jbeech

Hmmm, I might take you up on that! Lynn and I are heading to Orlando the week of the 18th of June through the 21st for a teacher's job fair (she's a special ed teacher - hearing impaired). We're thinking of relocating to south FL this summer, or next - Ft. Meyers is in contention. I, of course, can move my business wherever. Wanna see what those wires look like installed? Surf to; http://www.modelsport.com/gto . . . where I've put a few pics of my GTO conversion on my company web site for private viewing - including the fabulous wire wheels made by Dayton Wire Wheel.

I bought my T-56 from a fellow in Louisiana and suggested to him that he use a motorcycle tiedown strap and strap it to a pallet. He did, it cost truck freight about 120 bucks to NC. FWIW, that sucker's heavy - 140 pounds plus for just the tranny!

Mine are the ones by Dayton Wire Wheels - not splined hub. I tighten them once after I've had it off and have checked a couple fo times and no longer worry about it. FWIW, I once had my tires rotated on a Toyota pick up and they apparently didn't tighten one of the wheels properly because a few miles down the road I felt a looseness and pulled over to see what was wrong. The nuts o one wheel were about 2 turns out from tight so I doubt the wheel would fall off without boucoup warning.

Hey 250z, can you help get me in touch with Classic Revivals in Australia? BTW, that was nice of you to scan that article and post it, where did it originate? Is there more to it worth scanning (to post)? If those trim rings around the headlights can be fitted top my GTO, I'm game to buy a pair. Thanks in advance!

A 284 cam, dual plane intake, Holly 780 vacuum secondaries, 10.5:1 compression (or thereabouts) so you can run pump gas - have fun.

I know what an S30 is (as in HLS30 - xxxxxx), but what the heck is a Te-25? I once had an Elan S3 that when like hell on 1600 Cosworth head Cortina block, 150 horse-ish as I recall. My wife compares that car to one of many before I got my first Z-car (right about the time she and I were married ca. 1978). The Z stayed in the family until late 1999 when a move forced the sale to a buddy - only to replace her with Lulu earlier this year. I won't mention what Lynn said about that :>) I just turned 45, so I've been around only a little while (comparitively). If you are curious, this is Lulu http://www.modelsport.com/gto

Doug71zt, I'm not up on the terminology, which Z-car is the Z-32 - what years? As for the 12.25 Wilwood rotors up front and the 11.75" dia rotors in the rear, these all fits under what size rim? I poresume we're talking about stock Z-32 front and rear calipers vs. Wilwoods or the like. What did you mean by quieter than Wilwoods? Do the race calipers squeal, or ???

What's the serial number or manufcaturing date cutoff between early and late 74 Z-cars?

Yeah, early Z cars had solid rotors. With my first V-8 Z-car, I added ZX Turbo vented-rotors and calipers. This Wilwood set up is exactly what I want for my current ride - see it at . . . http://www.modelsport.com/gto . . . the only question is, will this kit fit under the 15" wire rims of my GTO?

I may have to convert my SBC from full-length headers to block huggers as I convert my car from a Scarab engine mount to a JTR mount (lower and closer to the firewall). My readings of the JTR manual indicate block huggers are all that's readily available - I was thinking of adding some BBC adapters to the exhaust ports and running BBC block huggers. Smart, or not worth the trouble?

Wow, what a dynamite set of cars! Chelle, you and Kim are a lucky couple of folks! I once had a DeTomaso Pantera but always liked the looks of the Lamborghini Urraco even better. Anyway, that's a sweet alingment of automobiles in that picture of all three :>) Seems I recall you guys are in Chicago, or the like, right? I get up that way (from NC) in the fall of the year for a trade show at the Rosemont, maybe I could get to see your babies next time I'm up that way. I'd love to see them in person.

Seems to me the hard part of that conversion isn't so much the physical mounting per se as it's all the wiring connections that need to be made. While I would want nothing but a computer-controlled engine compartment in my daily driver, for my toy I'm not that keen on the whole idea of it. Seems to me it's entirely the wrong way of going about things. Then again, as they say, different strokes for different folks.

Here are details on a couple of other company's kits. http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/48446/ http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/148_0305_t56/

Don't hate us, join us. It's easy if you start with the right kind of model. What's more, smart purchases when you start (vis-a-vis the radio equipment and engine) are readily transfered to newer more advanced models as you learn to solo and become interested in aerobatics. As for the T-38, I'm not really into jet circles. Also, something of a sea change (of sorts) has come over that segment of the sport as piston powered ducted fans are being supplanted by miniature gas turbine (direct decendants of cruise missile technology) engines. That said, it would help to know the history of the molds, i.e. were they once in prodcution? Who manufactured them, etc.? Then I can put out some feelers.

