Mikelly

It kills me to think that they were gloating over times like that while thinking back on my own VIR Full course times that I turned in the 2:16 range in a relatively stock C5 Corvette on Hoosiers in cool (50s) temps back in 2005. Amazing what some think is "FAST"... And then publish and sell to the unknowing public at large. Mike

There are a couple of options that you can use in taxes. My problem is that we're tapped out on those options already. We have a CPA, an investment broker, and a business attorney. We are doing everything recommended. Bottom line is, short of "questionable" tax claims that could not only jeopardize my company, but my clearance as well. Nope, This is a "good" problem to have, but it sux to have to deal with it. Mike

Doc & Jon Check your PMs... We've got an investment broker, CPA, Bookkeeper, and Business Attorney who are keeping us on the straight and narrow. It's hard to do much when you've maxed out everything we're doing and you STILL have a tax liability. Mike

Not at all Doc... it's a different game with the business I'm in. There's simply no way possible I could shelter the amount of revenue we're generating. We're paying a firm over $2000 per month to do our corporate taxes and bookkeeping. I'm all ears if you've got a better way, cause I'm getting KILLED on taxes. Contact me offline... Mike

Here's how it works... We pay our taxes quarterly, and then at the end of the year, when you do your balance sheets, whatever profit is left over, that money gets a 40% tax. After that, what's left is yours free and clear. I'm not claiming that we're making tons of money, but for every $100,000 worth of gross profit at the end of the year, you pay $40,000 to the IRS. Now, I'm absolutely 100% sure people are gonna jump on this thread and say we're doing something wrong by not "sheltering" all that money... Trust me on this one, with the people I do business with, and the customer we support, and the background check, the clearance required to support the customer we do, I'm not about to try anything "grey" to save a few bucks. I don't even try the whole "lease a company car" game. Supporting Gov't contracts is a different business all together and gets you a different level of attention. So we "pay" the man. Mike

Once stranded at the track, and I've been there a time or three, You'll kick yourself for not having the extra vehicles... I'll pass on the 997 GT3, thanks. Mike

My needs would be filled when I purchase the Porsche... My inventory as of now: 1976 Datsun 280Z Track Car 2004 Dodge Cummins Diesel quadcab 4X4 (Equipped with Loadhog Dump Bed.) 1997 BMW 328is with 16inch ASA Five stars. 2006 24ft. enclosed Haulmark Trailer I also have: 2002 Yamaha WR250 Dirt Bike 1999 Kawasaki ZRX1100 Street Bike Now if I could just find the right Porsche... Mike

I went back to ths shop this morning to pick up all the tools and put them up, dug out the other Vette pieces I'd sold, and then put the steering shaft and the lower pulley on the crank, so the bolts wouldn't disappear! I saw your box of wiring stuff, Tom, and thought I'd be seeing you again today! I was pretty tired last night. Today, when I got back to the house from the garage, I felt soooo tired. Just got up from a three hour nap, and my foots still swollen, and a little sore. The wife keeps telling me she's gonna make me go to visit the man... Mike

Yup. Up until the point I cracked my toe, the morning was going GREAT!!! OUCH! Mike

Pics from the gettogether... Chris #1 Emily Chris #2 Tom in action Tom working on Jim's Z Doug (in the car) Tom, Pete and Joe The gang chowing down

Tax return? Those days are long gone for me... My business partner and I will probably pay a combined corporate and household tax of somewhere north of $25,000. Having a successful business means you pay more at the end of the year, A LOT MORE. Mike

The day started off well with me and the wife laying in bed, having glorious marital relations. I get up and go the bathroom to tinkle, come back into the room and accidentally kick the base of my elliptical trainer with the next to smallest toe on my right foot taking the brunt of it. The toe and foor above the joint are now black one day later. I believe I'll have to go see a Dr. over this one. Anyway, this sets the tone for the day... I head out to the garage and start a fire, then head to the store for munchies, water, beer, Soda and propane for the little torpedo heater I have. By 1030 AM I am set and have guests... The suspects: SavageSkater - AKA Chris and his Girlfriend Showed up. clSatt - AKA Crhis #2 showed up first. TomBrace - Aka Tom showed up shortly there after and I started putting them to work. We Started removing the the oil pan... And then realized the crossbrace would need to go... Then Doug (Synlubes) and eventually Pete (pparaska) showes up. After getting the new oil pan in place and buttoned up, we bolted the motor and crossbrace backin.. And I tried it install the starter. Somehow in the initial build and install of the driveline, I forgot that the knock out for the starter on the Mcleod bellhousing had to be removed... So in trying to install the starter, I found that... The motor is going to have to come out... Meanwhile I turn Tom and both Chris 1 & 2 loose on Jims car. They need to first tackle getting the rear hatch to release, and then get the trans out of the car. By about 3PM I've given up on the fact that we're not removing the knockout without removing the bellhousing and tranny... Pete has fixed my crank shaft thread issue, and we decide it's time to remove the motor from my car... So After Chris #1 and his GF bid fairwell, we tear into rmoving the motor.. At this point, one of the lurkers on the board, Joe G. shows up and we've got five guys and myself working on this thing... While we're at it sits in and we address a couple more issues like installing the stainless block hugger headers I bought from ebay for $179. We reinstalled everything, and then I recommended we should maybe have red-locktited the bolts on the flywheel and clutch kit... So it all had to come back off for that. After an initial attempt to trim the ring on the lower bellhousing for added ground clearance, I was ready to throw in the towel. My foot was killing me, although I was trying not to let it dampen the day...Doug harrassed me enough and Tom took over the grinding duties, and in 15 minutes the triming of the can was done. So, after the tranny and motor were reinstalled, I was done... We'd had a day long battle with Doug and the stove and by the end of the evening I was pretty much ready to be carved and served, because I was certainly smoked. Apparently the woodstove needs another section of pipe to get the ventalation/circulation/draw issue resolved. I also need to get the fire brick that goes in the stove. That will help resolve heating issues, although I was plenty warm myself. So, Doug, Joe,Tom, Pete and I went to the house to clean up, and to order some dinner. We'd eaten lunch at about 2PM, which was Dominos Pizza, but everyone was hungry and Donna insisted we do Chinese... Wouldn't you know that it was HER order that we got screwed on... It was great hosting you guys again, and I much appreciate the enthusiasm and effort put forth by everyone involved. Both Chris 1 and Chris 2 were eager to help and both went home dirty. Joe, Pete and Doug jumped right in as ussual, and Tom was always at the center of something being fixed or removed. I'll post pics later... Things that still need done... That tranny mount needs to be replaced with an energy unit. I noticed it flex a LOT while I was holding the trans... So along with the bolts that were a tad short, I need to replace that new mount. Lots of torque will be going thru it. I still need to do the oil lines and the fuel lines, weld the rear mounts for the diff and the rear calipers, final check on all fluids, and finishing the wiring. I may enlist Tom to come back up for a day of wiring... Mike

