Mikelly

I plan to install camber plates on my Z, along with my control arms/ TC ROds and I've already done the bump steer mod. The longer Tie rod mod is definately something that is required for more than 2 degrees, maybe up to 2.5 degrees negative camber with just lower arms. Terry, got any pics of those?? Mike

Although I must admit I've learned a bit from this discussion, as Im insterested personally in the aspects of the STS kits, I think it should be made clear that each of these kits, used in the right kit is worth installing. I have no doubt that the STS kit isn't nearly as efficient as a traditional exhuast manifold mounted setup. However, after pricing TT kits for C5 Corvettes and seeing the installed prices for well over $10K (Closer to $12K is realistic), There simply can't be any arguement against the practical self installation of the STS setup, Especially on something like a Camaro, or in my case a Corvette, where the gas tank issue is a real NON-issue! Will it perform as well as the traditional nightmare install on a C5? No. But I bet I'm closer to getting the wife to buy off on that install at less than $5K as opposed to more than DOUBLE that. Is it a compromise? Sure. Is it worth the additional weight per HP gain? From what I've read, yea 50-70HP and substantial Torque increase is well worth it. To me, this is just one more "option" to look at from a practicle standpoint. Mike

That's exactly what I plan to do with my setup. I'll mock it up, tack it together, check it for smooth operation and then final welding upon install. Any of you guys have an extra rear crossmember I can cut up? I can't believe I dont have one, but while searching for a couple of other things yesterday I was keeping an eye out for that rear horizontal piece and had ZERO luck. The unit I have on the car is powdercoated a pretty blue and I don't think I want to hack it up just yet. Mike

What I'm starting to find is that it's really hard discussing "driving" with anyone who hasn't been on a real race track. My little brother was in my shop last night changing the oil on his car. He has just installed a nitros kit on his 2002 Camaro and he was discussing how much faster the car is. It isn't like he was capable of driving 300WHP before the kit install. Explaining to him that the $800 he spent on that kit would have better been spent in suspension and brake mods was a waste of time. It isn't like the NAWZ kit can be experienced with these freezing temps we've been experiencing! If you ask people how hard they drive their cars on the street, they will give you their perception that they are at nearly 10/10ths all the time. However, the first time you finally get them onto a closed course, you can see actual fear in their eyes. Perception is a funny thing. We want to think that we're "the man" behind the wheel. We all do. But the sad rality is we're not. 95% of us suck at driving. I fully believe that there is a direct relationship between the excuses we hear about guys not going to the dyno and guys not going to the track. These are the same people who have laid seeds of embelishment along the way about: Their Skills as drivers (We all suck until we spend much time in a closed course environment with true professional drivers TEACHING us how to correct all our bad habits) and about the power output of their vehicles. Knowledge is power. To me, it is better to know where I need to improve, and then work on it to become better, then to never try. I know I'm really sorely laking in late apex trail braking. I need to work on that to rotate the car quicker through those types of corners and I need an instructor in the car with me, because I'm doing something wrong. But I can't put it together without help... I need that assistance. Next time I'm at the track, I'll not be going it "solo". I want to learn. My goal isn't to become Mr. HPDE. I want to eventually go wheel to wheel racing in something like a spec miata class. And as much as I think I've learned over the years on the 5-7 closed courses I've been fortunate enough to be on, I know I've got a lot to learn when it comes to full green flag full course passing. HPDEs don't make a race car driver. But I'm willing to learn. I think that is half the battle! Mike

Guess I need a new keyboard too... Mike

I thought about that yesterday after the THIRD time of removing the dash cover. I'm waiting until I'm done with the wiring and have it all tested out so I can drill the few holes, test fit, paint the dash cover, bolt in the gages and bolt the dash down. Then in those final few steps I'll click off some pics! Unless of course someone is waiting on these for their own project, then I'll get right on it. Mike

Looks like another one is getting ready to hit the market... Check this out: http://www.lgmracing.com/nagt.wmv Mike

I always mention PeteP's 240Z weight... He's pushing near 2900# with his 72 240Z. He does have what appear to be some pretty heavy wheels (ALthough looks may be deceiving) and he has some stout material welded into the car for frame rails and other bracing/ structural supports/ 4 point welded in bar. Pete's car also has an R200 with CV axles and dual exhaust system. I don't think these car weights are bad. If you get under 3000# with full interior, A/C, heat, stereo, sound proofing and all the other stereo/ creature comforts, you're still doing good. And as Mr. JTR himself points out (Thanks for chiming in Mike!), the later year 280Zs aren't known for being lightweights! Most cars with the kind of power you're pushing will outweight you by atleast a few hundred pounds. Think about who will want to roll up against you at a stoplight... Most drivers who own hot cars can't drive worth crap, and the few guys who will be able to take you probably don't drive hard on the street anyway! Mike

I'll have updates on mine soon... Probably have it wired and tested by the end of the coming week, just before Xmas 2005! In all my references, I'm using the painless 18 circuit kit. This thread is priceless... Mike

DIng Ding Ding! Jon, I'm gonna owe you more than a few beers when I'm done here... You just saved me HOURS of work! Mike

Jon, I'm gonna give you props when I copy this whole setup (Refering to your desing in the link above)! The only thing I'll do differently is use some threaded steel blocks I have laying around from the square tube rear control arms I made years ago. I'll extend your square tubing further horizontal from each side to span closer together and just use one of my turnbuckles in the center with a couple of locknuts. I'm gonna use the AZC camber plates and probably go back to a factory control arm in the rear, although I may end up keeping my tubular rear arm, replaced with heim joints on the end as Mike Mileski did. Mikelly

