BLKMGK

Heh, so what do you say to someone who's made their Z look like a Ferrari? I don't much care what it was when I started, when I'm done it's MINE

After the pain of installing gauges and everything else in my dash another wiring harness is certainly something I'm contemplating. I've considered simply swapping out my fusebox and rewiring the whole car. For now I'm going to let it eat and see if it has roblems, if it does I'll remedy whatever way seems best but since I've been thinking about it... Some areas of "concern": Ignition switch. GM column or "not GM" seem to be the options. Yuck! Wiper stalk. That sucker ought to be "fun" figuring out! Heaterblower. I think Vintage Air looks much better Bulb sockets. Not sure what is an upgrade for this but soldering on the old sockets seems silly. I think at least one of us has upgraded their sockets and bulbs. Dome lights? Might not be too bad. Overall I think it would be work but doable. Painless does indeed print the NAME of the circuit on their wire - how nice! But you pay through the nose for that too. I think in the future I'll do it but not just yet. I too am finding some pretty scary splicing in my harness - and doing a little bit myself too

Okay, I'm getting to the home stretch but there are a few things I'm looking for. I KNOW that some of this has been posted but I can't find it - argh! 1) Spark plug # for Edelbrock Performer RPM heads. I spotted this in a recent post but my searches are coming up empty. Help! 2) Radiator hoses. I've seen this awhile back but I'd like to know what the consensus is. Top hose looks like cake, bottom hose? Other than strolling the aisle has anyone found a hose that just works well? I've got a 90degree neck on top that swivels so I'm flexible 3) Air cleaner. I'd like to use what Mikekelly has done but may not spring for that right away. I need to find his writeup on th evarious part #s for that. If I go cheap what should I look for? 14inch, yes? Drop base? If so how much of a drop? About how tall? 3inch too short? Heeelp! I think that's it. Most of the other little stuff is taken care of I think. Soooo close! Rear brakes, little battery wiring, water pump pulley, final fuel line plumbing, belt. Ignition!!!! Vrooom vroom soon! Yeah, I'm excited now

Pretty much with the rest of you on this but a few comments.... 1st SBC isn't that much heavier than stock - you been hanging out at ZCAR.COM or something? The stock L6 is pretty heavy and if you've used any aluminum bits you should be close. Weigt distribution, if done right, will actually be BETTER than stock. How's that for having your cake and eating it too? 2nd it's not shocks that support the car, it's springs. Shocks act as dampers not support. You might find heavier duty springs to be in order along with decent performance shocks that you'd want for a Z anyway...

Goto John's WEB site - he's got a brief write up on the mods including the tailights if memory serves. I dunno' - I kind of like the stock look but owuld liek to modify the markers and such...

I'd bet that there are more purists and snobs in that world than there are on Zcar.com (cough). Would make the build all the more fun to drive actually! Hrm, I ought to save off those pics (lol). To do it right though it would need a 100% custom interior to really look nice. I'm still wondering how well it cools to be honest...

FWIW - the SubtleZ hood is on my car. It's glass and "cut to fit" so expect to do some bodywork. Overall I was happy with John but shipping prices need to be worked out better - he's paying way too much. Ship a Cervini Mustang hood dirt cheap, a SubtleZ hood... ouch! But it's here, it's on (well it was anyway) and it looks GREAT! Should cool the engine bay nicely too.

Heh, ask him what it weighs Scottie, I'll weigh my existing hatch just as soon as I can get it down from the rafters - I've nto forgotten. Things are a bit "hectic" in the garage these days Hey, I know how to get Scottie that last tenth into the 10's.... (sorry, couldn't resist - the spoiler looks AWESOME in person too).

Those Steeda wheels are SWESOME! The shop has a set that I really wanted in the display case but I didn't see any way to make them fit If you can figure out how to do it it would look GREAT IMO! Flares would help - I've got stock wheelwells. The measurements I posted awhile ago may help if you do the math and whatnot for the 9inch wheel. It's having them pushed in too FAR that's the problem

Silicone spray or WD-40 in th ecap also works great - on wires too. WaterDispersing-try#40 works great

Ya', send them, I'll cut them down and post them I'd like to see what it would look like myself to be honest. Wonder if it's much more impact protection than say fiberglass?

Pics are up! Look in my photo gallery then under the Gauge install stuff for pics of the whole setup. I'm thinking that maybe flat black caulk rather than shiny silicone would work better. It's not real visible without a darned flash highlighting it but it still BUGS me! [ June 23, 2001: Message edited by: BLKMGK ]

Like that? Jim Biondo did those. I like the gills behind the front wheels too. Flush glass, nice spoiler. Nice car

Okay, I'll go against the grain here - I LIKE it Imagine driving down th eroad and having that pass you. It looks like a stock 'vette right? Except it's shorter, and sort of hase a different roofline. You'll be scratching your head fo rawhile - it's sort of like a 2/3rd scale 'vette and I think that's pretty darned cool! Mirrors look silly though I'd consider it if I could see it in person and it was closer to home. Wonder how ya' would do lights? Think it'll cool very well? Anyone catch the "10% of Gross PROFIT" part? Gross sales, NET profit. What's GROSS PROFIT?! Is that profit before expenses AKA gross sales? Huh?!

Drax, is it shipping or customs or what? Seriously, bolts and things are small enough that I'd think someone down here could get them and ship them up if it were simply customs. MSA and VB charge a fortune for their shipping and "handling" too. I don't know about everyone else but paying for "handling" is criminal! I always thought that packaing the stuff was part of their JOB an dnot somehting I shoudl pay extra for! Hrm, I need to get another JTR manual too - my binding has broken and it's falling apart (sigh). Will try hot glue but it's not looking good. Pete - hope my alternator works out that well! Almost done wiring, picked up some fuse assemblies today for a couple of the wires just in case of shorts. Prelubed it too for the heck of it, found a loose fitting or two, It's getting close! Going top have to get plugs and hoses real soon now - wish Jeg's would hurry up and ship my backlogged stuff - hard to fire it with no WATER PUMP PULLEY! Grr!

