goes2fast

Cool! Looks like 510ville. :cool::wub::thumbup:

Thanks for the long awaited update, keep the photos and info coming for those of us about to do the same! :cool:

Thanks for posting the trany info, that will be helpful to more than one member I'm sure. Are those Z carbs or SSS carbs? That is a nasty sounding cam, you should turn the idle up a little, so It doesn't shake itself apart though, I used to have a 2.0 Pinto with a nasty setup, 11 to 1 pistons, ported head, headers, and a 310 degree duration Crane cam. It was very fast, but unless you turned the idle up to 1200 rpm, it would shake so much that bolts and screws would loosen, and I was afraid that sheet metal might start cracking. Even at 1200, the front fenders would rock at traffic lights, and people would ask what was wrong with my car. LOL When the light turned green they would find out it ran fine, especially from 4500 to 8000, it was like a rocket! :P

I've got 180 degree thermostats in both my jeeps, along with porting the thermostat housings for better flow, and running Robert Shaw high performance thermostats. I have done every trick I can to get them to run cooler, the next thing I'm going to try is 3 10" fans next, as soon as I have the time and money to spare. That small radiator is a problem in an otherwise great jeep. :(

I hope that radiator does the job, I have 2 XJs, and It barely keeps the 200hp jeep cool. I have had to upgrade to aftermarket aluminum 2 row on 1 of mine and a 3 row on the automatic, and they still run warmer than I would like, 210 on the auto, and 190 to 200 on the 5 speed.

IMO, Tom is being irresponsible in not communicating what is going on, whether the delay is his fault or not. It is not right to collect all that money, and not keep us informed. :(:(:(:unsure:

I understand, but with 2 you should get plenty of air in that location, and 1 in. less would make the proportions look much better. Have you routed any of the ducting yet? If you have, pics please. :cool:

Looks better now, but they don't look like they are pointing straight ahead, also I think they would look better if they were a little smaller in height, they look too big in comparison to the bumper imo. You are on the right track tho. :D

Potato Patato, same chassis, same size small Olds.

My friends Starfire was a hardtop, I don't remember if it was a 62 or 63?

While you were at the locksmiths, you should have had your door lock rekeyed to match the ignition, that's what I did, so only one key, then I did the same thing you did on the passenger side. Then of course I found a good lock after I welded up the hole. :( I put power door locks and an alarm system on that is real hi tech, as soon as I get close with the fob in my pocket, it disarms, and unlocks the doors, and does the reverse when I walk away. You leave the fob in your pocket, not on your key chain, and if you are car jacked, 60 seconds after it loses the signal from the fob, the alarm goes off, and the starter is disabled,so the thief doesn't get far. Pretty neat for under $40. :D

Just ran across this thread, one of my all time favorite cars, although I prefer the hardtop version. One of my buddies had a Jetfire (the turbo version) in high school, and I've loved them ever since. The way to go with the auto is a 200R4, it's smaller, lighter, and has both the BOP and Chevy bolt patterns. It was originally developed for the Buick Grand National, so will handle anything the 215 can dish out, and the parts are available to make it handle 800 + hp. If you ever need to rebuild the 215, you use a Buick 350 crank to make a 300 out of it, you have been getting some misinformation. Also it was not the first engine to make 1 hp per ci. that was the 57 Chevy fuelie 283, which with the 098 solid lifter cam, which I have in my 57, only with a single 4v carb. The 2004R is based on the TH350 while the 700R4 is based on the TH400 which uses more hp to turn it, is heavier, and bigger, so may not fit in your car without major surgery to the tunnel, and the ratios in the 2004R are better suited to the smaller 215. If you guys have questions about 50s and 60s GM and Ford cars, I'm your guy, I've been playing with these cars all my life, and know them very well. I only owned one Mopar, from that era, and it was such a P.O.S. I swore I would never buy another one, so the only Chrysler products I know anything about are Jeeps, and then only wranglers and cherokees. Keep up with the posts, anything built in the US in the 50s and 60s was great stuff, after 72, US cars were junk til in the 90s they started to improve, but it's been a slow trip getting up to the quality of the imports. With a few exceptions they still have a ways to go, just wish they would come up with some rear wheel drive performance cars that are affordable, like we had in the 60s. I hope this helps with your future planning, and if you need some help finding parts, my neighbor just restored a 69 cutlass and know where to find Olds and Buick parts. :cool:

I love your project, as an "Old School Hot Rodder" I agree with the majority, run what you have available. If you think it will be economical to drive though, I have my doubts. My mostly stock 2JZ-DTE gets 16mpg 1/2 city 1/2 highway, my 57 Chevy small block, solid lifter, single Holley, 4 speed gets 19 to 20mpg. The 2JZ is more fun to drive though, better handling + the boot in the back when the second turbo kicks in is a rush, but the 57 gets lots of thumbs ups, and when the secondaries kick in, and the 6000 rpm music starts playing through the Flowmasters, that's fun too! I guess that is why I have an eclectic fleet of cars, they all have their good points, and give different experiences when driving them. I hope your son appreciates the great experience you are sharing with him, I only wish I had a child to share my passion with. I will be following this build with great interest, as it is hot rodding at it's best. :D

