JoeinCA

Go check out an auto auction.. if you dont mind driving a really ugly and undesireable vehicle.... you can pick up a commuter for about $500... but it is kind of a gamble.... you could try to finish the Z ASAP. it doesnt sound like you have very much to do at all... maybe 10 hours + parts search time? if i had time for another project... i would ask you how much you were looking to get Joe

heh... posessed fans... I havent driven for long periods of time with my V8Z yet... but the taurus 2 speed's low setting has (thankfully) kept the engine from overheating. in 100+ degree heat! I have a stock radiator from a nova. uh... yeah, Joe

I noticed that i didnt tighten the hose clamp again after smashing myself in the head... i think that is why it was leaking... i dunno. i'm taking a break from working on it... this car has been completely consuming my entire life! (or at least the past 2 months of it... ) I still cant get my darned brakes to feel good... and i have a nasty oil leak, and a transmission fluid leak... the only thing that isnt leaking ANYMORE is the darned coolant (knock on wood). I really need to adjust the front end... too much toe in still... it scrubs all the time... the car reminds me of driving around my old RC buggy that i raced on dirt oval tracks... it handles identically. And the transmission still isnt shifting perfect... time for some more adjustment.. I am going to have to drop the pans and install new seals, and make sure they actually seal this time...

man... My head hurts when i laugh... LOL I love to laugh at myself... I dont have to worry if anybody else thinks it is funny... I only have a little bump on my head... the Jack handle is a total loss Joe

"only in California." My friend told me yesterday that the east coast guys are saying that the earth tilted on it's axis and all the nuts rolled to California... it wasnt really funny then, and it isnt very funny now. maybe he eats at Taco Bell/Del Taco everyday... Joe

yeah... they are listed at motorsport for the ZX. Maybe they carry a set for the Z. Joe

that's cool. torches are invaluable tools... .. but for keeping tabs on your car a Heads Up Display would be better and easier to see... hmm... now i have something else to research and design for the Z... Joe

and the worst part of it is that the darn regulator is still leaking....... Joe

I was just outside trying to get a fuel leak that i have at my regulator to stop... so i was tightening up the fittings... I had one big ole wrench on the body of the reg.. and a craftsman clench wrench with half of a missive floor jack handle on it... I have never had one of the clench wrenches slip when they are squarely on a nut... until today. The jack handle came up and smashed the top of my head... all i saw was stars for a second.. then I immediately called myself and idiot (along with a few other adjectives) I imagined how funny it would be to see someone do that to themselves. so then i started laughing uproariously, sitting on the gound with one hand on my head and the other still holding the stupid jack handle... oh well... that certainly broke the monotony in my morning... Joe

hey, would anyone be so kind as to snap a picture of your throttle cable setup.. mine works ok... (and it actually performs the function of changing the throttle profile, less throttle at the beginning of the pedal travel) I think i know what i am going to do with it tomorrow... but it would be nice to get a couple of ideas... thanks... still battling with the nasty little bugs.... my electrical problems are driving me nuts.... luckily the engine runs ok.. i posted a more complete update in the non tech forum... anyhow, sleep time, Joe

the cop probably thought he was being funny... eh prolly not, joe

there is alot more to plan. what do you plan to use this car for? realistically? daily driver or trailered race car? decide that and then start brainstorming and reading and general info grabbing... I am almost thinking that my engine is too radical for a daily driver. but i'll daily drive it and decide from there. Joe

oh yeah... On my 3rd and 4th time out it felt better, but still needed some TV adjustment... so i tried again to set it, and i havent driven it again yet. The tires chirp when i put the car in drive, and they loose traction with very minimal throttle input... a slight teeny blip makes them break loose and get the rear end really light. (even though i dont have a sway bar in the rear) I havent taken it above 20 mph yet. though i dont have a speedo, or a working tach, or really any other guages. yeah... i really either need to invest in a good electrical tester (the clamp style that dont have to have physical contact with the circuit to do their thing) Or i could just take it into this good automotive electrical place in pittsburg(about 6 miles from my house... i hope it'll make it..) and i need to get my fuel pressure to stay stable... minor stuff... i'll get it all done in the next couple days.. i need to drive this baby to Wyoming! Joe

Well, I got to drive it today, 4 times around the block. the first time i was dangerously low on ATF :malebitchslap: The first and second time, i only had 11 PSI in the left front... wondering why the car was pulling so hard to the left :malebitchslap: #2 i had to fix a coolant leak, an oil leak, and a fuel leak, which still occasionally pop up. I still havent gotten my rear brakes sorted out, my TV cable adjustment isnt perfect, and i still have massive electrical problems. uhm i think that is about it. I mounted a new set of rims and tires today, i picked up for a grand total of $140! they look much better than the ugly Prime rims that i had on there. plus the tires are a bit taller, so at 65 my RPMS should be 300 rpms lower than with my other tires.. (so, i should get 65 at 2135 rpms in 4th.) I am tired.... Joe

hey guys, i finally put some pic up in there... I still have some little bugs to work out... but it will be up and running tomorrow. (I hope!) This thing sounds MEAN: Joe[/img]

