Mikelly

Two post lifts are more conveniant and more of a risk if not used properly. I've seen a couple of examples of Vans and SUVs/ Pickups where the arms are placed close together by the technician and the vehicle is left to balance on a narrower plane. I've been in shops and seen these LARGE and HEAVY vehicles start to teeter when the technician is working at one end or the other of the vehicle... Bottom line is if you buy a lift of any kind, you educate yourself on it's use, and on the placement of the arms on each vehicle you'll be picking up. Not taking the time is a huge risk. The other issue is the safety devices used in each unit. I'll not buy a lift where both safety catches aren't controlled by one release lever located at the control panel. A lot of these lower end "enthusiast" lifts require you to run from one side of the lift to the other to release the arms individually... THAT is a pain, and can also cause the example in the pic if you forget to release BOTH sides... There is a reason I carry a Million Dollar Rider on my home owners policy. I don't want someone to get injured while in my shop if a car should fall off the lift. But I also want to be able to cover their injury costs if it should happen! Mike

That's a very good price for that T5. I'd jump on it so long as it if it isn't popping out of gears or grinding going into or out of gear... Especially with everything included... Mike

For the kinda money you guys are throwing around, I'd be looking at the used C5 Market. Best bang for the buck in a sports car in my opinion. 2003Z, You're in the best position to answer this since you now have a C6 and you had a 350Z... Can you give us some driving impressions of both in stock trim and form? I know we're talking about 10K difference in a C6 and a comperably equipped 350Z, but it still provides some insight! I personally like the 350Z now... Kinda grows on you, and I think it would be a good daily driver. It has its strengths and weaknesses, but all cars do. I know there are some pretty quick 350Zs at the many track events we go to. The potential is there for a good overall aftermarket/ customized sports car! Mike

I have a brand new 383 stroker w/ forged bottem end (Eagle Hbeam rods and Forges Wiesco Pistons), with aluminum heads (Dart 202/160 valves) and a custom intake/ FI system using Holley System Commander and ecu all brand new, motor assembled with Canton RR oil pan, and S&S headers, Flywheels to Balancer that I'll let go Cheap with build book and all the efi Wiring... This is the best of the best in a 383 stroker that will be making well over 450Crank HP... (Desk Top Dyno spit out over 500CHP) Contact me offline for price on this BRAND NEW professionally assembled Bowtie block based 383 stroker... I'd like to go the LS1/6 route, so I'll let this complete and never used package go for a reasonable price. Mike

Contact me offline... Mike

Harrison, You've got the list about right. My personal opinion is that if you're staying below 400WHP (Not CRANK HP) then you're going to be fine with a WC T5 with a few minor upgrades. Go to D&D's website and scope the parts to customize one. D&D's tech line is GREAT and they can tell you what you'll need to fortify your T5. They also have all the diagrams online for you to do it yourself. Use a Digicam or video cam when you disassemble your tranny and you won't have any re-assembly issues. When I bought (Well when it was bought for me) the TKO600, It cost $1760 shipped and came with a Steeda TRIAX Shifter. I got road race gears in mine, since It is mainly going to be a track car. I don't think it is a good gear range for daily driver status though... Order some TALL 5th gear ring to aid in fuel efficiency. I bought Jim's Custom T5 through 5-speeds.com before Paul Cangialosi had his falling out with Cletus at Gforce and that tranny was AWESOME... It shifts so smooth and is an amazing and truly light weight tranny. If you can find someone who does their own re-assembly of the Gforce tranny, you'll be much better off than getting them straight from Bubba. Paul C. took the Gforce unit and disassembled it, hand fit everything, filed down everything to shift properly without issues, cleaned up the castings on the cases, and made sure that the Notchiness of the T5 was gone when it went out the door... I believe Jim McNemar's T5 is as good or better than my TKO ONLY because Paul did the custom work on his tranny. Paul does a LOT of Speed World Challenge Jaguars and Corvettes, as well as some of the VRL Vipers and has extensive knowledge of the T5 and T56 setups. There are of course other alternatives with companies selling you a custom TKO or T5 five speed. Just understand that a custom unit will not come with a bellhousing ($300-400 additional for a SFI unit) and will require hydraulic sortings and clutch/ pressure plate/ Flywheel. So you still have other costs to add to any T5. A factory Chevy WC T5 is the cheapest alternative to a T56, and will work in a moderate HP daily driver. Just understand that they will die a hard death under severe abuse with hard launches and drag radials. Mike

I'd LOVE to help you out right now. I really would. But because I'm not billing on a contract, I don't have access to anything that would be helpful. First time in 19 years I've been here. Price to pay for starting my own company I suppose! Mike

I have some first hand experience with both the T56 and the aftermarket T5s. The T56 I sold Tom Sumner was 145+ pounds for the tranny with aluminum bellhousing. The T56 flywheel is truly massive and about 42# for the 93-97 models. When you add those two, you're looking at a heavy combo. The Gforce unit we bought for Jim's car was UBBER light and very nice shifting. My TKO600n 5 speed is about 10-15# heavier. Add the Lakewood or McCleod Bellhousing to that and you get an additional 30#. However, THe benefit of the TKO or customized T5 is strength and custom gearing. I personally believe that the 5 speed is a better deal overall than the T56 in many applications, excepting the LS1/2/6 type combos. Search all you want for prices, but my experience found that D&D had the best prices on the TKOs and forget about "Bubba" and his Gforce. The guy was a real piece of work to "chat" with on the phone. Mike

