dsommer

I’ve got a dilemma here guys and your input would be greatly appreciated. I recently got remarried (7/28/03) and moved into her house, she let me bring the Z over only under the condition I would “drive†it over not trailer it over (her house is in a nice REALLY nice neighborhood) she let me have the 3rd bay of the garage for the Z, my tools, compressor, work bench etc. I put up new shelving and have tried to organize everything so I can work and have a functional garage. We have been consolidating 2 households over the past several months and I have my former home sold (closing this Friday). Here’s the dilemma, I want another car, not a Z, I’ve got one of those. I want a turn key collector, I have found a 78 Trans Am with fewer than 40K original miles that I can pick up at a reasonable price. I don’t want to keep it forever I guess I just want to get it out of my system. Along with that I still have my 24ft. boat w/454@ the lake and a 02 Dodge Ram 4X4 quad cab (daily driver) plus her car 03 Honda Pilot. There isn’t enough room for another car, friends don’t have room either. Store it costs $$ every month. I haven’t approached her on the subject YET but feel it would be a battle and I don’t want to have the marriage start out on the wrong foot, but at the same time it’s driving me up the wall to be able to afford something I’ve always wanted (A 1978 Trans Am was my first car and an 86 was my second) and not be able to get it. Your thougths??? ds

Saw those earlier today NICE!!! But why does the guy not want to seperate the pair? Strange but super nice examples of original cars. ds

Removal of the stock tranny mounts R-200 swap by myself, that thing gets heavy after a while Of course rear control arm bushings ds

Removal of the stock tranny mounts R-200 swap by myself, that thing gets heavy after a while Of course rear control arm bushings ds

A converted car, V-8, turboed etc. Initial thoughts? Scarry, mundane lol, etc.

Here it goes... Get a Datsun shop manual, avalibale on e-bay or CD. 1977 280 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2421284515&category=34229 1974 260 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2421173707&category=34229 1970-74 240/260 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2420869243&category=6762 Get the JTR conversion manual too. Sorry had to do it. ds

Ok being a military vet I'm going to have to cut loose on this one. Please correct me (by all means, links etc) if I am wrong here. Yesterday I heard that CBS is offering up a movie deal to Jessica Lynch and book deal too. When news first broke of the initial story the unit came under fire by Iraqi troops because the convoy took a wrong turn. As I recall her parents saying SHE took the wrong turn. My question is, was she the lead vehicle in the convoy? Was she the one that lead the units members to their fate? Now the military (pasting this from this link) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/eo/20030602/en_tv_eo/11899) The whole thing was "staged" there were no Iraqi troops in OR around the hospital!!! This whole story is pathetic ***Among the biggest revelations: Iraqi soldiers had abandoned their post at the hospital days before U.S. special forces moved in; American GIs were offered the use of a master key, but opted to kick the doors down Rambo-style instead; Lynch did not return fire at her Iraqi captors nor was she wounded or mistreated, as initially reported; and, perhaps the biggest surprise of all, days before her "rescue," Lynch's doctors attempted to take her via ambulance to American forces but were forced to turn back after being shot at. An Iraqi doctor said Special Forces were shooting BLANKS and used a flash boom for that Hollywood drama. We're really not supposed to talk about that subject," Lynch's father, Greg, told the Associated Press. "It's still an ongoing investigation and we can't talk about nothing like that." Gee because you implicated your daughter with an earlier report that she took a wrong turn... So what say you fellow HybridZ fans? If this comes out in book form or movie I promise you I will NOT spend a dime to see this despicable "ACT" of heroism. Go to the link above (copy paste) see for yourself. BTW I am a Gulf War vet (active Army), and am still in the Guard (16 years total service this fall) I do not discount the military actions we took in Afghanistan or Iraq. I support the decisions of our commander-in-chief and am thankful for those who serve our country day in day out from the lowest enlisted to the highest General, yes even poor Jessica my heart goes out to her and I am thankful she is alive, but the books and movie drama by the media glamorizing the rescue are CRAP!!! Sorry about the rant. ds

How about Courage under fire? I really enjoyed that one. What was that one that came out a bit over a year ago with I think it was Mel Gibson? Vietnam type movie? BHD was good too. ds

Yep just ask for FUEL LINE.

350 says he's had it dyno'ed but wants more power. I'll have to drive it and see. I'm thinking he'd like a roller set up and around 425 HP, I read an article in CHP that set up an engine like that so well see over the winter perhaps. ds

I replaced all my fuel line vent hoses with fuel line from NAPA. If you want original check E-bay or some of the OEM suppliers. When replacing the vent line be sure to use fuel line hose not heater hose or you will be replacing the lines again soon. ds

OK I've read it somewhere, it's on somebodys site, where? I pulled my dash last night PITA!!! I'm going to finish up the sound deading (brown bread) and do the guages soon. I've got all the Auto Meter guages but would like to read up on the subject prior to installing them. Can somebody point me in the direction of the guage install? Thanks, ds

Get a big hammer!!! When positioning the X-member against the floor pan you will have to massage the floor and possible the frame rails somewhat. Get it as flat as possible. With the engine loose on the front mounts, bolt up the tranny X member, then lift the rear of the tranny up with a floor jack to see where you need to flaten out the floor. After this is done drill your 8 holes through the floor. I would drill 2 holes on each side first, and put the bolts through for alingnment issues. ds

Ha LOL!!!! When putting my engine in I accidently swaped over the "T" spacers!!!! Eyeballing the engine I'm like man that thing is lopsided after further investingation I found the problem, SOLVED haha. good luck on the rest of the install ds

