time, what I saw wasn't
necessarily limited to novices, but may have been.
These particular Zs were understeering something fierce, plowing through
every corner. Must have been pretty frustrating, and points to what I've
learned while prepping my Mustang SVO for ESP (or is it FSP now, noone seems
to know). More power is good, better handling is "gooder".
I know it's a little "off topic" but germane. It's easy to get bogged down
in the search for more power -- I certainly have focused a lot of attention
on the limits of SP in this area -- but my being taught more technique at
that practice, and improving the car's handling, have also made huge gains
for me.
Just my 2 cents. :)
Richard Nichols
rnichol1@san.rr.com
86 Mustang SVO TII 1C: ESP/FSP/?
72 Pinto Sedan 2.0 3J - Original Owner, Restored
On display at the San Diego Automotive Museum,
June 99 through January 00
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Holden <rholden@mail.scs.k12.tn.us>
To: Jenaro Rodriguez <dicej@cnw.com>
Cc: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 8:40 AM
Subject: Re: BSP Datsun Z questions
>
>
>>From: Jenaro Rodriguez <dicej@cnw.com>
>
>
>>
>>
>> Richard Holden wrote:
>>
>>> >From: TeamZ3@aol.com
>>> >To: autox@autox.team.net
>>> >Subject: BSP Datsun Z questions
>>> >Date: Tue, Apr 27, 1999, 12:07 PM
>>> >
>>>
>>> > Can anyone tell me what a reasonable expectation is for a Datsun
>240/260/280Z
>>> > in full BSP trim with regard to:
>>> >
>>> > Horsepower/torque
>>> 200 bhp should be reasonable don't know about the torque, contact
Rebello
>>> for absolute max. John Banks claims 180 hp at 6000 rpm at the rear
wheels
>>> in an AP Datsun from dyno runs which probably calculates to 230 to 240
bhp
>>> and his car is very strong.
>>
>> 200 HP? That sounds a little conservative for a car that came with 175 HP
>stock in
>> a couple of models. My old '76 280Z was supposed to have 175 HP stock. At
>least
>> that's what it said in the engine compartment. With no restrictions on
intake
>and
>> and exhaust I'd think more than 25 extra HP should be available. Just a
>thought.
>>
>> Jay
>
>All the after market parts claim x amount of hp gain from just bolting on
>the part. I saw a Mikuni add once for a Z car setup that said "add 50 hp".
>Also have seen adds claiming 25 hp gains from this free flow exhaust
system.
>So it seems that you could add 75 hp to 175 and get 250 with just carbs
and
>exhaust, but this is one time that the total does not equal the sum of its
>parts. Performance add ons may require additional prep such as more
>compression, cams and higher rpms to work efficiently and to make the full
>power they claim. I think the cars were probably over rated on HP from the
>factory. That sports car thing, you know. They also had 160 mph on the
>speedometer which many people thought meant that they could go that fast.
>Some even claimed they saw 150 readings on those speedometers. The cars in
>stock trim would only muster 115 to 120. You would need to contact Rebello
>for verification, but I think I recall a magazine article quoting Rebello
as
>getting 220 hp max out of a "stock motor". I think they are getting 240 hp
>following the new E Production rules for SCCA road race. I don't mean to
>under rate the available power from a Z car. I love them. I have owned a
Z
>since 1974 and autocrossed a Z since 1976. They can be made to be very
fast
>and to handle well. I think people like to quote large horsepower numbers
>that are just not accurate. In a fully race prepared motor with 2.8L, 14
or
>15 to 1 compression turning 8000+ rpm you can make 300+ horsepower. With
a
>stock cam, 9 to 1 compression, turning 6000 rpm you can't make much over
200
>hp. Call Rebello, they'll give you the scoop and try to sell you an
engine.
>
>Richard Holden
>>
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