RebekahsZ

I was pricing some parts to sell on ebay and stumbled across this billet rear crossmember. I have long been frustrated with how wide the stock crossmember is, and how difficult it is to get around it to torque the driveshaft. This looks narrower and I was thinking about getting one. Anybody have an opinion or any experience with this product? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=151105006500&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Lord, it has been 5 or so years. I think I got it from Advance Auto or AutoZone at the time. The big end of the inner tie rod has the same direction threads on either side; it is the threads on the small portion that are either left or right hand thread depending on which side you get. That is why you have to buy a new outer tie rod at the same time.

At one point I could only find inner tie rods for one side (either right or left-can't recall). Anyway, if that is still the case, you can use the same inner tie rod on both sides, but you have to get an outer tie rod to go with it. Only draw back is that the grease zerk is backwards, but you gotta pull a wheel to grease it anyway. I hope both sides aren't NLA!?

I understand about your plan, but with a helmet, running hard at rpm, I can't hear my external fuel pump.

Thanks fellas-PM sent

There is no detectable thickness difference between the different colored areas. Since it is stopping fine, I'm gonna blow it off. Thanks for all the insight.

Timeslips added to original posting.

One of my buddies saw this LS-powered, solid axle car at the Honest Charlie's show at Chattanooga on 9/7/13. Anybody claim it or know the owner?

26 more trouble free timeslips. Finally found some traction at 13psi in the slicks, Tokicos on setting 1, and great track prep and lots of VHT. Best 60' of 1.43, best ET was 6.96, tying my best from the spring. Started night with 2-step at 3500, poor traction, down to 3000. Late in the night found traction after relatively systematic trial and error and the track prep team constantly working on the track (three trips down the track with the sprayer throughout the night). Was able to progressively increase two step as traction improved to 4500 and did last three runs with that. Water box man helped me with burnout-peeling of tread was from insufficient burnout (they have a great water box). Used my skinny radials instead of bias ply front runners (experimenting) and car went straight except when I dropped tire pressure to 11psi, at which point, the car liked to turn hard to the left in third gear when the cam comes on. Back up to 13 and all was well. Seems the bias ply myth is a myth after all. On my car, the Hoosiers are definitely more stable than the MTs. Also, running out of gear with the 26" slicks again. I think that is why my mph are low. Hitting rev limiter just before traps. Next slicks will be 27". All for now. Timeslips tomorrow-does anybody enjoy those, or is it stupid for me to chart them? Eager to do some 1/4-mile. I think the car will dip into 10s. Timeslips .500 tree; this track displays reaction time from that, so a 0.000 is the same as a 0.500 at other tracks # Hour Rxn 60' ET mph Comments 1 7:33 .048 1.566 7.32 94 solo 2 7:37 -.027 1.573 7.20 98 solo, red light 3 7:46 .063 1.576 7.32 98 solo 4 8:21 -.012 1.541 7.54 80 solo, red light, then missed third gear 5 8:27 .071 1.646 7.31 98 solo 6 8:34 .037 1.540 7.10 98 solo 7 8:41 .034 1.525 7.08 98 solo 8 8:50 .082 1.569 7.10 98 solo 9 9:04 .013 1.609 7.34 97 win over stock mustang GT auto, I shifted late on 2d and 3d gears 10 9:20 -.007 1.571 7.11 98 solo, red light 11 9:27 -.022 1.521 7.12 98 solo, red light 12 9:36 -.003 1.561 7.10 98 red light, lose to 6spd Mustang GT500 S/C modified for drag racing; ran 1.41 60' and a 6.64 ET-fun race! 13 9:39 -.093 1.529 7.06 98 solo, red light 14 9:42 .054 1.26? 7.08 98 lose to nitroused mustang with a 1.36 60' and a 6.6 ET, moth must have flown across my 60' beam 15 10:00 -.078 1.565 7.15 98 red light, other car ran 7.6 16 10:06 -.042 1.515 7.23 96 red light, other car ran 9.8, but I red lighted and shifted late 17 10:23 -.119 1.549 7.15 98 solo, red light-with better traction, I'm red lighting more, but am tending to roll deep into second light too. 18 10:33 .071 1.530 7.13 98 solo 19 10:56 .247 1.503 7.14 98 win over Mustang, he requested Pro-tree. 20 11:11 .217 1.484 7.03 98 lose to same S/C GT500 which ran a 1.44 60' and a 6.79 ET-good race, Pro-tree. 21 11:26 -.016 1.477 7.08 98 red light against 7.50 car 22 11:31 .219 1.457 7.02 98 lose to 5.82 nitroused mustang that had a .072 Pro-tree reaction and a 1.22 60' 23 11:35 -.002 1.490 7.12 98 solo, red light, but best light of the night. 24 11:48 .047 1.447 7.00 98 win over 7.50 mustang 25 11:54 .094 1.438 7.02 98 win over 6.97 LS a/t NOS Camaro who didn't spray on that run-beat him off line and to 60' to beat faster car! 26 12:00 .050 1.457 6.96 98 win over 8.41 mustang A good night, overall, but not happy with my tree work, but it was great to have traction. Temperatures dropped late in night, but humidity was very high-everything in my truck bed was soaking like it had rained. I think mph would be more like 100 if I weren't hitting rev limiter just before the beams at the finish line. Time to go get car off trailer and put the street tires back on. Gonna drive to work this week if it is sunny.

