240Z2NV

Thanks for indulging me. Sorry I'm so dense. I'd like to continue our 'discussion' off-forum so as not to put the rest of the community to sleep...but, I do still have some unresolved questions. I will PM you a pic of my R230, and Tim's transverse link design that I copied.

Thanks. Actually, I had only looked at Terry's very thorough website. LOTS of great ideas!! Anyway, in answer to your question, I was planning on following Terry's design (in steel, because I don't know how to mig aluminum) IF I can figure out how to accomodate an R230...... Thanks! Stan

Again, my apologies for being ignorant; but, I think that I get the transverse link part of the design, however it seems from the picture that the 'plate' is one-in-the-same as this assembly. Am I not seeing the pics properly? Is the diff mounted to a completely different piece? If it is rigidly mounted, is that an improvement over the original configuration? Your website is extremely helpful; but, before I start cutting and welding pieces, I'd like to know that I am clear on my interpretations. If you could, please touch on all of the questions raised in the previous post (e.g. reinforcing the frame at the mounting points of the vertical supports). Thanks! post edit. I have looked at he pics again. So, the rear diff mount, and this piece with the 'wings' etc. are two separate pieces....?

Call around and inquire about Stated Value policies. Some companies won't require an appraisal. The collectors car insurance companies ("Specialty Car") seem to be better. No question, your age is going to be the big problem. Might have a guardian insure it as a primary driver and list you as a 'possible' or secondary driver. FWIW

I'm fascinated by this great solution to adjusting rear toe. I think I missed it somewhere in the dialogue...since this design essentially replaces the moustache bar, does the entire piece mount directly to car skeleton without bushings? That would make the differential a 'rigid mount' (for you Harley guys), right? Does this make the diff. 'clunk' in any way with high hp V8? Any added stress with rigidly mounting? Should I try to figure reinforcing that part of the skeleton? OR, am I all 'wet', and missed mention of bushing placement? Thanks! I'm going online and trying to source good Heim joints to make the 'turnbuckle'. Was the size posted? Last, do you think that this great design will work with R230-type case (from Infiniti Q45)? Thanks again!

Hello, not sure if this is correct forum, if not, Administrators please move it. I will be running Autometer Phantom gauges (white face), and am considering either Blue or Red backlighting bulb 'covers'. Have any of you used colored covers? Any thoughts on aesthetics? Visibility, especially at night? Thanks in advance for any input.......

Leaving an 'unsealed' car under a non-breathing tarp might not be the best idea. You could get mold forming in the open 'pores' of the primer, and have many problems when time comes to topcoat it. I'd suggest a very good quality breathable (Technalon-type) car cover. You didn't ask for my .02; but, I thought a word of caution would be okay.... Glad you got such a great deal on the prep!

Mike, Maybe this site will have some components that will be helpful. I was skimming through their catalog, and saw some hardware that I hope could be useful.... http://www.bsrproducts.com/homepage.cfm Stan

First, let me say that I have NO affiliation with this store or any subsidiaries. I was in Pep Boys to pick up some things and saw that they have a Two Ton Folding Engine Hoist for $119.99! I just bought one from an independent supplier for $180 delivered and thought it was a decent deal. Pep Boys has always had crappy service; but, they are convenient and their prices are usually pretty even with the economy parts stores. So, if you take their printed flyer to, say Kragen's, then you can get it for $108 on their 10% off competitiors deal...and that's a STEAL! Even if you only use it a couple of times, then sell it for half or more, you're way ahead. Just wanted to pass it along in case any of you are considering the purchase......

Sure wish I had an update on the hood status.....either on the forum or direct: handymanstan@comcast.net

They are the Ford pattern, so they would fit any vehicle that shares the 5 on 4.5 (or 114.3) pattern, which includes, among others, Jeep, Honda, Mazda (I believe)... I bought them to use on my Hybrid 240Z; but, I think that they might pose problems with a possible "big brake kit" on the horizon. I prefer a slightly higher tire profile over the now standard 40 series because it offers a more tolerable daily ride disposition. I don't want to feel EVERY pebble in the road when I'm driving longer distances. I'm told that taller sidewall actually provides better traction on straightline hard acceleration (hence the 'krinkle walls' on dragsters); but, that is an entirely separate subject. Planned to run 245/50-16 tires which are OE size for current model Camaros & Firebirds. I paid $555.51 delivered for them, which they said was almost half off. They are NOT blems, just overstock clearance, and I cannot return or exchange them.

