CruxGNZ

If I remember right, every 100 lbs. you loose is a tenth of a second quicker in the quarter mile. Don't quote me on this though. !M!

If I switch to Z31 5 lug hubs in the front and drill out the rear to match, can these wheels fit Weld Wheels ,they are the Pro Star XP style. 6" of back space for the 17x9" (for the rear) and 5.5" of backspace for the 17x8.5". Can they work? I love the look of these. I pretty much dumped the idea of widening aluminum wheels, due to safety issues. So, since my suspension is here at home and my car in storage, I can't take any measurements. Does anyone have any measurements that they took before ordering thier custom wheels? Also, if I was to switch to five lug, would the measurements be any different for the front wheels? This is for a stock fendered car with coilovers and 280ZX rear disc conv.. I really want to get that 9" wide wheel in the back. I think I asked this right, kinda late... frain's bried I tried looking through the search function, but got a bad headache . !M!

DAW, the R200 LSD's are very, VERY hard to come by. If you do, they are in the neighborhood of $500 or so these days. Also, some of us want gear choices other than 3.70. I was just thinking about the R160 swap too, but if real world advice is to stay away, then I think I'll continue my search for alternatives. So far, for us hybrids, there is the R230 (almost a bolt in affair), and the Corvette IRS setup (definitely NOT a bolt in affair). That's all I can think of off the top of my head. The search continues for a cheap, easy swaped in diff. that can deal with good amounts of power... (sigh) !M!

Jeromio, that's where I got my bushings from. They are VERY nice people. If I do another car in the future, I will definitely call them. !M!

Yup, no press needed. Just torch (propane works just fine) those suckers right out. Hold the flame to it and keep it there. It will start smoking real bad, but keep it there, it will make cleaning out the inside a lot easier. Let it burn, then smush it all out with a screwdriver. Installing poly bushings are probably your best bet. You know, I haven't heard anyone say anything about torching these things out (easiest way to do it), even though the mustache bar is spring steel, and heating it, or drilling into it for the R230 swap, supposedly weakens spring steel. !M!

Well said! And that's why you hang around this community... open minds. !M!

When I contacted them last year, the guy said all of the Billet wheels will fit the Z cars. I have been eyeing up the 816 but now they have the new 817 that I really like. Unfortunatley for me they don't make a 9" wide wheel, they make a 9.5" wheel and 9 inches is as wide as I can go on an unflared car. Last I checked the prices for the wheels are about $279 ea., but that was last year. !M!

I was going to purchase some 280Z stub axles, but I think I'll hold off to see the outcome of this post. I have heard of the 240Z stub axles breaking and know of only one person to bust a 280Z stub axle. What else can we fit in there besides the stronger 280Z stub axles? !M!

Welcome aboard! You can make a mild V-8 Z for a lot less than $23 large, you just have to know what to look for and how to do it. And let me be the first to say that you're on the right track. Have a plan of attack first, then build it. Yeah, it's a lot of fun to drive around your car knowing that in time your car will be a terror on the streets. I may not have a V-8 in mine, but I know where you are coming from. !M!

Cool! You going to start it up live on the web cam? So we can all see it? That would be neat. !M!

See if it will work. If you have a welder, drill and a angle grinder, you can do just about anything, from what I hear It would be an intesting swap though. If I remember right, those engines were really wide, or was it tall... ah, I can't remember. Time to pull out the tape measure warrenp. To each his own, that's what I say. Hey, you could change your name to MaZZerati !M!

I like it. It does look pretty cool and gives you extra ground clearance as well. When you get the engine going, you have to take some sound samples of that sucker at post them on here for everyone to hear! !M!

Dewzenol, $250 is for having the whole cage done by someone that's a friend of a buddy of mine and he builds chassis for circle track cars, so he can whip a nice one up in no time flat and do it for cheap. I would say for an 8 point cage you're looking at $300+, but you have to take into account how good the person is that is doing it and are they worth the money. I have seen some cages done really badly and the person that installed it charged a small fortune. If you want to get one done, ask around first to find out who is reputable then ask to see thier work. If the work is top notch and the they don't charge an arm and a leg, go for it. Just my .02 !M!

Had the same problem. Went to the hardware store and picked up two brass washers. Hasn't leaked yet. Total cost... 6 cents. !M!

Yeah, I was looking into those myself, but a buddy of mine said the cage was made by the same people that he got his cage from (not for a Z) and the fit was not the greatest. I was told I would be better off paying $250 to get one custom done by a guy he knows that builds circle track cars. But this is just my experience, never saw one personally. Don't have the latest Jegs, but I know the Z isn't listed, you have to call and ask for the cage. !M!

