Mikelly

Well we're just a hair north of $1900 AND I'm buying a SHOWCARs Gnose from Ken Jones and donating $100 of that purchase to the cause, and offering up the loan of the GNOSE for the test SO a GNOSE is available with and without spoiler... AND I have other news... Our Friend Mark Frasier who was known as hybrid77z on both HybridZ and Zcar.com won't be causing trouble on either site anymore... got a note from the GREAT STAFF at Zcar.com apologizing for his bad behavior and letting me know that they INDEED DO support this effort! Gang, we're close to meeting the goal funding-wise... It's up to BJ and the crew from the Triad Zcar Club to finalize the test plan... I have a larger/Taller IMSA three piece rear spoiler, a MSA type 1 and type 3 spoiler/airdam and now this Gnose. I've also got some authentic Japanese bolt on ZG Style flares to offer up! Mike

Ken Jones... You out there??? Hell I'd even buy it off him to have after the fact... Mine's a track car so "perfect" isn't in the plans... Mike

We're shooting for testing parts readily available. Unfortunately we dont' have one readily available. Also, I don't know of anyone in the USA that is currently selling a kit that doesn't cost $3000 or more. MSA discontinued theirs and Arizona Zcar nolonger sells one, and Showcar in Canada is unreliable. I had one that was stollen by a member who was going to "pull molds" from a couple years ago. It would have been ideal for the test. However, getting one from a member on loan, having it shipped to us, assembled and fitted to one of the chassis we'll be testing with, and then getting it back to its rightful owner isn't realistic... Mike Kelly

Hybrid77Z, Is this the same Hybrid77Z from ZCAR.com??? Why yes you are, and yes you must go... conduct unbecoming a human being... You and your boy Norm can have the Zcar.com sandbox to yourselves. Mike

Bill, Got your PM and yes I want the airbox back... Send me a PM with your paypal address and I'll buy it back! mike

...That individual is the example we'll use as to why we run this site the way we do. The guy is a tool and should be banned for his negative, lack of contribution of good info, and constant badgering of others... The question that should be asked is WHAT has he done to contribute positively to this hobby of ours? He's a tool of the highest order for sure... Mike

I've got that article (Was an original ZCar Magazinge Subscriber and almost BOUGHT the magazine from the original owner when it went up in flames!!!) and they hi-lite some useful info... Again, most of us today are using lower suspension, larger wheels in those wheelwells taking up MORE space in those openings, and a varitey of spoilers and valances... However, the article has some very valid points!! Mike

Well with John C.'s donation, we're up over $320 for the day and the grand total todate is about $1800! I've got one check from a member and I will still be donating as well (I expect to kick in atleast $300-500 of my own money)... As to the drivel over on zcar.com, there will be a project plan and a strategy. The people who are involved in this activity have run projects before gang, so don't worry. BJ and the guys in North Carolina are quite capable of pulling off the test. What will we get out of it? DATA that will be USEFUL. Will it be perfect for every scenario? I can't say. However, knowing those involved, I can assure you that the data will be useful in making future purchases and in setting up your car for street, autoX, or a day at the track. The ney-sayers can just refer to their crystal balls for their info! Mike

Scottie, I actually turned down an offer from a guy to trade my M Roadster for his 98 M 3 coupe and some cash... But everytime I drive my wife's 328is I question if I shoulda done it or not... GREAT car... Does everything well and is still light and nimble! Mike

Mike, You certainly don't disappoint in your posts, do you? I made adjustable control arms for several years. The amount of labor involved in making them is upwards of 10 hours per set. $580 is a true bargain, but again, you'd have to make them to understand how difficult they are to make. There is a real good reason why the price point on control arms is what it is. Rear arms have a tone of force being applied from a number of directions, and have to deal with other variabls as well... Factoring all that in, and factoring in what you want to do with the car and how you may want to set it up for your suspension needs, you won't be able to get that adjustment with stock arms. You either have to get the adjustment from the arms or from camber plates... Arms are more expensive, but camber plates require a LOT of labor to install them as well. Helps to do your research before you pop off such comments. Mike Kelly

