Camber was standard at the rear and what I could get at the front by slotting the top holes! All very unscientific but it just worked. Toe-in at the front was just that standard toe-in measured with adjustable rods.
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Datsun 280Z -77 - Build thread
- Thread starter peter_s
- Start date
Peter, if you watch this (Castle Combe) from about 3.00 you can see that my car is very stable and I NEVER had to worry about the rear end breaking away. This was so reassuring and gave me and my lads confidence. As I'm cornering the front is trying to 'wash out' so I'm controlling that on the throttle so that I can get the apexes. I'm only on 195 tyres. The Z32s that pass me are VERY powerful but they are tail happy (power and right-foot) in fact the second guy frightens himself!
On the main straight I go into top to give the engine a rest. Yes it all looks slow but it isn't.
My point here is that the car can be driven with complete confidence and trust.
This is Donington, again I only have to think about the front-end.
On the main straight I go into top to give the engine a rest. Yes it all looks slow but it isn't.
My point here is that the car can be driven with complete confidence and trust.
This is Donington, again I only have to think about the front-end.
peter_s
Club Member
I was pushing it to find the characteristics of the can. I felt very secure, and I didn't have to fight it or struggle.
I had a friend of mine drive it as well, and he liked the setup as well. He is a very good driver
I appreciate it, really do. The front really bites now, which I don't mind. But I do think you put the finger on a good point, the rear is stiff, and I think some softening would be good.
My plan going forward is to analyze the tyre wear. See what I can do to optimize the contact patch
A couple of hundred HP more Rob, and you might have had to think about the backend
Jon, just as one example look at Peter's video at 1.10.
Peter are you sure your diff is not too tight?
peter_s
Club Member
Nice driving Rob! Very smooth. Sounds great too!!
I don't mind having a lively rear end. The situation at the 1:10 mark is me entering the corner a little too fast. The front end is sticking still, and I get a little oversteer when the weight is transferred forward. There is also quite a lot of trailbraking going on, trying to find the characteristics of the car. It's very controllable and not tricky at all, I still think the car was very predictable and easy. When it lets go, it does it with plenty of warning.
I am trying to unsettle the car, I could drive it a lot smoother. I pushed in the corners I felt confident in. Too bad I don't have a video from a later session.
I think you are onto something with the diff. The car has got great grip in the rear when accelerating, the most situations arise when I let off the throttle going into the corner. I will further develop the alignment as a start, other than that it's difficult to see what I need. Maybe a little stiffer springs in the back, but I'd rather not do that. The car is street driven, so it's a fine balance between acceptable comfort and performance.
I don't mind having a lively rear end. The situation at the 1:10 mark is me entering the corner a little too fast. The front end is sticking still, and I get a little oversteer when the weight is transferred forward. There is also quite a lot of trailbraking going on, trying to find the characteristics of the car. It's very controllable and not tricky at all, I still think the car was very predictable and easy. When it lets go, it does it with plenty of warning.
I am trying to unsettle the car, I could drive it a lot smoother. I pushed in the corners I felt confident in. Too bad I don't have a video from a later session.
I think you are onto something with the diff. The car has got great grip in the rear when accelerating, the most situations arise when I let off the throttle going into the corner. I will further develop the alignment as a start, other than that it's difficult to see what I need. Maybe a little stiffer springs in the back, but I'd rather not do that. The car is street driven, so it's a fine balance between acceptable comfort and performance.
Albrecht
Well-Known Forum User
I was interested to watch your gearknob in that video. Not because it is particularly attractive (it belongs in a Japanese truck...!) but to see how much it moved around through on and off-power torque reaction.
Have you got beefed-up engine and transmission mounts? If not, I would definitely recommend them.
uk66fastback
Club Member
Probably not the easiest thing to grip, that gearknob?
johnymd
Club Member
I’ve with you on the handling Peter. I love the way my blue car handles on the track. The loose tail and great turn in/front grid really brings a smile to my face. When the back end starts to move around the feedback is so obvious and predictable you can easily keep control of the car and enjoy yourself. This is the real joy of a zed on the track. Never a sharp breakaway just a very controllable slide. It may look like hard work on the camera but there’s no drama in the car.
I feel your car handles very similar to mine Peter and looks great fun to drive. Softening the rear may improve the rear grip but do you really want to.
I feel your car handles very similar to mine Peter and looks great fun to drive. Softening the rear may improve the rear grip but do you really want to.
Albrecht
Well-Known Forum User
Kameari Engine Works in Japan make engine and transmission mounts with high MPa Polychloroprene rubber. Much beefier than stock, but not solid. They considerably damp (unwanted) torque-reaction engine and transmission movement. Recommended.
http://www.kameariengineworks.co.jp/Catalogue-v3/catalogue-071-20190123.pdf
Alphabettispaghetti
Club Member
I think with his 'back end' being so rigidly mounted, it'll exacerbate torque reaction.
On the last high power space frame car I built, I snapped the chassis(well cracked it) a few times when the box and diff were solidly mounted, I ended up using metalasic bushings to allow some movement. That was the last thing I did to sort it.
On the last high power space frame car I built, I snapped the chassis(well cracked it) a few times when the box and diff were solidly mounted, I ended up using metalasic bushings to allow some movement. That was the last thing I did to sort it.
peter_s
Club Member
I've got the Kameari mounts. Thanks though.
I've been thinking about this a little, and it's definitely the diff that is locking at corner entry. I've got really good grip coming out of the corner in the rear end.
I'm not used to driving a Quaife, my last few cars have had a clutch based LSD, which I vastly prefer. I'll drive it more to get used to it, but we'll see.
The "rigid" rear end is mounted with poly bushings, I think it feels great now.
Johnymd, glad to hear about your experiences. I think the car felt great, really balanced.
I think that if you want a car that doesn't step out on you, you have to sacrifice something, which I don't want to do. I've never driven a car where the front end bites well enough, that doesn't want to move around at the rear a little.
Albrecht
Well-Known Forum User
Including the transmission mount? Surprising that the stick is moving around so much if so.
This car looks like such a riot to drive! I can't imagine what its like to drive a Z with quite this much bhp, I have no doubt it must be a bit lairy at times. As has been mentioned though, the S30 chassis seems to be so forgiving and playful in how it steps out that it makes it loads of fun on the limit.
peter_s
Club Member
I have to check, that mount might be a stock one.
I feel the movement of the driveline is acceptable as it is now, it doesn't move forward or backward. I've had other cars (370Z...) where it's been a real nuisance...
Thanks Woody! I think most N/A engines feel pretty tame to drive. The power comes on so predictably that it's almost hard to make it powerslide.
Modern turbo cars on the other hand... I have to drive my M2 with egg shells under the gas pedal coming out of slow corners. The torque curve is so different compared to my L-series.
I guess its generally quite linear, saying that my friends Corvette C7 just makes power everywhere!
Hahaha I know what you mean, I'm less of a turbo fan for that reason. I drove my MR2 Turbo and a friends Honda S2000 back to back last weekend and the S2K was so much easier to get in and just drive fast because of its power delivery. When the MR2 comes on boost you really know about it!
That's why they're all special and unique in their own ways though.
peter_s
Club Member
Pondo
Club Member
You were up on their Instagram as well, and why not it’s a great car you’ve got Peter.