Ah, a fuel cell hangin low is bad ass!

I'm looking at that pretty2+2, liking the big car for the first time. That car is just RIGHT. It also occurred to me that the proportions of a 2+2 are better than a coupe for making a roadster. Very cool car.

Temerity- English major? I'm betting literature....

I cannot come this year, but please consider me for future gatherings. Schools scheduled a long weekend for that date and I will be doing some family stuff. Would get thrown out anyway for lack of safety equipment. Will try to get that tidied up so perhaps I can come and run next year.

As usual, johnc is correct. I'm just imagining what a huge pita it will be to have to reassemble the suspension to just get the car moved from its current location to a reputable shop. I think I would seek some compromise. The $800 he quoted is more than fair.

Was your mustang IRS? 400hp/435tq at wheels. Driving to work for fifth time this week.

I modified a stock tank for an internal sump. Actually I paid someone to do it. Works great-no fuel starvation down to empty even at drags. But, I wish I had cut out spare and done a cell. Just simpler in the end. Gives room for dual exhaust, second fuel pick up for future nitrous system and redundant fuel pump. .

Replaced starter, wrapped starter, wrapped head pipe that passes under it. Will see how it does Saturday. Thanks everybody.

Yeah, I would love to do a straight line speed thing, but I'm afraid to subject my chassis to salt.

Last year I went 11.0 and I'm a better driver now. We plan a trip back for 1/4 before cold sets in but when temps drop. I'd really like a 10.999999 1/4- mile. Late night temps are dropping to 60s this week and we are planning to go to the stickiest track in the area Sat night. Broke into 6s in the 1/8 at this track on the spring before it got hot. Also, same track that has broken my driveshaft. Sticky track has its drawbacks.

Yes, johnc. Same on both sides. No noises at all. From the driver seat, all seems well. All four wheels are the same. Will try to mic it when I swap from streets to slicks on Saturday. I was there when the rotors were turned and I personally scuffed them a bit with sand paper on a block before installing. Car stops fine from 100mph. Weird.

Yeah, even WITH a muffler (borla XR1), I have been getting sound warnings. It is the SCCA and ascot set mostly, but they are really just trying to keep their tracks open in communities that are trying to squeeze them out with sound complaints. The drag racing guys don't really care because the venues are further out in the woods. You just tell them you have a muffler and it is good to go-they aren't checking decibels. But, there is no reason why you couldn't try to fit a muffler in there, even a short one. They make a very short little bullet muffler that would answer the question (but it doesn't quiet the car-just meets the requirement of HAVING a muffler. There is room in the back of the fender for a muffler if you put your mind to it. Also, you could do cut-outs to have the best of both worlds. If you have wanted fender exhaust for years, there is NO reason why you shouldn't have it. These cars have very little value to anyone but us, so go crazy and have fun. What kind of racing are you hoping to do?

No. I have solid, un-vented rotors.

Here is what I would do (I think). Carefully cut out what you have welded in now. Take one of the plates and trace it out oversize on a piece of manila folder. Then, add a 1/4" or so (what ever is needed) to make them have a larger outer border, keeping the inside slots the same. I don't know if that makes sense, but take your template to a place that does either plasma cutting or water jet cutting (I think this leaves a cleaner edge). Basically have a larger set of camber plates made to overlap the excessively large holes in your towers. Around here you could have them cut out in a day or two. Spend time researching folks to do your setup and welding and have somebody come over and redo it correctly. I would guess that it will cost about $100 to have the plasma cutting done. You need to join a local car club and I mooch off them a lot. I hang with the local Cobra replica club. They have members who are machinists, welders, and electricians. Just about any trade you might need. The corvette and mustang clubs around here are no good for anything but waxing paint. But, the street rod clubs are pretty good at sharing expertise. Go to the local drag strip and ask around. Look for the old, retired looking guys. Usually these guys love to help a guy out of a jam, for free! So start networking. You might also want to find another Z to take measurements from so that you can do some extra marking before you start cutting. You need reference points to get lined back up. I know you were hoping to just farm this out to somebody, but it wasn't meant to be. Now you get to learn something new! Get excited!

Only if they check. We should all relax a bit before we all start speaking Syrian and praying facing to the east four times a day. I ran a Tupperware container as a tail light for three years in high school and I never got pulled over. The safety inspector even signed off on it. What kind of "track" for the track car? Many road race tracks and autocross facilities have strict sound limits now. Some drag strips allow headers till a certain hour, then mufflers until closing time. So, have a contingency plan to make the car quiet if you have to.

What's the cooling path pattern?