Z-Gad, That hose looks like high-temp silicone rubber hose. It takes temps upwards of 550 deg. F. The stuff I found can be purchased from www.pegasusautoracing.com for $31.86-$95.64 depending on diameter (2.5"-5" I.D.) and lenghth. !M!

Holy crap! That Ford Powerstroke Diesel Intercooler is huge! If you turned that thing flat and put four legs on it, you could use it as a dinner table. That thing is bigger than the little boy in front of it. !M!

Sounds like your Fix-a-Flat puddled inside the tire. Need to clean that stuff out. Or the plug you used really offset the balance of the tire, but I doubt it . I don't think you going 100+mph had much to do with your tire going flat, you may have run over something in the parking lot of the coffee place. In the mean time, keep your speeds down 'till you get the tire checked out. A little advice, if you bring the tire in to a tire place, tell them you used Fix-a-Flat to fill it up, they will thank you for telling them when they take the valve out and de-bead the tire, trust me. !M!

BLKMGK - If you are feeling crafty, then check out this site: http://www.bryanf.com/info/carbon1.htm Shows how to fabricate your own carbon fiber stuff. So why don't you just this address and when you're done you will give it a . I love these new Graemlins. !M!

From what I have learned from searching, if you section your struts 1.5" then you use 1980 VW Rabbit GTI carts in front and the 240Z front carts in back. Is that the right year VW Rabbit? I know jeromio had problems with having the wrong year VW. I will be using Tokico Illumina's. Anyone that has done their suspension this way, any sugestions, hints, or problems encountered? FYI- yes, I do have coilovers, but not yet installed. Also, I have taken apart, well just about everything on my Z except for the springs and shocks. I really do not know what I'm going to run into when installing the coilovers, well I have an idea from seeing pictures, but no hands on experience, except for poly bushings (shrug). Any tips from you guys? I haven't even got my hands on a gland nut yet, I don't even know what one looks like . This is the first time that I will be doing any kind of suspension work by myself, so I'm very curious to play with my struts. !M!

A Buick 231 in a Z32... I think that would be kinda cool. You can get the cars with blown/damaged engines for $4k > for a decent body around here. Anything is possible, but I'm going to check on the engine bay of the 300ZX. I think it would be fun to do. Maybe I can persuade my buddy to do this swap, he has a built engine sitting in his garage waiting for a donor car, and he likes the late model 300ZX body styles... I'm going to ask. I can't help but to think there are different engines you can stuff in the Z32 engine bay for much less money and still have the WTF factor. I'll reply about what I find out. Scottie, you have anything to add to this post? !M!

Funny...somehow Derek found my e-mail and we have been chatting back and forth the last couple of days. Nice guy. Turns out my buddy has met Derek down at the Buick Natioals a couple of years ago and has some video fotage of his Z. This guy was pulling a best of 1.44 60 ft. with pretty much stock suspension and motorcycle slicks. From what I hear, he will be doing a lot better this year. !M!

Well, I figured it out. I'm going to run 175lb. in front and 200lb. out back. Oh, yes I do have ST sway bars, poly bushings, and (soon to come) coilovers . Now I have to read about strut sectioning, and find out what Tokico shocks I have to buy, by that I mean for which car the shocks are intended for. Thanks everyone for all the replies. !M!

Here, check out this thread. Just trying to help. http://www.hybridz.org//ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000946 !M!

Oh boy, now I don't know what to run! I'm getting high rates and low rates. My car will see street mostly, so I guess I should set it up for the street. The reason for the high rate in the rear is, because I wanted to run a 9" wheel and I needed a 8" spring length and the softest a 8" spring came in was 250lb. or 275lb (not sure yet). I'm now thinking to just forget it and go with 17X8" wheels in the rear so I can set up my car right from the begining and use longer springs with softer rates. My sole purpose of building this car is to show up all the exotics around here. I mean there is Vipers, Porsche Turbo's, Lotus's, Lambo's, Cobra's (2 real ones, a few fakes), Ferrari's, Mallet and Lingenfelter Vettes, you name it, it's here. Most of these people are stuck up, so all the more reason to show them what a car built for under $10K (including car) can do. I want to see the look on peoples faces when I go to a track and turn some good lap times with my Z. I want to take it to the drag strip and have fun... sorry for the rambling, just don't know what to do and I want to get it right the first time. !M!