Yup, mine and it's an 88. that number should be good from about 82 to 93 at least. They used weaker 7.5s until 85 though. I believe 85 was the cutover year. 94 MIGHT be the same but I'll try to check later this week. I never really plan visits to my friend's shop - I just drop by and am usually unprepared for pics and whatnot Weather stayed clear - weird! My neighbor's yard is a touch higher than mine and the gorund see s shade most of the time - no grass. So I get mud when it pours - yuck! He put up a silt fence today though, he really is a nice guy and is trying to prevent this from happening (shrug).

I've got an L6 header made by Electramostive that coudl handle duals. It's got twin pipes coming off of it into a merge that went on back. If you can find a header like that setting it up would be easier. The one I've got is for sale, along with the motors in the corner, but shipping something so bulky would be a PITA.

Scottie, I will try to do this tomorrow. I know I've owed you this for awhile now but I've just not gotten under there. Tell me exactly where to measure - flange to flange? Center of treads? Get with me offline if you need to. I'd do it today but they're calling for torential rains with flash flooding and it's VERY dark and rumbling out there Rain let up and I rolled in the mud for ya' - good news Scottie 54.5 from dust shield to dust shield and 68 edge of tire to edge of tire - outside edge. I'd say you've got a swap candidate!!! Be aware that S10's have 8.8s with flug axles too. I'll try to measure a later model Mustang too next time I'm at the shop. If I can remember to take my camera I'll snap some pics too. P.S. I swear, when we get heavy rains half my neighbors yard ends up in my driveway. Argh! I'm building berms next time this puppy is paved. [ June 23, 2001: Message edited by: BLKMGK ]

Drax, can you guys not get anything via Jeg's or whatnot? Do you geta ton of taxes dumped on or what? Seem for little stuff there ought to be a way for us to help you around it... I like SOME of the VDO stuff and have used it. However their tachs are less than inspiring and I don't much like the speedos either. Some of the JDM stuff is so stylized that's not usable IMO. Numbrs need to be in easy to read fonts, bold, and clear. The EL stuff really floats my boat but Autometer claimed that they found that the stuff "aged" and failed in a somewhat short period of time. They have told me that unless they find a way to make it last longer they won't sell it. Bummer but at least they seem to be up front about it. I do agree with Pete on the voltage regulation though - that's just silly. Pete did you simply make a regulated supply for all of your gauges? I finally mounted my speedo last night and will be posting some pics soon. Talk about a wiring nightmare behind the dash - I need to label some of those puppies for later troubleshooting - it's a mess. Out of sight, out of mind though and it's all insulated. I think most of my stuff is all going to piggyback onto one big power wire with some splices and then I'll fuse that sucker. Have yet to find a cheap add-on fuseblock and I HAVE checked the local shops. Grr!

Scottie, how's that Westech gauge working out? Have you given them any feedback on it? I feel so bad about not having been able to do it myself after they were nice enough to GIVE me that gauge. Really nice guys!

"Use the search Luke". Lot's of discussions with using hydraulic TO bearings in this sort of application. A few of us have top loaders and can describe how it acts on the highway. As for the driveshaft - it'll have to be custom made. I'd use the Neapco adapter on the back, and a Ford setup up front. I've been told, FWIW, to not use aluminum as it has no real advantage in an app like ours. Run an R200, they've proven pretty durable for others. CV joints can fortify it for heavier duty use if you begin breaking U joints. Several methods for adapting these have been posted in the past.

I looked HARD at those wheels - they're SWEET! However I am pretty convinced they wouldn't fit under the car. However since you got them at a steal by all means see if they will - at least measure them and compare to what I found in other threads. Rotors are no biggie if it's the 5 on 4.5 Ford pattern - that's what I converted to! 300ZX hubs up front and redrilled hubs in back. Be aware the front track moves with the new hubs up front so measuring with stock stuff won't be accurate. Try to use my measurements if you can or pass them along and I and others can try to help. I looked long and hard to find those in a 17inch pattern - no go. IF they don't fit and won't work let me know, I may know someone who would love to have those wheels. He's not got them now due to the cost of the tires

Okay, I'll bite... Who uses their gauges to do anything more than check that all systems are normal? In other words if my temp gauge always reads 190, despite my 180 thermostat, and oen day it reads 200 then I know I've got a problem, right? Also, it's the electric gauges that were coming out as being innaccurate - not sure if the mechanicals display this same problem. VDO makes nice stuff too - a shame most of it is BUTT ugly! Some of the JDM stuff is cool too with EL lighting that changes colors to wanr you of problems etc. unfortunatly it's super expensive and I've yet to see a decent speedo being built. I'd love to hear if there's another company out there making better stuff that's readily available but honestly I'm pretty happy with Autometer. Their service to myself and others sure has been nice if nothing else...

I wouldn't bad mouth a Porsche motor. Ever seen one torn down? Looks like a swiss watch inside! Correctly turbocharged they can make 1000HP, who can bitch about that?! A shame they cost so darned much or I'd be much more interested in them. Too many snobby Porshe owners too (sorry Scottie!). Sort of like the Z3 - I was pretty close to buying one till I read some of the truly "tight" postings on one of their boards. No thanks, not a community I'm interested in joining.

Explorer heads would be GT-40P heads. Straight plug and a PITA to fit headers and plug wires on so beware. Great price though!