JMortensen

You've got 2 sets of gears in the diff. The spider gears in the middle. In a normal diff, you spin one tire one way and the other side should move in the opposite direction. The movement you describe is totally normal. The other set is the ring and pinion. The driveshaft connects to the pinion at the front of the diff, and it turns the larger ring gear, which spins the axles forwards or reverse. I think this is what is screwed up in yours, because you should be able to turn both side shafts the same direction and the yoke in the front should spin. It sounded like you said that when you tried to spin them both in the same direction they just wouldn't. Take the rear cover off and you should be able to see what took a crap on you. Sounds like you lost some teeth on the ring or the pinion most likely.

Geez, and I'm sitting here drooling over $85 propane heaters for my ~300 sq foot garage.

Ricer to me doesn't mean japanese car or Honda or any of that. It means a jackass who doesn't know WTF they're talking about walking around with a chip on their shoulder bragging about their shopping cart handle looking wing on the back and the huge amount of downforce it provides, or trying to convince me that 18" wheels and 20 series tires makes a Honda handle better. There was this 17 year old jackass I used to work with who had a STOCK Honda Civic DX with those lame $300 Nology wires and a cone filter and a fart pipe and a HUGE chip on his shoulder. One time he seriously RODE MY ASS and swerved back and forth behind me as we drove down the 25 mph street in the industrial complex. I swear I almost got in a fist fight with him over that. I told him that racing where there are 50 driveways and no visibility and people walking everywhere is a bad idea and FINALLY got him to agree to come to an autox, then he gets fired about a week before hand. That's OK, he probably wouldn't have gone anyhow. Of all the ricers I've ever tried to get out to an autox (probably at least 25 or 30 by now) only 1 has gone. And me and a couple of buddies took real good care of him, gave him rides, showed him the line, etc. He went home all happy and told all of his ricer friends how cool it was. He kept coming to races, his buddies were too chicken dodo to show up. Eventually stupidity overtook him and he bought one of those anime looking attack Honda body kits to turn his Honda into a "show car" and quickly found out that the guys winning the shows had $100,000 Hondas. I don't know what happened after that, but at least I respected him for going and racing and being willing to learn. His car actually handled OK too. Sorry for the rant but the most of the little bastards piss me off. I don't have any problem with the guy who builds a Honda because he wants a Honda. I have a problem with these "I'll race you in bumper to bumper traffic on a surface street" punks who don't know WTF they are talking about and walk around with something to prove.

The problem is finding enough people that want one. They are not legal under any class that the Z is open to except exhibition classes and classes that would allow motor swaps. So you're basically going to get people who want a really fast street car and people who want something "different". And when you're dealing with those people, then you have to answer the following question: why pay (just guessing) $7000 for a DOHC head when you can just drop in a V8 and have less weight and more hp. For that same $7K a LOT more power. Or for that kind of $$$ you can drop in a Supra DOHC 6 or an RB... It just doesn't make sense.

Bureau of Automotive Repair. I honestly don't know too much about it, but I know you need to have an actual business and I would assume some fairly hefty insurance to run an automotive shop. If you are caught doing the work without a license there is a pretty steep fine. Auto body shops have it especially bad. They now have to have huge evacuation systems with filters to get the paint fumes out of the building, etc. So when a guy starts an auto body shop in his garage that guy is REALLY illegal... It's not illegal to do a job here or a job there, just as it's not illegal to have a garage sale and not collect sales tax, etc. I don't know the exact line or when you've "crossed" it, but at some point it becomes an issue.

Plan on just getting one cam. I'm running a ZX 5 speed and just starting to deal with transmission problems (I broke my modified crossmember and the mainshaft nut backed off which makes it pop out of gear on decel) and I've got triples a cam, headers, high compression, and I've been running this trans for 45K through autoxing and multiple track days. I got this trans from an 80 ZX that had 150K on it, I think the trans was original. I am nice to my stuff though. What I'm saying is I don't think the trans is a weak point. Just that stupid main shaft nut. You might want to open your new trans up, make sure the nut is tight, then tack weld it in place. That's what I'm going to do when I rebuild mine. Stock clutch would probably be fine for right now, but if you do upgrade definitely go for something that is actually an upgrade like the ACT.

