PETEW

Much Better! Sounds like the car is liking being opened up. That was funny with the guy in the background saying "light em up". 8) I can't wait to get my car on the road now. Thanks for the fix.

Well, looks like I am going to get a set of Miata seats. I stopped at a local junk yard and they had a set of Miata seats for $80. I can't pass them up for that price.

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!! I need to see boost. I need to see tires smoking. I need to get my freakin car on the road. Ok, I'm better.

Hey Mudge, I was looking at the Sparco for $299 but they don't recline and that is per seat. The DAD seats are $399 for the pair, plus they recline(which is something I want). They look like they could be really nice seats, as long as the quality is good. Maybe I'll be the Guinnee Pig for the group and get a pair. They are a little more than a set of nice Miata seats but I am worried that the Miata seats won't have enough lateral support for autocross or track days. Maybe I'm wrong.

Here is another alternative to the expensive Corbeau, Momo, and Sparco seats but are they any good. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33701&item=2404823751&rd=1 I love the look of racing seats like these, but I don't anything about their quality. These seats look pretty much like the Corbeau A4, if you ask me, but are half the cost. They come with a warranty and sliders, and are reclinable. If anyone knows about these they might be another alternative.

I have been going through the search function and it looks like the Acura Integra, Mazda Miata, and Toyota MR2 are all nice seats that will fit in the 280Z. My concern is that I am 6'4" and about 250lbs (no, it's not all fat) wearing a 50 long coat. I am concerned about which of these seats will hold me comfortably, if any of them, and hold me in when I go autocrossing or do a track day. I know a lot of you guys have these type of seats, so I am looking for some suggestions, especially from you bigger guys. . Thanks for all the help.

There we go, nothing like the sweet sound of boost. Man oh man I gotta get my car on the road. I wish it wasn't so stinking cold out side, then I could get more of it done.

The car sounds healthy. I can't wait o get mine on the road. I was really hoping that you were going to take it on a road and open her up. I really didn't hear the boost building in it. I tried going to your website to see what your car has but it isn't working. What do you have done to the engine?

Weak, so very very weak. This is starting to remind me of the R1 Forum. And no that is not a good thing.

Yeah, I've had to show some punks with fart pipes the power of the 3.5. I have a 2002 Maxima and a couple rides in it had my friend buying a 2003 Altima. They are actually quite evenly matched, when getting on it on the highway we stay dead even. By the way my friend says you have a limiter so you can't pass 135.

Man both of those Z sound awsome. Love the sound of the six with the webers, but also love the sound of a turbo spooling.

My fellow workers and I have been having this dabate for the past couple of days. The first thing I say to them is "Do you remeber what happened on 9/11". That usually ends the arguing. You have to rember folks, these people don't think like we do. They have different priorities, religions, etc. Allowing them the chance or opportunity to acquire more weaponry, be it chemical or nuclear would just be a mistake. I don't want our guys fighting over there, but I would rather it happen now and stop this mad man before it escalades into something worse.

WOW, those are some nice numbers. That thing looks like it's going to tear up some tires (torque monster). I was wondering, besides the Haltech, what is your setup. I would love to hear what you have to make that kind of power. It is amazing that you can get an extra 50hp out of a 3" exhaust. Good job.

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm just going to keep it as is, and see what happens. I don't think my wire diameter #'s are truely correct there are too many factors that could affect the thickness (wire bending, powder coating, etc). I am going strictly by the # of coils more up front less out back (just like stock). I see GAZRNR and Jetdriver said that ST said it was ok to have the springs loose in the perch. I guess I will see. Funny though, my fronts are nice and tight in the perches just the back has slop. Oh well, thanks for the help.

OK, here is where I am at. I went outside and measured the stock springs and did some measurements of the Suspension Techniques springs. I tried calling ST but it just rang and rang. Anyway, here are the results I found. STOCK (1977 280Z): Front Rear Length 15.75" 15.25" # coils 11 10 spring dia. .474 .474 I checked my Haynes manual and everything looks about right. They don't say anything about the spring dia. for the 280Z, though. Suspension Techniques: Front Rear Length 11.5" 11.5" # coils 9 8 spring dia. .504 .482 I can't be sure about the length of the front (of the ST spring) because it is mounted on the car. But my friend and I both remember them being equal length. We put the higher amount of coils on the front just like it was stock. The problem I have is the rears just don't touch the top spring perch when assembling them. I don't know if this will be an issue when mounted on the car but I would rather get the right info the do a trial by error method. I am also worried that if the car goes over a bump and unloads the suspension that the spring would move around in the perch. Talk about dangerous! Maybe the suspension doesn't have enough movement for this to be a problem, I'm not sure. Hopefully someone has some answers. Hopefully someone can help me out on this. I just want to get my car together so I can start on the motor. I'm starting to wish I got coil overs, but they just aren't in the budget right now. Thanks for your help guys.