I bought these wheels for about half of what they sell for from Centerline (which is $270 + tax & freight per wheel). They have sat in their original boxes in my spare bedroom since delivery. I might 'need' to switch to 17". These are 16x8, full polish aluminum five lug (5 on 4.5) with 5" bs. I feel that they have a bit of a 'retro', era-correct look to them, and they are pretty light! I hope that this post is okay, I just wanted to gauge interest before posting on the seldom-visited Classifieds. Let me know what y'all think, please. http://www.centerlinewheels.com/wheels_detail.php?mw_id=5&sw_id=33 Incidentally, after speaking with the Tech Department at Centerline, they advised me that wheel choices for Cobra brakes are VERY limited (from all the major manufacturers). It definitely is not the news that I want to hear, and I don't want to start a big debate about brake kits. Don't 'kill the messenger', I'm merely relaying information from 'industry people'.

Looks REALLY rough......and thin. FWIW my .02

No apologies given, no apologies earned. Ivan was correct on a couple of issues that he brought up...none of which change the fact that I got 280ZXT struts when I was buying 240Z struts. He did, in fact, send me pics. Maybe my monitor is of poor resolution because I looked at them again, and scratched up, rusted bodies is not visible. They were packed with rags; but, that is neither here nor there. I did spend some time reading and re-reading our communiques, and did not find mention of his installation problems, and bottoming-out issues. Being the finicky person that I am, I would not have bought them. Bear in mind, some of you who only read bits, and pieces of this thread, I have already admitted that I shouldn't have been such a cheapass, and bought new for $400 (or so) from some of the 'vendors' on this site. I still do not believe that the time issue is relevant in this problem, as I wasn't dealing with Best Buy, I was dealing with a (fellow) enthusiast. If I intentionally (or unintentionally) sold an item that wasn't as 'advertised' and the buyer went to install it five years later, I would make good on it for the sake of my own Karma or peace-of-mind. Guess that's just me. As expected from the onset, I'll end up eating the $140 and take several lessons learned from the experience, many of which aren't as favorable as I would have hoped from of 'our' great little community. Anytime that you have a 'melting pot' of individuals, there will always be 'cream' and sometimes 'crud'. I have tremendous respect for the true experts who have chimmed in at the late stages of the thread, and value anything that they have to say. My key point remains unchanged, however, and that is I bought 240Z struts, not 240Z & 280ZXT struts. If I say that the shell is on a rotisserie, and that the struts have never moved from their place in the closet, only those that know me can be assured that it is fact. I would never be comfortable selling an item to someone that wasn't as advertised. Ivan doesn't share that sense of honor. So, we are different. Some of you, read my responses carefully, as I had said that nothing would have pleased me more than to print a retraction extolling Ivan's virtues after he did what I, and others, feel is the right thing. The entire purpose of this post, as discussed with an Admin. prior to its inception, was to 'motivate' Ivan to do the right thing, not to character assassinate. This thread has become more exhausting than it is worth. I have resigned myself to the fact that it was just another bad purchase decision that I have made, and gained a little better insight into the community, good and bad. Thanks again to those experts for their .02...

Part of the ire came from being questioned on why I was modding my suspension, and your assumption that 280ZXT struts would be correct for that application. That's not for you to determine...either issue. There are plenty of true experts in suspension on this site, so I'll pass on your analysis if that's ok. Again, read the thread thoroughly, and your questions should be covered adequately. We discussed OE 240Z struts, and I got 240Z & 280ZXT struts....very simple. If the struts have sat in their original shipping carton for two years, only for me to find out that they were not the correct part as agreed, I would still have reasonable claim....the issue is not how long the struts were or were not used by me (which is ZERO miles, which can be easily proven by photo pictorial of my hybrid project's progress), the issue is that they are NOT BZ 3015 as indicated by Tokico as the correct part for that application. End of story.