I think that the short may be my shaved door handle system... i cant tell if i am getting sufficient fuel pressure... or if my oil pressure safety switch is working. I am about to go and remove the wiring that i installed. I might as well start with the stuff that has yet to work correctly. I noticed last time that i started it up that my dash and guages arent working correctly anymore, the tach dives (to 0) when the engine revs up, and my gas guage/voltmeter/e brake light don't come on until the engine has been runnning for a couple of seconds. and i still need to modify my throttle cable setup a bit. I decided to keep the entire cabe in the engine bay, and use the throttle "swivel" mechanism that is already present in my 280Z. ahhahah i know! pictures. yes coming up! Joe

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHa HAH Man... that would be funny to see. That man is going to get the book thrown at him! that's why you have to be careful... there are no cops at autocross events, or dragstrips. So you dont have to worry about totaling your car and hitting a trooper. The consequences are what make it REALLY exciting... (this is the mantra i need to keep running through my head. i am ONE DAY from DRIVING my V8Z!) Joe

Sigh... I am really having trouble finding the short... i tore into the wiring harness again yesterday... the short is in my ignition hot circuit. and it is a pretty nasty short. But all the insulation looks good on it. and i couldnt find any point in the harness that i touched where it would be causing a short now. If anyone is really good at finding shorts... please give me some advice, or an easy method it would be much appreciated. (I understand the wiring system and the components... but i cant figure out how to fully utilize my circuit tester.... ) anyhow... i need to find it before i damage anything... heh, i fixed my rear brakes today (i think) i had to add a section of brake line in order to make the brake line run away from the exaust heat. I originally used a coupler from my local parts shop... it leaked like a sieve. So i took an extra rear brake line junction block i had and plugged one of the three brake line ports. i installed that in the place of the coupler, and i dont think that it will leak. just have to bleed them and make sure they dont leak.... short toe adjustment. brakes Throttle cable Road. Wish me luck, Joe

yeah... GrumpyVette is the man! just do a search for his posts and you will find more information than you could ever hope to retain. here is what I think I know about single planes vs dual planes: Dual planes usually produce higher torque in the lower rpm range. Single planes usually produce better top end horses. Single planes mix well with the Z car. you have a light car, so losing a bit of torque in the low rpm range isnt a big deal, it will most likely help you keep traction ( a little). and once your hooked up and running high RPMs you have more power to use. but I havent done any testing of this on my own. so i cant say anything for sure. I think I picked up those ideas from one of grumpyvette's posts. Joe

heh... Today this guy with a riced out MR2 was in the parts store talking to my buddy. He was trying to say that his oil change made his car feel like it had 10% more horsepower because he went to a different brand. and he said that he didnt know whether he needed a new oil pan gasket or a head gasket. I started laughing at him right there... i just couldnt help it.... he left trying to smoke the tires through the intersection.. all he managed to do was get a little squeak and he nearly hit the median.... then he nearly lost control of the wee car when he swerved to miss it... Imbecile. Joe

yes... I think i spend just enough time here . i flip from forum to forum to forum reading any new post, and just looking for interesting stuff... i dont need counseling.. I need to get my Z roadworthy! that would be counseling enough.. i cant wait to roll down the street in my v8Z and see everyone look around to find out where all that big V8 noise is coming from . tomorrow... it will happen tomorrow... Joe

MWAHAHAHAHAHA IT"S ALIIIIIIVVVVEEE!!! sorta. Well, ive gotten my Z back from the exaust shop, and i just got it to run for more than 10 seconds at once... I found out a couple of things: #1. headers with greasy fingerprints cause large amounts of smoke. 2. My alternator works. My fusible links dont. 3. vaccuum leaks suck.(literally) uh. when a fusible link blows up... it looks pretty cool, almost like a bicycle tube when you pump it up until it explodes. (just on a smaller scale and with a little more smoke) hey, is it a bad thing if my oil on my dipstick is a bit foamy (has bubbles in it) after the engine has run for a couple of seconds? i cant remember. Man, this thing is so close to running. all i have to do is replace3 the fusible link, adjust toe, bleed the rear brakes, and install the throttle cable... Tomorrow it hits the road!( i need to buy a good fire extinguisher methinks) Joe

Greimann, all you have to do is set up a saftey return spring and a safety relay. the spring will return the throttle to idle if there is voltage loss to the servo. The servos that are made for boats will definetly stand up to heat and moisture. They are often used next to small nitro powered engines, often DIRECTLY next to them, wedged between the fuel tank and the engine. I admit that there are complications, i just dont think that servo durability is one of them. it really does not take much force to open the throttle, and with the proper return spring, the load on the servo really would not be that large. most servos employ a brushless motor setup, (like cooling fans, and most other electric motors that are expected to operate under continous load for very long periods of time.) I'm a nerd. I want to set up fly-by-wire throttle control just for fun. I agree that the Cam would be easier, and simpler. Hey, i have an idea for how to make the cams change out quickly. You can set up an oval (or a rounded I shape) pin that has small bearings in the side, that release pressure when you push a button on the end. (like ratchets, just oval(or...) with like 7 smaller bearings) the bearings would slide into a precisely shaped groove, and would hold well. just a thought, Joe

Greimann: I think you under estimate the quality of the model airplane electronics. I cant see any good reason not to use them. I'll figure out how to do it, but i need to get the car on the road first... Joe

that looks absolutely awesome... wow I like everything about that car. and the hood is very cool! Joe