At the risk of stirring this list up a little:
It was written:
>>Well I'm a bit confused. I've been reading the multiple posts on engine
>>transplants and confess I do not understand the need. (good point)
>I'd say one the primary reasons for considering a swap is the cost of
>keeping the U-20 running and the rapidly vanishing parts, at any price.
>That's one big plus for the 510 types, with so many more cars built and
>the large number of major components that are common with the Z-Car.
Well actually, the vast majority of parts are still available for the U20.
Stock cams have been OOP for over 10 years (solex cams are not)
All Mikunis are pretty much NLA, (although most suppliers still have
a set or two), but MOST U20 parts are readily available either new or
used. There are lots of cores around as well, but good one's
generally aren't cheap (there is alot of junk out there too!)
As for price, yes some of the stuff is expensive, but lets get real here
folks, the 2L was the ONLY Datsun (definitely in the US) that ever used the U20.
I don't recall the U being used in anything else at all. (it doesn't matter
anyway.)
There are very few desireable limited production sports or collectors cars with
cheap parts.
(Limited production is the key phrase)
We are %^& lucky to be able to get virtually EVERYTHING needed to properly
rebuild the U20. If you want parts for cheap, buy a VW Bug.
A well built U20 is plenty of engine for this suspension, brakes and (lack of)
safety
equipment, especially for street use!
All this brings me to this evenings editorial.
One of the really sad things about roadsters (and it affects us all) is that
for some reason, they just haven't ever (as of yet) become really VALUABLE
collectors
cars. I would bet that 99% of the owners on this list have put MUCH more into
their car
than they could ever hope to get out of it! God I wish I had collected Awful
Healy parts!
Since this is for the most part reality, there are many schools of ng room and
it goes to the dyno tomorrow A.M. Do you think I can put the lightweight rod
bolts in on the dyno?????
i. Insert your description here...
Now that I have potentially insulted everyone ( I offended myself too.), I'll
pose a question:
What (if anything) could we do as a collective roadster commune, united only by
roadster insanity
(you see it comes in various forms of which I have only listed a few) to
improve the value and
collectability of these cars?
It would be an interesting project to see if we could actually drive the price
up somehow???
(Hey, bigger things have been done by far less people!, sounds like a marketing
issue)
Dreaming again-maybe....
Jim Tyler
(Hopelessly lost and insane in Atlanta, going out to the shop right now to
polish an
O.E. turn lightbulb, where is my coffee?)
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