Drax240z

If you have more than one ram chip, try pulling them out one at a time, boot up and see if that fixes your problem. I had similar symptoms with a blown SIMM. (yes, back in the SIMM days)

Laptops can really suck the money, and if you are doing video editing I'd suggest getting a powerful desktop. I'm running: -Athlon XP1700+ (overclocked and water cooled to 1.73GHz) -512MB DDR RAM -Geforce4 MX440 64MB DDR Video Card -80.0Gb Maxtor HDD -19" Viewsonic Monitor Of course other stuff too. But this whole setup with finding the used monitor probably ran me around $700CAN or ~$450US. My advice is to look into a good upgrade for your current system, and reuse a few parts. (floppies, CD-ROM's, etc) Oh yeah, I'd highly recommend looking into Athlon processors too. I was an Intel freak for years, but I've been completely happy with this processor and I saved a bundle. PS: Refrigeration system is in the works for the processor.

Katman you must be an engineer, that's exactly the first think I noticed as well. Maybe I can clarify your thoughts a little though, to prevent any crazy napkin drawings. Basically because the two strut tower braces aren't meeting in the center of the firewall, and instead are placed what looks to be about a foot and a half apart, there isn't nearly as much additional lateral stiffness as there would be if the two center braces attached to each other. (used each other for rigidity) Not trying to slag someones product for the Z car, we know there just isn't enough stuff like that out there now... but I'd be happier with the one bleach posted.

There isn't many slicker setups than the RB in an early Z if you ask me! I'd check out that route before all others if the prices are right.

Hey Rodney, I assume you are the same Rodney on the FSAE mailing list? We missed you in Detroit this year! If you are looking for a street car to capture some of the magic of the FSAE car, then a V8 Z will put you close! (at least in terms of power to weight, you can get close... brakes and handling are another matter all together) There seem to be a lot of mechie's around here these days, I guess we know whats good!

Ah I see. (I think?) I'll have to use these for core I guess. Hopefully I get the right ones in exchange.

These are vented truck calipers, not 4runner ones. Stamped S12W. Hmm, I'm sure I could still use them as a core if necessary. But I need to know exactly what I am looking for in exchange. Will an 89 4runner caliper be the one I want? Or another year? Scca? Anyone? Beuller? I find it somewhat amusing if there are a bunch of different sizes in the S12W calipers... You'd think that they'd stick to one. Does anyone know specifically if .030" is enough rotor to caliper clearence? Thanks all... hard to find time to do all this stuff while I'm at school.

So I happened to somehow find the time to get out to a wreckers today, and was peeking around for interesting stuff. Came across a 89 toyota 4x4 truck, and pulled the calipers and got them cheap. Went to the parts store to grab some new rotors and did a test fit using a spacer I had borrowed of a friend locally. When fitting the parts together I noticed that there is only ~0.030" clearance between rotor and each pad... seems really tight to me! Rotor was 0.866" thick... 84 300zx non-turbo rotor. So any of you that have done this swap, is the lack of clearance an issue? Right calipers/wrong calipers? Right rotors/wrong rotors? Thanks guys...

OK, I just have to ask this. Why swap engines at all? I mean, if you aren't after crazy amounts of power like you say, you can have a hella nice street car using the Nissan L6. Despite what some people think, Nissan makes an awesome engine and it can put out 200hp in NA trim quite easily. 200hp in a ~2400lb car is a blast! Now if you just want a project to be different, then go right ahead. I just thought you may be overlooking the obvious.

So basically all you are doing by using the pump primer is spinning the oil pump a whole bunch before start up, until it primes itself? In theory, shouldn't a bunch of cranking over do the same thing in the end? (though its a bit more trouble) Only reason I ask is because today is the last day I'll have to work on the car for a few weeks at least.

Cool guys, thanks a lot for the info. Some stuff came up so I couldn't spend as much time on the car as I was hoping to today. Everything is well lubed, so I am not much worried about doing damage cranking dry. I am going to try to track down a primer for a drill tomorrow however.

I was turning my enging over yesterday, trying to get some oil movement... I have an autometer mechanical oil pressure gauge installed. Anyway, I couldn't seem to get any oil pressure, and nothing even into the gauge line while turning the engine over. I did it for a while, off and on, and had reallly hoped to see some sort of oil pressure just from cranking over? (coil lead disconnected) Does the engine not spin fast enough from just the starter to create oil pressure? Or have I got other issues? Engine has never ran, I'm in the process of doing a pre-start checklist... Thanks guys.

I had a similar problem with my half-assed together electronic ignition. (the GM HEI module one, with mods) Anyway, once I lowered the gap things worked much better. To hell with factory specs, just move it a bit closer and see if it cures it. (not close enough to rub mind you)

Uh... what were the dimentions on that thing again Scottie? Maybe I should get to work making one.

Welcome to the most exclusive club on earth gents.

Pretty neat stuff Lone! I read in a recent issue of racecar engineering about an ex lotus engineer that build a hillclimb car very similar to a FSAE car. Only he used a 1100cc engine and didn't have to deal with any intake restrictors. I believe the output was nearly 200hp, and the car weighed 208kg. FSAE cars see from 60-80hp even through that 20mm restrictor, and weight as little as 380lbs. Thats still wickedly fast! Potentially 4.75lb/hp... And people wonder why I cringe when they say 'nice go cart'. Ya, go kart with more power than your civic! Anyway, we plan on testing without restrictor, which should net use close to 120hp out of our 600cc GSXR...

Actually I think Corky Bell summed it up best: "Head bolts are an accountants decision, head studs are an engineers decision." I'd have to concur.

The restrictor needs to be between the throttle plate and engine, no exceptions. Yah, its not optimal!

The first generation ones are the desireable ones. They are made of metal while the later generations have crappy plastic ones. I picked one up off the parts trader for around $40.

My 'cheap' swap passed the $6000 canadian figure a while back. Its really easy to get carried away, as well things almost always cost more than you expect. On the other hand, I'm taking the time and money to make sure I don't have silly, nagging, problems later. (or at least as few as possible) Sometimes its worth paying a little more...

quote: The 510 suspension is identical to the first generation Z, so I already have that model covered... Are you sure Mike? I am not terribly up on my 510's, but I know that guys use the 280zx front struts on those all the time, and that doesn't really seem swappable to me. Also, the wagons used a solid rear axle, and I could have swore that the sedans used a semi-trailing arm setup... I could be wrong, its been known to happen. But I'd double check.

Thanks for the heads up Jim... I'll be checking it often too.

Hey second chances are good. Sorry to see that you had good intentions and you got jumped all over Steelman, but thinking before you post is a good way to get along here! Try to remember that we're all basically a big family here, and an assault on 1, is an assault on all...

Well I can't add much new to what the rest of you have said, but I'd just like to say that Scottie has some of the BEST documented swap-related websites out there, especially for the Z car. There is no way that I would have gone the route I did with my car if I hadn't been able to read about every single step that Scottie did with his, and his performance evaluation. `nuf said.

Or you could just look in the members rides and see pictures of this car there... Yes, he's a member! Likely a search here would turn up some info on that particular car.