Anyone know that guy hybrid77Z? His true name is Mark Fraser... He seems like a real fine upstanding Zcar.com member... Doing them proud for sure! We're getting the plan together as this comes together gang, but BJ and a number of the members from the triangle Zcarclub in North Carolina will be putting it all together. This is geared towards handling moreso than top speed, and our goal is to try a number of very common and popular consumer pieces available thru the ussual vendors... Ride heights will be set and other measurements taken to insure we'll be able to collect as much data as possible in this testing... Why am I not surprised that some tool on Zcar.com would raise such a stink... And what kills me is the admins over there are truly good guys and try to run a decent site... Brings to mind the saying I use regularly... "I'd be the biggest humanitarian in the world, but the people get in the way!" Mike

Just today I got another $230 in donations. I want to thank you guys and gals for the donations... To those who are reading this from the other boards, I'll tell all of you what I told another member here... I've got no need to scam any monies from any of you... This money will go directly to the operator of the windtunnel or it'll go BACK to each of those who donated... There will be NO parts purchases, NO beer bought, NO food bought, NO tools bought... I need none of these items that I can't afford to payfor myself... Again, THE ONLY REASON WE STEPPED IN TO TAKE DONATIONS was to INSURE that the data was SHARED... Anyone who has the stones to visit and accuse me of anything face to face is more than welcome to come chat w/ me... My door is ALWAYs open... Mike

Check MSA for the parts... . . . . . . . . . . . I couldn't resist! Mike

Terry, YOU SUCK because you're SOOOOOOOOO TALENTED... I like them both, but just, well... YOU SUCK because you're SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Talented... I gotta buy you a beer... Mike

OK Gang, So here's the dealio... I have a 510 body (thanks David ) and a widebody Gnose 240Z body (someone was selling these a while ago) that both need a chassis... What's the prefered "fun" chassis to buy in RC cars? I've got about 450 ft. of blacktop at my place and I could certainly have LOTs of fun with these little mammerjammers *(stollen from Thinks to do in Denver When you're dead!) Mike

I"m running the QA1s as well. Mike, Just make sure you can get enough adjustment to give you the range of travel you need for the strut piston... John C. schooled me on this with Jim McNemar's project car. I've got QA1s in 220-350 sizes and plan to keep a selection on hand for the track... May even go stiffer! Mike

Gang, I appreciate ALL donations BIG and SMALL... Thanks! We're moving right along. Mike

Yes, but then add the weight of those twin turbos, the piping, manifolds, intercoolers, and all other support hardware onto the scale and all the sudden, the true advantage of the LSx platform dimenishes. People often overlook the added weight to a turbo project, claiming the good outweighs the bad. But in some cases, such as the LSx, I believe it doesn't. Mike

The strut Gland nut on the 240Z is absolutely smaller in diameter than the 280Z... Again, I'm screwed by this very scenario while waiting for Shox.com to send the correct "larger" 280Z size for one of the struts... Mike

Sam, Two things first before I address the tranny... A: No duplicate posts of the same thread. This will get you in trouble with the admins. B: Take off the caps lock. On the internet, it's the same thing as SHOUTING!!!. Now, onto your question... Your "friend" who said the camaro 5 speed is junk might have wanted to clarify. You can use the 5 speeds that backed all their 350 V8s. However, Don't use one from a V6 or 305. Pretty sure they are the same tranny and known to be much weaker and have lower torque ratings. Since you've got an automiatic now, you do realize you're gonna have to swap the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch assembly, hydraulics and clutch pedal assembly, right? Even if you get a great deal on a tranny and bellhousing, You're gonna have some cost associated... AND you might have to have your driveshaft modified as well... I'd expect to spend a fair amount more even bargain shoping... If you need a clutch fork, pivot ball and dowel pins, I have some new in the package I can sent you for cost of shipping. Not sure which hybdraulic setup you plan to go with, but you should buy the JTR manual before you buy anything else and read read read...Oh, And try a number of better searches here... Lots of info on this very topic as a number of us are running a fivespeed and 350 Chevy based motor, and we've posted LOTS of data. Mike

