Mikelly

THe new SVO Mustang will be a live axle... Take a trip over to a couple of the track day boards and you'll hear the horrors of rear tie rod failures on those Cobras. Guys are converting them to live axle for this reason... Terry, Sounds like you need just a few more ponies! Mike

I would recommend you talk to guys like Mark Icard and JT1 on this site about their specific car's handling characteristics, if you're planning to do a V8 conversion. Those two guys ring their respective Zs out on one of the toughest road courses in America on a regular basis. What do you plan to do with the car? What powerplant (You stated an RB25, but are you 100% sure that is the route?)? What tranny and differential? Will the diff have LSD? Did you know that the stock Datsun S30 has ZERO suspension adjustment, save for toe adjustment in the front wheels only? Most any "project" Zcar you buy will need the following: Stiffer springs Uodated struts newer bushings upgraded sway bars. If you want the suspension to be adjustable, then you're gonna need upgraded control arms and a coil over kit. Really doesn't matter what powerplant you're gonna install to this point, other than spring weights. Do a lot of planning and research, and spend your money wisely, after you decide the intended use. Mike

In my opinion, It is still an SBC. It is 346cubic inches in the original LS1 configuration. I think a lot of people get hung up on the tehcnological aspects... Ford's little 4.6 is an SBF in my opinion though, so gage my comments accordingly. Mike

I've been using PROSPEED GS610 fluid... http://www.ogracing.com/eshop/itemdetail.asp?ses=589m1jmo3sv9nn0vrf&itemid=972&showbrake=1 My corvette has had this stuff in it at every event I've done. This stuff, along with Speed bleeders, braded lines, Hawk HT10 racing pads, and DRM brake ducts has really made the braking performance in the little Vette truly outstanding. I'll be using this stuff in the Zcar as well... Mike

My brother inlaw has a bendpack and it is nice, but NOT OSHA Certified and requries you to run to each side of the lift to release the safety latch. I don't care for that. My old AMCCO lift is great, but you can't get them anymore. Once we sell and move to our new place, I'd like to get something asymetric, so I'm not worried abotu how to pick up the Vette or other difficult cars... and not beating the doors against the lift posts is nice too... Grumpy, I'd not buy anything that requires you to leave the control station to lower the vehicle, and nothing not OSHA approved. Mike

I've spoken offline with 9Kredline.... Although there is a little interesting info finally coming out of this thread, I still think it is off topic of the original post... You guys want to start another discussion topic on this subject in a new thread? Mike

I don't think it has to do with model or brand... Do a search and you'll find every make has horror stories about warranty "issues" and they're all the same... Money money money... Mike

Seek specific guidance from the dealer you'll be using. Don't trust what you read on the various BBs.. Talk to the service manager, and this includes mods... Ask them what THEY consider to void your warranty. Dodge has played dirty ball with the diesel truck mods a lot of owners have done, so make sure you get it in writting before bolting anything on. Also, Keep receipts for all oil changes and maintenance you perfoprm yourself, to include filters, parts, and fluids... You must keep all paperwork if you want to be prepared for an eventual head to head with some service manager... Mike

RPMS hit it on the head... Not trying to start a "tiff" here, but the tone isn't what we're about here on this site... As to why I didn't get to it sooner, I've been a little busy as of late... As to my use of caps locks... I use them to make a point. I'll keep a better eye on your posts from now on 9K, not to worry! Mike

9Kredline, You hit your head or something? I wasn't being an AZZ! The guy posted what he was doing. He made a decision and went in a direction... Your tone is noted and I'd check it at the door before posting again... If he had posted "I'm going to the shop to get some mounts made for a motor, What motor should I get them for?", then your comment would have been appropriate. He didn't ask that, did he? Do I personally think he should do the LS1? Sure, I'm a huge fan of the platform. Did he ask that in THIS thread? NO, he did not. Based on his past posts, one should presume that he MADE A FRIGGIN' decission and was offering it up to others to get on the bandwagon as well... Leave the attitude on that side of the keyboard or don't play. Mike

