Datsun Bluebird Suspension

[jplambs]

A decidedly non Landrover question. I have a datsun bluebird 1981 model and it has sagging rear suspension. Anybody know of a good place in Perth to get new springs and shocks for it? Thanks everyone.

Jonathan

[BMKal]

Spring Works in Perth should be able to make the springs up for you. They have a number of branches around Perth.

[LandyAndy]

You should be able to order them from any DECENT parts supplier.
A mate is building a Datsun Sunny junior speedway car for his boy,he ordered his suspension(coils shockies and front struts) in from Auto One or similar in Gosnells.
Not likely to be a stock item but are still available.
Any of the children working at Supercrapp or Malz possibly wouldnt know what a Bluebird was,probably send you to the pet shop:D:D:D:D
The guys at the MAIN Repco branch(where the wharehouse is) in Welshpool can be handy depending on who is on duty.
They were a good car them bluebirds.
GOODLUCK
Andrew

[Rangier Rover]

That's got some age on it:eek: They were a bloody good care in their day don't worry. I had one:angel: Go very well with a weber carby:twisted:
I never had major spring issues with mine (Was cured with home made spacers) but may I suggest if the new springs are difficult to find take some measurements and who knows what may interchange from the wreckers:cool: The car would be worth about 250 to 500 bucks so don't over capitalise on it;)

[pop058]

IIRC, a Bluebird (in the very capable hands of George Fury) holds the lap record around Mt Panorama (Bathurst) in the old track configuration. ie. before they put the chase in at the end of Conrod Straight.

history lesson over, please carry on

Paul

[V8Ian]

IIRC, a Bluebird (in the very capable hands of George Fury) holds the lap record around Mt Panorama (Bathurst) in the old track configuration. ie. before they put the chase in at the end of Conrod Straight.

history lesson over, please carry on

Paul
:D:D:D

[Grockle]

IIRC, a Bluebird (in the very capable hands of George Fury) holds the lap record around Mt Panorama (Bathurst) in the old track configuration. ie. before they put the chase in at the end of Conrod Straight.

history lesson over, please carry on

Paul

yes just beating a Bloor Knox engined (split screen) Morris Minor driven by Group Capt Sir Gervaise Bartle-Mellors DFC and bar(Rtd)
who rolled just going in to the drivers toilet block..

[jplambs]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll chase them up and see what I can find. I'm driving home to S.A. in March with it and the poor thing has to pull a trailer so thats why I figured I should probably do something about the springs/shocks. She has done almost 400,000 kms now, I had to paint her a little while ago because some of the cops up in Perth couldn't understand how a country car could have barbwire rust scrapes over the back. Its been a pretty reliable car though, the only maor thing I have had to replace has been the torque converter plate.

And while we are on it would anybody happen to know why the engine screams at me when cruising at 110? If I accelerate a little it pushes past it and the same if I ease off the accelerator. Thanks again everyone.

Jonathan.

[jplambs]

Well just to keep the questions going on my Datsun, coming home from Perth tonight about 40kms out from home my bluebird started sounding like a Harley crossed with a tractor. It was a gradual change, the engine has been making a soft tappet sounding noise for awhile only now its a dull roar, there appears to be air escaping somewhere around the inlet/outlet manifolds but I can't see any holes, although the air coming out was fairly hot so I didn't want to get burnt and just drove home quitely. Anybody got any ideas?

[Pedro_The_Swift]

hmmm,
L20 bored to 2180,
flatop TRD pistons,
280zx valves,
72 cam,
D shaped inlet ports,
35"long secondaries,
twin 48's,
(mine also had a flowed crank believe it or not!)
option1 5 speed,
rear diff out of the FRONT of a 720 nissan,
front struts out of a '68 model 1600(2" lower)
The SX model had larger front rotors,




:eek:oops,,
drifted off there--

[Slunnie]

IIRC, a Bluebird (in the very capable hands of George Fury) holds the lap record around Mt Panorama (Bathurst) in the old track configuration. ie. before they put the chase in at the end of Conrod Straight.

history lesson over, please carry on

Paul
Shame that motor wasn't in the road cars. IIRC it was a 1.8 turbo?

[BigJon]

Well just to keep the questions going on my Datsun, coming home from Perth tonight about 40kms out from home my bluebird started sounding like a Harley crossed with a tractor. It was a gradual change, the engine has been making a soft tappet sounding noise for awhile only now its a dull roar, there appears to be air escaping somewhere around the inlet/outlet manifolds but I can't see any holes, although the air coming out was fairly hot so I didn't want to get burnt and just drove home quitely. Anybody got any ideas?

Sounds like a failed exhaust manifold gasket or cracked manifold.

