Grom Life / Datassun update - Week 2/3

"DAT-AS-SUN" (dat-as-sun)
06/01/2015 at 11:53 • Filed to: None

Here we go again Oppo .. After a few solid offers I suppose I’m just being hard headed.. I guess anyone would take 8k for a car with shitty paint and not the best wiring job this side of the Mississippi but I suppose I’m just hard headed.

So I’m here doing a LS swap into a datsun again.. (5th time) After spinning a rod bearing in the 5.3 I purchased a 6.0 as some of you may have known. The 6.0 never made it down the highway as it had some bad oiling issues that resulted in a cam bearing issue. Then I went to a 4.8 that wouldn’t work with the T56 in the car (should have paid more attention) and now I’ll be headed back to the 5.3 .. The perks to the 5.3 are as followed -

All Aluminum Block (LM4)

85-95lbs lighter on the front end giving the car a damn near perfect 50/50.

Thats about it. oH it works with the built T56 in the car already.

I know I know it looks more like a tool box than a car.. I get it. .

Now with another 5.3 comes another gremlin I like to call “Grass is greener syndrome” or “Clarksoning” While I could just slap the 5.3 in there and have a LS swapped datassun I could drive around and start working on the paint and other bs issues. I feel the need the want the must have for MORE POWWWWAAAAA !! So my thought are as followed. Take the .588/.588 Texas Speed Cam I got for dirt cheap (95 bucks brand new) and buy some 7.4” push rods and new double valve springs so at least it will have some growl to it. Then maybe send the stock 5.3 heads I’ve got at the moment from my first motor and have them ported.. The end goal is to make around 375Hp to the ground.. Do you oppo’s think that’s do able ?

Anyhow at this point the parts are stacking up faster than I can put them on the car mostly because of my new toy -

Never did I think a 125cc would be so enjoyable.. 5 year no mileage limit warranty means I can drive this thing into the ground which I’ve done twice already.. The woman was practicing in a new home development by our home in west Austin and she went todo a U turn and ended up in neutral trying to power out of her 2mph U turn .. She went for the gas to keep going and got nothing but a big ole rev and then fell over. Good thing she was OK and just had a few scrapes & bruises.. The one that really sucks was going down together.. Again below 5mph we were going down a steep incline when part of the road had some moss growing on it. We rode right over the moss on the way up the hill with no issues but still being cautious I was in Neutral without any breaking andddddddddd we still went down.. Again few more scrapes & a few more bruises.. Anyhow the bike was fine except for a scratched bar end and break lever ..

Now for the good news.. I got my white rear fairings in from Japan.. looks pretty sick if you ask me and really sets the bike apart from other grom’s in Austin (ALL OF THE GROMS ARE IN ATX) May look into doing a exhaust once the Datassun is back in action..

I’m going to leave ya’ll with a question.. On a scale of 1-10 how “Bro” would I be if I color matched the Datassun & Grom ? Black wheels are sitting waiting wishing to go on the datsun already and I don’t mind the idea of a white Datassun or a blue Grom..

DISCUSSION (25)

Frosted > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 12:02

I’ve been tossing around the idea of getting a bike for about a week. I wanna wait a year and see if the idea still seems good but the Grom has captured my heart. Would you say the Grom is a good bike to learn on since it has such a small engine and looks to be a pretty small bike in general?

Tripper > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 12:04

Also a new Grom owner (Yellow). My neighbor was giving me the business about how his jeep was cleaner than my M3. I told him I’ve been neglecting the M3 because of the Grom haha. It really is sooo fun. Anyway I think it would be cool if you matched the colors. I considered getting a phoenix yellow wrap for the Grom as tribute to my old M3, but they wanted $700! So I’m just going to stick to the stock magnolia yellow.

bob and john > Frosted
06/01/2015 at 12:05

At the company I work for we use these in our courses to teach ppl how to ride. very forgiving bike, great at slow speed.

the only issue i’d say is that its almost TOO small. Dunno if it hits 60mph.

Roadster Man > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 12:09

Don’t match the colors bike and the car. That’s like dressing your younger and older children in the same outfits. It’s just weird.

I think your should stick with the stock LS. Less power just means you get to press the pedal harder. And you don’t have to worry about blowing it up.

crowmolly > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 12:10

Cam duration @ .050?