Wish that f'er had done more damage to himself. I can't believe that they actually make you watch a commercial to view the video.

I think the most I've EVER heard claimed out of the stock injection is 210 hp. Not sure why that is. Maybe the AFM is too big a restriction, maybe its the length of the runners... I don't know. Maybe there are people making a lot more power than I think and I just haven't run across them yet. Most I've ever heard claimed out of triples is 305hp and I've heard very unsubstantiated rumors of old 70's CP cars with 50mm carbs that had more like 350. Regardless of whether you judge on 305 or 350, it's a pretty big difference compared to 210. I'd really be curious to have an accurate number on how much the old GT2 and CP cars were making power wise... never been able to dig that info up. Bottom line is like Bastaad says the triples are a pain to tune compared to the FI. The good news is once you do it they really don't need much maintenance (Mikunis at least). Just a balance every now and then. I'm pretty sure you will have to do some modification to the linkage, since it's going to be set up for RHD. Might want to consider converting to a cable.

In theory I agree with this wholeheartedly. But I know of one instance where a mechanic did a side job of an engine swap in a BMW. Charged the customer $1500 IIRC. Customer provided the engine. When the job was done, the customer says "I'm not paying, and if you try to make me pay I'll turn you in to the BAR". As I said before, backyard mechanics are doing something that is ILLEGAL. If you want to argue that it should not be illegal, then that is a different argument, and we'd probably see more eye to eye on that one. I think there is a public safety issue here though, so I still don't know if I'd agree wholeheartedly. I do tend as you do towards the buyer beware side of things in that case. But to give an example of the other side of the argument, I don't see too many people arguing for backyard neurosurgery or backyard criminal defense attorneys. There are safety standards and we expect those standards to be met to perform the service. Peoples' lives are at risk when you work on their car. Seriously. Also, there are degrees of backyard mechanic. If I do a clutch job on my friend's Z on a weekend, that is a little different than a guy who makes his living working out of his garage. YES YES YES!!! I know several mechanics that left dealerships for independent shops because of the team system. F'in socialists...

I'm not trying to defend the guy doing the work, but if you're not used to seeing the steel lightweight flywheels and you aren't a high performance type of mechanic you might not notice. Typically the lightweight flywheels are aluminum with a steel insert and those are OBVIOUSLY not stock. If he keeps screwing you around on the tranny job, then yeah, find another shop. I'm pretty sure this is the one I have: http://www.advancedclutch.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=16&idproduct=950 I bought just the pressure plate, then bought a stock Nissan disk and throwout bearing and pilot bushing. Their kevlar disk looks fine (but $$$), I just don't like puck disks for streek use. What's the engine like on this car? Stock NA? Do you even need an upgraded clutch? For anything resembling stock you probably don't need it, and you'll just waste a couple hundred bucks buying crap you don't need.

Stock flywheel is ~25 lbs IIRC. AZC used to sell the HKS flywheels. Now they make their own; I have one and mine weighs 12 lbs. If I had the choice to make again I'd go with the Fidanza aluminum flywheel. Since you already have the HKS you're all set though... Centerforce blows IMO... I suggest ACT with a stock disk, stay away from the puck clutches, they chatter and are unnecessary unless you're pushing HUGE hp.

Clear case of digital throttle syndrome...

I think the Courtesy site is wrong on this one. Here's my understanding. All of the 260-280ZX's used the 10mm ring gear bolts. Somewhere in the middle of the Z31 production possibly in '86 they started using the 12mm bolts. All of the LSDs from Z31T have 12mm carriers. They were 87-89 models.

Corporate taxes are really a diversion by the Kerry campaign. Besides, he's proposed a one year tax "holiday" isn't that right? If you told me my business could move to CA and have a one year tax holiday (small scale example), I'd tell you to shove it. One year of low taxes is not worth the hassle for these giant corporations to move production facilities back to the US. They wouldn't even have the manufacturing plant designs done before the tax holiday was over. It's the WAGES that drive outsourcing. Kerry wants to increase the minimum wage and the union bosses could give his proctologist up to the minute reports. I don't think Kerry is going to be much help with respect to wages. No politician is. As Rage Against the Machine once said "F*** the G ride, I want the machines that are making em." To that end, help YOUR economy by buying stock in the "Evil Empire". That's my best suggestion. Or start your own business and outsource your own manufacturing needs and become a more integral part of the "Evil Empire". Some other ideas: get a job in the service industry or manufacture something that has a very small niche market that is relatively expensive so that it isn't profitable to move offshore.

