So I've decided to make what I have better.

So much like the hive I suffer for automotive ADD (not to mention actual ADD) so needless to say I'm always eyeballing cars for sale. In my case it's older open wheel cars and if I'm not doing that I'm researching weird engine swaps for the Datsun.

Well a few months ago I posted up on FB that my new motto was "Io sono contento sempre". It's Italian for I am content always.

So to that end I've finally decided to simply make what I have better. Naturally I would normally ask "define better",  in this case it's going to be optimizing what's there.

For the Datsun that means tending to several small things that will make the car nicer to drive as well as shave a second or two off the lap times.

For the F500 that's underway in the form of updating to a newer engine (parts for the old engine were NLA, hence the change)

I love driving both cars and finally figured that it would be much easier to just be content with what I have and making them a bit better (without tearing them apart) would sooth the automotive ADD.

Hi, my name is L5 and I have automotive ADD.

I'm constantly trying to make my gaggle of cars and motorcycles better. Yesterday I went to the bar, errr I mean the wrecking yard, and spied a front disc brake set up for a Mc project I have. I was there looking for items for my DD Ranger..

In reply to L5wolvesf :

If the parts had been available for the AMW motor in the F500 I would have simply rebuilt the engine. The Rotax motor is a lot more power but I'm the only one in the country vintage racing an F500 regularly so it really doesn't matter.

For the Datsun I'm talking about little things like fitting larger rear wheel cylinders to help the brake balance (I have the parts) and actually changing the jets between the spring and fall. I used to leave the jetting alone but one step = 4hp on the car so I've decided to stop being lazy and change them...takes all of 15 minutes. I will also fix the cobbled together exhaust system as that's worth a few horsepower.  I'm going to also put some Porterfield pads and shoes on the car when the current set wear out. 

I'm leaving any "oh wouldn't that be great" modifications alone.  I have a rebuilt A15 short block that I'm going keep in reserve until the A12 wears out (that may take several years).

What brought this reasoning to a head was buying the vintage BMX bike.................I'm enjoying a neat old bike as is.

I have two really fun old cars; which is two more than most people have and so I need to just enjoy them rather than going round & round constantly scheming on ways to upgrade them.

This may not be very GRM but it's where I'm at. 

I think there's something to be said for just wanting more time to enjoy the stuff that you already have. 

In reply to Tom1200 :

I’m not very GRM either – as if no one had noticed. 

Re: the ‘cobbled together exhaust system’. Something that was well worth a nice bit of horsepower was doing the math on mine. There is a calc “out there” somewhere that uses things like exh valve opening diameter and runner length, primary exh tubing diameter and RPM to determine the optimal length of the primary and secondary exh tubing. When I did it on my IT car the improvement was audible and felt not only by me but others at the track. I had to do some rejetting to optimize the changes.

Teach me your ways, o wise one.

In reply to Robbie (Forum Supporter) :

For the 2020-2021 season I raced the F500 but becuase I was doing the Rotax conversion I ran the Datsun this year.

I'd forgotten how much fun the Datsun was to drive. I had a smile the entire ride home.

The joy of vintage racing is it isn't all about winning; the experience matters as much as the finishing position.