zero

well, i found the problem. I bled the clutch, and while i was under there, I discovered that the bolt that goes through the clutch fork, the one that comes from the slave cylinder, looked like it had backed off quite a bit. I think somehow oil or some other lubricant got on it and it worked its way loose. I turned it out quite a bit, and now all is well and my transmission shifts like a champ. Thanks guys.

while I've got this topic going, i have a question for you guys. I originally sought to replace the shifter bushing because i thought it was what was causing my hard shifting, but after putting in my quick fix, it seems that it may not be the problem. What do you think would cause a lot of effort getting into gear, especially 1st. The problem seems to come and go, and is mainly from a standstill. I originally thought it was my clutch adjustment, but im not sure, because at this point it isnt even very tight and it is still hard to shift. Now, i think my shifter bushing solution might not be the best, because it didnt seem to help. It could be my synchro's, but a fair amount of effort is required to get it into any gear, not just first, and i dont suppose all of them wore out so quickly, and also this is a fairly recent problem, as I havent driven the car more than 200miles and I dont remember this being a problem except for the past week or so. I thought my tranny fluid might be a little low, but I dont have the proper fluid at the moment, but I will add some soon. Do you guys have any other suggestions, thanks. -will

while I've got this topic going, i have a question for you guys. I originally sought to replace the shifter bushing because i thought it was what was causing my hard shifting, but after putting in my quick fix, it seems that it may not be the problem. What do you think would cause a lot of effort getting into gear, especially 1st. The problem seems to come and go, and is mainly from a standstill. I originally thought it was my clutch adjustment, but im not sure, because at this point it isnt even very tight and it is still hard to shift. Now, i think my shifter bushing solution might not be the best, because it didnt seem to help. It could be my synchro's, but a fair amount of effort is required to get it into any gear, not just first, and i dont suppose all of them wore out so quickly, and also this is a fairly recent problem, as I havent driven the car more than 200miles and I dont remember this being a problem except for the past week or so. I thought my tranny fluid might be a little low, but I dont have the proper fluid at the moment, but I will add some soon. Do you guys have any other suggestions, thanks. -will

yea, i imagine you could get those lights to make some pretty coold designs. I am imagining 4 small round lights, spelling 2 4 0 Z or Z E R O. That would be pretty ricey but its a cool idea.

yea, i just replaced my duct tape in the previous solution with 1/2'' od x 3/8'' id hard plastic tubing. It is a really tight fit, but the shifter feels great now.

an aston martin lagonda maybe I really have no idea

well, if you havent found a quick fix already i suggest a couple washers on either side of the shifter with few turns of appropriately cut duct tape wound around the pin after you grease it, then pull it off and put it in the shifter, then slide the pin through the washers and the tape. This works pretty well for me, but I want to find a proper bushing.

I already searched and found nothing. I have a 72 240 with an unidentified 5 speed (though i think its out of a 260/280) with a worn to the point of being non existant shifter bushing. I tried the local stores and the stores i know online like victoria british, msa, and classicdatsun and I cant seem to find it. Does anyone know where I could get ahold of one of these, my duct tape quick fix isnt really cutting it.

Yea, our system here in Jersey is strict, but rightfully so. Drivers here, especially young ones, really suck. To get your liscence here, at 16 you have to take 6 hours of driving instruction from a registered student driver program, then you can take the written test and get your permit, which allows you to drive with someone over 21 or who has had their liscence for more than 3 years. Then, at 17 you take your road test and get your provisional liscence which restricts the hours you can drive (not in the middle of the night) and allows you to carry only 1 non family member in the car. Then, at 18 you can go to the dmv and pick up your full liscence. I am taking my road test later today to get my provisional liscence, wish me luck.