For 'Forrest's' benefit - The initial transaction was very explicit in that I was looking for correct Illuminas for a 240Z, OE ride height. I was concerned that his tag name and pic were of a Z other than a 240Z, and clarified my objectives again with him prior to the delivery. Clearly, Ivan was not the person with whom I need to consult regarding suitability or fitment, as he knew very little about the applications. When I need expert advice, I contact MikeKelly or John Coffey. He merely confirmed that they were correct for OE 240Zs. When they did arrive, I questioned why, with only two thousand miles, the strut bodies would be all scratched up and have rust on them (like, maybe they were installed without oil in the tubes?!). Many, many months passed, as the progress on my hybrid has been slow. The Illuminas have sat in the closet in their original shipped container from Ivan. The struts have never been installed, as my project has never gotten past the 'shell' phase. How much time has passed is totally inconsequential when you are talking about getting parts other than those agreed upon. AND, I was referring to sectioning the strut bodies to accomodate my coilovers, which, if you do some searches on the Suspension Forum, you will realize that installing coilovers does not mandate an altered ride height if doing so merely for tire clearance....okay? I have all email correspondence between the two of us in a desktop folder, would you like me to forward that to you, as well, for your perusal?

wigenout-S30 Since you know him personally, and he has yet to come public with his perspective, AND, he is an immigrant, could he have a communication breakdown in this matter? I tried to make myself crystal clear with Ivan that if they 'worked' in his car, great; but, I'm not spending years and over $10k on this project to have 'good enough'. I expected the CORRECT part, in excellent condition. If he was ripped off by the original installer who sold him incorrect struts, that is unfortunate; HOWEVER, after I brought it to his attention that they were, in fact, 280ZXT struts he should have done the right thing by taking them back (what he did with them after that is not my concern). No one benefits by perpetuating the cycle of deceit. 2slo4u Maybe you should slow down fast guy, and read the threads more carefully. I tried several times to remedy the situation.......ad nauseum (which means, essentially, "and on, and on, and on"...just for you ) And last, as stated earlier (for the benefit of you armchair quarterbacks) I accept that I should have just bought new.

The unfortunate result of this thread turning 'Toxic' was that the real fundamental issue of 'doing unto others...' was lost in my poorly phrased 'sermon'. I did make some edits that I felt were constructive to get back to the key issue of integrity; but, my 'juices' were flowing when I composed the original post and the younger set here was (un)justifiably upset. As stated before, if you can look into the mirror with a clear conscience then any perceived indictment of young vs. old is irrelevant. My motivation for the post in the first place was to inspire the 'offender' to see how his actions would be perceived in a community of which he presumably valued. I made several requests of him that he do 'the right thing', and they were ignored, so I hoped that the masses here would inspire appropriate conduct on his part. For this, I would happily have posted a retraction with an appropriate commendation for his stepping up and remedying a bad transaction. This is NOT the desired path that I wanted this whole thing to take in the first place. I had such high regard for this 'community' as a whole; but, as a result of this thread I have learned that these kind of bad-faith transactions aren't that uncommon. Very, very sad. I have been taken advantage of a couple of times (on eBay, on the LS1 forums, and craigslist); but, somehow I just thought that our hybrid community was immune to that type of person (regardless of age) via our common 'bond'. Some of you 'got it' the first go round, others were 'blinded' by my poorly constructed association of age. In actuality, integrity and maturity are far more telling than chronological age markers. I wish that the thread could have been more inspirational....not only to Ivan, but to those of you who get some sort of satisfaction out of 'shorting' your fellow enthusiasts. At this juncture, I'm not terribly optimistic; however, as stated before, nothing would please me more than to proudly compose a retraction for this individual should he choose to respect our community through his actions. Some of our Admins. were thrown into this frying pan, when all I wanted to do was keep it amongst the general 'population' as a compelling reason for Ivan to make good on a transaction that went bad...regardless of intent. Again, maybe it will be left to 'die on the vine', and maybe I should just take my lessons learned in stride silently; but, I had such incredibly high regard for this particular community...though not totally conviced that it was justified. We should all aspire for better, shouldn't we?

