JoeinCA

Hey guys, I am leaving for Wyoming next week and i need to figure out how to get my Z, my TV, my computer, my clothes, my amp/cab/bass, and some tools to wyoming. I have looked into renting a truck and a trailer, but the minimum seems to be about $1 per mile. (between 1200 and 1600) That is a little pricey for my taste. especially since they are charging half that for the reverse trip. If anyone has any good ideas, they would be much appreciated. thank you for your time, Joe

GRR I lost connection when i tried to post, so time to rewrite: I wasnt trying to step on anyones toes... I apologize for being ignorant and commenting upon a much broader image in my head than what is displayed upon my screen. I envisioned that ladder frame, integrated into the existing unibody, combined with a roll cage. Not simply bolted to the bottom of the body. I believe that a frame such as that, which closely follows the contour of the stock unibody could serve to significantly stiffen the entire vehicle. This lapse is more common than i would like to admit. I see something and think about what i would do with it to make it better, or just more complex, and then i cant see it another way unless i have a good reason to. I think that i am glad that i didnt get to see your post prior to your edit. I need to get some more work done, later, Joe

do you always try to rain on people's parades? the frame there combined with the suspension, would make the car more stable, therefore safer. In an accident it may be less safe because the unibody design would take more of the impact force, but there is a much better base there for a roll cage, so the car could more safe. Joe

Anything is possible with enough time and money. ANYTHING. I would feel 100% safer in my Z if i had a chassis like that though!. Joe

oh yeah... Vote for Tom Mclintock... he will get stuff sorted. (maybe) Joe

...I'm getting out of California, most likely for good. Unless there are some MASSIVE changes to california policy, taxation, immigration and many other thngs. I want to start a custom car shop in the future, and unless California becomes much more "business friendly" it will not be here. the whole situation is hilarious to the point of being disgusting. Joe

you need to have the hood open All that chevy goodness shouldnt be hidden! Joe

that was hilarious. thanks, Joe

uh... you are out of your mind. I could build it though. What do you want out of it? to be able to puncture tires or to go through a door an kill someone in thier car? Or just decorative? I dont understand why you want it though. they would cause drag. and if you hit something, they would severely damage your car. Joe

I think that the trick is to marry a woman whose mind spends as much time in the gutter as your own.... blah blah blah blah. (replacement for reminiscent crud.) If i say anything it will be too inappropriate, so i'll end this now... Joe

Tim: LOL.... On3Go: Very nice. I just realized that i address you two in my posts more than anyone else... Joe

yup. Joe

I dont think it is leaking anymore... I am NOT going to remove the oil pan again. (at least, not within the next few months.) when i do i think i will put the oil pan studs in like owen suggested. thanks for the advice guys. i didnt even know that one peice oil pan gaskets existed! Joe

Yeah, that's right RAMEN NOODLES! 10 DAYS until I need to have my stuff packed and be on the road to Wyoming.... And then it's lots of ramen... because i know that i am not going to want to spend my money on good food... i would much rather have bigger brakes and new struts... it's too bad the car cant sustain life (at least, not in the same way as food). i need to swap out my steering rack today in my Z... I wonder how much ramen i can fit in the back of it? Joe

I'm glad to know it is going to go to good use ... That transmission was mighty expensive and difficult for me to get. (i bought a parts car, pulled the engine/tranny then the cops took the car from in front of my house before i could part it out and use stuff.) I was going to transplant the 280ZX drivetrain into my 280z... that was 2 years ago, I lost some important components, so i was left only being able to use the tranny... But the five speed always worked great and felt strong even as the motor went south. Anyhow, good luck with your rotary swap, wrenching is cool... Joe

I went through and re-did all of my wiring work, and i replaced the fusible links with Big ole fuses, i also replaced the main power wire (the one that goes from one wire out to 4) with 4 10 guage wires. Now all i need to do is kill a fuel leak, and get the front end all lined up. then the minor stuff... Doing things yourself is so much better than relying on someone else.. the only problem is not having the correct tools.... that can make life difficult. oh well. Forrest: lol Bigwhytedude: heh, it is hard not to throw jokes into everything... some people tell me that i think everything is a joke... i just wish it were true, laughing is fun. Jonzer: i usually bite my tongue... if theres no money out of my pocket. I bite my tongue, and then tell everyone to avoid the business in question... I destroyed someone whom screwed me out of a $400 custom paintball marker (I never got it back... and the guy sold it to someone else... WITH PARTS I ADDED..) I posted about him on every single paintball forum i could find. i even reported him to the FBI's internet fraud division... uh... Thiefs should die, lazy people should be beaten. Joe