That is where I got really confused. When I took the stock springs off my car the fronts were thicker and had more coils. Everything that I have read on this board says that is incorrect. I'm not sure if it will make a difference, though, because the ST springs looked like they were the same length. I am so, so very confused.

I have been putting my suspension together and I have a problem. When I got my springs they came with no paper work, so we just matched them as best we could and went from there. I am putting the back suspension together and the springs are too short for the spring perch. The only markings I saw on the springs were a I and II. They all appeared to be the same length so we put the II up front (they looked beefier) and the I for the back. This was basically matching what was on it stock. What am I doing wrong? Am I supposed to be getting a shorter strut with this lowering suspension? Or do I have the springs reversed? I know alot of guys here have ST springs so I am hoping you can hep me. Please help I need to get this car together.

WOW! Ford really seems to be making some nice looking cars. I really hope they make this car, it really looks the part. I hope GM gets some new designers and start making some nice looking cars (besides the Corvette). It looks like they may be turning the tide with the new Pontiac GTO coming out.

All three of those cars would keep you entertained and are a lot faster than what you have now. The Camaros and Mustangs are pretty much bullit proof if your not abusive. The nice thing about them is parts are cheap as are the mods. The new Cobras are supposed to be blazingly fast that have handling to boot. If your buying used, the only problem is finding a model that hasn't been thrashed. Now to the M3. They are a neat car that rides like a luxury car but handle like a vette. The latest version, E46, has all kinds of motor troubles luking around it (problem 1). They are maintenance whores (problem 2). They are not easy to work on and the parts are not available except at BMW dealerships (problem 3). My friend has the previous model, E36, and the thing needs maintenance like it's going out of style. Every time it goes in for service it costs him $600. But like I said, it is an amazing car, just don't count out the maintenace issue. To recap, all three are great cars but have different costs. Them BMW is a world class machine with world class costs. You could buy a new mustang for the price of a used BMW and have a waranty to fix anything you break. Heak, lease a Cobra for three years and hand it back to them after you abused it. If you buying a used 'stang or Camaro really look, they are half crashed and abused. Whatever you do, good luck in your search and get the car that you think would make you happy for the next few years.

OK, so I'm dumb and missed that they are supposed to be pulled with a special tool. I took them to the shop and they should be done tommorrow. How about putting the new spindles in. Do they go in easily, or is there something special to putting in the new ones? Thanks.

I am trying to finish putting my car together and the stupid spindles won't come out. I've tried using WD-40 and a 5lb hammer, an air chisel, etc, and I get nothing. I finally cut the spindles at the A-arm from the strut hoping it was binding at the bushings. WRONG! So I have two rear struts with spindles stuck in them. I am thinking of taking it to a shop to see if a press can push them out. This is the only thing holding me up and it is driving me CRAZY . I don't know what else to do, these things are really stuck. Any help from anyone will be greatly appreciated. I don't mind paying to have them removed, but if I could do it myself it would be nicer.

Oh well. Like I said I took off the bumpers of my '77 280Z so that should save some weight. I just like th look of the Z more than the ZX. The Z's suspension is a better design, too, and that will mean alot to me when I do track days. I'll have to take it to a grainery and get it weighed when I am done.

A lot of the sites are brand specific. I don't know of any general info sites that I could give you. My advise to you is start out with something small. Don't buy a big bike so you can grow into it. That is a dangerous move to make, and can cost you more than it would to buy a beginner bike and get a bigger one later. What kind of bike are you looking for? I could make some recomendations if I knew if you wanted a cruiser, sportbike, dual purpose, standard, etc. Take the rider saftey course in your state (if it has it). They will teach you alot of good habits and give you a good overall base to start out with. They also give you a license at the end of the course. Whatever you do take your time read some magazines ask everyone you know that rides and absorb as much info as you can. There is nothing that compares to riding a motorcycle, but it also calls for a lot of responsibility and awarness. I think you will love it as much as I do.

OK, wait a minute here. According to those Specs the 280Z is actually HEAVIER than the 280ZX. I always thought the ZX was a 3000lb car and the 280Z was a 2700lb car. Is that really correct? If it is I am not happy about that. Although I stripped a ton of weight of my 280Z when I got rid of the bumpers.

WOW! I like those alot. I have been trying to figure out a way of going without flares on my car because they all have that turned down look (which I don't like). Those look really nice, who makes them and for how much. Thanks for taking some decent pics of them to.