...So I have to ask... 9Kredline, the original poster posted this in a CHEVY V8 Section. My guess is the guy has already moved beyond the point of choosing a powerplant, since he has gone this far. So my question to you is WHAT would make you ask THIS question NOW? Just curious. Mike

JT, That was probably Tom, One of the instructors from Corvette Forum. He was probably driving a bright yellow Corvette... This guy Les has sandy brown hair, about 5'10" 170 pounds, with a cheesy mustach and a southern drawl... Seems like a real nice guy... And then just disappears with your stuff... Real nice... Mike

What kills me is guys pony up to buy a dyno and then DON'T finish it off with the right cooling, and position the unit so it isn't close enough to fresh air... In the winter, this is an "OK" solution. In the summer, you are guarenteed to get lower numbers, which would be ok, but you also lose out on ANY real tuning solutions that will remain after the car is out on the street. Mike

Keep in mind that blueoval removed his whole radiator core support and layed his radiator at an angle to allow clearance... Big difference than just bolting on a hood... The L6 motor and radiator in stock configuration simply won't work with a hood design like that, especially with that flex fan setup from the factory, and the other issues I mentioned... Mike

The thing to do would be to locate his residence 100%, then go to the local police and file the warrant against him, once you've coordinated with the local State's Attorney's office. While you guys are racking up Scumbags who've screwed Zcar folks, Lesley Heath should be at the very top of that list... He feined the interest of a guy wanting to build fiberglass race car parts, parts that were hard to come by. I loaned him a complete Gnose and a Custom rear taillight panel that had an integrated rear spoiler... This last item was absolutely one of a kind and I've never seen another like it in my 20 years in owning or building Zcars. I loaned him the parts so that he could make molds of them, and eventually sell these items... However, He disappeared in September 2002... Gone, So long. He was living in Hampton, Virginia at the time, but had a house an hour north of Atlanta, Georgia with a girlfriend who had kicked his sorry *** out... He uses a lot of business names in the Zcar community to impress unsuspecting Zcar enthusiasts with his "Connections". Beware this guy... And if you find him or have had contact with Les, Tell him that I know he has been in Virginia 9 times in the last 120 days, and that I know he is also still running around Georgia as well. I will find him. Mike

A: Dr. Hunt is SPOT on... B: Tim did a good job locking this... C: Ben, You sure you belong here? Have a nive day! Mike

We'll look into it... I'm unimpressed with the fact that someone comes here to sell parts only, and not contribute to the world of HybridZ as a whole... If it were solely my say, I'd delete it outright, but I want to get a fair shake from the other admins... I'm known to be a bit "HARSH" at times! Mike

Based on the work John C. and others have done, and the power they've achieved with the L series motor, I'd not go any other route, if I wasn't a V8 guy... The ability to build safe power that is reasonably competitive, and the factory parts available, and the aftermarket parts available to fortefy the bottom end of the motor, I'd do the L6 over some of these other options... Although the Sr20DET is another motor I like for its size. Mike

...The Baddazz Z project is already in the works, just taking a little time to stand this new company up... Won't be getting rid of the Vette though, not for now anyway... BTW, that grey Z with the five stars in Clifton's avitar above is just SWEET... Nice clean and no chrome other than the wheels... Love the look! Mike

