Mikelly

Everything I have ordered from Justin at Zforce has come to me in an exceptionally timely manor.... Just another perspective, and I have ordered from him within the last three months.

Progress Pics...

Motor and trans are finally in place for good. Bolted up and done. Driveline angles are within 1% now as well. Mike

Richie The Stub Axles are stronger and designed for a fivelug swap. Unfortunately Ross Died last year and MML is no more. I believe that TechnoToyTuning may offer something similar these days but it has been a decade since I ordered these parts, so I couldn't say what current stock availability is. Plata, I'm probably going to refurbish the Gnose and install it over the coming year. It's in pretty rough shape right now and is missing some mounting studs. Time will tell! The rear tailpanel/spoiler combo will likely get used if we do another wind tunnel test this year! Mike

Word of caution on the DirtyDingo mounts... You're welding them to the frame rails. We used an additional backing plate to spread the load out around the frame rails. Be advised those 35+ year old frame rails are VERY THIN, so welding may cause more challenges. In hindsight it might be better for most users to go with a bolt in solution. Just my .02$

Having issues with mine on the driver's side hitting the steering linkage. These headers fit tight enough and cause so much additional work, like having to re-route brake lines and other lines, that I'm not sure they will be worth it in the long run... The steering linkage issue is really frustrating. Mike

Joe it was to clear the alternator from the filler neck... Of course you guys were right and the alternator hits the hood so that will need to be resolved... Ugh... Clive, Weeks if I am lucky...

Making progress...

Got a tremendous amount of work done again today... Fabbed up a new strust brace (three mount points) and finished cleanup on the motor mounts and other bits under hood. I need to Weld on two new brackets for the hood hold down rods so we can lower the hood tight under pressure. If all goes well, the motor and trans will be in by the weekend and all the plumbing will be in place. I hope to have the Oil tank will be mounted to the rollcage in the rear of the main hoop on the passenger side. I hope to have the parts in to mount that up. From there it will be easy to install the lines and finish the plumbing out! Man this thing is coming together! Mike

Major Success on the Zcar yesterday evening. Managed to get the driveline angles set, and finalized the locations for the front motor mounts... All is looking pretty square and true. With the impending heavy snow/ice, I'm hoping to spend some time today cleaning up the engine bay and getting the motor and trans ready for "final" install.

I dig 'em!

Pics of my old fiberglass bits I reacquired!

Tony there are very few people in the Zcar community that I truly wish dark things upon, and Les is not one of them. I wish him well and hope he has found happiness. Mike

Back in 2001 I bought a Gnose from a guy in Atlanta Ga. and drove the 9 hours to pick it up. The thing was beat up pretty bad, but for $300, it was a find... Not long before that I had bought a rear spoiler/taillight panel at a swap meet. The spoiler and panel has never been seen anywhere else and I really thought I would use it at some point. In 2002 I loaned both pieces to a guy names Les Heath. Les was a huge Zcar fan and really wanted to get back into the car gig. Les had broken up with his fiance and sold his house in Winder, Ga. and was back in Va. I was in the middle of building my garage and setting up shop at our old place, and Les needed work. I offered to let him the concrete and block work on my job, and then offered him the chance to copy the fiberglass parts I had so he could sell them. Les jumped at the parts and then promptly disappeared. Fast forward to 2014 and Facebook. Les' uncle Tommy contacted me online and told me he had the parts in storage and asked if I wanted them. I jumped at the chance to go pick them up. They are now back home, a little more cracked, a little more worse for wear, but they are home none the less 12 years later. I want to thank Tom Heath for contacting me and holding them for me, and I want Les Heath to know that his family and friends care about him and worry about him. I hope he finds happiness and productivity in life. I will post pics in my build thread... That said, Tom is holding na pair of fenders and a dash at Norfolk County Feed and Seed in Portsmouth Va. If you want them go get them!! Mike

