240Z2NV

"Dragging" and "Top End Speed" are opposite ends of the spectrum...you get one or the other, or compromise in the middle.

You can shave your "coilover" budget down. They aren't nearly that expensive.....

I believe that the hood was the same beginning in '82 or '83....as stated, they just used leftovers because the new generation was coming in '84.

It is generally referred to as a NACA duct. It is the triangular piece toward the front of the car, as part of the driver's side only vent piece. Type in "280ZX Turbo Hood" on eBay, and you should see the difference.

This book is LOADED with all of the info you could possibly need: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7969051217&category=34214

Owen, I don't know where you find all of this great info.! Although it doesn't provide any use for ME, it is great stuff!!

I like John's mechanic friends' idea about sorting by frequency of use clustered for the job. AND, I know that you (Grumpyvette) do ALOT of jobs based upon your wealth of knowledge. I have three very tall three-tier set-ups. I feel that it is really well set up WHEN I'M NOT AFFLICTED WITH TIM'S DISORDER (pun on the dis-order!). I don't do enough automotive tasks repeatedly enough to sort by job. I do have one 13 drawer cabinet for SAE, one for metric, and one everything else. Then I have another five drawer cabinet for 'specialty' stuff.

I was at the Pick-n-Pull the other day and couldn't believe it when I saw a virtually complete Opel GT tucked back along the fence in the last row. I was sort of said, this 'rose amongst thorns'. Couldn't believe how complete it was....and even shiny! All of the other carcasses around it made it look even nicer! I'm not that into them; but, I did appreciate how nice it looked sitting there in the 'boneyard'.

The Q45 diff has 3.54:1, so be mindful. It won't be as 'fun' for dragging; but, I believe better all around for driving freeways, etc. ...especially with gas prices :~(

Of all of the things that I've had to 'fab' for this project, the front diff mount was BY FAR the easiest........

Beautiful!!! Please list the source of the parts, those prices are pretty good! Also, where did you get the 'saddle' end that goes closest to the firewall?

Awh, I'm so disappointed! NONE of you Q45 R200 or 300ZXTT R230 guys running a rear sway bar?! You're not trying to keep your 'engineering' a secret are you?

Infiniti Q45 R200s are VLSD, basically as stout as an R230 from a 300ZXTT, and much more plentiful. Do search for "Q45" as well, PLENTY to read. Many 400 hp Zs have used Q45 diff with great success. The R230 is bigger (case), and has different ratios, otherwise they are the same in terms of benefit. EvilC, where are you located?

Wow, very surprising! I thought Couture would have a better showing. I guess that those 'haymakers' are what gets Liddell so much success. Seeing that it was another example of many pay-per-view fights that end very quickly, I'm not terribly disappointed that I didn't spend the $$. Good for Liddell, the new champion, too bad for Couture. Guess I have alot to learn in following the UFC. Both of 'my guys' (Couture & Shamrock) had very poor showings.....

Don't know if this is the right forum, or should it be 'drivetrain' ? Anyway, I was at the jy today, crawling under a bunch of Zs. I pulled a fat rear sway bar from a 280ZXT, and held it up to the underside of a 260Z (no 240s). Tried to get an idea if it would fit my 240 w/ Q45 R200. I know it was a little wide; but, I think that I could have it sectioned and rewelded. Just trying to get input here. Initially I was going to run without a rear because I don't think that I'll need one with all of the other chassis stiffening; however, there is such a huge variety available at my P-n-P, I thought what the hell. Terry fabbed up a rear bar from another car's front; but, we were never able to ascertain which car it came from. I hid a couple of prospects in a van until I can get a better idea of whether it's doable or not. Any input is welcome....thanks!

So, who won??!!

Panasports can be custom ordered, as well. Fitment will be perfect without needing to have adaptors, and they will probably run around the same as CCWs. Don't know how big they go, though...was thinking 17x10. A local guy got some with graphite centers, polished lips, and rivets. They are extremely impressive...though rims are pretty subjective.

