JoeinCA

We need to give Pete an award. Like a trophy or something. it is amazing that he stuck with a project car for that long... most marriages dont even last that long . I couldn't even drive legally 4 years ago! This car is never going to be completely done. I need to get it driveable though. Tim, do you have a picture of your exaust? (I'll check your site in a minute..) Joe.

I hope that i will be able to get it there. I am moving to Wyoming for school (wyotech baby! I'm stoked.) in February. So i need to get this running so that i have a vehicle to drive. I really like your car Dan. It has alot of character, sorta like my car, though yours pulled the "multi colored look" off alot better than my car. Is it in the body shop getting painted? Heh... I have been trying as hard as possible to not think about body work...(because i have to do it all myself!) I try to remember to always have fun... It's too bad i also have trouble with my memory It's only a matter of time and money... Joe

That thing must be alot of fun. 495 lb dry weight... what's your top speed? I have a 78 cx500. It isn't really fast, and i am having chronic carburetor problems.. but i had it running great for about 2 weeks. never tried for top speed though. it would be nice to have a vehicle that just worked perfectly for once. some day.... Joe.

...is getting the parts you want/need! GRRR The Budget thing is out the window. Last week my bank account balance dropped below the point i promised myself that it wouldnt... and i still need to buy a transmission!... Ah the Joys of owning what seems like the most demanding money pit in the history of the universe. I still need to get the wiring done... I've got the fuel pump installed, The tunnel has been "prepared" (My ears are still ringing gotta love air hammers). Ive been at it one week, with a 3 week completion goal, and ten million things to do. The good news is though, i really like to work on the car. Because every turn of the wrench is one closer to me turning the engine over for the first time..... AHHH i almost forgot... I need to get an exaust system too! %#@%* No worries... I'm only going insane! Anyways, that turned into more of a rant, but I thought it would be interesting to see what everyone thought was the most annoying thing about thier hybrid project... 'cuz i'm really bored. and have nothing better to do with my saturday night that sit at home looking for a transmission and posting messages. I never really know what to write here (ie. seeya later?) Joe.

Once again, Thank you very much Tim, Joe

eh, that's a problem. I bought the engine out of a running nova. The thing sounded great, came with a good Th350, new radiator, headers, new carb, intake manifold... But i dont know what kind of cam it has in it. GRRR why does everything have to be a pain in the ***? thanks for your help tim... Joe

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone could give me a ballpark price range to rebuild a 700R4. I found a guy who has one that says it may need to be rebuilt because : "my friend told me that it was shifting too late -he was saying that when he jumped on it the shift from 3-4th was not regular to him - he also said that it would go to like 4500 rpms before the shift ... " I can get the transmission for $100 with the converter, Think i could get the trany fixed for say... $350? thanks for your time, Joe

okie dokie. so...: "Stall is the speed at which the converter will hold the engine speed and not allow further gain (i.e., the engine "stalls")" so.... now that i have just spent a good chunk of time reading about automatic transmissions... ive decided to run a manual. (kidding) I still dont fully comprehend what stall speed is exactly... I already knew how a torque converter worked before this. I guess i am just not comprehending the language, from what i read, stall speed only really matters when you are launching. (ie. wont affect normal driving characteristics if converter stall speed is under 3000 rpm) And I found that you want the stall rating to be 500 rpm below your peak power(torque) output. I still don't know what converter i should get. thanks, Joe

Hey, I have been looking for a 700r4 transmission for a while, and i have no idea what torque converter i should use. I mean, what stall speed should i am for? (strong 327, into a 77 280z with 3.545 rear gears. I'm making a nice cruiser. ) And for the dumb question: Does stall speed mean that at a certain speed (ie. 2000 rpm) the converter locks and no longer slips? thanks for your help. Joe

Sorry... I just figure that with that much damage, it may be cheaper/easier to pick up a less rusted Z shell. But if you can do the repairs... go for it... ( I am dreading my own rust repair....) A little rust repair often leads to ALOT of rust repair . (maybe I'm just a pessimist) Tsumner: To me that rust looks as though it may pose serious structural integrity problems, especially with a high torque engine. plus I really don't like rust... it drives me nuts knowing that my car has cancer. I also own a 68 chevelle malibu with little rust.. and 57 bel air with no trunk because of rust. I may be spoiled by a less moist climate, but rust is still evil... Joe

