Oldestzguy

Every item that is designed to be outside has to be engineered with a way for the water to "roll" off and down from the top. If you go on top of your house and make a depression that does not leak but lets water puddle up; believe me, it will leak sooner or later. I have had brand new special ordered cars that had factory sunroofs that leaked the first week and could never be repaired. The little word "leak" even sounds like it is not a big deal. Believe me, when a sunroof leaks all over your car and cannot be fixed, it is a very big deal. Unless, of course, you just drive this car as a hobby on sunny days. I am driving an STS I got for a steal and I am just waiting for the damn sunroof to start leaking, and off it goes to another sucker.

I think the key phrase here might be, them, "coming at you" (with intent to harm) I talk too much; back to the cars for me.

I am not a lawyer but common sense (don't ask my wife) tells me that the laws everywhere now basically forbid you shooting someone in the back and killing him after you chased him back to the road or wherever (you are safe at this point) over the theft of a tape deck or something; but they let you use unlimited force to protect your person if they are coming AT YOU. Obviously, if they are in your house or garage, etc. in the middle of the night and they have a knife (somehow), or a gun (somehow), you can do anything you want. Might be better if they are shot in the front of their body rather than in the back, unless, of course, you were sleepy, it was dark, and you were SCARED because you saw the knife, etc. in their hands. It is best if they fall inside, have a weapon, etc. if you get my drift. Maybe I should be a cop. They didn't just steal the Turbos, they stole the entire effort of finding them, the luck of making the great deal, and the future use on a very nice personal vehicle. New ones can't replace that. The real bad news is now you are going to have to deal with an insurance agency. I would rather let my wife spend the weekend with the Philadelphia 76ers as a playtoy than go through that. You think you've been robbed now, just wait. I just had to edit this because, somehow I missed Mikekelly's post and just saw it. He is completely right, and it does take some nads (love the IRISH) to ensure you and your stuff is protected. I tell my son, if you are in a street fight; don't jump up and down looking around for A referee to enforce the rules for you. This is not a sporting competition, JUST WIN AND WIN BIG ENOUGH HE WON'T COME BACK!, and yes, you can get hurt, but what else can you do; run and hide, no thanks. By the way, Mike was with me that one night in question. We were working on his car. Also, he never wears black, doesn't feel that he looks good in that color. I have further details if need be.

Somebody, of course, knew the Turbos were there. Let's each send him a $10 money order and help him buy new stuff. That's what friends are for.

DAW, I know where you are coming from somewhat, but the biggest insult to engineers could be, in my opinion, ripping out a perfectly engineered (in their eyes) engine, fuel injection, computer, etc from a classic car and stuff all kinds of motors, transmissions, mounts, driveshafts, turbos, etc. in it, no matter how improved. I guess you have to insult some of the old engineers to get to the point to really respect the later ones. At any rate, I love all kinds of custom, away from corp restrictions, type of cars from hot rods (hybrid Zs) to limos. I am also trying to teach my son to be independent and respectful of his money. In other words, just because you earn a million; it doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend a huge amount on a car just because you can. Beating the system is as much fun as having a huge amount of highly engineered pricey stuff that might be unnecessary to accomplish your goal. This is what started this type of hobby, I think. I've done it both ways. By the way, I am 58, if I am not the oldest old has-been on here; I am probably a lot closer that I want to be.

He is right, the T stands for touring. I own a 91 Q45 (for sale cheap). There is a guy on this website that knows all about them. Just do a search and you will find out from him that the engine and everything is basically a race motor situation with 315 hp stock, not 298 as the factory says. Just bolt on a turbo or supercharger and you can be looking at 600hp. Keep your Z all Nissan; buy my car and use everything in it before some old lady gets it. I am going to do a Chevy Z.8)

