Phantom

Thanks guys. Last prez was our first prez and he held the title for two years and decided it was time to step down. My wife volunteered to solicit memgers for club offices & committees at a meeting a couple months ago and told me that night she had nominated me. Good thing I had already been thinking about it. Good club but fairly small right now so involvement is scarce. David - Thanks for your vote - send me $35 for a memebership and I'll make sure it counts. Tim - sounds like you really would enjoy being a member of our club. the commute might be a bit daunting though.

I agree - I was immediately discouraged by the price but, if you're one of the full custom guys, then $750/wheel is not an unreasonable price. I saw a 2005 yellow 350Z last weekend that had an optional set of wheels and tires on it that stickered for $7,990. At nearly $2k/corner for that -$750/wheel is a bargain!

Well sort of. My first name is Willliam and I have thrown my hat in the ring to run for president of the Cowtown Z Club. Interestingly enough at this point I am running unopposed. I wonder if I should be worried?

Wheels America came and did a presentation at our club meeting last night. They are considering offering a program where you design your own wheel - diameter, rim width, offset, lug pattern, spoke design, powder coated in custom colors, polished or chromed. You send them the design, work with their engineer to make it feasible and they build the wheel. Cost around $750/wheel. For you guys going for the full custom machines I would suggest contacting one of their stores and asking about it. It might speed them toward implementation.

Guess I need to weigh in here as a LS1/T56 driver. If I had it to do over again I'm not sure what I would do. I've driven standard transmission cars all my life and I just plain enjoy rowing the gears. I like the ability to chose when I shift. For heavy stop 'n go trafic the T56 sucks. Clutch isn't heavy or anything like that - it just wears you out over time. In a stright line the automatic is also the superior choice. On a crooked track I think it depends on the driver and how the car is set up. I don't think either transmission has an overwhelming advantage. My choice was based of preference and desire - not practicality.

Nope, It's the original windshield.

Thanks Jon. That actually has been done once so far. The windshield guys say it's not necessary but I personnally will insist that they use a sealant in the windshield groove of the gasket from now on. I don't leak between the gasket and the body - just between the gasket and the windshield. Next itme they pull it I think I'll insist on both areas just to be safe.

I am really getting tired of this. Third window seal and it's already been resealed a second time. Water is coming in between the glass and the seal. At least this time it's only on the passenger side, not on both like last time. Back to the galss shop and another long dicscuuion

Yup, Overflow bottle is a must. Each time my radiator was drained I ended up doing the run it a while to get it hot, let it cool, and add coolant. It usually only took 2-3 cycles to get the system completely filled. Joey - FWIW - I've been running regular antifreeze in my LS1 for over 12,000 miles now and the system works great. Dexcool is just supposed to be more environmentally friendly than ethylene glycol. Well - it won't kill the dog if he drinks it anyway.

Please. You need to spend a lot of time reading existing posts and using the search function more extensively. I spent 6 months on this board before I started posting because there was so much information that helped me to decide how I actually wanted to go. It's faster to ask the questions but you won't learn as much and you may miss the one post that would have made a big difference in your approach.

Since I don't know if the problem resides in the front or the back - and since my wife does most of her driving in daylight where the signals work fine - I'll probably just wait a while and see if one finally burns out and then replace it. Thanks for the input guys. Some thoughts there I hadn't had yet.

You know - my wife is talking about wanting more HP in her '93 Z32 convertible. Maybe an LS1 would be the answer - or else an ATI Procharger. Not sure which yet.

Joey, On the Abbott speedo. Be sure to solder all your connections. They don't mention that in the installation instructions but if the electrical connections aren't absolutely perfect the speedometer will occaisionally be erratic. Bill

0-60 is about 4.75 Seconds and at 80 mph iin 6th it's turning right at 2,000 rpm.

Lets see. My technique was kick the tire and light the fire and go. Oops - did check the air pressure in the tire after I kicked it.

This is a new one for me. 1993 Z32 convertible. Both turn signals function normally until the head lights are turned on. Then the right turn signal behavies normally and the left turn signal flashes at about double the normal speed - almost like what you would see with one of the bulbs burned out - except they're not and both front and reart signals are flashing - at twice normal speed. Turn the headlights off and it goes back to regular speed. Again - this only happens on the driver side - not on the passenger side. Go figure.

Multiple threads on this and I searched them before opting for the JSK Innovations 12.2" Willwood forged superlight conversion on the front and the Modern Motorsports 240SXcalipers/300ZXrotors conversion on the rear. Serious brakes are definitely fun. Car really hauls down and so far has shown no rear wheel bias even though I didn't install an adjustable proportioning valve. Admittedly, however, I haven't been in a place where I could totally hammer them and confirm the braking bias.

I've taken my LS1/T56 280Z (3.70 R200) on road trips up to 300 miles one way. It averages about 23-24 mpg at average speeds around 75 MPH.

I knew that the top down would definitely impact fuel economy. I just had know idea it would drop it by 6 mpg. Interstingly enough I did have one tank with the top up and it was still only about 21 MPG. Time will tell on this. After we accumulate 6 months or so of data I'll do an update on the additional data,

Got my wife a pristine Z32 convertible a few weeks ago. Traveling on the highway at 75-80 with the top down it got 18-20 MPG coming sown from Kansas City. The last two tanks of around town driving netted 24-26 MPG.

While we're talking brake conversions don't forget Juan at JSK Innovations. He has the 12.2" vented Willwood Superlites for front and rear now. I think he's close on the parking brake option too. I have the JSK Willwoods on the front and the MM 240SX/300ZX conversion on the rear. I just got them all trued up and will start a real evaluation pretty soon. I have the 280ZX master cylinder but, at this point, I don' have an adjustable proportioning valve. It's not acting right now like I'll need one. I need time for some heavy braking runs at speed to confirm that, though.

Dale, Know what you mean about USAA - aren't they great? I've been with them over 30 years now and they've always treated me well. Tom, Yup, car is a bit heavier in the rear than the front. Losing the spare, the jack, and the inflator can would definitely even things up a bit. It's funny how a lot of guys move the battery to the back to take some off the front and here I am with a V-8 & T56 going the opposite way.

Good to know the inflata-spare can still bail me out in a real pinch. I guess as long as I have a cell phone and towing I'll make out ok. I may just onvertthe well into a spot for a base speaker.

I'm OK as long as the flat is on the back. Then I only have to clear the 11 3/8" 300ZX rotors with the 240SX caliper back there. I hadn't thought about that problem with the 12.2" Willwoods on the front. Crap!

My wifes family lives in Pensacola. So far all of their homes have reported in ok although they are all dealing with no power, no water, etc. One sister has a condo out on Perdido Key near the flori=bama area which is probably the worst hit area. It is on th elagoon side rather than the gulf side so it may have survived. I'm just thankful that no one was hurt and that only the trees took a beating - no other wind or water damage to the primary dwellings - even one home that was in Navy Point had the water stop just before it came inside.