tannji

Lol.... similar thing happened to me.... I used to manage 1-hour photo labs, and had to repair equipment frequently. I got zapped by 110 and 220 a couple times, the last time after double checking the breaker on the machine, the power switch on the machine, and the breaker at the wall. (can ya tell I was getting a little paranoid? ) well, this machine had been "field engineered" and had a separate, hidden 110 power source to run something that shouldnt have been in there in the first place.... ZAPP. Fast forward 10 years, I am once again managing photo labs, and had to tear into a really decrepit machine.... did all the double-checks, and finally got inside it. Just as I am up to my elbow in the innards, my Brand New pager, bought that very day, Vibrates about 3 inches from my crotch. Broke the clip off trying to get it off my belt, and did my best to imbed it in the nearest wall. To this day, I always keep the vibrate disabled on the cell phone....

lol.... Yeah... difference with my reverse lock-out was that it was in a Z.... with a 350. didnt even stall the motor..... I like to think that I am a much different person now.... some of the crap I pulled back then and walked away from.... No wonder kids think they are invulnerable. I also had a old Kaiser-Willys jeep with a powerglide tranny.... and a bad battery. Car died at an intersection late one night, but I got someone to jump it. Little 4-banger ran kinda rough tho.... and shook the tranny into drive, without me, and the hood still up. Picture the PO that pulled up wanting to know why I was chasing a jeep (fortunately in a circle) around an intersection. He threatened me with reckless driving, but in my teenage naivety I pointed out that I wasnt actually driving.... He let me off with a warning, to the effect that he didnt particualry want to see me driving that piece of crap again.....

I could add a couple... been down the spark gap road myself, was hooking up the starter, asked for wrench, female helper turned the motor over instead.... I guess I am thankful the car was not in gear, not to mention that she was reluctant to help me after that... Some of you have probably strained your abdominal muscles leaning over the Z fender, working on something just barely in reach.... Make sure you enunciate what you need, or your helper may lower the car onto your foot.... Weight lifters should always have a spotter.... so should single guys in a hurry to get the tranny back in in time for Friday night cruising.... I arrived at a buddies house probably 5 minutes after he separated his shoulder trying to bench-press the tranny into position. Between the pain, the fact it snagged his overalls, and wedged against the tranny tunnel.... he was helpless and out of breath.... Dont forget to get the reverse lock-out for a B&M slap shifter working, you may put the car into reverse at 70mph instead of neutral.... and end up bass-ackwards in light traffic, at 60mph..... Dont reinsert the pin that holds your shifter to the tranny in traffic, while moving.... the PO that pulls you over will get more angry the more you explain how often you had to do it, especially if he pulls you over right across the street from an auto parts store. (good news was, I got escorted into the store, and picked up the nylon bushings as well as the new pin and c-clip)

I had an old Kaiser/willys jeep with a Chevy 4banger and a powerglide tranny. I thot the tranny was going to be a problem, but that thing would do 110mph, and was surpisingly fast to 100, as well. I dont think the tranny will be what would make a Z "unstreetable"..... loads of power might, but that doesnt seem to be problem as far as Stony is concerned.... so I just want pics and dyno's....

A story well worth reading. That is all.

I was more impressed when the post said "600 RPM"..... That should be a real beast, Stony... Please post followup... I cant imagine being hit like that at 6000 RPM.... Is there enough power to be streetable under 6000 RPM, or is this strictly for the track?

36 is fast approaching me..... Happy B-day

I'll have to get back to this thread later..... Digicam experienced death-by-girlfriend right before I bought the car, and... It is so butt-ugly.... there is no way I will post pics without followup pics of it at least being stripped Imagine a rootbeer base with a washed-out purple-ish clearcoat, and a little metal flake thrown in. Some of the panels shine, others look like they have been lightly steel-wooled. So ugly in fact, that my rusty, dented (but reliable) 1990 Subaru Legacy got vandalized right next to the Z, and the hoodlums had just enough self respect to leave the Z alone....

I would say either that, or break down the membership list by locale.... either way I think it would be nice. Take a look at http://www.rx7club.com Well organized like this one is, but a few more interesting categories. RX7club is freaking huge, and like HybridZ, has a wealth of experience and knowledge, but there seem to be more kids and shorter fuses there.

What happened when the Italian emigrated to Poland? ........ It raised the IQ of both countries...... (badda bing)

I drove my Z with original seats 2000 miles home when I bought it.... and had no real complaints. I may have done a lot of stretching every gas break, but I was grinning all the way home. Not having had a Z for about 14 years probably had something to do with my tolerance, tho.... The looks, questions, and cussing when I opened the hood probably didnt hurt either.... 8) Like Phantom, I have a people carrier (4Runner) and then the Z. The truck has its strong points, and I appreciate its versatility for our family, but I love nothing about it. I think the optimal engine setup is possible only with possession of 2 Z's... one with a SBC, the other with a beefy L series motor. Both setups have so much to offer experience-wise, I always feel like I am missing out, no matter which one I am driving.