Ok so who is running these and what additional cost was incurred? I understand the rotors, calipers and bolts what about hangers for the calipers??? I thougth those were a bolt on? I guess if they were we would all be running Wilwood calipers and not the Toyota 4X4 conversion like I am. I am considering a set, but not just yet I would like to hear some opinions/evaluations of the brake set up. OR Juan you can just ship me a set and I'll test them LOL ON3GO have you installed yours yet? What about the rims is that what's holding you back? You guys whinning about the additional hardware and wanting a complete KIT need to go do some reseach, have you even begun to install the V-8's in your cars? If you have then you know how much time and effort goes into searching for parts, fabbing your own here and there and then the part not fitting. Haha how about smashing your hand with a 2lb sledge trying to remove spindle pins from the rear suspension, or lying on your back lifting an R-200 diff into place. Building the Z into a Hybrid is NOT easy it's not turn key it IS a challenge and the reward is a fast, great handling car that you don't see on every street corner of America. So bottom line WHO has done the install? How do you like it? How much did you spend total. ds

BTW get a JTR manual ASAP it makes GREAT bathroom reading material. Of course a lot of it wont make sense till you have a Z in front of you, hell I can't tell you how many times I had to climb under the car to understand that damn rear end, then doing the R-200 swap after watching a video (Ztherapy) it was a snap. good luck!!! Oh I've got about $3500 in just my engine and I assembled it myself... ds

Two great stories!!! I can't wait till I have a bike encounter. I think I know where I can stir up some trouble on that one though. There is a good twistie road that runs out to Eureka Springs, AR which the town always has some type of fest or car show/bike show going on. Man I cant wait!!! ds

Oh he's aware of the site just not a participating member. He want's to do a cam swap on the car soon for MORE POWER!!! I've got some ideas brewing for him but want him to drive my car first. Lovin life here in NWArk!!! ds

Last evening I rolled my car out to cruise it around the block a little and work on the “break in†some more. This guy walking a dog comes up to me and asks if it’s a Scarab because it doesn’t sound like an inliner. I tell him it’s JTR he shrugs and goes Oh, because the guy that lives behind me has a SCARAB!!! I’m like no way. So I fire the Z up and go out in search of the illusive Scarab. As I cruise by this guy’s house I see his wife following my car with a watchful eye but I see no Z in the garage. The road ends in a cul-de-sac so I’ve got to go by his house again. As I’m approaching his wife is walking down the drive way and waves me down. Before she could say anything I say “you’re husband has one of these doesn’t he?†she’s like “yeah he told me to stop you he wants to see your car.†So I meet Bob, go in his garage, he pulls back the cover on an original factory built Scarab. I couldn’t believe it!!! Super clean, great paint healthy looking V-8 under the louverd hood This guy lives just a quarter mile or so from me. He tells me somebody accused him of cruising his car with the hood off the other day (which was me and both out cars are white!!!) so he was alerted to the presence of another V-8 powered Z running around. We talked for a while and we’re going to let one another drive the others car soon. I’m really pumped finding a fellow enthusiast in the same neighborhood with a V-8 driver Z WOW talk about coincidence!!! ds

A cat!?!?!?! During the Persian Gulf War 1990. There was this Somoan guy in my unit who LOVED to eat. Well he stopped at this little road side food stand and orderd a what ever the hell it was, grissly meat with rice super hot and spicy. He's sittin there telling me how GOOD this concoction was so I had to try it. Not too bad till I asked where he got it. He told me and I almost yaked, I said you mean the place with the 10,000 cats running around it? YEHA he said, I told him he was eating a friggin CAT. Well it didn't seem to bother him too much but he never went back. BBQ goat ain't bad though Gator=good too ds

Click it (seat belt) or get a TICKET (for not wearing one). We've got the same program here in Arkansas, they run TV commercials before the major holidays and warn everybody. Funny though we don't have a helmet law here for motorcycles. ds

Phantom, So tell about the stone, did you get educated on the 4C's of diamond shopping the way I did? Ha, after learning what to look for you can see why rocks cost so much. ds way to go!!!

On a carbed vehicle it should be pretty easy to see. Either they are running a plate under the carb or injected directly into the runners of the intake manifold. The direct injection route can be conceled by running everything UNDER the intake. It takes quite a bit of work to concel the set up this way but can be done, probably easier with an Edelebrock Air Gap RPM intake. The stang' can do 11's easily with the right mods the Maxima I would figure would take some deep pockets and some super tuning. I personally wouldn't spray a Maxima engine, but if these guys are pushing you to run I don't think you'd have any problem wasting the Maxima, the stang' if he's tricky you might have a problem with him. Don't run for pinks, anybody that's willing to run for pinks would be willing to run for $500.00 So feeling cocky? Put up the cash offer to these guys and either shut em up or take their money worst case lose $500 I'd rather do that than lose than my car!!! Hell my exhaust cost more than that. ds

[ What do you think your putting down at the wheels, and when is it going to the strip? Too much (engine on paper was 408 hp) Strip, not soon enough Need to get the thing dynoed ds

I've had my car on the road (break in) for a few months now, I don't get to drive it much due to time and a kinda nasty oil leak that needs tending. Yesterday I get it out in an area around that house that just got a new road for an office park nobody around, snap a few pics (will post tonight). I've never really dumped the clutch on this car or hammered on it like this... Rev the engine drop the clutch it SMOKES the BFG drag radials, 1st gear... Grab 2nd as quickly as possible SMOKES em' again. SWEET!!! Looking behind me 2 nice thick black marks first set is about 8' long then the shift then 2 more about the same length. I don't have an LSD but I'm putting power to both the wheels on that burnout therefore the diff must be working right Great. I get home look at the tires, Shreaded em pretty good don't need to be doing that too often $$$ It's got power like a gorilla on an acid trip with a side of steriods!!! ds