Tripper > bob and john
06/01/2015 at 12:14

I have no trouble hitting 60 on a flat road, but almost every forum post that I read says 55 or less. Weight is a big deal with a such a small bike, I lost 10lbs and the only reason I knew was because I decided to weigh myself after feeling like the grom got a lot faster haha.

bob and john > Tripper
06/01/2015 at 12:19

I also use them almost exlcuisly in parking lots (think 17 hours during a weekend...I’ve gotten WAY better at slow speed riding)
I did get one to 92km/h...(not in the parking lot, relax) so i COULD see it hitting 60 mph. I’m going to write a review right now actually...

DAT-AS-SUN > Tripper
06/01/2015 at 12:35

Yea funny thing is I was pondering Wrapping the datsun by a company named DFW wraps. While browsing their Instagram they had a picture that said “ If you don’t pay more than $1800 for your wrap it’s trash” Thinking Damn 2k for a temporary wrap on my car sounds like a fucking Rip off.. Makes sense for people like you with M3’s and what not for resale value purposes but for the ole datsun it doesn’t make much sense. Not like I’d want camo or dude bro tribal print.

DAT-AS-SUN > crowmolly
06/01/2015 at 12:36

Not sure.. http://www.texas-speed.com/p-1148-texas-s…

DAT-AS-SUN > Roadster Man
06/01/2015 at 12:38

Good point I suppose I just got bored with the 5.3 cam I already had and am scared to get bored again.. How about I just put the cam in and save up for some AFR heads or Texas Speed heads that will make a big noticeable difference..

crowmolly > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 12:43

LOL. It’s 228/228. Should be a nice runner. Got a place to tune it?

DAT-AS-SUN > crowmolly
06/01/2015 at 12:51

I think so.. My bad my bad.. My fuss with my last cam was that it was a dud until 3800 RPM then ripped up to 6000 or so . I’d rather have something with more grunt than sheer top end HP. Does that make any sense ?

crowmolly > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 12:54

Yes, and in a light car with a manual trans and a good rear axle ratio you should probably be OK. I don’t know a ton about this particular cam in a 5.3 but from what I see it’s a way to add some top end without going too huge/creating driveability issues.

Tripper > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 13:11

I paid $1100in 2008 just to (clear) wrap the front end 1/3 way up the hood, the mirrors, a pillars, and behind the wheels on my E46. It has held up really well but still not worth it IMO. I didn’t bother with the E90 as there were already a few tiny chips in the front end when I bought it. I could see it if you bought the car brand new. I talked to a guy at cars and coffee that said it cost him a touch over 5k to wrap his red F430 in charcoal grey! I couldn’t even tell that it was a wrap, loony expensive though.

Tripper > bob and john
06/01/2015 at 13:17

I’ve seen the speedo read 67 WOT down a steep hill, and tucked as tight as I could lol. The front end gets pretty shaky past 60. It seems that the Grom will do 45 fairly quickly with just about anyone on it, but past that it really depends on the rider.

DAT-AS-SUN > crowmolly
06/01/2015 at 13:57

The last cam was a 220/224 with a .607/.600 lift

DAT-AS-SUN > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 13:58

112+4 LSA

DAT-AS-SUN > Tripper
06/01/2015 at 14:01

I come in at around 150LBs 6,1 Tall .. Was able to get the bike todo 73mph and bounce off the rev limiter .. However, I haven’t been able to do that since changing the oil in the bike .. I ended up using the entire quart instead of putting the .9 it calls for and I’ll tell you now that extra 10% slows ya down.

Tripper > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 14:18

Weird, I could have sworn it was faster after the oil change...I too dumped the whole bottle in.

DAT-AS-SUN > Tripper
06/01/2015 at 14:23

Did you buy the recommended weight or whatever was at the local Auto parts store.. I used Royal Purple 10w-40 If I remember correctly.

Tripper > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 14:25

I bought the stuff detailed in the owners manual (Pro Honda GN4 10w-30)

DAT-AS-SUN > Tripper
06/01/2015 at 14:28

Ahhh Ha that’s what makes the diff. It has to be.

I also do ALOT of 2 up riding and I’m in Texas so I don’t think the heavier oil was harmful but between overfilling and heavier oil it slowed my bike down alot. Time to snag those rear yellow fairings and fender delete.

Tripper > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 14:34

To be honest I was going to go for royal purple as well, but everything I read said to be sure to use motorcycle oil only. So being the motorcycle novice that I am, I just went for the factory stuff.

DAT-AS-SUN > Tripper
06/01/2015 at 16:09

Royal Purple makes motorcycle oil which is what I used. It’s just a little heavier than most

Tripper > DAT-AS-SUN
06/01/2015 at 16:15

Haha gotcha, I would have really been fucked then because I was going for the car oil before I thought it wise to check.