We have a great mix of people on this wonderful site, from all backgrounds and all ages, all education levels, and all experience/knowledge levels. However, most of our community believe in the original 'creedo' of treating people well and embracing our shared interests...optimizing our Zs. I usually can pick out the 'undesirables' by the way that they communicate in various threads; but, one caught me by surprise. Ivan280ZT is one of those individuals who clearly lacks the capacity to bring to this community as much as he receives. He promoted, on this site, the sale of a used set of Tokico Illuminas for a 240Z. They had very little time in use, according to Ivan, and the price was right. We agreed on the transacation and it concluded. Having received the struts, my first concern was how strut bodies could be so scratched and rusty with so little mileage. I should have listened to that little inner voice of caution; but, no, I figured not a 'Hybrider', they're all stand-up people. This is the lesson that I'd like all of you to heed. My shell has been on a rotisserie since about March, as my focus on the project ebs and flows. After some time, I began to examine the struts further, as I was toying with the idea of sectioning my struts for the coilovers just as a distraction from the undercarriage/chassis monotony. A fellow Hybrider, who knows considerably more than I about suspensions, looked at the struts to verify their condition and advised me that two of them were 'shot'. Now, this isn't the rub. I know that they are warranted for Life, and felt that I could resolve any 'replacement' with Tokico directly. Here is the rub...THE STRUTS IN QUESTION ARE FOR AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT CAR! I was sold two 240Z rear struts and two 280ZXT front struts. I'll try to cut to the chase. Ivan has chosen to take the position of "they were sold 'As Is', and it's not my fault..." This is the Dark Side of internet communities like the Hybrid Forum. I foolishly assumed that shared interests automatically qualified us as upstanding, mature people with integrity. This youngster Ivan, clearly isn't 'long enough in the saddle' to understand that we reap what we sow. As a student, he isn't being taught what his parents should have in his formative years...Integrity. My responsibility in this is not listening to that 'inner voice of caution', being too cheap to buy new stuff, and assuming that others in a community that covers many continents are all upstanding folks. I'll have to eat half of my purchase from this individual at minimum, as I don't even know if the rears are any good until I get them installed which is quite a while off. I just want those of you who share my naive assumption of honor to be a little more cautious, and those of you, possibly the younger set on our site, to think about how you want to be treated by others before you snicker at taking someone for a 'ride', because it all comes back full circle...always. Sorry for the long winded sermon; but Ivan280ZT should not be welcome here...and you others, young or 'old' , would your Mother be proud of your actions.... How's that for an edit. I've heard far more stories of those not taking responsibility in similar instances being younger rather than older. If you have a clear conscience, the implication should be irrelevant; but, if the key notion is lost because of a perceived generalization, then I have failed to properly caution fellow participants. And yes, it was authorized for me to post the warning, and yes, Ivan was given several opportunities to remedy the situation. Again, it is regrettable that more attention was given to the notion that some of our young forum members might think about their actions more, as opposed to the more important issue of personal responsibility and integrity...core values that become more and more scarce it sometimes seems. Will it make some of you feel better if I say that some of us old guys may not be so decent, either? Ok, it's been said...

Could you possibly be thinking of the "smooth ones" from a ZG nose, because I can't see how smooth, Jag-type covers would fit on OE buckets...

Hey "Hollywood" Tim (long time, my bad ), I've seen you recommend the Waytek site before, if I recall correctly. Did you just order a bunch of different colored wire in ?? gauge? So, my real question at this point is what gauge would I want to get to do the entire body (already have the LS1 engine harness, thanks to Mike). By the way, he was under the impression that you went 'Painless'. I'm going to attempt the body harness myself using Autozone's schematic, my multimeter, and wire and connectors from Waytek. I know of one 'Hybrider' who has a poster-size schematic of the 240Z; but, as a favor to him, he will remain nameless and I won't be a PITA asking to copy it. So, that also leaves me with the 'book' that you used...could you recommend one for someone like me who has the elctrical inclination of a caveman? Until then.. all the best! Stan

Wow, thirty four 'hits' and no one has any suggestions........

I realize that it has been brought up; but, don't recall if anyone sourced new 'gaskets' that don't have the 'channel' for the stainless trim. I searched but only found the old, old thread in which there was no real resolution. Many have just not put the trim in; but, I'm looking for a little more 'intentional' look, one without the channel. Any thoughts? Thanks for indulging this inquiry......

If you want it to REALLY stick, heat it up with a hair dryer or heat gun once in place, then rub it down more. I use an art roller, but a large socket on its side would do just fine.

mas280 doubled his up because 'that's the kind of guy he is '. I, myself will likely use single layer, covered with body schutz (rubberized undercoating), carpet pad (jute), and carpet. We did cover the firewall, roof, everything inside.