AIM: ZER0zg (number 0 not letter O)

well, here is the stripped down version of the elise http://www.supercars.net/cars/1999@$Lotus@$340Rg.html and here are some pics of the audi powered one. http://www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/pictures/elisemods/roguess2mods.html

These are really interesting cars. I think HeavyZ was right with the weight being closer to 1400lbs, but either way they weigh nothing. The chassis is incredibly stiff, and it uses aluminum panels and tubing glued together. Yea glued, its quite odd but cool. I have seen elises with quite a few different engines. First they came with a rover inline 4 with 111 hp, now i think they have the toyota mr-s engine and tranny with some mods. I am not sure if lotus uses the new true sequential tranny that is available with the mr-s, but in any case they should. I have also seen a civic type r powered elise, and one oddball with the drivetrain from an audi s4...it was awd. I will see if i can find that.

very very nice, VG30DETT...well VG30DET, no?

judging by the headers and what i can see of the piping, he is running four turbos sequentially for each bank of cylinders...i wonder how that affects lag. Very impressive nonetheless

thanks alot guys, I will be starting this as soon as the pnuematic tools and compressor my dad and I ordered on ebay get here. My dad decided that if we are going to do serious work on this or other cars, then we should do it right. I will let you guys know how it goes.

sbc_400, another question about your paint, How well do you think that finish would hide small blemishes and imperfections, as I am entirely too inexperienced to do good bodywork. Thanks

I am loving the satin black, what process did you go through to get it looking so nice. I know another member, SBC_400 rolled his on. Did you? Either way, it looks very nice. Also, I know you've done your bodywork already, but how well do you think a satin job would hide small imperfections, because I am entirely to inexperienced to do lots of bodywork. Thanks alot and you have a gorgeous car.

at least you dont need jackstands to work on it.....

Yeah, my original intention of getting this car was for it to be a car that I can work on and that will evolve with me. I have been doing a fair amount of work on it, but my dad didn't want me taking the struts out for some reason. As soon as I get some proper tools I will begin. Thanks alot.

Thanks alot guys. I guess I am a good negotiator because my father went from wanting to sell my car, to looking for a set of pneumatic tools and a compressor so we can do really serious work. I believe we will be tackling the struts as soon as we get ahold of that stuff. In other news, I fixed my wiper linkage with a quick touch up with my welder, and fixed my horn. Thanks again.

Thanks alot guys. I guess I am a good negotiator because my father went from wanting to sell my car, to looking for a set of pneumatic tools and a compressor so we can do really serious work. I believe we will be tackling the struts as soon as we get ahold of that stuff. In other news, I fixed my wiper linkage with a quick touch up with my welder, and fixed my horn. Thanks again. Jmortenson, do you think one would be able to remove a frozen gland nut/strut cart from that position?

well, the article 5.0 Z posted convinced my dad that we could do the work ourselves, which is good. Thanks to everyone for their help. Thanks for the offer Ivan, but as far as I know the problem with the wipers is a loose connection in the linkage, allowing only one wiper to work properly. I will get back to you on the gland nuts, as I dont know if I will destroy them in the process, hehe. Thanks again Will

Well, when I bought my car, it was in dire need of a steering rack and struts, so I bought the parts and because the struts are a bit out of my range to install, I took it to my local trusted mechanic to work on. I got it back today with the front struts installed and the rears in the hatch, he said that he couldn't put them in, and his friend at another shop who does heavier duty work said he wouldn't do it,(over the phone, didnt see the car) because he is afraid that he would break a rusted part and not be able to get another. Now I know that the main part that might break in the process would be the strut assembly and or gland nut, but my parents (who oversee the finances at this point) are ready for me to dump the car on ebay. They haven't really liked it from the beginning, and it does have other niggling problems such as a bad wiper assembly and no horn. They don't really think it is safe (true to an extent) and want me to get something newer, but the fact is, for the 3-4 grand I might possibly get for my Z in the northeast, there isn't much I could buy. I mean I would like to have something that i wouldnt see next to me at every stoplight, and I would like something moderately fast. So basically, I am asking you for advise on how to attack the rear struts of the car, or, better yet, if anyone is in the north Jersey/NY/PA area and would like to help me get my car to a somewhat presentable state that would be amazing. Thanks for listening to the plight of a silly teenager.

Well, I seem to have confused vegas and tejas in my first post, I was referring to vegas's set up. Sorry. My car is just a relatively mild street car with stockish suspension. I just know I love the tailhappiness of the car with the current matching 205's all around, I don't think would want much wider in the rear. I was just wondering if your car could still get loose in the corners.

tejas, how is the handling balance with that stagger on your tires. Also, what suspension mods do you have. Thanks.