wheelman

I've worked out a deal with Sean73 for his rear cylinders. The ones he has are brand new and include the other brake drum hardware. His are both for the right wheel but the only difference between the left and right is the parking brake lever and ratchet which I'll pull from the one already installed on my left wheel so I'm good. So now Matman's are up for grabs, I asked him to post the pictures even though I already found a set so anyone who wants them can check them out. Wheelman

I don't think there's a season on newbies, they are always fair game once they've been told to use the search function once. There is a difference between asking a legit question and spouting a bunch of nonsense though and we shouldn't have to tell them to use the search, but how many of you read the rules before posting for the first time? I know I hardly ever read the manual before giving something a try at least once to see if I can release the mystic smoke. Wheelman

I've had the same experince on LS1TECH.COM. Some decent info but very hard to get a real answer in the tuning forum and the LT1/LT4 forum is all about which exhaust sounds better and who has the fastest LT1. Mostly useless info. I do get a chuckle out of the street racing forum on there though, some real interesting stories. I wrote one in there one time about racing my welder across the garage in my Z while it was still on jackstands. Went right past all of them. Zcar.com is a waste of time. Turbobricks.com is a bit snooty but has some good info. Hard to get an answer but when you do it's generally good info. Wheelman

MatMan, Please post the pictures, it sounds like I'm not the only one that might be interested in a set. I might be picking up a set from Sean73 except that both of his are for the same side and I haven't compared the picture he sent me to the ones on my car to see if they are the correct side. If Sean73s are the wrong side I might take a set from you but I want first dibs on the best set you have. Wheelman

Gross HP vs Net HP is has to do with whether the power is rated with the accessories attached or not. Gross is with no accessories and Net is with but does not reflect wheel HP but Flywheel HP. Wheelman

I just blew the right rear brake cylinder on my 240. I'd rebuilt it but both rears were full of crystallized gunk when I got the car and I had a heck of a time getting the pistons out. Honed the cylinders, cleaned up the pistons and installed new rubber seals in both left and right cylinders. Now the right one has blown the seals, I guess there was just to much damage (pitting and such) from all the moisture that had been in the system. Does anyone have a decent set of rear brake cylinders that will fit a 1973 240 that you'd be willing to part with for a decent price? I checked Victoria British and MSA, they both want about $75.00 each for them, which I guess isn't to bad but I'm cheap and would like to find a set for less if possible. I would also like to eventually upgrade to rear disks but don't have the cash right now and really can't justify it as my car is mainly street driven with plans to do a little Auto-X next season. Also, I think I know the answer to this but I'm going to ask anyway. The shoes have been pretty thoroughly soaked with brake fluid, will this destroy them? Wheelman

Reminds me of the Renault R5 Turbo II. $42,500 for a one off Festiva is a bit tough to swallow no matter how fast it is. Wheelman

WA state's reasoning for the law against picking up roadkill is that it would encourage those folks who would pick it up to go "hunting with thier cars" so-to-speak if it were legal. Not sure this really makes sense but I know I would never pick up road kill unless I was the one who did the killing and could dress it out right then. I witnessed a couple "rocket scientists" in Sacramento one day trying to get a deer that had survived an encounter with a car into the back of their truck. I can't remember the name of the street (either Sunset or Hazel) but it's the one that goes down the hill to Lake Natomas. It's a very busy 4 lane street with not much shoulder and these guys had stopped during heavy traffic to get this deer. Fortunately no-one got hurt, as far as I know, but they caused a lot of congestion because of where they stopped and what they were doing. Just another reason to make collecting roadkill illegal. Wheelman

I've often thought about doing this same thing, but in WA state it's illegal and the road I was on has quite a bit of traffic. I was returning from a hunting trip so had the 30-06, good sharp knife and my 9mm to dispatch it with but it was just not a option. Also, have you ever seen bruised meat from a collision like we're discussing? The deer I hit was a real mess after the truck got done with it, not very appetizing. Wheelman