John, if you include new plastic covers too, I'm in for 500 bucks a pair. Mine were drawn over mucho dust and look shitty up close. Let me know. Wagz, my wife is happy she knows where I am and what I'm spending money one. For example, one of my pal's mid-life crisis is a girlfriend on the side (complete with an apartment he pays for). Trust me, I know what he's spending and it's way expensive - to say nothing of what's gonna happen when his wife finds out! Another (ex pal) is so busy running white powder up his nose (way expensive too), he both doesn't have time for his buddies anymore, though for my part, I don't really want him around anymore. Thus, from my wife's viewpoint, she's pretty happy with what I wanna spend money on for 'my' choice of mid-life crisis (as she tolerantly refers to Lulu). I.e. rather than take up the habits of some of my friends (and former friends), she actually approves of Lulu. . . . life is good :>)

Float at 6500 RPM is about what I would expect (with reasonable spring pressures) for a hydraulic roller. Me? I'm going with a solid roller myself. Since my daily driver is a Sequoia and this is my toy car anyway, then adjusting valves every ten thousand miles or so is no big deal. FWIW, I was figuring 195 AFRs with double springs would be adequate for a 7200 RPM limit, but my local engine guy is pushing heads made in NZ. Grumpy says they're OK and he along with the folks at Inglese have helped me select a cam.

Does anyone know of a source of the trim rings around the headlight covers of a GTO? I have an original Alpha-based GTO and like the look of the convertible VR on John Washington's web site. I hope that perhaps John, or someone else, can jump in with info pointing me toward a source for these. Pics of my GTO at: http://www.modelsport.com/gto

I'm contemplating a dif-swap on my 260's R180. It's between a readily available R200 non-limited slip - which should bolt in and be plenty strong enough for my V-8's power levels and a more complex R230 install which is stronger still and equipped with CVs - but also considerably heavier than the R200. Of course, it involves some minor fabrication too. That's why I was asking about the 240SX - I didn't know they were shorter than the Z-cars R200. If I have to fabricate, I'd think I'd rather fabricate for the R230 and have the peace of mind of a rear that's pretty bulletproof. Then again, the R200 is strong enough and 240SX difs are both LSD and cheap. Does anybody know if VLSD guts form a 240SX dif will retrofit an Z-car's R200?

Does anybody know if the 240SX ever came with a limited slip dif? What about gear ratios?

Light travels faster than sounds, which explains why some people appear smart until they open their mouth . . . or until they write something.

There are few general rules in engine swapping, but Mike's observation is quite valid . . . though I employ it slightly differently. I like to think I save myself for the special stuff so "I never make anything I can buy." Same thing, really . . . sort of. That said, here are a couple pieces of advice. First, despite having Z-car since 1978 and with a SBC V-8 in it 1982 (i.e.a fair amount of experience) I, nonetheless, recently spent 35 bucks for the Chevy V-8 to Z-car swapping-maual from Jags That Run. What a great resource! There was even a glimpse of some fool's car with a Lexus 32-valve quad-cam motor in it :>) http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Datsun_Z_V-8.html Also, for what it's worth, while I was at it I purchased the TPI/TBI swapping manual too (I'm putting a T-56 into my car and it has some pertinent info). Both are great and make good reading. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is you get your money's worth. In fact, I think if you're contemplating this swap and don't buy their mauals you're nuts! Why? Because while you have to be a little crazy to want a V-8 Z-car in the first place, there's no sense in being stupid and making it harder than neccessary. What's more, they even have a workable set of mounts and brackets in kit form ($325) which makes the job a doodle! Chock full of good tips and advice, this good buy. Here's their web site. http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Chevrolet_TPI_TBI_V-8.html Hence, short of having a pal who's done the swap help you do it, this is the best resource for and guidebook money can buy. Recommended.

Hey TT350, a more serious tranny than a T-56 is needed to harness 1000 pounds of torque. The T-56 is a street tranny rated at 450 pounds of torque (it also depends what gear you are in as the torque rating varies between gears too). Anyway, investigate something like a Saenz transmission, or the like, for this kind of use. As for a dif to take that, I'm at a loss . . . time to go hang out with the serious racer dudes because once you get to those levels, I'm a poser and have no real knowledge. I would think a beefed up Corvette dif might work, but that's just a wild-assed guess.

Yeah, it's wet in Jacksonville, NC too. Does anybody know if the wipers were shitty when they cars were new, or is it just a 30 year old motors? My first Z car was only 5 years old when I bought it (1973 240 with 28k mils back in 1978). Anyway, I have visions of just having the thing rewound at a shop to pep it back up.

Tim, other than the CV adapters which lets the newer style CV halfshafts bolt up to the stub axles of the Z-car, what's involved in modifying the CV half-shafts themsleves? Are these the ones from the Q45 or ? Does anyone know what gear ratios are available in Q45 difs? Thanks in advance for your time.

Done! Thanks for pointing me toward them. I eagerly await the catalogs :>)