300 miles without missing a beat!!

[speedyblue]

Drove to the Sunny coast for a few days during the week and decided to take the datto instead of the big blue beast (International Scout in my gallery) I had replaced the rear left hand wheel bearings last week, so at least that was a lot quieter. For future reference, the inner bearing is a real pain to drive into the housing. Filled up with fuel as I left home and hit the highway. The thing did the trip without a worry averaging about 70mph (125 km/h) for the trip, with a 15-20 minute stint sitting on 90-95mph (140-150km/h ) at the end. Drove around in heavy traffic and lots of lights for about 50 miles, then came home a few days later. Stopped to fill up half way back and found out that I got about 10L per 100km in the way of fuel economy.

Who needs a new car when a 30+ year old one can do a long trip in style with no worries what so ever and even get good use of petrol. Long live the Z

p.s. sorry about the mixed measurement units but some things I can't convert off the top of my head.

[TomoHawk]

Lessee... 10L = about 2.5 Gal. 100km = about 60miles
60miles/2.5 Gal = 24 mpg

GOOD on yer!

[speedyblue]

Can't complain about that, considering the engine is straight out of a parts car I bought for $200. Just dropped it in and bolted on the twin carbs and extractors.
Why pay 40 grand for a honda that gets 50 mpg? You will never save that much in fuel, plus you look like a dork.

[TomoHawk]

I've been watching a TV program called "NOPI vision" which is all about the ricer phenomema. Some of the peole, as I remember, have "invested?" as much as $80,000 in their car?!!??

Just to have custom bodywork that makes it hard to tell what car you started with, DVD, COLORED leather everywhere, a 'sound system' louder than open extractors, and interor appointments that look like a Christmas tree when you switch the lights on.

thx

[Fun_in_my_z]

300 miles isnt bad. What year of Z do you have

Only good reason for whatching Nopi is the girls lol.

[speedyblue]

One of my mates just dropped 4g's on a paintjob for his pulsar. Has a nice kit and that, and looks nice but that's a lot of money for looks alone. Another mate has put about 6 grand into his ford laser, but for that he got a turbo engine, bigger turbo, water to air intercooler, race seats, lowered springs and the such. Hasn't spend much on looks, but it still looks tough as and is quick. (I don't want to try race him)

My car is a 73 model, but now sports an L28 from a 280zx. Never had a problem with the L24 though, just wanted more go.

[Alfadog]

When I bought my Z, the P.O. drove it up from Sydney (950km) Long live the Datsun indeed!

[zorro]

Just on my calculations 10L per 100kms/ (divided by) 4.54 litres to the gallon = 2.202 gallons. 100kms = 62.5miles/ 2.202 = 28.38mpg. This was how i was taught to convert by an old hand is this correct??

The way u drove that sounds like pretty dam good fuel economy, on a trip to Canberra (565kms) my 76' 260Z 2+2 with L28 and 240Z SU's returned me 33mpg driving like a grandma through the gears (it killed me!) but i was blown away with the economy. Considering the 240Z weighs around 1100kg and my 260Z over the weigh bridge weighed 1350kg i am very interested to see how it fairs when i put all that gear in the 240Z its gotta be better again!

So i agree speedy why have a Honda (unless its a NSX ssshhh!!)

[Fun_in_my_z]

My 72 went through 1/1/2 tanks from NE. to here. Running between 75 and 80 the whole way. Just under 600 miles. Think it was 576? I dont remember.

Its got L28 with round tops and a auto trans.

[g72s20]

Just on my calculations 10L per 100kms/ (divided by) 4.54 litres to the gallon = 2.202 gallons. 100kms = 62.5miles/ 2.202 = 28.38mpg. This was how i was taught to convert by an old hand is this correct??

The difference is because a US Gallon is equal to 3.8 litres, where the imperial (what the rest of use) is equal to 4.54 litres. Why is this so?? (apologies to Prof. Julius Sumner-Miller...! Who here is old enough to remember him? )

When I bought my 240K auto last June, I paid my $700, drove it 1100+ klms home for an average of 29mpg...didn't miss a beat, still hasn't 12000K's later, with an average of 430 K's per tank, or about 24mpg around Sydney! These Nissan sixes really are a good motor. Even the C10, with the triple Mikunis, lumpy cam and short diff gears gave 23 mpg Melbourne - Sydney, around 900 K's
I'm happy.
Jim.

[TomoHawk]

I was just using simplified numbers in my head for a quick calculation, and got 24mpg, which I assumed would be close enough.

[sblake01]

You both came up with tha same figure, really. If you divide Imperial gallons by US gallons and multiply Tomohawk's figure you get gs72s20's figure. And yes, I remember Professor Julius Sumner-Miller. (Why is it so?) I think he passed away about 1987 or so.

[speedyblue]

Well next time some combi driving hippie gives you a hard time about old inefficient cars, you will be able to correct them. I have a 5 speed which helps though. I guess it benifits from the sleek body shape a fair bit. Wonder how the G-nose would affect it.
When I said $40,000 hondas, I was referring to the hybrid car they sell that is so expensive that you would never recover the extra cost by reduced fuel costs until after 10 years, which if I remember correctly, is 5 years more than the car is supposed to last. Bet they don't have that written in the marketing brochures.

'Why is it so' is a bit before my time, but I have seen ittle bits of it on the telly every now and again.

[sblake01]

It has reached the point where my memory isn't good enough to think back far enough to remember what was before my time.

[grnskyline]

hey,
I am thinking the gearbox in the car makes a fair amount of difference with fuel economy? Anyone know the difference between the auto vs stick ? My 260 4spd isnt much chop on the hwy. Sits on about 4k doing about 70/80mph. havent worked out any mpg figures, but cant be good. ha. So yeah need to get ahold of 5spd me thinks......

[sblake01]

Rear end ratio makes a difference, too.

[speedyblue]

Mine was sitting on about 2300rpm at 100km/h which it pretty good as far as I'm concerned, just need to drop it back a cog for an overtaking burst.

[TomoHawk]

My 280Z with 3 spd auto will turn about 3300 at 70 MPH... With the tacho on the fritz, I'm accustomed to the sound of the engine at 60 MPH. We've discused the pros & cons about auto v. manual transmission here before where the biggest difference seems to be the efficiency of the automatic transmission's torque converter compared to the clutch, and it seems evrerybody gets a different result, as everybody car is in different states of mechanical efficiency.

[speedyblue]

Different fuels too. I've only been running premium unleaded because it makes less soot. Burns a bit cleaner than the cheap stuff. Would be good to do a comparo with the budget stuff, but I don't fancy another trip just yet. Tyre pressures, air temp etc would do a bit too.

[TomoHawk]

From scientific research, it has been found that the lower octane gasoline gives you more horsepower. Octane boosters are only good for increasing engine ptemp., eliminating detonation and lowering your horsepower factor. I have no evidence about soot.

But you are correct by saying thar tyre pressure, air temp & atmospheric pressure, etc., all play a factor in the power of your engine and speed v. RPM.