I hit a deer several years ago between Waitsburg and Prescott Washington. The country side is rolling wheat fields and is full of deer. I was heading home early from a hunting trip (didn't get my deer that year) due to health problems and came around a long sweeper with a cut bank on the right that was divided by several large gullies. As I rounded the curve and crested a small rise I saw about a dozen deer in the road. The speed limit is 65 and it's a newer 2 lane so I was moving pretty good but managed to slow down to about 35 and move to the center of the highway as it looked like the herd was splitting with some going up a gully and some into a field on the opposite side. Just as I was passing through the group 1 deer decides to make a break for it and join the group on the opposite side of the road. I caught it with the right corner of my truck bumper and drug it for about 25 yards, it then fell and went under the tires. Didn't do much damage to my truck, a testament to how tough the Ford Ranger is, but makes you feel sick. It's one thing to shoot one and get to take it home and eat it, but to run one over and have to leave it for the scavengers just plain sucks. I'm now much more careful while driving the roads around here, the herds have grown in size because of the over restrictive hunting regs and are a real hazard on the highways. Wheelman

I was given a 1985 Volvo 245 wagon not long ago (It's the first year with the square headlights). It has 300K+ miles on it but to look at it you couldn't tell. When I got it the timing belt was gone (thats why I got it free), $40.00 for a new one and some seals and $60.00 to tow it home and it's running. It idles good and has good throttle response but pings when under load. I think if I change the fuel filter and run some injector cleaner through it it will help alot. I also need to replace the back window as some local hooligans had broken it out in retaliation for a call to the cops one night by the prior owner. In the research I did on these (the 245s specifically) I found that they go through front brake pads/rotors very quickly, the motor and tranny mounts are another problem area. The mounts are designed to tear away in a collision so they are pretty soft and wear out after enough miles. Fortunately for me the mounts have already been replaced on my car. Once I get the rear window replaced I'm going to sell it as I don't need another project and my daughter (just turned 16) doesn't like and won't drive it. I like the 242s and 244s and had seriously thought about doing a +turbo conversion on the 245 I have but would rather spend my money and time on the Z. Check out brickboard.com and turbobricks.com for some good info. Wheelman

I've had similar experiences in my local part store. I went in looking for some parts, can't remember exactly what right now, but went through the "engine is from this, tranny from that, rear end from this other car" recitation and got a lecture about how it was anathema to put a chevy motor in a datsun. It's a car for gods sake and my modifying it to fit my tastes has no impact on the well being of anyone but me. I promptly told the guy where he could put his attitude and asked to work with a different parts counter guy. I still do business there because it's one of the better parts stores in town but I will not take advice from anyone in there, I go in tell them what I want and then leave. I guess I've realized I have as much if not more knowledge about what I'm going than the guy behind the counter so I don't even ask anymore. If they are curious then I'll talk but when they start telling me how to do something I turn it off, not the best attitude I know but I've gotten bad info or advice to many times. Wheelman

Loose the smart ones to zcar.com, isn't that a contradiction in itself???? The search could use some improvement but I think Mikelly put it best. Let them Eat cake!! Wheelman

If you are very organized and don't fall into the "While I'm at it trap" it can be done in your time frame. I also think that 1 hour to pull the 6 cylinder is optimitistic. You don't just want to go in cutting wires and hoses because when it comes time to hook it back up you will have to trace everything out to get it wired right. As you unhook things label every one with some sort of tag and do the same with all the nuts and bolts but put them in large ziplock freezer bags. You will need two bays, one for the car and the other for the new drivetrain, will the MWR garage allow you do do this? If not better make some other arrangements. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Wheelman

240PlayToy It just occurred to me to ask if you are running power steering? If so what rack did you use and how did you mount it to the crossmember. Wheelman

I must have missed that thread. Very nice work on all her cars. Wheelman

Check out this thread on Grassroots Motorsport site. Daytona Z kit car with BMW V12. http://www.grmotorsports.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=11869 Wheelman

Pete, I'll definitely look you up. My wife and I plan on making as many trips to visit as we can, there are a million things to do and see there. I also think those "Yes Sir" habits are going to last longer for him than they did for me. My understanding of his tech school is that it's a lot like basic except centers on dress, ceremony and discipline rather than just learning how to follow orders and pay attention. Daren, What branch are you in? Wheelman

It looks to me like it might be 1/2" or more outboard than the alternator but looking at my engine bay I think it would still fit. If you're using the JTR position the engine sits 1" offset to the right which provides more clearance on the left and the engine torque rotates the engine toward the right as well. I'm positive it will fit right to left and should easily clear the hood. The only I didn't like is the closeness of the belt to itself on each side. Wheelman