Jon, I'm gonna give you props when I copy this whole setup! The only thing I'll do differently is use some threaded steel blocks I have laying around from the square tube rear control arms I made years ago. I'll extend your square tubing further horizontal from each side to span closer together and just use one of my turnbuckles in the center with a couple of locknuts. I'm gonna use the AZC camber plates and probably go back to a factory control arm in the rear, although I may end up keeping my tubular rear arm, replaced with heim joints on the end as Mike Mileski did. Mikelly

This thread brings back memories. I remember when Myron built that motor, and then had to sell it when he was forced to relocate because of downsizing at work. Myron had a lot of crappy luck over the years, from the job issues to having his place flooded and losing a lot of stuff in the flood (I remember significant house damage) to numerous other problems. I think Myron recently got another Zcar (Within the last year or so) and is doing another project. Digging back in my grey matter, but I'm pretty sure his motor specs were similar to the 383 stroker I built and still have. If that motor isn't running that car deep into the 11s or high 10s, you've got issues. That thing should be tearing a new azz in everything north of low 11s. Mike

I'll be grabbing copies of FIA GT and GT legends after the two demos I downloaded... Holy CRAP! Anybody know where I can get ahold of these two??? Mike

I've had a number of Nvidia cards die on me over the years within 45-60 days. That's why I got the ATI card. Figured it would be ok... I've got a decent workstation upstairs, but need to get the spyware off it that has been plaguing it lately (I have THREE software packages and it still got through.) and I need to load some more memory and get this ATI card running... It is an HP Pavolion 510N 2.1GHZ AMD machine... Maybe I'll just take it over to the local computer geek and have it completely gone through, memory upgraded and card configured, along with a second HD with software for dual boot... Just went out to the sites for FIA GT Racer and GT legends... SHEESH! OK, I'm an AZZ! I'll be getting these two ASAP to run on newer systems... I just want to drive some decent simms to keep me going over the winter. Mike

Guys, I'm sitting here thinking about my progress today, and it dawned on me that I'm really in need of wiring schematics for the headlight/ wiper and turn signal switch. Anyone got that they can scan and send me besides what is in the Haynes manual? Mike

I'm a cheap bastage and gladly take freebees... Let me know what ya have! Sippin' Macallan 12 year single malt right now... Mike

Well I got about five solid hours of work in on the car today... Wired in the complete gauge cluster from the gauges (Autometer Phantoms) to the painless harness. Wired the MSD box into the painless harness. Wired in the tach signal to the harness, the MSD and the Tach. Wired in the Hayden electronic fan controller. Wired the complete rear lighting. Wired in the brakeswitch. I also sorted out the windshield wiper wiring sort of. I've got two speeds worked out on the old harness wiring, and I think I'm gonna just tap into the controller on the stalk for those two presets. So long as I have wipers working, I'm good. I got the Odyssey PC680 in today and made a mount for it as well. Although it is smaller and lighter than a traditional battery, I was disappointed that it weighs as much as it does... Even though I can pick it up with one hand! Fun and games... Still got to wire in the accusump, head lights, fuel injection harness, fuel pumps, and a few other odds and ends... She is coming along though... My guess is by the time I can afford to get it ready for paint, it'll be running! Goal is to start this thing and hear it run by the end of February... Money is the only factor that will hold me up. Mike

Austin, Check the http://www.thscc.com website. I think it is about $200-240 for both days and includes incar and classroom instruction on the full course. Simply amazing group to run with! Mike

JT, You know it man... Got the growing gutt to prove it! Doug, I'll ring you... Tell your parents congratulations! 50 years together is something special. Mike

We actually ran into this on a buddies Camaro and the dealer is correct. Make sure you get the right bolts though... Don't just throw regular grade 8s on it. The factory bolts have the right shoulder/ taper and work well... I was nervous about this until I saw it in the shop manual for that car... Forget what year it was, but I'm sure they did it for atleast two or three years. I know the LS1 motor has them though. Welcome to the board! Mike

See my newest thread I just started... And I've got the Wingman wheel... Works well... I've tried to download drivers from some of these websites for Sportscar GT, and had no success... Just realized yesterday that this game was from 1999, and most of the support for it went away. I'll build a dual boot machine and see if that fixes some of the issues... I'll have to give liveforspeed another try... I just wasn't impressed with it the last time I tried which was last winter... I typically only do the driver sims in the winter months... MIke

SWEET! I"m going out to the garage to continue on my wiring adventure... We gotta get 'em done by spring Mark!

As I said in my earlier post, You simply won't be disappointed with those Kumhos... Im running them on the vette year round, including track duty. Mike

There's a guy in North Carolina that runs with all the local car groups associated with corvette clubs and pretty much does the same track events Mark I., JohnT, and I do. His nickname on Corvette Forum was MaseratiRob until he sold his Maserati Quattroporte to finance a fully prepped Mazda RX8 Racecar. He also has a couple of Ferraris, a 360 Modena Spider and a 430 Coupe. He now goes by MazdaRob! Super nice guy and he offered to let me drive his 360Modena the weekend I blew the Vette up... With the luck I was having with the bad spin and then the blown motor, I politely declined. He said the brake pad and rotor replacement every couple of track weekends was running him over $800 per pair for the front. Mike