Phantom

Thanks. I guess I'll develop something locally that will work externally with the strut tower braces I have and the sub-frames.

For some reason I am unable to get the search function to work for me. Is there anyone out there that makes a sub-frame reinforcing kit that I could buy for a '77 280Z. No apparent problems presently but thinking I want the option to strengthen the car before it goes south from the torque of the LS1.

Once again - do we put ground affects on our cars, do we tint windows, do we put tail wings on our cars, do we lower them and put custom wheels / suspensions on them, do we use nitrous, do we use turbochargers, do we install custom seats, gauges & other interior items like huge stereo systems. The only diffenernce is preference. What many of us thinks is in poor taste may be wonderful to someone else. another old saying - One mans trash is another mans treasure. My point is that they may have a different way of doing it but they are doing it for the same reasons that we are. It might be a tough decision for me between a fully tricked out Honda and a well done street rod. It would boil down to the individual car but I would probably opt for the Honda. the deciding factor for ME would be the ability to drive it daily to work. For someone else the criteria will be different. Don't judge lest you be judged. I'm guilty, but I'm changing my ways.

Crap!! Did you say the NOVEMBER issue? When I heard about this I went right out - about two weeks ago - and bought the October issue. Guess I may have to buy another issue of the magazine.

Look at the ATI procharger. http://www.procharger.com It mounts like an alternator or another accessory driven item. It is intercooled and good for about aq 50% HP boost.

Well, actually, the Civic DX(?) - the sportwagen looking one is actually starting to attain that classification. There will always be posers. Like they say though, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Even those guys have a love for their rides - they just put their money into making them look "cool" rather than putting a lot of go into them. It's merely a question of priorities. Yup, some of them have attitudes that stink - look at the posts on this forum - some of us haven't entered into that category? I drove my car into the middle of a group of 40 local FnF types here a while back, popped the hood, and had an instant crowd. They were inquisitive and respectful. My type of car guy. I'll be back to see them next week.

I have thought long and hard about this and come to the conclusion that the "ricers" don't deserve the derision they receive here. Basically those kids are the new wave hotrodders and the Honda Civic is the new '27 bucket T roadster. I remember my dad telling me how I'd ruined my car (a '49 Cadillac) when I took off the full-face shiny chrome hubcaps and exposed the blsack steel wheels, and removed the fender skirts to show even more of them, and removed the external sun shield from over the windshield. How the car was now noisy and lost its aura since I'd pulled off the oil bath air cleaner and stock muffler and repalced them with an oil soaked piece of panty hose and a glasspack. That the ride had stiffened up too much becasue I'd put STP in the hydraulic shocks. It didn't matter that the car had shed almost 200 pounds, had a lower CD, handled better and the gas milage improved from 8.5 to 11.5 mpg. It wasn't his kind of car any more. It was, however, my kind of car. I grews up in the era of the pony and muscle cars and remember the grief we took from the Buick and Lincoln drivers for our smaller, rough rising, less comfortable cars. These "ricers" are the next generation of enthusiast. We need to embrace them, teach them, learn from them.

Hey Tim!! You got enough gauges in that critter?!? I assume the two lower ones were to make up for the two you lost when going aftermarket? What did you do about turn signal indicators? Body looks really nice and primer usually tells it all.

I'm currently running the 87-89 3.70:1 R200 LSD unit through Spicer "brute Force" universal equipped half-shafts. I made two runs on the LSD and the original stock half-shafts and then "hospitalized" the car for some other work. While undergoing surgery I've had the Spicers installed. The car is running an LS1/T56 combination with 311 RWHP & 326 RWTQ. I don't know how that compares to your set-up but I haven't broken anything.

If you pretty much leave the car stock i would expect it to gain 120-150lbs over original weight. You may decide, as most others have, that the unibody needs a little help and add in some bracing/structural reinforcement which would add some more weight.

In totally stock original form the 240Z is close to 400lbs lighter than an equivalent 280Z. Additional structure in the body, the slightly larger engine, the crash bumpers, and components related to fuel injection were responsible for the weight gain.

Already sent mine - along with a very flattering email. Let's see what happens.

HH - ATI Procharger information was mailed to my house after I got on their website and requested it. Do search on this website for info on LS1 conversions. Also, contact John@johnscars.com for conversion kit options and pricing. Mike - Thanks buddy - I've almost forgotten what a V-8 feels like it's been so long.

If you really want bullet proof brake pads use Kevlar - get it - bullet proof? - Kevlar?

Well- the 280Z28 is still in John Jail. Rumor has it that it will get paroled next week. John (Johns Cars) has indicated he is going to get a 'roller' to do his development on rather than keeping mine for months at a time. I've linked him up with Jerry at All Z Car Specialist to get that done ASAP. He has reworked my T56, expansion valve, suspension bushings, front & rear strut tower braces, body seals, etc. He tried to improve on the headers but the first couple samples didn't work so he also doesn't have the 3 1/2" exhaust for it yet. Those will be developed on the 'roller' and then transferred to my car at a later date. He also has modified the motor mounts some. I'll need to find out more about that. Read some more brochures on the ATI procharger last night. Hmm - 450 RWHP & 485 RWTQ for "only" $5,800. Best part of all the literature was a copy of an article on an install on a '99 C-5. It's 'before' dyno numbers were a bit less than the numbers on my car. Yee-haw - just as much (or more) oomph and about 500 fewer lbs. On another subject, I'm working on making the car famous. I'll keep everyone posted on the progress there.

You will be absolutely amazed at the difference in handling with your car if you just put in new OEM springs and struts. Your old ones are "sprungs". They are shot. I sent with the european spec Nissan springs that were supposedly 1/4" shorter than stock but they RAISED my car an inch over the original sprungs because they were so sagged. Car hanldes very nicely now - stiff but not harsh.

Next time don't use a golf club, use a 9mm. That's legal in Texas, especially after dark.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

Guys - post those same questions over on the suspension forum. There are a few folks over there that can tell you exactly what you need to be competititve with the 350Z - and even beat it!

Something is definitely loose in the rear of my '83ZX. If I ease off on the throttle and then floor it in a lower gear I get a temendous CLUNK!! On my '77 280Z it was the differential mount. Ame problem with the ZX?? I've gotten under the car and can't see anything obviously wrong.

So Michael, when are you going to have it rolling where you can take me for a ride?!? Turn about is fair play, you know.

The Z uses a 4-bolt, 114.3mm or 4-bolt, 4.5" bolt pattern. Depending on the tire size you use, a '0' offset (3.5" backspacing on a 7" wide wheel) is generally best but a 12mm offset (4" backspacing on a 7" wide wheel) can work, especially if you are using coil-overs.

Beenthere - that's why I have a spare car now. Every time I get under the hood it takes about 5 times as long as I thought it would. Even an oil change stretches out because of other things I notice while I'm there. "It'll only take a minute"

My son has a '97 Firebird with the 3.8L V-6 and a 5-spd. It would trounce both my '77 280Z and my NA '83 280ZX - although it was closer with the ZX. In convertible form and with an automatic it probably would be a different story though. He doesn't even suggest a run against my LS1 equiped 280Z now. He's driven it once. He came back and thanked me for making his car seem slow!

I used the original '98 Camaro Z-28 LS1 engine wiring harness and ECM - although it was edited for my application in the 280Z. The ECM is mounted inside the passenger side footwell, just below the heater blower. Gets it out of the hot engine compartment and leaves more room in the compartment for other things.