260DET

Seeing that is the station wagon model S130 you would expect to be able to carry big stuff

If you don't drink or speed in Australia then you are a good safe driver PS improved vehicle safety standards have nothing to do with a reducing road toll PPS When cars crash in ads why are they always old shitters PPS Thats an Australian ad campaign Going to stop now, have run out of appropriate smilies

Hand sharpen mine on the bench grinder's fine wheel. Its a bit of an art but basically its just working out how to do it and then practicing.

This is the sort of thing modern driver aids breeds. Some of the X Box generation have no idea of the dynamics involved in driving a car fast simply because a computer sorts their incompetence out and usually stops them bending metal while at the same time doing a decent laptime if they are on a race track. Modulating the brakes? Who cares when there is ABS to sort it out. Getting a nice power down exit? Who cares when you have AWD, computer controlled drive splits, traction control, and so on. Don't get me started

OK, have a Z this time but you will have to wait until 7:00 for the first glimpse of it. Nicely put together video.

Looks/sounds like Big Phil's dad

I've done a 'rebuild' with a S14 PS pump which is similar, can't recall any seal difficulties. It was simple to do and works perfectly in the car, a typical piece of well engineered Japanese hardware.

Yeh I got mine done by a pro, there was a problem with my VG30 manifold cracking after the hole was cut into it with a hole saw. So although I have some you beaut weld anything rods I thought it best to get it done by someone with experience.

Yeh, looks like a case of too much fist pumpin #1 finger F1 glory delusion

Another change of plans, it's full ahead with this motor to replace the present and problematical VG30DET which has now developed an 'engine out to fix' oil leak. The 33 heads are being done with oversize Ferrea valves, JWT S2 cams, its all with the head bloke who thinks the heads will flow quite well. Forged pistons are on order, one mm oversize only to preserve block strength. Using stock VG30ET exhaust manifolds with an adaptor for the Tial 44mm wastegate welded on, the stock manifolds look nicely designed to me and a lack of space prevents custom three-into-one manifolds so I'm happy with stock. Thats enough to bump this up

It was an interesting day, JDM crew were on fire Good aero = good investment E.

You USA'ers don't realise how lucky you are to have the two seater, I had to import mine from Japan, it's probably still too common for most of you to appreciate what you have. The other thing I notice is that in the US some owners are prepared to spend lots of $ on their S30's but thats rare with a S130. Also a lot of the S30 spenders seem to be experienced enthusiasts whereas the S130 crew are more the young single crowd who often don't have as much disposable income or mechanical and racing experience. Fortunately I don't have to put mine through those regular inspections some of you have but here the cops can pull you over, check the car out and require it to be inspected for compliance with all sorts of annoying 'road safety' mechanical requirements. So the idea here is to be inconspicuous on the road eg my car's wing is only fitted at the race track. Believe it or not my S130 is limited use insured for $40000AU, US$ equivalent is just a touch less than that.

A bit relevant to EMWHYROHEN's problem? Particularly like this bit "The tight turn/tight car effect results from the off-tracking of the rear tires inside the fronts in tight turns and outside them in sweepers; the increased power transmitted through the rear tires to maintain steady speed as turn radii and speeds increase; and the the increase in locked axle push effect in tight turns, when any kind of limited slip diff is employed. The effect isn't desirable, but it's normal." Which raises a couple of points. One, the rear tire off-tracking bit is the reason why in E's thread I suggested trying up to 10mm rear toe in. It works with a Nissan multi link rear, so? The second point concerns the diff. Which is why I think that a good Torsen type LSD is the best choice, providing its part of a compatible suspension package. One other thing Ortiz mentions is playing with low speed bump damping. Its definately relevant but be very careful, too much and you lose grip in a big way. See at 1:04, problem was excessive low speed bump

A good JDM front end makes a huge difference to the appearance, they also look better in a dark colour and with wide wheels I think. The chassis is way better than a S30's and yes, they are not basically a heavy car at all. As far as the suspension goes its the same type front and back as the BMW E30 which has a good reputation suspension wise and is lots of fun to drive. A 280ZX can be just as good, if money is spent on it wisely. I love my 280ZX weekend toy and will never sell it

Some interesting comments being made here, as usually happens when race suspension issues are raised. Some of the 'correct in theory' comments may work in isolation but as Neil Roberts says 'everything depends on everything else' which seems to particularly apply to suspension tuning where usually changing one setting will have secondary consequences, some of which will not be welcome and may even add to the problem in other ways. Might add that over the years this forum has stimulated my interest in suspension dynamics even if I don't necessarily accept everything as written here as being the best or most complete solution to the problem at hand.

Will have to come back with an update on the 280ZX sometime because in a moment of madne$$ I bought a lightweight bonnet and have redone the venting system. It will need pics to illustrate what has been done which is pretty cool

As a general comment more rear toe in should help in corners, up to 10mm. In the pics the car looks just a little bit soft on the outside front which will tend to put more load on that wheel and lift the inside rear, neither of which is good. My philosophy is always to firstly try those remedies that will improve the overall grip level before trying those that merely shift existing grip to one end of the car or the other.

More front camber should help, the S30's I know run four to five degrees negative with semi slicks. Stock S30 front struts flex too which does not help. Car sounds like its pretty good otherwise so look at your driving technique too, with no rear ARB it will always tend to push but the advantage is significantly better rear grip. As far as driving technique goes, have a look at this video at 0:54 and 1:56 where my Z always want to push. See the quick nudge I give the steering wheel to get it to turn in and hold the line there? It works better the second time.

Summit say its EFI, I specifically asked.

Hmmmm, apparently Holley do one , part # HLY-562-1 , have one on order from Summit at the moment.

Pretty good for a finger pointing song, like it.

Its clean and shiny, no scrub needed.

Agree that brand names no longer mean much at all, except that usually there is a premium price involved. It looks like a lot of current brand name operators are running on their past reputation, charging accordingly while minimumising consumer benefit and maximumising profits. So I either buy cheap tools or else whatever has the best warranty at a reasonable price if there is a choice. On 310z's problem, the quality of the substituted item is not the point. He was presuaded that he was going to get a certain branded item but got something else. If the persuasion amounts to misleading advertising or deception then that is usually contary to the law. On my little problem involving a certain multi national US company, the US Federal Trade Commission sorted it quick smart. Thankyou America

You want to try buying stuff in the US if you are overseas. Some suppliers are brilliant, others when they make a mistake and send you the wrong part will do absolutely nothing or else rip you on freight charges. Anyway I've had a gutful of the dodgy ones and am referring any problems to the US Federal Trade Commission, see what they do. I get the impression that the US banks who seem to have got away with financial murder recently have set a dangerous precedent that some others in business are following. Then again I may be talking illinformed nonsense

If its that bad in the wet I would get some decent tyres, they are much more likely to be the problem than the car itself.