I'm starting to understand how you got up to 1500+ posts hows that rotary swap going? did you ever get around to using that 5 speed you bought from me? back to installing carpet... (this is going to be the first time this Z has even seen carpet on the floor in over a year!) Joe

I'll bet this was one of those moments that you would have to experience yourself in order to understand... so.. .she had the extension, and then called the front desk to connect her to the direct extension... rather than dialing it herself.. right? I'm going to have to talk to the president about this one. Joe

Sounds like you need a new heater core.... get the bugs worked out of it, and find it's weaknesses.. then put the big engine in there and fix anything that makes you even the slightest bit uneasy. I dont know enough about other generation Z cars to answer any of your other question/exclamations. Joe

BUT I WANT TO KILL SOMEBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!GRTEHKHDFKGHSDHGSh What the (expletive) has happened to proffesionalism in this world?? Almost every single place that i go all i see is slackers, liars, imbeciles, and those who just dont care. These people are supposed to be WORKING, no wonder wages are dropping, IF YOU GET WORK DONE and quit worrying that someone is going to steal your precious little job, thne you MIGHT get paid more. Today i went to my local automotive electrical place... I called last friday and asked when the best time would be to bring my car in, it was near closing time. The guy said to bring it in on tuesday, and they would be able to work on it as soon as it got there. I show up today at 9:30 (one half hour after they open) And i am told that i will have to bring the car back tomorrow and LEAVE it there. ( i promised myself that i would not leave my car at ANY shop every again after i brought my car in for something that should only take 3-4 hours but took 7 full DAYS)... I left. completely and utterly disgusted. end of rant* I try my best to be prompt, I try as hard as i possibly can to do exactly what i tell someone that i will do. I refuse to make a liar out of myself. When i do business with anyone i treat them with respect and try to provide them with as much information as i possibly can. And alot of the people i have dealt with have been good and honest people and everything goes well. I just get so frustrated when people tell me they can do something, and then dont. Worse yet are those stupid little kids working at kragens and pep boys and autozone and all of the other generic cruddy little parts places... the ones that think a crankshaft is when someone steals thier dope. uh... yeah. i really needed to vent... ok... time to tear into the wiring harness again to search for my short... Have a nice day, Joe

I think that a Wet nitrous system would be quite a bit safer to use rather than a dry system. But i always figure that it is better to run a little rich than to run a little lean.. Plus you can go to higher HP levels. Joe

I have been thinking about getting a tattoo to signify (prove with blood letting?) my dedication to my Hybrid Creation. I was thinking about getting the new 350Z logo (the machined steel looking one) with a Chevy Bow tie in the center of it... Any other good ideas? I know that some of you guys have Z tattoos, i think i saw someone at the rio vista hybridZ meet with a Z tattoo... Joe.

Thank you. I have seen (drueled over) the list of parts that you have going into you Z... Those are some pricey looking rims you have... I prioritized differently than you did I think.. i had to rebuild from the unibody up with (ugh) stock suspension and brakes. Taking your time is almost always the fastest way to get things done. Especially with brakes and suspension, remember that all of that GO from the engine needs equal and opposite STOP available from the brake and suspension! So be careful and do it right. (theres my safety tip for the day) Replacing brake hoses is so easy! it only took around 25 minutes for me to do the front hoses. I am glad that they didn't turn into another epic struggle. Brake hoses: another $53.50 single peice oil pan gasket(s)+sealer+idiot Tax: $70 hospital visits: 5 bucks! (best deal of the month?) Tires/rims:$140 ! definetly the deal of the month, thanks drmattyg. back to work, Joe

ON3GO: Being young isn't that bad.... I'm 18, and the only reason that i have been able to do all of this stuff to my car is because i do not HAVE to work full time to support myself and pay bills and such. when i work all of the money can go to the car.... having free food is great. the only really bad thing about living under your parent's roof... is that you are living under your parent's roof.... Anyhow... i need to put a new oil filter on, and refill the engine. then replace my brake lines, bleed the brakes (grr), buy some insulation and cut it to fit, try once more to isolate my electrical woes, fix minor fuel leak, fix minor tranny leak, install carpet, build some 6X9 speaker boxes, wire up the stereo again. make a new headliner, recover door panels, install heater, get alignment, secure brake/fuel lines apprpriately, try to find new seats and install, and then it is safe to drive. though i could definetly use some new struts and springs.. everything except the door panels/headliner/seats has to be done in the coming week... and i am down to about... $90. plus i still owe for my differential... no sweat. Joe

I'll check to see how much vacuum pressure i have tomorrow. I need to replace all of my brake hoses tomorrow too... I hope that i am making enough vacuum to support my brakes... Joe