Keep in mind too that those Jeep Cherokees had issues with eating main and rod bearings due to excessive tow weights. Had a friend back in the early 90s thru 2001 who was doing an average of one Jeep Cherokee tranny or crank kit on those things for the locals who towed boats to the Potomac river. Might plan to go nice and slow, ad an engine and tranny oil cooler and be prepared for a vehicle upgrade down the road. Mike

Harry You're correct. But they may be thinking of a different "gland" nut... My recent shipment from SHOX.com came with one incorrect gland nut in the 240 size and three correct 280 sized units... Unfortunately these 8610s must use the koni specific gland nuts... I believe the Gland nut they are refering to is the stub axle nut. Mike

So the plan is to start a Zcar trackcar project that would do everything well and safely... The Suspension: ZFRacing Front Suspension control arms and TC Rods Ground Control Camber plates upfront Ground Control Coil Overs Koni 8610 Struts. QA1 250# front springs Rear Arizona Zcar Control arms Rear Arizona Zcar Camber plates QA1 275# springs Front Suspension Technique 1 1/8th sway bar Rear 5/8th solid adjustable rear swaybar Polyurethane Bushings on the steering rack, swaybar bushings, and inner control arms Brakes: Front Mustang Cobra Rotors and Calipers Custom Jamie Tayler front Aluminum hubs Braded Lines Rear Z06 Calipers and 1985 Turbo300ZX Rear rotors Five lug stub axles ZX brake mastercylinder Wilwood proportioning valve and Park-loc Differential: Q45 Differential Custom Q45 axles from Speedway Engineering Transmission: TKO600 W/Roadrace gearing Steeda Shifter Ford Motorsport Racing 31 spline Yoke McLeod SFI Bellhousing CAT SFI Flywheel Centerforce Clutch Kit Tilton Hydraulic Release Bearing kit Tilton 7/8th Master Cylinder Motor: 4 Bolt Bowtie Block Eagle H-beam Rods Weisco Forged Pistons Scat 9000 Crank Cloyes True Roller Chain Roller Valve train Roller Tip Pushrods Isky Lifters Isky Cam Dart Aluminum Heads W/2.05/1.6 valves Edelbrock Aluminum FI Intake 42# Injectors Holley 1000CFM Throttlebody Holley Commander 950 PCM Fuel: 15Gallon Fuel Cell Bosch Fuel Pump Braded fuel line Holley regulator and fuelrails Safety: Driver - Kirkey Intermediate Roadrace Seat Passenger - Kirkey Intermediate speedway Seat GForce Camlock 5 point Harnesses Chassis Mods: 14 Point rollcage by Piper Motorsports Pete Paraskas Frame rails Body: 1976 280Z frame Dodge Viper Silver Paint Body Black Trim on flares, Bumpers, spoilers, Door handles, hood vents Japanese ZG FLares Motorsport Stage 3 Front Airdam BRE Style Rear Deck Spoiler Body mods are complete and the car is painted. Chassis Mods are completed. Motor and trans are installed. Differential is installed but front mount needs made and the driveshaft needs completed. Suspension and brakes are almost completely done. Then I'll finish the electrical wiring and mount the dash, seats and harnesses... Still no decision on wheels yet. Pictures can be seen here: http://photos.yahoo.com/dat74z and look in the "mikes painted Zcar project" folder... Mike

An S130 isn't gonna fly. We simply won't have any time to run tests on two platforms. We're at over $1500 in donations from the site and BJ has another group (Triangle Zcar Club) who will also be donating a substantial sum (I'll let B announce that one) and we need just a bit more to make this happen... We're thinking this is gonna happen in the January timeframe, so Stay tuned, thanks to those who donated, and those who haven't yet, please plan to do so soon! Mike

I have to get the electric company to run the service and turn it on. I don't know about other states, but in Va. we're not allowed to just "connect" to the service provider. Mike