the life of rolie

[Pombellett]

Thanks Gerry......getting away from the suspension for the moment, we have decided we don't like the look of our cam followers (rockers) for our G161SS OHC engine. The ones we have are OK but I wouldn't bet my house on them, and since they're an easy thing to replace, I'd like to have some spares...... or better still some super strong new ones.

I think your Gemini runs this type of motor, is anyone in Aus still manufacturing components for these engines? or have any of you guys got a few under the workbench somewhere?

[PR91]

incorrect.
gemini's use a G161Z-G180Z-G200Z. u have a G161SS-G180SS. different beast altogether, and the SS is closer to a normal G150-G160-G161 bellett engine.
have a look at the engine bay pics of my race car. that's a gemini engine.

[PR91]

honestly Glenn... i don't know mate.
have never had one myself!

[Glenn]

Brett, i think some parts in those engines are common to the datsun 1600 engine ? Or at least, adaptable.

glenn

[Pombellett]

Cheers Brett, cheers Glen, Glen is that the L series Dat engine you're referring to? If so I might be able to get some new ones from the States.........well it's one country that's not been involved yet.

[Glenn]

It's the datsun 510 i think in US parlance. We called it the datsun 1600 here. I think it IS the L series engine but not a datsun 'person' !

I have no direct knowledge of what parts are usable except i heard that some of the overhead bits can be. buyer beware i am afraid unless you can sus out somebody with that engine in the UK perhaps.

glenn

[PR91]

yep, in australia, the L series 4 cylinder was in the 1600(1.6L), 180B(1.8L), 200B(2L), Stanza(1.6L) and Bluebird(2L). i have a feeling there was a 1.4L version too, but i'm not a datto-head, so i can't confirm.
the 1600 was called a "P510" elsewhere when it had a 1.6L and a "H510" when it had a 1.8L engine.
the 180B got tagged as "610", 200B was "710" and the others used their normal model names.
the 6 cylinder version is just a 4 with 2 more cylinders added so alot of parts are interchangeable, and was in the 240K(2.4L), 260C(2.6L), 240Z(2.4L), 260Z(2.6L), and 280Z(2.8L).
apologies if i have missed any DRD's (dirty rotten datsun's as a datto friend of mine calls them....) that had L's factory fitted.

[Pombellett]

Thanks guys, I've got some good pics of the Dat rockers from an Aussie website (believe it or not) and the head's back from the machine shop today, so hopefully we can make a comparison.
Still aiming to test on Friday.
Love the in car shots of you at Sandown Brett....looks like an excellent circuit, some good elevation changes there...they always look more extreme when you're there behind the wheel.

[PR91]

they always look more extreme when you're there behind the wheel.

and alot faster.
the video slows down the real feeling of speed, as it was doing about 190k at the end of the front straight and about 170 at the top of the hill, both via the tacho reading, but it doesn't look like it on the screen.

[Pombellett]

Back to more mundane things, we need to fill the square area of the rear panel ,where the number/registration plate is normally mounted. I think we must be able to come up with something more original than 1965 Isuzu Bellett in ordinary block capitals. Any ideas? I suppose it must be something we can copy and print, I like the sort of shield thing with the wolfs head and the motto "the symbol of the sporty people"....has anyone got a good copyable pic of that?

Or even better, a better idea.

[RobSA]

How about MIB20 ?
What does that mean you say ?

McLaren Isuzu Bellett PR20 of course !
Confuse the heck out of people methinks.



Cheers
Rob

[KJB]

I reckon this in one form or another.
KB

[Pombellett]

Love it, the Bellett logo that is. (Sorry Rob )
Is this logo the logo for all Belletts or just a certain model? And did it come in other colours?

[KJB]

Another couple of samples for you to peruse -
KB

[KJB]

And one more -
KB

[Pombellett]

Thanks for all that Kerry, I'll see what my artistic director, Polara Jim, reckons.
Other news is that we had our second test on Friday, which went very well. The re built head gave us a lot more power, turn in was a lot less radical with the rear wheels pointing in the right direction and a smaller bore master cylinder has given me the brakes I like.
We were pleased with a time of 1min 52 sec (average of just over 77mph) for one of the very few clear laps we had. And there's definitely more to come....particularly from the rather rusty driver.

Anyway we hastily strapped my little camera to the cage this time....it's not really pointing in the right direction, but it may give you some idea of the improvements that have been made...it's all a bit long and drawn out...I'm too stupid to edit this stuff....and for some reason it just stops in the middle of the last lap, it probably just got bored!

If you're interested....enjoy
http://youtu.be/NJLbqlhc_a0

[Pombellett]

Third test completed on Friday, and we're now pretty close to where we want to be. Quite a lot of extra power has been gained by some fine tuning whilst a rolling road provided the resistance.
We also had new rubber (we have to run with 14'' x 165 treaded Dunlops) the rad's been dropped an inch and an oil cooler fitted..this has stabilized the engine temp to exactly where we wanted it.
All this allowed us to run for 2 hard driven sessions of 25 mins a piece (equivalent to qualifying and race) without missing a beat or dropping any fluids.....combined with times of 1min 47 secs, we are very pleased.
For those of you that are interested here's a few of the earlier laps after the tyres had scrubbed in.

http://youtu.be/qsbqneak7hE

[Farmer]

Very Nice, sounds like you're realy getting your teeth into it!
Keep up the fun,
Cheers, Matt.

[Pombellett]

Cheers Matt, the fun has involved, attaching door mirrors and repositioning the pedals. And then discovering my helmet and race suit are out of date. Doh!
But enough whinging, here's a couple of pics that Polara Jim took of Rolie rounding Woodcote corner. If anyone's interested in the handling side of things, this is the last corner before the chicane and pit straight. And it's a quick corner. (Viewable on the last in car footage)

rsz_woodcote_1.jpg (152.53 KiB) Viewed 381753 times

The car is at this stage, in a nice, controllable drift....Ignore the massive silencer, we have to run that for testing.

rsz_woodcote_2.jpg (104.61 KiB) Viewed 381753 times

Sadly we have to run the tall,skinny tyres and they don't help the times, but I think they look OK.

[Leadfoot_Liz]

and you thought your wife and i were laughing about your suit before...
must be terrible being told you are out of date
time to spend more money on non essential items, suit, helmet and shoes...make sure the colour matches the car..
these thngs matter..
lizzie