The stupid things we do to bed a woman! Mike

Well today was simply... Amazing. I went into my customer site for the last day, and they weren't happy to see me go. I'd spent the week training my replacement, and during the evenings working on the structure for the new company. I left them at 12 noon with a heavy heart, and drove to my current company corporate offices some 45 minutes away, fully expecting the worst from the CEO. I figured he would just take down my last set of hours for the contract, hand me my letter of resignation, and say goodbye. Instead he said "Lets go have a drink!" So off we went to the Colonial Inn. Talk about odd... We're sitting there discussing how I got to the point where I was given a slot for my partner to fill, and how the issues with my current employment and the new company clashed... Then he asked if I wanted to stay on board working out of his corporate office for a while, giving him a hand matching up his business propositions to his open slots... After a Q: & A: about how he could make this work to protect him, and allow me to do my own company thing, and his explanation of the structure, I agreed to stay on with the company for a while longer. So as of right now, I'm still employed with the same company, with the same salary and benefits, while building my own corporation. This is really gonna be crazy for a few weeks, but I'm gonna do it because I respect this guy like a god, and I feel I still owe him for the business he lost in the two slots my partner and I were sitting in. And, did I mention I didn't have a salary by quiting? This was adding a bit of stress... So right now I'm gonna help him out by sorting through his staffing/ contract issues, and work on getting business for my own company in areas he doesn't have work in. Amazing... Mike

Rick, You should be proud to have such selfless sons... I would be, for sure. Glad you still have him to hug, and glad we have sons like him in our service... He's made a sacrefice so few can comprehend... God Bless you both! Mike Kelly

So here's the latest update: We met with the Contract company who we're subbing one slot to and signed a contract for some significant revenue on our loaded costing data. We start that person on October 17th. We have a bank in town who is going to fund ALL of our payroll and start up costs. They saw the numbers and the forecasted numbers from our CPA, who the banker has worked with in the past, and the bank is comfortable with the numbers. We have benefits being provided through Bluecross/ Blueshield for my Partner and I. And the partner will have long term and short term disability coverage. I'll be officially the president of the company come Monday morning and will not be on a contract. I'll be doing business development until I find a contract to bill myself to . Until then, I'm on our payroll overhead. I now know what it costs to the penny to be me, to pay all my bills and live month to month. I've always dealt in round numbers... Now I'm much more certain on what the Kelly family household requires to operate on a minimal amount. I recommend you guys do that, down to the last penny, in order to gain financial stability. We're pretty certain we're going to have a pretty decent shot at success in this arena. We've got 40 years experience in this, and the numbers are favorable for us. It may take several months to get the slots to staff employees, but the rewards will be very significant. I'm willing to bang on those doors to get the business. I also now have a better understanding of S Sub-chapters, C Sub-chapters, and why an LLC is or isn't a good idea, given the structure of a specific company. The cost of a good CPA firm, benefits, legal representation, and financial support are also areas of education I've recently gained significant knowledge in. So the next several weeks I'll be gathering information so I can proceed in a new chapter in the life that is mine... Hopefully I'll be successful at this next step in employment. In the end, I hope being self employed will be as rewarding as I've heard! One things for sure... The next couple weeks, I'm not driving to Washington DC nearly as much as I'd have, otherwise! Mike

I love it... Everyone in shock is in shock because it was a Chevy Cobalt... Not because of the reasons listed in the article or John C.'s explanation. Go to a track day event guys and get a lesson. I know guys making seriously HUGE hp (700+HP) in supra turbos who detune their cars so they can drive them at the track and NOT be embarrased! Simply put, LARGE hp numbers only complicate the mix. Most GOOD drivers can take a 300HP car and LAP guys in much higher HP cars (who apparently have lesser driving skills )! If the Skyline team chose a driver who wasn't familiar with a RHD car, then they lost before they built the car. Who'se fault is that? GM? PuHleaze... And don't give GM that much credit... These are the tools who are diggin' themselves out of yet another fine financial mess! No, the Cobalt SS team won fair and square... Anyone who thinks HP is king and overlooks the complexities of the total package (Including the DRIVER) in any build will lose a humiliating loss and learn a valiable lesson on how not to engineer a project. Mike

JT1, Jody mentioned he met you last weekend, and that you pretty much were flying low everywhere out there... All the guys at the Corvette section at the track days know about HybridZ because of my shirts, hats, stickers, and the online pics of my project cars, yours, and Mark I.'s! They all think we're nuts! John C., CLASSIC story! Mike