The Dime is looking great Bob, Wish I could make progress as fast as you. If I could, I would have my KA in by now and you could have the L20 out of my 620 for your Dime. :cool:

Lookin' good Bob, You need to get your friend on the forum too, I'm jealous, his 510 looks like my dream 510, the first 2 door I ever saw was a black one at Boulevard Datsun in Boulder back in the day, and after driving it, I have always wanted one, but never been lucky enough for being in the right time and place. :( Keep the pics coming!!!! :cool:

Gary, It's a 2JZ-DTE, they came with 5 speed, automatic, or (the rare and expensive in the US) 6 speed in both Japan and the US. I would think that the DTE version of the auto would have different calibration for the turbo's increased power and different power band, but I haven't been able to find any info to know for sure. One guy I know, that was going to turbo a SC300 auto, told me that the stock trans is good for 450 horsepower. There is a thread on the Lexus Club forum that talks about someone that beefs up the auto, but I would think that is not in my budget right now, so I will keep the boost to 15psi or less for the time being. For you guys wanting pics, I will get them posted as soon as I get a chance, I've been concentrating on getting the bugs out of the car, so I can get it smogged, and getting it looking better, so I'm not ashamed to be seen in it. A luxo Hot Rod is a little different than a Ratsun, and this one needs some TLC! So far I have 3/4 of the interior clean, replaced the AC/Heat contoler,color sanded the rear quarter where a bad repaint touch up was done, buffed out the whole car, and waxed it, fixed the instrument lighting, and lots of other misellaneous small repairs. On top of that I have been working on my 620, and my XJ, so not much time with me being back to work full time. I have also bought new wheels for it as it is traction lacking with the present 245 rear rubber. The new wheels are 19X9.5 front, and 19X10.5 rear, and will have 245/40X19s front and 275/35X19 rear tires when the budget permits, $200 ea for rears best price I could find, so a big investment! If you guys want I could start a build thread for this car, if there is enough interest, this means you Skib! :D

The heat gun will just speed up evaporation of the solvent, not a good idea. The cold is your friend in this case. :D A very Happy Birthday to Fisch! :hug:

Someone save this Dime! :( If I had the time and the money, I would come out and get it myself. :( http://fresno.craigslist.org/cto/2060476973.html

Thanks Gary, I haven't gotten it fixed yet, second gear has started slipping, so I am waiting til I get a chance to get the trans from the Supra from the guy I bought the car from. He installed the 2JZ-GTE with the high millage SC300 trans still in the car, so putting the low mileage Supra trans in may solve the problem, at least that's what I'm hoping. I will check out that forum anyway as I need to learn all I can about the cars. I love the performance, but I'm old school and pretty ignorant when it comes to all the modern tech that is part of these cars, plus I have always been a Datsun/Nissan guy, so I have a lot to learn about Toyotas. :huh:

Last we heard from you, you said the end of the month, that was 2 months ago. :poke::confused::frantics: How about a little communication?This is starting to look suspect. I realize the hold up is probably not your falt, but you need to keep us informed on what is going on, and what the manufacturer is doing. I don't think I'm being unreasonable in just wanting to know what is going on as my interior and new glass is on hold waiting for these seals. :crying:

Congrat's, can't wait to see what you do with your new toy. :D

Aren't there places in Austrailia where you can buy trailer fenders? They are cheap here, and would be a lot easier than the way you did it. They roll them out in one piece, and are available in steel and aluminum both. Just wondering as I don't know a lot about the land down under, but since there are some really nice automotive bits that are imported here that come from there, I would think that most anything we can get here, you can get also. :cool: You did a nice job of fabbing the fenders though, came out looking just like the rolled ones. I really like your thread, showing how you do everything. I'm starting to better document everything I'm doing on my 620, because you inspired me. I also get a kick out of the different terms you guys use for things, like tub, instead of bed, etc. The actress that plays in the Harry Potter movies was on a talk show the other night, talking about how she has embarrassed herself a couple of times over here. She is going to college here, and asked for a rubber, as that is what they call an eraser in England, but here that is slang for a condom. She also mentioned another example, but I don't remember it, but everyone on the Letterman show was cracking up. Cultural differences are interesting, I think anyway.:D

Better yet to have my truck in Bob's garage for a week! :D If Bob and I hit it for a week together in his shop, my 620 would be done, of course is a project ever really done? :P

Notice, this guy is from Colorado also. Lots of innovation going on here, I've seen a model A done similar with no radiator, or grill in the front, just a 4 banger hanging in the air. The radiator was hidden in the rear under the trunk lid, made me scratch my head for a few til I figured it out. :P

Bob, If you like the bomber seat idea, Speedway has some that are curved back and look more comfortable than the square ones. :D My link