Back in 2001 I bought a Gnose from a guy in Atlanta Ga. and drove the 9 hours to pick it up. The thing was beat up pretty bad, but for $300, it was a find... Not long before that I had bought a rear spoiler/taillight panel at a swap meet. The spoiler and panel has never been seen anywhere else and I really thought I would use it at some point. In 2002 I loaned both pieces to a guy names Les Heath. Les was a huge Zcar fan and really wanted to get back into the car gig. Les had broken up with his fiance and sold his house in Winder, Ga. and was back in Va. I was in the middle of building my garage and setting up shop at our old place, and Les needed work. I offered to let him the concrete and block work on my job, and then offered him the chance to copy the fiberglass parts I had so he could sell them. Les jumped at the parts and then promptly disappeared. Fast forward to 2014 and Facebook. Les' uncle Tommy contacted me online and told me he had the parts in storage and asked if I wanted them. I jumped at the chance to go pick them up. They are now back home, a little more cracked, a little more worse for wear, but they are home none the less 12 years later. I want to thank Tom Heath for contacting me and holding them for me, and I want Les Heath to know that his family and friends care about him and worry about him. I hope he finds happiness and productivity in life. I will post pics in my build thread... That said, Tom is holding na pair of fenders and a dash at Norfolk County Feed and Seed in Portsmouth Va. If you want them go get them!! Mike

Some of you might recall about 12 years ago the missus and I drove to Atlanta to pick up a Gnose for my project. Les Heath borrowed it to make a buck for molds. Les fell off earths face and has never been heard from...12 years later and tonight on Facebook his uncle hit me up and asked me if I was the guy who loaned Les the parts... I am happy to report that Tommy Heath has been sitting on that Gnose and it will be coming home to me very soon. I guess karma does come back to you...

Guys, I'm looking for a starting point for a project a friend of mine has. If anyone has a decent base file to start with, that would be a big help! Thanks in Advance! Mike

Parts list and costs updated...

Parts list and costs updated...

Picked up the chumpcar reman motor yesterday, and have put all progress to the Zcar on hold. I have a team paying to rent the chumpcar for the March VIR 12 hour race, so I need to focus on the chumpcar for the duration of the next two weeks. Really close to getting the motor into the Zcar. We have all the parts in except for a custom length serpentine belt, the alternator (which is on order) and a head plug for the one L92 head. That's it, then I can install the motor, weld the mounts up to the chassis, remove the motor, finish the welding on the other bits on the car, and then place the tank behind the main hoop passenger side area and run all the lines. We're really close, gang. Probably a solid weekend of thrashing. But again, it's on hold through next weekend.

My wife has been sick with flu since Wednesday and I pre-empted Valentines day with flowers last Friday while I was at Road Atlanta. She is still sick with flu bug, so no sexy valentines shenanigans tonight. Mike

Since we have over 12 inches of snow on the ground and I have a sick wife with the flu, it was perfect time used to go to the shop today and work on the LS3 and the chumpcar. I managed to install the 60# injectors onto the intake with the fuel rails and mounted the brackets and coil packs onto the valve covers. I then moved on to the chumpcar and started sorting the seating issues...Half way thru with that and will wrap that up over the weekend.

Guys If you know of a seat, I was planning to run Daytona with another team, but have since changed my mind. I am looking for a seat. Mike

Zack, I was in very poor spirits after thrashing all day to "prep" a car that should have been prepped and ready before the race. There is absolutely no shame in cancelling, which I think Micheal has learned. Was a large expense and waste of time for all involved. Our team turned a total of 5 laps and the car had no brakes and a number of other safety related issues. On a similarly frustrating note, I JUST got my coilpacks/brackets/injectors yesterday. In doing a friend a favor last fall I ordered a bunch of stuff from him. Amazing how long it takes some "speed" shops to get parts in, when Summit and jegs seem to get stuff to you within 72 hiours. Matt, Was good seeing you and I greatly appreciated the ride in the kart and the calendar. Will be February all year for me. Mike

Wow...