50mm is going to be one monster spacer! I would certainly expect that the cost would be no where near that for units that he already has in production, and has spec'd out. He (or any other machinist) is going to have to engineer the spacers, it isn't just a push of a button. Bottomline, I would expect them to be pricey; but, if you're getting a screamin' deal on the wheels, it pretty much evens things out. My .015 worth

Couture.......Liddell is one bad dude; but, Couture is ....."The Natural"! Then again, I NEVER thought Ken Shamrock would get taken out in two minutes by the newcomer...even if he is ten years younger! Ken Shamrock was truly the natural...."was" being the operative word. I really think that his orthopedic problems weren't 'fixed' as much as the commentators thought, because he went down both times while on one leg trying a kick. They way he fell seemed so pathetic. He had a killer leg hold on the guy, and looked as if he would snap the guy's ankle off; but, the 'youngster' took it. Pretty impressive, to say the least (of the 'youngster'. It was hard to see the 'oldtimer' look way, on the ground, not defending himself at the end, in this sport he was essentially 'my guy'.

I've never seen that mag, even at the bookstores. Can you scan a pic of the cover or article? I'd love to see it! Congrats.....

Just about every manufacturer posts recommended rim widths for their tires. You will be VERY hard pressed to find any that note 245s on 10" are acceptable. The first time that the sidewall is pushed in cornering, you'll likely blow the bead. Besides, it will totally look like a lowrider.....but, that's a sidenote. I think that it is a VERY big gamble that could have huge consequences. Either get some inexpensive wheels to fit the tires on for temporary use or vice versa (inexpensive tires to fit on the 10" rims). The fact that it is intended for track use makes it even more critical to have proper fitment. 245mm tires are just shy of 10mm NARROWER than your rim! The tire should NEVER be narrower than the rim.....

johnC, I respect you a great deal..so I throw out this follow-up question to your last post on this thread. Do you think that all aftermarket/custom 'adjustable suspension' measures are overkill for street driven Zs? Thanks...sorry if this seems like a hijacking.

I'm shopping for the rotors for my front upgrade. I am considering the EBC dimpled rotors, and the Powerslot rotors...as well as smooth vented rotors (Brembo). I am just a bit too uncomfortable with the 'possibility' of cracking with drilled rotors...and I don't think that I am terribly concerned about bling factor. Thoughts are very welcome.....did search under "EBC" (which is my primary consideration) and only got threads about pads.

I had a rep from AFCO on the line for a long time today. I linked him up to this thread so that we could discuss the different options 'realtime'. He was very generous with his time and gave me some good feedback (about half of which I understood; but, I was too proud to say "Huh?"). The reason that the 'hockey stick' end is often referred to as a "Ford Rod End" is that they originally used Ford Falcon ends for this type of application for race car chassis in the 'early days'. In fact, AFCO has a piece derived from that design that acts as an adjustable lower control arm: http://www.secureperformanceorder.com/afcostore/getproduct.cfm?CategoryID=8&ClassID=98&SubclassID=458&ProductID=637 I couldn't get clear on what mods would be necessary to make this substitute for our LCAs; but, he felt it a good alternative to the adjustable lower control arms that I 'led' him to on 'our' site after I got him here. Again, it was pretty cool having him on the other line and emailing him links (even all the way back to Mike Kelly's original design) and discussing them 'realtime'. In the larger picture, I think that the cumulative genius on this site far exceeds this individual from AFCO, but, he was still very helpful. He suggested that for my 'simpleton skills' that I take the 'hockey stick' end of the OE TC Rod, cut about 5-6" off, have that threaded to go into a 5/8" swaged steel tube with a heavy duty rod end on the frame end. The part that he couldn't advise me on was the "U Bracket" or shock mount tab that connects it to the frame location (I'm maintaining my stock mount). He felt that a "Shock Mount Tab" like the one that I 'led' him to on Race Basics' site would NOT be strong enough. He pointed out that they are not intended for the types of loads that will regularly be seen at the TC Rod. So, it remains to be determined where to find a suitable 'mount' like that shown in buZy's post with the red tubed assembly. Once I find that, I think that I will be set for the "TC Rod mod"...that 'U mount' will enable me to use the OE rubber TC bushings to reduce ride harshness. Then, I will need to continue to lament whether or not to do the "LCA mod". He shared my admiration for Ron Cs monoball insert design; but concurred that it was WAY out of my abilities...

Battle Pope, It's a timing thing...I had some flawless black leather 300ZX seats that I sold about a month ago. Had them in the classifieds here; but, I don't think that people use that forum much anymore.... Try http://www.craigslist.org for your area. Also, put them on your eBay search preferences...