On Sept 2nd my son Derek graduated from Airforce basic training. My wife and I were able to go down for the ceremony and had a very good visit with him. He was a dramatically different young man and I'm impressed. He's always been a good kid but like most teenagers these days was a bit disrespectful of the older generation. That has all changed, everyhting was yes sir, yes mam, please and thank you. He also carried himself with much more confidence and in a way that presetns a very positive pipcture. I know most of the change is temporary and he'll return to his old self sort of, but it was still good to see him so much more mature than when he left. It was a bit of step back into history for me as well, I went through basic at Lackland back in 1985. When we toured the dorms it gave me the willies and everytime I heard the TI's taps on his shoes I started looking around and trying to figure out if I was screwing up in some way. Old habits never die and the things you learn in basic never really go away. Being around all the military personel and the base made me wish I'd stayed in, I would have retired with 20 this last June if I had. Derek was supposed to go to Keesler (which was wiped out by Katrina) for tech school but was held at Lackland while they figure out what to do. In the mean time Derek was very intrigued by the honor guard at the graduation ceremony and asked me several questions about it. I told him that each base has an honor guard detail that is a voluntary thing and if he was interested he should check into it once he finished tech school. Well he went to a briefing concerning the plans for tech school and was told he could choose a different job if he wanted or wait for his school. The list of available jobs included a posting to the Presidential Honor Guard which he applied for and was accepted. So now he'll be going to Andrews AFB on Sept 26th and spend 8 weeks learning the dress and ceremonies and other things I'm not privy to. The posting is a minimum of 2 years and then he can choose to remain part of the Honor Guard or cross train to whatever he wants. He's very excited about it. When he told me I was surprised that he'd applied but not that he'd been accepted. This post has gotten long enough and I have to get back to work but I thought I'd share this good news with my HybridZ family. Wheelman

I replaced mine with 3/8" feed and 5/16" return but routed them down the tunnel in basically the same location as the stock lines until they entered the engine bay then re-routed along the firewall to feed my LT1 fuel rails. The connection points are at the back of the engine. I used stainless brake line from NAPA with short lengths of high pressure rubber at each end with AN fittings. I'd replace your stock lines to provide more capacity and eliminate the old corroded lines. Wheelman

Very good advice. Be sure it's yours, then do the right thing for the kid. Don't listen to those who tell you it's all about you, the kid is the only one in the scenario that had no choice in the matter, so make it right by the kid no matter how much it hurts. BTW: A kid does not mean the end of the world. I have 2 children and love them both to death. They are the best things that ever happened to me and I wouldn't change a thing about my life. I didn't become a father in the same situation you did but that doesn't matter, kids are awesome. Wheelman

A couple more questions you should ask yourself are: 1. How much HP/Torque am I wanting? Saying a V8 has to much and then wanting an RB25DET or an L28ET makes no sense. Both of the turbo engines will produce as much HP/Torque as a very mild V8 and be much more finicky. 2. What do you want to do with the car? Daily driver, Auto-X, Road Race, Drag Race, combination of all, etc... 3. How much are you willing to fiddle with it to get it and keep it running correctly? V8 = very easy setup, turbo motors = touchy and more difficult to tune. 4. Is $5000.00 the total allowed budget or just short term available cash? 5. How much other work will be done during the upgrade? Suspension, brakes, body work, interior, etc... Do some soul searching, be honest with yourself about what you want and then proceed with realistic goals. Any one of the listed engine/tranny combos can be used for $5000.00 if the project is considered a long term deal and more money will be available in the future. If $5000.00 is the total allowed then I'd go with a basically stock SBC/WC T-5 and have enough power with very good reliability. I went with the LT1/T-5 for this reason and am very happy with the results. Mine puts out somewhere around 300HP and is not to much, in fact I'm starting to want more already and the project isn't complete yet. The skinny petal on the right can control the power output, just don't press it to the floor and the tires won't disappear in a cloud of smoke. Wheelman

Has a look very reminiscient of a Ferrari Dino 246 GT. Wheelman

This is exactly what's going on in the market where I live. Many developers have moved in and are building very low priced houses and cutting into the rest of the market. I own a rental house and a 4-plex which I'm now forced to lower the rents on in order to compete with the new cheap (in more ways than one) housing. Be very careful about purchasing a house right now. I think the market is about ready to either platue or contract which will cause home values to stagnate at best and fall at worst. If I were in Bart or Tim's situation I'd get out while the gettins good, sell and move to another area where I can get a comparable house at a much lower price and invest the rest. Anyway to comment on the real question about appraisers. It sounds like your house has no comps in the local area which forces the appraiser to be conservative in their "guess" of the house value and in a volatile market they are more conservative as well so you have 2 things working against you. Wheelman