Mikelly

He's a truly amazing indivual. To be told that you "have Months" to live and then rebound to this. Simply unimaginable. I was pedaling out 30 miles in this hot east coast humidity last Saturday contemplating just how impressive his achievements truly are. I ride 30-50 miles and think that's a major accomplishment... this guy warms up on that, and then grinds out that much more at a tempo that I need a slope to match... Spinning at 30+mph on FLATS! I highly recommend reading his books. Very much worthwhile! Mike

Sorry, but for all the money and gucci parts, they should have run Forged Pistons. This is a performance engine of major proportions. Noise isn't going to (Or shouldn't) be a factor... Just one "CHEAP" mans opinion! It is a BAD AZZ motor, and I want one, no doubt... Just don't want to pay that kinda scratch to get one! Mike

Oh I understand the issues over shipping them. And I've had two sets of 300ZX hubs that worked just fine. Once you get the proper backspacing for that hub configuration, you're good to go! Cheers! Mike

This issue actually confused enough people so that Ross, and then Jamie T. started making their own aluminum hubs that are of the original configuration as the 240 offset. The link you posted in the question about "thinking Big" I believe has pics of the Hub I bought from Jamie. Although 5 lug, it has the 240Z hub depth. Mike

You're welcome, guys. As stated above, the front tires "might" have been out to the edge of the fender. I tried looking back through some old pics I was able to dig off yet another failed hardrive from back in 2000, but I couldnt find any pics of the stance showing the front edge of the tire on the front fenders. I'll see what else I can find over the weekend to give you a better idea. I know fitment was on the ragged edge, and a small flare could have been used to really add to the body line, since the rear was flared already, but there was no rub. Good Luck! Mike

Well here's another question, since there is sooooo much oooohing and Ahhhhing over those ti connecting rods and that hand built motor. WHY have they decided to USE CAST PISTONS? According to my vette magazines and Chevy HiPo, they are STILL using a cast piston on the end of that little titanium rod. That makes ZERO sense. If I'm paying $12595 for a motor, I've expect to have a forged bottom end... the dry sump is a VERY NICE touch, so atleast chevy is finally doing something about the Hi G-force oil starvation issue. But I'm still dubious. Mike

Chris Cloud, Former member of this board, and former business partner of mine, Used to work for Nationwide Insurance and knew the racket inside out. It is to their best interest to give you the least amount of compensation you will accept. The bottom line is that they are prepared to pay you in full what your car is worth if you can prove without doubt that your car is worth $4000 (Using this figure only as an example). However, As Anthony points out, they aren't required to hand you some amount above that figure. The idea is replacement value. When I went before the Statefarm boys, I had a folder with receipts in it that was more than an inch thick, plus a Video tape of my promotional work using the car in my business at the time. Documentation is the key. If you have receipts for anything, show them. In the future, keep all receipts so you can prove the modifications and their cost to duplicate. Nothing beats those when it comes to arguing worth. The other guys made excellent comments... So it sounds like you've got some followup work to do on your end. Good luck! Mike

OK, I was (I think) your age when I had mine totalled. Don't let them think you aren't able to afford a lawyer. You have to be confident, and you have to make them understand that if they do not come up with a better number, then you'll be forced to take it to court. Now, You would not sue the insurance company if it did go to court. You'd sue your neighbore in civil court. They would be requried to go after their insurance company for any compensation due them from your suit. Bottom line is make everyone aware that you know (with proof in hand) that your car is worth XXX value in replacement cost, based on the examples available on the market. This car is a classic and does not fit the traditional NADA mold. Fight it. They will make every excuse and not return calls. They want to beat you down until you will ask for that check... That's exactly what they are hoping for. Mike

Dude, they are lowballing you. Tell them you expect REPLACEMENT VALUE based on the examples in similar condition. You're a victim here and should not LOSE the value of your car because someone else was negligent in their actions. Don't accept any payment you're not happy with. Make sure you get examples from the want ads, Craigslist, Ebay, Zcar.com, Autotrader.com, Edmunds, and the like... Fight this and you'll be rewarded. Give in and take a small payment and you lose. My 74 260Z was totalled and I got $7800 AND was allowed to keep it. Mike

http://www.zcar.com/month/2001/01/ There is the pic of the car I reference above... Mike

Yup, Austin Just gave the best tip of this thread... Doug Carrow hipped me to this a while back... BONDO brand filler is GARBAGE... I think we use the Evercoat Light Filler... Stuff goes on smooth, sands well, and leaves ZERO pinholes... I showed my wife this pic and gave a little Background on Austin and she was blown away... Amazing talent there young man! Mike

Tony, The car I had them on was a 74 260Z. We had NO rub issues and this car was used to AutoX with. The springs at the time were the MSA springs, and I was using the AZC Koni oil filled adjustable shocks. I had front adjustable control arms and rear bushings. We also had Sub-frame connectors installed and a cage. The rears had 265-50-15s on them and obviously had no issues since the car was flared in the rear, but still on stock purches. The front wheel/ tire combo had zero interferance issues and was stock configuration for the strut purch. This has been a while since even seeing pics of that car setup like that, because a harddrive failure, but the front tires may have gone out to the edge of the fender lip. Age is taking its toll, but I do know we had no rubbing of sheet metal and lock to lock was no issue. I drove this car with that combo for at least two years. Members here met me for the first time with that car on those wheels. After I took the car off the road to address a fuel cell issue, I swapped to coil overs and big brakes as seen in those pics and the link you posted. The wheels were long gone by that point, since I upgraded to fivelug hubs as seen in the pic. Funny side note to all this was that I ordered those wheels for the car in 1997. Got them special ordered through Summit Racing. Two years later I wanted to upgrade to Centerline AZTECs and Centerline said NO. No more 8 inch wide wheels on a four bolt pattern, not even for custom orders. So I kept those wheels while I contemplated a 5 lug upgrade! I eventually took the car off the road and sold the wheels to a member here. Mike