Welcome to the club, Smileyboy! You need to decide right off how comfortable you are with real projects... as opposed to "bolt-in" upgrades. You then need to try to define what you want out of the project. Will you drive it daily, drive it hard on sundays, take it to the track frequently, AutoX it, ect..... Your choice of motor and suspension should be based on what you most want to do with the car and can afford. A good Z is capable of fulfilling most peoples darkest desires, depending on budget and determination, but there are an awful lot of Z's parked due to people realizing (belatedly) that they either under-estimated the project, or the budget. Others get it to the point of driveability, and realize that they really want to go in a different direction with it, frequently starting with their choice of motor and tranny. For example, I bought an already converted 240Z with a TPI 350 and 700R 4 spd OD, intending to make it look nice and just drive it. Riiiiiiight..... I knew by the time I finished the 2000 mile drive home that I really missed stirring the tranny, and the one-wheel spinning launch had to go, and I really wasnt too happy with the breathing and revving limits of the TPI.... and what do you know, I am in a full-blown project again. Hybrid Z cars are frequently up for sale, some of them well done. As a certain Mod here in the forum will tell you, anything is for sale for the right price..... but for many here, you cant buy the satisfaction of having done it yourself. As for how cheaply you could get into a conversion.... depends on the car and the conversion, but most of the cheaply available ones, in my opinion, will end up costing you in the long run. Usually they are being sold for good reason. I paid somewhat more than I should have for mine, and I ended up starting over from scratch on it. I am not too upset, but in retrospect, I wouldnt mind having the money back, so that it could have been better spent on a nicer chassis, as I am replacing most of the other components anyway. I think the most cost-efficient way to do it is to learn the skills and do it yourself, keeping in mind that you are risk of blowing more cash on "must-have" equipment, tools, and last minute additions to the project. Good luck with your new passion. you probably couldnt have come to a better place for support and commiseration. tannji

Good to see so many people who are also just starting on newer SBC projects, I know I'll have company while I do mine. I am waiting for a new garage and a rotisserie here.... Figured if I am about to make myself vulnerable to the "while-I-am-it" syndrome, I might as well start off on the right foot and completely restore and firm up the chassis. I figure with spring hitting there are bound to be a few LSI cars that get trashed by kids, and I want to be there to pick up the pieces. 8) Plus, I remember all too well starting an upgrade, only to be unpleasantly surprised with more Z-rot. This time around I want to only fix rot once..... Time will tell, I guess. Good luck on your project, keep us up to date on any progress... tannji

Hey SBC 400, if you wouldnt mind, can you post some details on what you did for paint? I have been considering flat black and something unconventional for a while.... Did you sand after roller, any kind of seal or clear coat, ect? I am considering a new rust proofing and heat insulating product, but I have to plan carefully, as some combinations of this product dont allow for much paint afterwards... I think your primer/flat black look is beautiful.... in a menacing, MadMax/Thunderdome, If you have to ask-you dont need to know kind of way..... 8)

http://www.4130-products.com/video/Full_Throttle.wmv

Hey there Alex, thanks for the info...... I was just wondering if you could point me towards any entry level documentation on your product, explaining capabilities and needs in layman terms? I wont need the hardware for at least 6 months, but I am doing a lot of the groundwork now, and some in depth info would be very helpful. Thanks, Tannji

share the wealth.....

I just want to slap whoever applied that leatherette.... back in the day we had a term for that and it wasnt Rice.... but kinda politically incorrect these days.... I never really got past the top, you guys noticed details I didnt, like the $8000 price......

is it a heavy rattle, from something solid, or a lighter rattle? I had the same problem, from the hatch, took the inner faceplate off, tightened everything, ended up wrapping a couple of things, and it went away. Also had a fuel pump make the strangest sound, only when hot, under load. took me forever to find that one.

whats the opinion on single turbo setup for the LS1? I may look into this after I have driven it NA for a while. I dont need crazy-sick HP, just a little excessive.... I want to be able to use as a daily driver, and to be able to easily keep boost under control, due to traction concerns. If I go with 375HP and beyond on NA, traction becomes a problem, even in casual driving with the occasional "goose". I like the idea of only getting excessive when developing boost, but I think twins would be a bit much, as I want some of that power available without needing slicks or drag radials. Perhaps single turbo, larger housing so there is some intentional turbo lag?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6187&item=2474643198&rd=1 someone else go first.... tell me what you think of this car. I dont trust myself to comment just yet. I do remember removing that stuff from my parents 1974 Ford Maverick.... swore I would never buy a car with this stuff on it.

I thought about getting an RX7 for a while, so I read the RX7club forums a bit. Anyway, this 1/4 race was posted there, might raise your eyebrows a bit.... 8) http://www.wrxfanatics.com/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=122196

sweet.... I would probably get the WRX STI if I were to go for new muscle. Driving one of those is FUN! But I still like Z's better, for many little reasons, 2 seats being rather high up on the list. I had a couple of light runs with a non-STI last summer, and embarrassed myself on the first run... went sideways a bit at the launch, and he left me. He didnt look quite so cocky at the next light tho..... and I started pulling him towards the end of second gear. He gave me a small grin and pulled off the street.

I went to Harbor Freight a couple of weeks ago and had a similar thought... the stands are CHEAP.... but I decide that as cheap as they were, it wouldnt save me much money, as I want a wider base, lockable wheels, taller mast. If I could find some that were heavier, with a really nice turning assembly, I might grab them, as that would be a better starting point. Because of space constraints within my (as yet unbuilt) garage, I need to be able to have the Z in the air all winter, but still be able to move it aside when involved in a higher priority project. (like new cabinets for the kitchen.... ) I really like the adjustable features as well.... I think it would be nice to have the car already bolted up to the rotisserie when I go to remove the suspension.... no jack stands, or jacks, or anything else in the way.... just lift one end, remove suspension, lift other end and remove, then jack the whole thing up and spin.