got the 78 running great!

american-kiwi · american-kiwi's Garage

well after a long battle with the fuel system,...i have the old girl running great....can still be a bit hard to start when hot/running temps but it does fire up after about 3 turns/starts of the key.....i will post a vid soon...i tried to make one yesterday...but its too shaky...need to fix the camera better somehow...so far a mid 80's supra tried me out...he lost that race...then some kids in a late mazda turbo hatch...he lost too..lol....is there a sign on these cars we dont see?..."race me!"....i have to be real careful with the LSD....your sideways before you know it!!

OK..update...made a small video...sorry the sound isnt great...using my still camera with vid mode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKuaVder9PQ&feature=channel_page

Danglerb · 05-06-2009, 11:53 PM

Great news!

Now either you have a secret 78 motor I don't know about, or its seriously time for some new tires.

DanielDudley · 05-07-2009, 03:46 AM

They are snappy cars. I was running the 215s on 15 inch rims, then went for a set of 225s on 7x16s, but finally wound up with 225s and 245s on speedlines.

Way more planted in the turns than even the 225s.

785sp · 05-07-2009, 09:00 AM

Dangle, don't dis the early motors. They have lots of low end torque. Lightened a bit with exhaust deletes and other minor mods, the 78-79 models are very quick. You can talk about your "euro" 'till you're blue in the face, but most of us don't live at 5,000+ rpms.

devilinblack · 05-07-2009, 09:24 AM

As someone with a US 78 w/LSD, I'll say it's easy enough to spin the wheels if releasing the clutch and keeping the RPM's up. I try not to do it too often because I don't want to destroy tires any faster than I already do by beating them up on the track.

Now flying through a hard left turn at 60+ with the rear end ever so gently drifting out to the right... Heaven. Don't try it on the public streets though.

Danglerb · 05-07-2009, 10:27 AM

No dis intended, my US 83 has basically the same torque as an older 928, and I know what its like to go sliding around on some old hard tires and then switch to new rubber that sticks.

As I read Akiwi's post it seemed to me he was talking about straight line, so the going sideways made no sense to me. In a turn sure the rear can come out with enough throttle, but that can get messy real fast if the car isn't fairly straight when the tires hook up.

american-kiwi · american-kiwi's Garage

Ok...made a small video....sorry the sound isnt great, using my still camera with Video mode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKuaVder9PQ&feature=channel_page

MPDano · MPDano's Garage

That's a great vid. Look's awesome too. I really like the Blonde Wookie in the passenger seat. What kind of exhaust are you running? It sounds way too quiet.

devilinblack · 05-07-2009, 06:38 PM

The exhaust noise does not seem to transfer well to most in car cameras unless you're using a separate mic. I know that my car seems way louder in person than in any of the videos I've shot.

Good video though! I have the brothers to those sheep on your seats out in my garage.

Danglerb · 05-07-2009, 06:57 PM

Wow, I am totally amazed. I had no idea an OB could be downshifted into 2nd, let alone 1st.

american-kiwi · american-kiwi's Garage

everything is stock standard...nothing aftermarket on the car..no sorry!...there is something after market on the car...the drivers seat is a recaro seat...thats why i put the covers on them...kinda odd looking just the one seat like that
Danglerb....being a newbie....what does OB mean?..i've seen others used too
back home in New Zealand...theres like 70million brothers like the two in my car...back home the farmers use velcro gloves...lol

Danglerb · 05-07-2009, 08:02 PM

OB always means "old body" or pre 87, but
sometimes means "old bugger" specifically the pre Ljet 78 and 79 CIS cars.
Same for "old boy"

So far no luck getting the 87+ crowd to call their cars BB, or "big butt".

lfausty · lfausty's Garage

Game on there, should of had yo cam higher so could jump out at the site of a movie gallery , get popcorn for the show. who me i want get butter/spill on your wookie Happy motoring.

hilariously funny wookies / BB statements !!!!!!!!!

american-kiwi · american-kiwi's Garage

Thanks for the kind comments everyone....a special thanks goes to "barbapapa" - Mike...for selling me the whole fuel system...without his help...it would still be sitting in my garage..and me pulling more hair out..trying to figure out what was wrong with it...."Ifausty" - Lisa... too....for the wires....Thanks guys

devilinblack · 05-08-2009, 08:09 AM

Bravo on getting it running. Good to see that another one was saved from the scrap heap.

As for second, I'm able to downshift into second as long as I blip the throttle and do things... gently. Your gearbox looks really smooth.

american-kiwi · american-kiwi's Garage

Im tracking down a white 928 now,....God help me!!...lol ...its here in my little town...found one sitting in a front yard... its been sitting for sometime,..it is a OB..but later than mine...sorry, im still trying to learn the yrs and models changes....this one has the large
tail and chrome flat slotted wheels...i'll try to get a pic of it soon...the owner is in hospital...very ill person...might get it thru an estate sale?...there are cars everywhere in the yard
..a good friend told me about it.. he saw my car and said..hey!..one of those in the yard across from my house....my wife doesnt think he is a good friend telling me this!...lol