80LS1T

I dont really think its Fords fault. You couldnt tell that they werent long enough? A flex plate is much thinner than a flywheel. I think your going to be screwed as far as Ford helping with the repairs. If one of their techs would have installed the wrong bolts sure but they probably would have noticed that they were too short. Guy

IMHO, I hate 4 post drive on lifts. They give you absolutly no room to work on anything and the axle lifts suck. If you rack up a vehicle right on a 2 post you shouldnt have any problems. 4 post lifts are for lube racks and alignments, imho. I have only had one issue with a 2 post lift. One day at work I was lifting a 1500 Ram that the guy must have had 2,000 lbs of crap in the back(he should have been driving a 2500 or 3500) and as I was lifting it the chain bolt at the bottom of the lift broke. well the hoist dropped down on to the locks and all was good. It was a pain the a$$ getting the hoist off the locks and back down to fix it but no one was hurt. We have 1 lube rack guy at work and he has damage far more vehicles with the 4 post lift. There is a bar that runs from the front to back on our lift at the top of the posts and once and a while he leaves a door open and then lifts it.............yeah the door looses that battle with that bar going from front to back. Nothing like trying to tell a customer who came in for a $16.95 oil change that we need to keep their car for a few days while we fix his F*** up! Guy

Some how I really doubt that this will be a cheaper option than a WC-T5. You will need to figure a clutch/pressure plate combo that works with the SBC flywheel and Skyline tranny input shaft and you will need to make an adapter/bellhousing for the Skyline tranny to SBC. The adapter will not be cheap because you will have to pay someone to build it from scratch and we all know custom fabriation is not cheap. Just buy a WC-T5 and it will bolt right up and finding a clutch will be no problem. IMHO, its not worth the headache unless you just want to say you have a Skyline tranny in your SBC power car. Guy

With deals like that I should just move to Montana! In CA, can you even buy a lot in town without a house on it for $260K? Guy

I agree with Mike on this one. Even if the cop does show you can just make him look like a dumbass! LOL Guy

Working at a dealership I see this a lot. People think just because the plug cause $6-10 per plug that it should last forever and run like a Ferrari! Most common thing is people do their own tune up with Bosch plugs and then 5-10,000 miles later its misfiring and then it comes in for a check engine light and running rough. We tell them they need to put OEM plugs back in and get rid of the Bosch and they think we are crazy. But guess what, it fixing it every time! Platinum plugs should be used in vehicles designed for platinum plugs. Plan and simple, why change to a different plug if you havent changed anything on the engine(like perfomance wise...), since the factory did the tuning with that plug? I personally will nevery use a Bosch plug in anything I own, I think they are just plain-ole shitty plugs. Guy

Man when you compare what you get for $225,000 to the other cars that are similary powered, that Viper seems like a steal! Plus it comes with a 2/24,000 warrenty! Guy

I think there was a 280ZX that was running a tube chassi and tubbed rear end with a GN motor. Thats the shade of red it was but I cant say for sure if that was the motor that was in it? I remember seeing pictures a while back..... Guy

I dont know who told you guys that the radiator support isnt important but I think most would argue that it is....atleast thats what I've always read/saw/been told. If you do remove it you should make a support that fits to take its place. Guy

Hehehe kinda looks like a dodge 2.7 Liter, timing chain tensioner looses oil pressure.....chain loosens up and all hell breaks loose! Most of the time those plastic guides look just like yours and are in the old pan. Looks like fun! LOL Guy

The TH350 tranny is really not the best choice for a daily driver, due to it only being a 3 speed with no overdrive. The 700R4 or 200R4 are better choices for automatic trannys. Reliablity depends on the build. Usually the more power you make the less reliable it gets. A mild 350 will be very reliable if properly built. Guy

If that thing sells for $1100 there are 2 280Z's down the road from me that are in similar condition that I will go buy and resell for a huge profit!

I have an LT1 in my 280ZX and I did not notice any handling difference after the swap. If anything it feels more planted to the ground. If you go with the GEN 1 SBC with iron heads, iron inktake, brass radiator, etc you will probably feel the difference. I have the LT1 with aluminum heads, intake, water pump, aluminum radiator and I actually think I probably lost some weight off the front end. I wont know for sure though because I didnt weigh it in before the swap. I didnt really care because I dont really intend to autocross it. I like drag racing so the handling aspect does really come into play. If you got the cash go LS1 but the LT1 is still a great motor with a smaller price tag. Guy

Ya Mike you should have bought it.......it would have had an LSx in it in a week and running 10's! Congrats on the sale and I hope you find a nice shell ASAP so you can get started on the new one! Guy

Personally I think the compressor should be on the top of your list. How are you going to run all those tools with out air power? In all honesty I wouldnt buy a new snap on box. They are like cars, as soon as you drive it off the lot you loose money. Just buy a nice used one from the snap on guy. Thats what I did and I got a $5500 box for $2900. Trust me on this, paying on a box is not fun and really pointless because the box wont make you any money! I've been working in the "field" for 2+ years and I probably have $10000 in tools with my box. Nobody said this profession was cheap! Most of the guys I work with probably have $50,000+ in tools! For the 3/8" electic impact I would recommend the Makita 14.4V. The Snap-On one is pretty big in size and I havent heard the best things about them. The Snap-On guy says its better than the Makita but all the other tool guys that I talk to say the Makita is better and cheaper than similar impacts. I have had the smaller 9.8V one for a year and a half with no issues. I even lite it on fire once when I was trying to clean in because I got it all full of tranny fluid......so I thought I would just spray some brake clean on it and clean it off.........yeah then I hit the trigger and suddenly it and my had was on fire! I got the fire out pretty quick and it still hasnt missed a beat! LOL We had the same deal when I was in school for snap on tools. I unfortunatly didnt take advantage of it though! Guy

Its just like a real Z with long tube headers........they hit the ground too! LOL Nice work! Guy

IMHO $5000 is not enough for a car that only needs a drivetrain and rear end. I would say good luck but I dont think you'll need it with such a low price. That thing should sell in no time. I personally cant wait to see what your going to replace it with! Guy

Do you have your spark plug wires on right? So it only does it when there is a "load" on the engine? Guy

That video of the Dragster Coaster gave me chills just watching it! Looks like a good time to say the least! Guy

I remember seeing new dashes in the MSA catalog for the GEN 1 Z's going for like $800. I bought a new dash for my 280ZX but it was only $400 new. Guy

Nice pics!

I dont hate V6's but I would rather have a V8 anyday of the week. Ever try modifing a V6 OHC/DOHC engine? Gets expensive real quick, thats why I would rather see a CIB(cam in block/push rod motor) motor. Much less expensive to mod and its reliable at 400HP. Once you get above the 1:1 ratio of HP/CID you start to get less reliable. I know Nissan will never go back to a push rod motor from the new OHC engines but it sure would be cool! Or if Nissan and Chevy combined to build the "450Z". Kind of like how Dodge and Mitsu combined to make the Ecliplse aka....Dodge Stratus. Could you imagine a new Z with a SBC LS2! Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet! Guy

Thats hilarious! :lmao: Guy

Well what makes you think its not fully engauged? Does it slip? I have a SPEC Stage 3 for my T56 but my tranny is currently not in the car and I havent driven the car yet with the new clutch(I had a CFDF clutch before). My car wont be back on the road till spring now so I wont be much of help on what mine feels like. Guy