Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Headlight Relay in Question: Original or Copycat?
Here are some shots of the headlight relay I was talking about in my previous post. Yes it says "BOSCH" and "Made in Germany," but I'm not pretty sure about that. It's only been three months since the relay got bust and I haven't been using the Fairlady often. Another explanation is that the thing is defective, but with BOSCH quality at stake I doubt it. The plastic used looks and feels like it's from a toy that's made in China...LOW QUALITY. And the contact points are easily bent out of shape...it does come loose when conected (this is the reason why my low to high beam has been playing tricks on me a few weeks ago). The bad thing is that it seems that counterfeit replacement parts are becoming common in the auto supply market. This is indeed dangerous...imagine driving at 100 kph when the "fake" KYB suspension collapses! That'll make anyone's day...guaranteed. Safety first!


Saturday, May 27, 2006

Restoration Update: Custom Steel Mesh Air Filter

Ever since I bought the Fairlady back in January, I've been driving it without an air filter! Yes I know it's bad...really really bad! Well the problem is CLEARANCE. There's only about 2.5 inches of clearance between the carburetor intake and the hood so putting a regular paper/foam air filter is impossible! The next best thing is to custom fabricate an intake plumbing to accomodate a Simota/K&N air filter which would fit right beside the intake manifold.

However I didn't have the budget for that yet so I decided to fabricate my own air filter...a steel mesh one. Of course it doesn't offer much protection from fine impurities, but it will at least keep those pebbles, leaves, and nasty destructive bits away from the internals of the carburetor...well that's the plan anyhow. Plus the steel mesh looks good on the carb...indeed a sporty touch. Fortunately, I was able to get a good quality strainer with the same diameter (give or take a few millimeters) as the intake opening of the carb. It also seems to clear the hood by the narrowest of margins. I only had to cut the handle and the rim with a dremel grinder to finish the "custom fabrication." At least now there's some level of protection (hopefully) for the air intake...it's definitely better than nothing. And at P25 for the "custom" steel mesh air filter...it's not that bad :)

Now the testing begins. I started up the engine with the air filter in place and it seems to be doing well...it didn't get dislodged. Remember the air filter is just "clipped" into place. There are no screws or brackets to hold it down unto the carb. But I'll have to do some more testing to see if it'll "pass" normal driving conditions...as well as the notorious "EDSA Pothole Test." Hopefully it'll hold without further modifications. The only problem is it's already raining outside! Crap!

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Repair Update: Headlight Relay

I've been having some problems with the headlights and gauge lighting recently. Sometimes it would turn on...and most of the time it would turn on and then die out...luckily no accidents. Also, the hi-to-low beam and vice versa wouldn't work at times...incoming motorists remind me of that often.

But today I decided to end the troublesome "glitch" once and for all. As it turns out, the headlight relay was the culprit. The disturbing thing is that it's a new three month old Bosch relay that's even "Made in Germany." The electrician also discovered several blown fuses in the new fuse box. Darn it! What seems to be causing these electrical buggers??? Voltage regulator? Alternator? A ground in the system? A short? I guess I'll have to bring some spare fuses just to be safe. I wouldn't want to be stranded again along the highway at night...especially when it's the rainy season now! Hopefully the glitches have been "cured" with the replacement of the relay and fuses...I trust Project T.M.'s auto-electrician (in picture: at the driver's side door). Cost: Fuses - P20; Labor - P150; Relay - P100

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Rust Problem Pictures

I took some pictures of the rust problem that has been "infesting" my Fairlady. Hopefully by June I'll be able to get an estimate of the cost of the "rust job." I'll have to do it ASAP, since it's already the rainy season!!! Darn!

Engine Compartment, Driver's Side (Beside the so called "Death Spear")

Engine Compartment, Driver's Side (Beneath Brake M.C.)


Trunk (Right Side: Fuel Filler Neck)


Left Rear Fender Well


Right Rear Fender Well

Friday, May 05, 2006

Remembering the Past: The First Day I Got to Know Project T.M.
Me (with the HUGE grin) and the previous owner

January 10, 2006 was the point of no return. This was the date I would be bringing home a 1965 Datsun Fairlady I named "Project T.M." I had the day all planned-out. In the morning, I would go to the bank to withdraw the needed funds. Then I'll proceed to Cubao to take the long commute going to Rizal province (I didn't have a co-driver lined-up at that time). When I get to the owner's house...I'll pay him my "dues," sign the papers and then, for lack of a better word, scoot! It's as simple as that.

As it turned out, it was much better than I had expected. My friend (thanks Mig!), who's also a car enthusiast, called me up and offered to drive the other car as I drove Project T.M. home. This was great indeed. I didn't have to take the long commute to Rizal while carrying all that cash in my pocket...a scary and risky afterthought. So I picked-up my friend, had lunch, and drove straight to the owner's house, which was forty-five minutes drive.

As we were entering the gate, there it was...the small "Coca-cola Red" roadster with the top down "sitting" on the driveway ready to be driven away by yours truly. The excitement was just unbearable! Fortunately, it only took about half an hour to draw up the deed of sale and have it signed. I even got see some of the restoration projects of the seller...I believe he had a Triumph TR3 and TR6, a Fiat Roadster with VW engine swap, an 80's TVR coupe, and a vintage race car with custom fiber glass body and a roll cage...not a bad collection indeed!

Well now comes the hard part...driving my newly acquired Fairlady home. It's roughly about a twenty kilometer drive through uneven, dusty, and pothole infested roads, not to mention bumper to bumper traffic and an ambient temperature that could let the asphalt fry some sunny side-ups along that way. This would probably bog down any forty one year old car, but hopefully not the one I'll be driving today...please!

The engine was purring like a sweet heart...no exhaust smoke...which is a good sign. First impression...the cockpit is a bit cramped and I had to contort to some degree to fit my already small frame into the seat and pedal positions. Then I engage first gear...well I try to anyhow. The gears are a bit hard to differentiate from each other...it seems third gear is first and reverse...well it's missing. But that's not the worst part...wait 'til you get to the brakes...well it's also missing! I kept pressing down on the brake pedal as hard as I could, but the brakes wouldn't freakin' engage! And that's just at 5 kmh! But finally I'm rolling down the road...slowly but surely. It was a good day to go driving...slightly overcast and a bit cool and windy. Traffic was moderate...not bad considering that the Fairlady had brakes similar to a pedicab with five people on it...scary man!

Well inch by inch...one kilometer after another...and a sore right foot after an hour of driving, I finally made it...but only just. I had my fair share of scary moments...especially when I almost T-boned another car when I was crossing an intersection desperately trying to avert a disaster by stepping on the brakes with all my might! But all in all, it was a good drive home...no freak accidents, collisions, injuries, and most important of all...my Fairlady made it without a hitch. I only had to refuel at a Petron station and that was it...no other stops on the way home. Mission accomplished! Or so I thought. Now the restoration begins!