... Well... With that much rust, i am sure that the thing is pretty much dead. I would find a new unibody, and then drop the running gear out of one and throw it into the other... If you don't make any changes to the suspension or any of that stuff, you could swap everything in the course of a week or two.(or less).. If you try to fix a bunch of stuff in the process... it can take an indefinite period of time. ask me how i know this Or you can weld in a full tube frame. Joe

That's pretty funny. I'd like a nitrous injection system in my car... with a mouthpiece. heh. Remind him not to inhale any nitrous outside of the dentists office, medical grade N02 is different from industrial grade. If you inhale industrial grade nitrous, you will get a headache... (no, i dont know from experience...) I'm going to have to get my wisdom teeth pulled one of these days... N02 and vicodin... it's like the dentist's consolation prize... Joe.

That looks interesting.. a833od 1975-1979 A-bodied, F-bodied, 1975-1987 trucks/vans, Aluminum or Iron case final drive of .73 I'll have to see what the general price range for that transmission is. Thanks for the help guys. Joe

Hey guys, i have been trying(with very little success) to hunt down a transmission to use with my 280Z V8. I need the overdrive because i plan on logging alot of highway miles... So i want to use a 700r4, 2004r, t-5, or a t-56(unaffordable). I was just wondering if anyone had any reccomendations regarding where to aquire reasonably priced, used, transmissions. Preferably in California...Because i am trying to find one of the above listed transmissions, ready to bolt up, for under $400. I am trying to avoid Junkyards... I would really appreciate any help or information you guys can provide, thanks, Joe.

I say... Take it to a real good automotive electrical shop. They will fix the problem, faster and cheaper than you can by aiming your wallet. jut my opinion though... after having aimed the wallet at a charging problem (new alt, volt reg, battery, fuse block, etc.) until it was very light. Took it to a good electrician, and they found and solved the charging problem. Electrical gadgets are only fun until it you have to fix them. Joe.

Well, i was right about the shorter knuckles... I thought it was a good thing to get the shorter knuckles... Now my front suspension is in pieces too... and those grease boots and fitting need to be replaced, might as well get new ball stud setups. Then i bet i'm going to find out that i need new inner tie rods... oh no... i found a bit more rust... I am succumbing to the "mission creep" and this car must be done in two or three weeks! Sigh... it's only time vs. money. and i'm running short of both fun, Joe

that is what i figured i would do. But i dont see how i could have such a drastic change with a steering rack that came out of a rolling car... maybe the donor had shorter steering knuckles or something... oh well, thanks for the suggestion, i'll go adjust the toe... thanks, Joe

I just replaced my steering rack in my 77 280Z with one from a 78 280Z. Funny thing is, is that now when one wheel is straight the other is at a 15-25 degree angle (toe-in) . the car the rack came off of certainly did not have this problem. has anyone had a similar experience? know an easy fix? thanks for your time, Joe.

Luckily the only damage done was to the drivers side fender, no unibody damage. I didnt call the cops, because it got hit the morning i was planning on tearing into my v8 conversion.... so i just figure i can find a good fender before i finish the work... I'll have to post a pic of the fender sometime... it's pretty ugly. thanks for the advice guys. Joe

any more info? i would like to give performance karting a try, and what better way than with fellow hybridzers? thanks, joe.

What is the name of the place in fremont? I'll try to make it out. do you have to call in advance to make reservations? Thanks, Joe

We could either run a team setup, or individual. where the top 3 people with the fastest average lap times win. 1300 / 3 = 433.. or $900 for first, $200 for second and third. (if the race were judged by average lap times...) I know I'm in though, prize or no prize ...

that would be cool... we could have a driver change every hour. fuel as needed. everyone gets 8 hours of run time, and time to rest between... And around $1300 in prize money!

how many people would have to throw in? like... 28? 14 karts out at a time, 2 drivers per kart? 12 hours run time: $178.51 if you had 56 people total, 4 drivers per kart, you could run 6 hours for $89.29 or something like that.

I was greeted with an unwanted gift this morning... At some point in the night, somebody thought that i may enjoy getting a FREE fender adjustment on my soon to be JTR converted 77 280Z. They also decided not to leave any way for me to contact them, and thank them for the fender adjustment. GRRRRR What the heck is wrong with people? They hit someone's car, absolutely destroying the driver's side fender... they may have bent my unibody... and then they just drive off. Plus, i only have liability insurance, because i cant really afford to pay higher rates... so now i get to pay for somebody else's mistake. Just needed to vent a little bit.... thanks for your time, Joe