All right, so he's an ambulance chaser. Knock him down one notch... ah crap, I guess I've run outta notches...

There IS NO NEW TAX BREAK TO COMPANIES FROM BUSH TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEND JOBS ELSEWHERE. That is a lie. Companies compete in the free market and the US has SUCH A HIGH RATE ON CORPORATE TAXES, THAT IT BECOMES EASIER TO COMPETE OVERSEAS. If we LOWER taxes that means the PENALTY for doing business in the US is reduced: This is from the http://www.factcheck.org webpage I linked to previously:

I have no college degree, you make up your own mind about my intelligence or lack thereof . I have skills enough in that I've worked as a mechanic for some years, but that's not what I do now, so the specialized skills that I do have aren't currently helping me. Bottom line for me is that I refuse to believe that there is no work to be done. If you can't get hired by someone else or if you just hate working for someone else like I did, then start your own business and be your own boss. I'm not rich and I'm not poor, and my lack of wealth is not anyone's fault but mine. As to the rest of your complaints about outsourcing, etc. I can only suggest you read this: http://www.factcheck.org/article225.html

No not a joke. If you want to bitch about ambulance chasers, that's one thing, but do you know what kind of attorney he was? I don't. He could have been a patent law attorney. Damn patent law attorneys!!! Always... investigating the feasability of a new patent... and... stuff. He could have been a business attorney. Damn business law attorneys!!! Always... writing up contracts so that... uh... businesses can deal... with... other businesses... I can keep going here. Let's not demonize ALL attorneys.

I checked the price of the clutches... just the clutches. $390. $30 EACH. Cheaper to buy a new one then to fill that one up. No special tools are required to open one up and change it around.

Valve stem seal leaking oil into that one???

They may not be Republicans, but they're definitely Illuminati, right Kevin? http://www.freedomfiles.org/Illuminati/cfr-article.htm

I agree Bill. Anyone else starting to get a little irritated when people point out a successful business as a LIABILITY for a candidate? Should Cheney be ashamed of his prestigious job at Halliburton? Should Heinz-Kerry be ashamed of being the ketchup heiress? Should Edwards be ashamed of being a successful attorney? It was a big deal for Perot too, back in 92. Can't vote for him, he's a self-made millionaire! Seems to me someone with a little business sense might be helpful...

REALLY? http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx@docID=225.html

I like his other quote: "The power to tax is the power to destroy" but that's just my preference... If you're a factory worker and you lose your job, get another f'in job. If you don't like working at MacDonalds, get a better job. If you have to go to community college, go to community college. If you can't bring yourself to better yourself and your job skills, then shut up and flip that burger. It's not the govt's job to fix that problem for you.BTW--anyone else tried those "chicken selects"? It's like they "selected" the ass of the chicken. I've known several self-made millionaires. None of them had government sponsored business training of any kind aside from their public education. One made millions then went bankrupt. Less than 10 years later he was making 40 million a year. No govt help. One started in his garage doing side jobs for buddies 4 wheelin rigs. Now he has millions in inventory in his warehouse. One went door to door at businesses selling credit card terminals and credit card processing. None waited for anyone else to hand them a better job, or bothered to bitch at the govt when they were unhappy with the job they had. AG, it's kinda funny how you don't mind outsourcing pharmacists' jobs to Canada... what are those poor pharmacists going to do? Maybe they can get a McJob ...personally I don't mind either type of outsourcing.

Runout is when the rim isn't straight. Basically a bent rim. I can say that my Paulsen steel wheels LOOK like they have a whole lot of runout, but they run true. The outer lip is not uniform, but the inner one where the tire sits in the rim is. Not sure if that is the cause of the rumors, but my steelies are fine.