[robzilla]

hmmm,
L20 bored to 2180,
flatop TRD pistons,
280zx valves,
72 cam,
D shaped inlet ports,
35"long secondaries,
twin 48's,
(mine also had a flowed crank believe it or not!)
option1 5 speed,
rear diff out of the FRONT of a 720 nissan,
front struts out of a '68 model 1600(2" lower)
The SX model had larger front rotors,




:eek:oops,,
drifted off there--
i considered that route with mine, but then discovered fuel injection and turbo's :twisted: the Silvia SR20 motor bolts straight on to the Series 3 Bluebird engine mounts; it's almost as though Nissan wanted you to do it :p

and im with BigJon, gotta be an exhaust gasket. went through a few myself with similar results, will gradually get louder as more and more of the gasket gets blown out. Check the manifold for any missing studs/nuts that might be causing it to get loose

[robzilla]

Shame that motor wasn't in the road cars. IIRC it was a 1.8 turbo?
yep, 1.8 litre, SOHC turbo.
for that famous qualifying lap they had it wound up to something rediculous like 45psi of boost and the engine bay fire extuingisher nozzles pointed to the front of the intercooler :D

love reading all the little tricks (ahem, rule interpreations) they did :p like wrapping an aftermarket intercooler in NISSAN branded tape and putting it in a NISSAN box, to make officials think it was a genuine item!
Or the boost pressure dial hidden behind an oil warning light!

[pop058]

yep, 1.8 litre, SOHC turbo.
for that famous qualifying lap they had it wound up to something rediculous like 45psi of boost and the engine bay fire extuingisher nozzles pointed to the front of the intercooler :D

love reading all the little tricks (ahem, rule interpreations) they did :p like wrapping an aftermarket intercooler in NISSAN branded tape and putting it in a NISSAN box, to make officials think it was a genuine item!
Or the boost pressure dial hidden behind an oil warning light!

Very close. I remember reading ATT (quite awhile ago) that the figure was 42 psi.

Paul

[jplambs]

Thanks guys, just spent half an hour bent over it with a couple of other blokes from work. We looked at the manifolds and the gasket and couldn't see anything wrong, everytime the engine started it would get too hot in there to keep feeling around. Anyhow I went and got a powerful torch and that was when we noticed that there is a very small chunk out of the head gasket :o. It appears to be the first cylinder far back corner, its somehow missed the water channel:D and is just blowing out hot air. So now I have to decide if I get it fixed or if I get a cheap car to get me back to S.A. Problem is I was trying to save some money to spend on the Defender and now it looks like I'm blowing it all on the bluebird. :(

Could explain why I lost power last night towing a trailer though...

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I think losing a quarter of your horsepower out of that leak would be your problem,,,,

[isuzurover]

YouTube- Bathurst 1984 - George Fury's Bluebird.

Back in the days when bathurst was interesting...

[jplambs]

Thanks Isuzurover, mine doesn't quite look like that, its green for a start and it doesn't have fins;)... but... the engine does sound about the same when its running normally.:o

[BigJon]

Back in the days when bathurst was interesting...

Interesting!!! :eek:

Full race speed with a crashed car and tow truck on the track!

[DEFENDERZOOK]

back in those days it was actually a race.......not an advertisement for ford and holden.......

only james used to advertise back then........james hardie......

[jplambs]

To those who originally answered my question about the rear suspension for the bluebird, thanks again, I tired Auto One, etc, and they all ended up recommending Pedders as being a cheaper place to go, so I have got the springs and shocks on order now.

I towed the bluebird up to Perth tonight to a mate who is a mechanic to get the headgasket replaced, all good at that end but while I'm at it I might as well whinge about the bosses' landcruiser ute hzj75. :twisted: (As appreciative as I am that he let me borrow it) Talk about gutless, never used overdrive at all and ended up in third a fair bit of the way - even when just pulling an empty trailer... I didn't realise that the engines were that bad, or maybe it was just this particular engine.;) Oh and I used 20 litres to the hundred kms, but then again I guess you expect that from a landcruiser. Whinge over.:angel:

[Slunnie]

To those who originally answered my question about the rear suspension for the bluebird, thanks again, I tired Auto One, etc, and they all ended up recommending Pedders as being a cheaper place to go, so I have got the springs and shocks on order now.

I towed the bluebird up to Perth tonight to a mate who is a mechanic to get the headgasket replaced, all good at that end but while I'm at it I might as well whinge about the bosses' landcruiser ute hzj75. :twisted: (As appreciative as I am that he let me borrow it) Talk about gutless, never used overdrive at all and ended up in third a fair bit of the way - even when just pulling an empty trailer... I didn't realise that the engines were that bad, or maybe it was just this particular engine.;) Oh and I used 20 litres to the hundred kms, but then again I guess you expect that from a landcruiser. Whinge over.:angel:
The famous 1HZ motor. Yep, they're all that gutless nor particularly efficient. The only thing sadder is the gearbox they put behind them.

[HBWC]

jplambs when in march are you heading to sa as im heading ther in the d1 in early march

i also had a copple of worked bluebirds
but refered my sss 180b rally spec import
twin webbers and the box skyline as i kept blowing 2nd and 3rd in blue bird and 180/200n boxes

[jplambs]

PM sent Jono.

[BigJon]

The famous 1HZ motor. Yep, they're all that gutless nor particularly efficient. The only thing sadder is the gearbox they put behind them.

If it is an old 75 series it might have the 2H in it. Makes the 1HZ look good :angel:.

[djam1]

Yep I remember running tours in the Territory when the 1HZ came, they were well sought after when compared to the head cracking 2H.