UHhuh. My wife's exhusband came unhinged when I quite explicitely explained all the things she and I were doing that she never would entertain with his dumb arse... Make sure you're armed or have friends with you once you mail those kinds of pics/ details out! Nothing like taunting madmen! Mike

I agree V8Dats. I've been here all my life, and I really wouldn't want to recommend someone young to uproot and come here, unless it is the work and career opportunity... This place is expensive, congested (one of the absolute worst in the country) and overpopulated... Id I could make a go at it elsewhere, and was single, I'd be relocating OUT of the area, not into it... Now Richmond is another story altogether... Less traffic, less congestion, and all the "good" things about Virginia. mike

Was it PT Barnem that said it? Sucker born, every minute of the day... $.02 cigars for everyone! Mike

You could also go to D&D and buy the TKO600 with street gears and have it delivered for under $1800. That trans is lighter, stronger, and a perfect alternative to the T56... I have one of those instead of the T56 now. Mike

Once you slot the Xmember holes, you can slide the motor all the way back to within 1/4inch of the firewall... This thread is being locked... SEARCH. Mike

YUp, It was him... Hennessey used to get into online wars with people, tellin' them to meet him at XYZ location, and then of course NOT show up. He'd also have customers fly in from out of town wanting to see the records for the expenses to their cars, letting him know in advance, and then they'd show up to locked up shops. He's got a real bad reputation that has only been overcome by the HUGE amount of press he has gotten most recently for his 800-1000HP cars he is now regularly turning out. The word on the street is that his money and personnel issues have been resolved and that he is now turning out a decent product. He always has an explanation for the problems he suffered back in the late 90s and earlier this decade. One can't deny that he makes some very impressive products, and he is now plugged directly into Dodge for more support. However, I'd never in a million years turn over a car I bought to him to build, or want to rely upon him for honoring a warranty. He's actually banned from a couple of websites he used to be a supporting vendor of and there were numerous lawsuits against him for a host of auto service related things... Once a crook, always a crook. Mike

Taking measures to protect yourself and your family are good first steps... AFTER you seek guidance in your county and state on what you are legally bound to in order to protect yourself. You want to make sure you don't become the aggressor in the eyese of the law. As others have commented, document everything, and get statements from everyone involved and get them to the police. Then file a restraining order with the police. How long ago was it that your GF broke up with him? Make sure all parties are forthright with the police. If you aren't honest with them from the beginning, don't expect them to be sympathetic later. Mike

I mounted a pair on 8 inch rims, but they really looked stretched. I'd imagine 8.5 inch rims would be pushing it for fit. Mike

Jamie, Jamie, Jamie.... You mean REALLY GOOD Advice? Mike

You can get a T56 salvaged for around $1000... I'd go that route over the 200R4, hands down. Mike

It was $25 shipped for the pair... I didn't ask about a group buy and do not have the time to put something like that together... Sorry guys... Mike

I emailed him this morning and he qouted me $25 shipped for both patches. Mike

Pop, You are correct in that the Tremec T56 in the LS1/LS2/LS6 based vehicles is the same tranny, but required a different setup altogether because of input shaft length issues and bellhousing depth issues...There is an adapter kit out there made by a few different companies, but the best solution is to find the 93-97 setup and go with the appropriate flywheel for either the two piece rear main, or the one piece rear main, depending on your block configuration. Mike

I had a tech article published on the web a while back with step by step on what you needed for doing this with a Pre-86 block Chevy, using the 93-97 Camaro T56 tranny and all the related supporting parts... However, I can't find the orininal (Probably lost in bit heaven) and can't locate it on the web anywhere... It can be done, and the only issue is using a specific flywheel from Centerforce (153tooth) for the two piece rear main and getting the plumbing for the hydraulics together... Mike

PLead not guilty... That document is an article of evidence for the record and is inaccurate. The judge will most likely throw the charge OUT... Just plead not guilty and show the tickets with conflicting info, and then show the pics of the sign and other supporting data... Do not ask to have it reduced... Plead not guilty... The judge will throw it out in most cases because the cop obviously didn't do his job in reporting the info accurately. The whole stop and charges become suspect at that point. Mike

Mike, You're 22... You're still a baby, and in ten years, if this site is still here, and you still have internet access and are still a part of it, you'll read back on some of these threads and shake your head... Here's a little reality... You can find or make a relationship ANYwhere. The sheer number of single women anywhere at any given time is stagering. If you are so hellbent on "settling down", you might want to truly take stock in yourself and find out what you're not happy with in yourself first. Making a successful relationship starts with one person, Yourself, first. At 22 years of age, you should be finishing some projects, getting laid and having fun, and just enjoying life. There is no woman worth uprooting yourself and moving across country for at this young stage in your life... I think back to the last girlfriend you posted about and how dependant on you she was, and all the drama and all the games that were played. Removing all the drama from your life would be a good, good place to start with... then finding personal happiness... Then finding a mate. Although Sparks does make some good points, I don't see something on this scale working, just for the logistics alone... I know of nowhere short of an industrial complex where you could store all your "stuff", and moving that much stuff would be expensive, especially when so many of your vehicles aren't currently running... Major challenge there... Travel light, just doesn't seem to fit your plans... Just things to think about... Oh, and Ashburn is STUPID expensive... It is NORTH and WEST of Herndon/ Reston area and there is a housing shortage in that area. Visit her quite a bit, and take advantage of cheap airfare and her location to Dulles Airport (About 15 minutes away). Come up the weekend of December 3rd and bring her with you to our little shindig and let the East Coast gang give her our seal of approval! Mike

Wheels are like women... To each his own... Get what makes you happy! Mike