It seems each application has it's good points. I also own a 1991 Q45 (for sale) which is probably the best engine you can get except for one thing. Money. I thought of using the rear end, motor, trans, console, etc for my Z to keep it all Nissan. There is one on this site that has twin turbos on it. Mine stock is supposed to have a real 315 hp, 300 ft.lbs. All alum, forged this and forged that, six bolt mains (not 4), DOHC V8. Some racers merely bolt on a supercharger or turbos etc and get 600 hp without going inside the engine and the rest of all the parts can handle it. Here is the problem. With the computer tuning requirements, sensors, plumbing, harnesses, injectors, etc. the thing could cost a fortune to enjoy and you could eventually be at the mercy of parts suppliers or worse yet, the dealers (I run a Mercedes Repair shop). On the other hand, throw in a sbc or sbm with a carb and off you go. You can get a stock sbc rebuild kit on the internet somewhere for $154. I looooove the Q45 technology, but hate that it could own me and thus take the fun out of it. p.s. I went to the drags in Orlando once and these two kids had a completely gutted Omni Horizon GLS (2.2 4 Banger) with a monster (not the stock one) turbo on it and were beating EVERYBODY. Their hood scoop was a PVC periscope looking pipe. Cheap car, cheap parts, whatever works.

If you are talking about that little vent circle; I think they are there to release air pressure when you close/slam the hatch. I think the older Zs had a rectangular vent on the bottom of the hatch themselves for the same purpose; then again, I usually don't know what the hell I am talking about. Just a guess.

You are right about the mopars. I love the 318 which most people don't want cause it is so small, etc. I have an extended Dodge van with one; a Chrysler fifth avenue stretch limo (no, not that little factory piece of K car junk), and have had a few other ones. Just keep the valve stem seals new and the freeze plugs good and a use a simple carb and you are good to go.

Ask him if he remembers my car pictured here that originally started with a Z I bought from him that was red, white, and blue. Also, a body and painter guy that worked for him part time named Gary Stephens (moved in from Indianna that had two vettes and a turbo corvair) painted this car in his home garage for me. I watched Bob race Peter Gregg (porsche) in Daytona with a pit pass he gave me. Man what a long time ago. The race car of his that I remember was white with some red on it with the huge IMSA flare/bodykit like mine plus a G nose. When you started it up it would rattle all the windows all over town. I would really like to see pictures of his OLD car if possible. I assume we are talking about the Bob Lapp that lived in Orlando about 30 years ago.

WRX is supposed to fit well. I used an early eighties Mustang II power rack on my old Z a hundred years ago. The pumps don't matter too much, just make the brackets for one to align it with you belts, hook up the hoses, steering shaft, etc and you got it

Well, MTCOOKSON, you've got me thinking it over again. I read your other thread about the motor, etc. and it does sound pretty good. Tell me, what else bolts on under the Z rather easy and what are the more difficult areas?

Nice job. I am especially impressed with the ingenuity and progress you've made without access to a high performance professional paintbooth and such. That is what it is all about. Good job, and good attitude!!

I gave three 280z parts cars with full rear end setups to a friend that owns a salvage yard here in Orlando. Talk to the owner only; Carmen @ (407) 568-1277. Use my name; John. Long ways away, but not for everyone.

Do yourself a favor and contact "Cook's Portable Warehouses". They are basically stick built (just like a house or better) moveable, and come in a lot of sizes including a Barn Loft type like I have. They deliver them as you custom order, can be paid up front or a pay as you go plan, etc. and are cheap. I have a few with bathroom, stained, glass, brass, lofts, cedar, etc. They are great and you can take them with you if you leave. I will be ordering a 14' x 32" barn with loft type shortly. They are here on the internet. Good luck.

Very very nice. Couldn't be better. I wish I had those skills. By the way, what wheels are those? Size, bolt pattern, etc. I really love the "business" appearance of them. They look like Centerlines. tks, John

Zlalomz, you come in and clarify the idea once again with a picture of a perfect example of what is in our heads. You must have an exorbinant amount of Z pictures at your disposal. This is EXACTLY the type of look we are going after and shows exactly the type of application you can do with most any flares; even those sixty's huge Volks Bettle Ferrari type add ons. I prefer this (with a little rounding off) to my old Z body kit. Now, remove the wing and add a 3" 3-piece spoiler and you have a great overall Z shape. Can you imagine that Z with a hugely bumpity-bump cam and flowmasters pulled up next to a Viper at a light. I think he would end up writing Lee Iacocca a letter. If our my minds weren't made up as yet; They certainly are now. Thanks much!!