Gang, I hate to put a damper on this thread, but there will be no "homosexual bashing" on this board. We have a few members who'se sexual preference is their private business and the kind of banter going on isn't exactly appreciated by them. Mike

Here's why it's so sad... She came into her success after a lot of unfortunate and inappropriate choices in life. She was apparently abused long before she met the senior citizen who made her famous and rich. She danced and stripped for a living during that period, and the few strippers I've spoken with will tell you its not an easy life. She had multiple chances to turn her life around. She had even more multiple chances to turn her life around. She apparetly didn't provide a good role model for her son, long after her debut as a "real life" reality personality. She apparently turned her life around physically using "trimspa baby!". I'm a cruel MFer most of the time... But this one is so sad on so many levels even I can't come up with some cruel statement that would be suitable for this situation... It's just plain sad. Mike

Alex, What's the date on your 8MM Mauser? I've got one that's a 1918 that has been cut down for deer hunting by a previous owner... Great gun collection BTW! Mike

It was removed at another member's suggestion and then at GiJonas concurrance. Mike

You could also use a rubber strap wrench on them. But I'd recommend milling in a flat for a stafard wrench size. Those parts will get dirty, rusty and will become more difficult to turn and "by hand" won't be an option. I'll comment offline on the only concern I have. Otherwise everything else looks good. Mike

There are better and lighter brakes for less money and the same time to make them work... Just one example is the Mustang Cobra setup... Calipers are about $430 brand new from Ford, plus bolts/ speed bleeders/ braided lines/Banjo Bolts (about $140 for all), custom brackets that you would have to drill yourself ($130 from stock car products), rotors (fronts are 13inches and $140 for the pair and rears are $130 per pair and 11.75 inches), and five lug hubs/stub axles which would have to be sourced for any fivelub brake setup. The beauty of this setup is you can retain the OEM replacement "cheapness" to maintain and you can retain the e-brake. I have owned a number of brake systems for Zcars, from the traditional 4X4 toyota setup I wrote the tech article on that still resides on Zcar.com, to numerous Wilwood setups, the Outlaw 4000 series system that was sold by Mike Gibson, and I've installed TWO of these Cobra brake setups from Ford. Simply put, for an OEM style setup, they are CHEAP, LIGHT and work WELL... You can be pretty much guaranteed of getting replacement parts within 24-48 hours anywhere in the country. Having tracked a number of cars out there, including C5 Corvettes that eat brake rotors at single track weekend events, I'm confident that the Mustang Cobra system is as good as any out there. The PBR caliper is light, strong, and a great brake caliper. Mike

Thanks again Eric. Much appreciated. These cars serve as true inspiration for me to get mine back together... The upside is I've gotten more completed on my own car in the last 9 months than the last several years combined! Mike

Other than the bumper, and some blackened painted parts, this car strikes a real close resembelance to the car in my garage that I'll be lapping the race track with this summer... I'll be getting pics of both side by side later this spring... bear with me... Mike

This project is an addition onto an existing structure which is already 32 ft. wide. However, We have decided to actually change the construction to wood framing and to add more space. As of now I'm looking at 32X36ft. of additional space added to my 32X28 ft. Excavation starts weekend after next. Mike

I can't believe you're selling it... MIke

Do a search on the MAS products flares. They are MUCH cheaper *(about $50 per pair) and I think jbc3 has a pair of the fronts for sale cheap cheap... And for the record, my opinion is that you'd be FAR BETTER OFF lighting fire to your money than giving it to Showcarparts. The link speaks for itself... Buyer beware. Mike

Let me comment again, this isn't for the excavation, or the trusses/roof/shingling or electrical. I plan to have about $30,000 total when done, and that is STILL cheap... This is an addition, which eliminates one of the sides, so that eliminates some of the cost too... I'll keep you all posted on actual costs. Mike

Well let's hope I don't run into that. This same guy just poored 100X150ft. of concrete for my friend Dennis and he only had $10,000 total in the concrete, and that included the cost of the radient flooring. Mike