Wheelman, Your son is someone who should be looked up to on MANY levels in this day and age. In such an uncertain time, your son has chosen to DO SOMETHING where he can make a difference, learn along the way, Mature overnight, and contribute in a positive way to the world in which we all live. Although your heart may be heavy, take pride in the fact that your son made a choice and is acting, rather than sitting on the sidelines of life, wondering "What next" or complaining about the world situation, but not "DOING something" to make a difference. You're a lucky man! Mike

Tony, I'm tellin' you what I'm tellin' you because I've had 17 Zcars in the last 18 years. I'ive had 8 inch wide rims on the front of Zs previously with STOCK configuration suspension, no coil overs... Matter of fact the Pics of the white Zcar when it was nominated Zcar of the year back in January 2001 had MSA springs on factory purches, and the wheels were 15X8 centerlines. I believe the backspacing was 4.5 inches, but it has been a while... But I know for a FACT that those wheels were 8 inches wide and I was running 225-50-15s. I used NO flares on the front of the car and a member here bought the wheels from me and has them on his car. Don't know what else to tell you, but go out to the archives at Zcar.com. If BFG Comp Tas fit under it in those sizes, I'm sure you could find a 17 in similar diameter and width. Mike

Well after windowing my LS1, and doing a bunch of research and finding out what Lou Gigliatti and Dave Farmer (And others) are doing to make them live, I'd not install another LS1/6 in ANY car I plan to drive hard without solving the oiling issues inherrant to the design. GM advices to add an extra quart for track days, then shrugs their shoulders when you complain you have oil coming out the throttle body. Joe Gaudette, a regular I've been running track days with, was seeing oil pressure drops to under 30PSI at 5800 RPMS going around Oaktree Turn at Vir, a moderately low speed 180 degree turn just after where I spun in the video I posted. That is some serious oil starvation there! Canton Accusump and electric valve, along with an oil cooler will go into my Vette with the new motor in a few weeks. Mike

It is defenitely a dry sump, but I'm not sure about the crate version or if the drysump is included in the price. What's a drysump system going for these days anyway, for a conventional SBC that is? POP, If you go over to LS1Tech.com, there are venders over there now selling stroker shortblock kits at pretty affordable prices. I recently had someone contact me after reading about me Holing my block and that specific vendor told me he could put me together a 408 shortblock for $2100 shipped, and that was with pretty stoute forged Ibeam rods and Probe pistons. The prices on these LS based Chevy powerplants is dropping bigtime. Mike

OK Austin, Fess up, your girl painted the car didn't she... Welcome into the fold Ashley! Nice sound deadener! Looks increadible. My only hope is that mine turns out so well! Mike

Not true at all... Go here: http://photos.yahoo.com/dat74z and check in the New Zcar Project folder. Those 2002 Mustang GT wheels are 8.5 wide 17s. the rear tires are 255-40-17s and the fronts are 245-45-17s. If you look in the other folder with the control arms as the first pic, you can see the cobra R 10.5 inch wheels mounted up on another Z and I had to space them OUT to fit the fender flare... I could easily run those 10.5 inch wheels on the stock bodied Z I have. Just be aware that larger tire/ wheel combos are HEAVY and ROB power. Mike

...Amazing. My LS1 motor has cost me less than $6000 and will be about 500-510 Flywheel HP. You could build a well fortefied LS1/6 bottom with a set of the new AFR heads and cam and be well over that for less than $9000. Mike

Mark, Since I'm building a track car now myself, I'm VERY interested in that dash. Can you send me a PM Offline with your review of fitment and quality, as well as how easy the gages went in? Mike

I'd love to have that car... Course I'd take all that stupid crap off the suspension, and sell those wheels to some idiot... Mike

Terry, What about a Gnose? Can you bring one of those home in carry on? Mike

Guys I need a recommendation for a shipping company for my LS1 motor. It is done and I need to get it from Arkansas to Virginia next week... Any recommendations for a shipping company would be appreciated. Estes Freight Shipping wanted $956 and that just sounded SOOOOOO wrong. Mike

Here's a little tidbit of info on that HP Figure and that specific car... The late 90s/ early 2000s Mustang GT was a PIG at about 3400#! IF he is making 300HP, there is not a chance in hell that TURD will hit 60 in under 5 seconds...Without the aid of a very steep cliff. Now maybe he has the car stripped out, but I doubt it. Here's why: Most of these confused car wannabees aren't gonna be without their sound system with requesit 18inch DUAL subs, amps, boxes and WEIGHT. AND this guy probably wants the ULTIMATE bling factor, so you know somewhere hidden in all that mess are about 4 DVR screens, a play station and other mobile video CRAP. All that wonderful entertainment on four wheels SCREAMS LOOK AT ME while adding even MORE weight to that turd... Nice polishing though! And you know our man did NOT take out the A/C and condensor, plumbing and associated lines/ gear to save weight, cause when he is pimpin' at the hang out, he has to keep his shirt wrinkle free and fresh for the ladies YO! Bottom line is the boy obviously has multiple personality disorders, and he tells fibs! Mike

This unit has a drain and fill plug, the main body pan and the pan at the front where the torque converter sits. So I'll plan to use Dextron III then. Mike