SpeedRacer

Here's a little more info..... like it's got a V10 in it! http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=16649 Can't wait to see it this weekend!

I have seven books covering the Ferrari GTO and have never seen one with a front air dam. In the rear, Ferrari did play around with, what we would call a "diffuser" today, that was mounted under the gas tank at the rear of the car. Sorry, not one of those books has a picture of it.

I haven't made it down to the 2004 North American International Auto Show here in Detroit yet but it looks like this is a Ford project with Shelby's name on it. http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0401/04/a01-25673.htm

Pace will sell you a brand new factory crate LS1 for $5,999.00 http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?0=239&1=241&3=1246 with warranty or a complete LS6 (405 HP @ 6000, 400 lbs. ft. @ 4800) for $7,595.00 http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?0=239&1=241&3=56136

If you get a chance to see the U joints that are split at the drag strip you will see that almost all of them are split through the grease fitting hole. Buy the ones without the fittings.

From Pace "GM Part number 12578104 - 2004 LS6 (Z06) complete production engine LS6 option only. TECH SPECS: +Horsepower: 405 @ 6000 +Torque: 400 @ 4800 +Max." http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?0=239&1=241&3=56136 BTW, it's only $7,595.00 for the complete engine (W/O PCM)! From Autoweek http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=coverstory&loc_code=&content_code=03176519 "2005 CORVETTE POWERTRAIN: 6.0-liter, 400-hp, 400-lb-ft V8; rwd, six-speed manual." So, you go up to 6.0 litres with the same torque but drop 5 HP.

If you are going to put it in a Z car I would check your rear axle ratio. The THM350 is only a three speed trans. So, if you have the usual 3.70:1 or higher I think you will find that your RPM's will be a bit high at freeway speeds. Remember, you can get a brand new 350 Chevy from Pace for $1,189.00 (+$100 for the core) http://www.paceparts.com/store.asp It even has a 12 Month/12,000 mile factory warranty!

RacerX - What is it with you and IRL engines? Which, by the way, are rented to the teams each year - they don't buy them. If you want a high tech engine check out this one: * Output is over 900 bhp. * Maximum engine speed is 19,200 rpm. * In a race, engine speed is limited to 19,000 rpm. * Idle speed is 4,000 rpm. * The engine weighs less than 90 kilograms (just under 200 lbs.!!!!!!) Last years BMW P83 Formula 1 engine http://scarbsf1.com/BMW_P83/

He had that car at both the Knott's Berry Farm http://www.kitcarmag.com/eventcoverage/142_0309_knotts/ and Carlisle Kit Car http://www.desertlord.com/kitkar/gallery.php?gallery=car2003&offset=40 shows this year. It's a very impressive kit and had most people thinking it was real!

Yeah, a lot of parts will interchange but not all. The later 260Z cars had to meet the new US emission and bumper standards. Not only are the bumpers different, they are mounted differently and the car is approximately 1 1/2" higher. I know the dash is also totally different because I had to fit a '73 260Z dash in my '71 240Z.

Turns out that engine was a real bust compared to the Honda and Toyota engines so GM went to Ford and got an engine with enough horsepower to be competitive. BTW, it doesn't run on gasoline, it runs on Methanol so you wouldn't want it in your street car.

Terry - Why don't you give our friend John Washington at Reaction Research http://www.reactionresearch.com/automotive.html a call since he makes Lexan headlight covers for his kits. I got mine from him and they are very high quality.

The Desmodromic valve system was used on the old (1954 I think ) Mercedes Benz W196 Silver Arrow Grand Prix (Formula 1) cars. It is very expensive and difficult to adjust properly. On a current F1 car it would not be able to handle the high RPM's. Current F1 engines rev to 19,200 RPM and use no valve springs but compressed air to shut the four or five valves per cylinder. You could use a Desmodromic valve system in a street car but it would be very expensive with little gain. Remember, the rest of the engine has to be engineered to handle the high RPM limits as well.

Wow - The book I mentioned above is and earlier version of this book http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2443393030&category=6762

I have a "How to Modify Datsun 510, 610, 240Z Engines & Chassis" book published by H. P. Books in 1973 - 240 pages. It's got a picture of John Morton's BRE 510 at Atlanta on the cover. It has an extensive section on how to build a Datsun 510 TransAm car. It also has a section on the Z car but not as extensive as the TransAm chapter. Over half the book covers modifing the stock 4 and 6 cylinder engines. Is this what you are looking for?

BTW, If you want to have some fun, (and have the bucks) Jaguar has a bunch of those available because they are Rent-A-Racers! http://www.autoweek.com/search/search_display.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=motorsportsnews&content_code=04229711&Search_Type=STD&Search_ID=1772332&record=12

I used an electronic speedo - no cable and/or adapters to deal with and it's got the ability to adapt to just about any tire/wheel size by flipping a few switches.

michaelk - Ron used to frequent this site often but I haven't seen a post in awhile. Only picture I know of is over at Eric's ZParts site http://www.zparts.com/showcase/rj-dragz/pages/rj-preview.html

Ron Jones, who is a moderator on this site, had a 540 CID BBC in his Z and turned a 8.56@160 MPH I think.

I don't know what transmission/linkage you have but don't move it to far forward and have the shift lever in the wrong place. Also, if you already have your driveshaft you better measure the length. On my car I used a small MSD distributor (I had to because of the Tri-Power setup) and moved the engine back about one inch. I have a SBC with a T-5 and the shifter came up right in the middle of the hole just like the stock setup.

Yup - a 396 is a 396 Big Block Chevy. I think it was available from 1965 to 1969 in various Chevrolets. It was later made into the 427 and 454. BillZ260 - You might be thinking of the 348 and later the 409. Strange looking heads that were only used on those two engines.

Yup - no glovebox but it would be easy to do. I added the MSA http://www.zcarparts.com armrest to the center console and put the items in there. My kick panel vents have a molded rubber hose on them that points down at your feet. Since I don't have A/C this is great on hot days so I don't think I would want to change it.

Yes, IF the new wheel has the same offset as the original, then the wheel and tire will be in the same position as stock. However, I was under the impression that you were building a 250 GTO replica. In that case, you will not want the stock wheels and position because they will be way too small and will not fill up the wheel well - especially in the rear. Dayton Wire Wheel http://www.daytonwheel.com/ has a special set of knock-off wire wheels made just for the Z based GTO kit. They are 8"x15" and the rears have a very large offset.

TomoHawk - every production Chevy engine I know of has the oil sump in the rear. Are you thinking of a Ford maybe?

Tomohawk - check out this thread http://www.hybridz.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=28380&start=0 BTW, I used old Stewart Warner gauges in my dash. http://www.hybridz.org/Review/0002/GTO_31.jpg The "Simpson" dash looks more like the original GTO dash but does not have provisions for heater controls, radio, vents, etc. The "Alpha" dash actually goes over the original sheet metal skeleton and has provisions for all the original controls, vents, etc. Also, the Alpha dash was set up to use the original Datsun Z gauges if you want to.