Very good idea. Might copy it! Good job.

Darn, I knew someone would beat me to the punch on an idea I had before I could actually put it in place. See my recent response to this subject under OLD IMSA FLARE / BODY KIT thread. IMHO, great idea on many grounds!

I respect everyone's efforts in locating these flares, most especially Dudeboy's for sure; but I think I have decided that the geography, detail, costs, and coordination of the entire project might not meet all of our different expectations, in the end and as a group, and may not collectively work out as well as we need it to. Consequently, I think I am going to give up this pursuit and focus on the big new Dodge dually fenders to use as the basis of my body kit, and might start another thread on it as I get more information. They are gorgeous, can be sectioned, can be rounded at the top, etc.; are cheap in junkyards, have cheap wheel well finish pieces. Hopefully they can even be sectioned further and reversed for the front as well. They would have to be blended into the door for the Can Am type race car look even though they might require a large air dam in front and a tall wing in back for consistency sake. However, my son and I's goal is to obtain an outrageous, purely race car look anyway. You can even place vents in the back of the rear flares for this Can Am type type look, which also helps you to not have to blend them into the very rear of the quarter at the exact same decreasing angle. Just chop them off at the end of the car as extended fenders like the old Jim Cook Racing rears and finish them off with vents of some sort like the ones on the top rear sides of the old Volkswagen bus (type 1). I am sure the Jim Cook Racing kit is nothing more than other Z fenders added on and not blended in to the original body lines, but rather run along side them. I think this is why the headlight opening is square in front and the vents were required in the rear, etc. I might have the name of the kit wrong but you guys know the one I am speaking of. The Z supplier in Canada has a drawing of it in his online catalogue. I would blend them into the doors both front and back, if the doors would open properly. I know I have minimized it here, but am I crazy? Please let me know.

In a word; jealous. My son and I are going to have to wait a long time to experience what you just went through. Congratulations; nothing like doing something yourself to get it right.

Mark, do you, by any chance, live in California? If so, you might want to contact "Dudeboy" here at hybridz as we are looking for a car to make some flare molds off of, and yours could be a candidate if you want a free set or two.

I am familiar with that kit from a long time ago. It reminds me of the "all business" "Can Am" look. Does anybody remember that very wild white Can Am 280 ZX car with my same stripes on it for sale on Ebay about six months ago? This following statement is a compliment to you! Your kit led me to wonder if the new Dodge Pickup dually flares could be sectioned and molded and/or rounded to flare into the door like your kit has, etc. If you look at them, they are very nice, can be picked up a junkyards, etc real cheap and are factory strong. If I can't get the other flares I want, or I decide not to do the Porsche flares which look great;, I am going to be very creative with a wild, "full race" Can-Am look with a big wing and try to use the dually flares off of a big truck for the rear and a small truck for the front. Chevy has the squared off wheel well openings and Ford and Dodge have rounded ones although the circle looks too big. Great job, great look. I am jealous.

If anyone becomes interested because it fits their own plans, etc.; I for one, would help pay for the trip, gas, etc; I don't know much about laying up molds, etc. so I am not even sure I would loan out my own car even if I had one next door to the guy's shop. However, if we can find someone to do it that is convienient; possibly we should all help them to pull it off in any way we can. This reminds me of that time, in the day, when I was talking to the recent (at the time) Penthouse Pet of the month here in Orlando. So close, yet so far.

Great job. I am in!! ZLALOMZ is in Sacremento and has a partial car he cut up whose quarter panels have the exact flares already installed on them. I also think he had said he might be interested in getting another set; and free is a good price. He also has two sets ofvery wide fibergalss flared front fenders (see earlier pages of this thread). I will let you carry this ball all the way Dudeboy. I think Clarkspeed here in Orlando is interested in a set as well if I remember correctly. I would probably end up going for at least two, one at a time. Damn, let's make this happen. Tell me what I can do other than order all ten sets.