Mikelly

Bootlefoof, Don't overestimate the power of a LS1/2/6 and its ability to get you to where you want to be in open road racing. There are cars doing the SSC and topping 180MPH with less than 400HP at the wheels. The chop on the roof, a nice rear wing, coil overs for rake/ ride height adjustment, aerodynamics at the front with a splitter and maybe some winglets, and you'd be in good shape. My previous 383 stroker was making around 400chp and I was able to do runs in the 155-160mph range with ease in sixth gear at 3900rpms! I'm also just finished up funding the build of a 500HP LS1 that would likely be more than enough to take a lightened Z into the 180-200mph range. That build up didn't run me $5000 and that was starting with a new block, crank, heads, forged pistons and rods... AND using ARP stuff to hold it together! Twin turbos or S/C isn't required in my opinion and will add cost, complexity and weight. However, I'm FULL ON BOARD with the LS platform as the ONLY VIABLE chevy swap option at this point. Mike

It also begs the question of WHY. I would argue that I have less worry, more fun, and am much safer in my 99C5 Vette, which with all the mods to it, I'm still not over $25K total cost at the moment (The 500+HP motor will take me to about $30K), knocking down 26mpg, and making 335HP & 353#ft. of torque at the wheels... It does track days like a champ, gets me to work and back in style, has excellent heat, A/C, airbags, and leather and a Targa Top for the sun, twin amps and a killer sound system to loosen the fillings in my teeth! With all the upgrades and parts swaps, this car is more Z06 and LESS C5! Imagine that... A Sports car that is RELIABLE, COMFORTABLE, AND SAFE! I told Michael this when he was at my home last winter... This Zcar is the last I'll build, and if I could move it without taking a crazy loss, I'd be onto a full race car tomorrow... I love Zcars, and what they stand for. BUt the market is what is and they are a resource that is drying up more every day. I don't see this car as a viable candidate to do "WELL" any of the things I currently want to do. Especially when compared to most of todays technology. And that brings me to the last point in this post... Try SELLING your beloved Hybridz. All it takes is chatting with anyone who has posted their's on Ebay... You won't get 1/3rd of the $30K investment... And I know, I know "That isn't why I built it" and "I don't plan to ever sell it" is what I'll here next... Spit happens, people change their minds, families grow, tragic events cause change in direction... LIFE HAPPENS! They're still cool, and every time I see Jim's car in the shop, or Pete graces me with the presence of his devil in a blue dress, I'm a sucker all over again and back working on my pile... SUCKER! YES I am... Mike

It does clear the hood, fortunately. It was close though... Jim isn't a fan of the look, in facor of a more traditional carb air cleaner, but I explained the benefits of getting as much cold air as possible into it. He's again trusting my judgement! MIke

Guys, I took some pics of Jim's car today with the SuperiorAirflow Adapter and piping for the Ram Air kit we put together for his car. I'm ordering mine over the weekend... Check the pics out Here: http://photos.yahoo.com/dat74z They are located in Jim's folder (Red 240Z)! The shop had installed a 3 inch exhaust which in theory will work, but was a let down when I saw some of the welds and the creased pipe from a NON-mandrel bender. The car is going to have to be raised up a hair due to ground clearance! And they decided to go with some AZCar camber plates! Mike

Good words to live By TIM! Good comments guys, this was more to spur discussion than to have the spotlight on me... I like the discussions and the "self-reflections" being shared... Mike

You don't get off that easy Mat! Try again! Good reach though! Mike

A number of factors, A really bad premonition, a couple of losses in the extended family, and a pint of Gentleman's jack, and I'm sittin' here thinking... You guys know about my latest trials and tribulations, and I'm sure by now I'm sounding like the whiney bitch... Maybe I am... Been a bad two months. So my cousin died this week of Liver Cancer. She left three teenagers behind, and she was a lovely woman. When I was a young boy of 12-15, I used to carry Regina's pic around and brag about my cousin. She was a looker with a heart as big as Michigan. Last year at our family reunion Regina went head to head with the "other team" while we did the ussual and beat up on them in volley ball. My aunt Virgie (Regina's mom) knew she was sick, but didn't let on. I'm still amazed she kept it together. Guess my father and his syblings are from strong stock. If you are bored by now, you might want to bail on this thread, as it is gonna be a long one... My therapy... Tough Zhit. (thanks Superdan.) SO all this latest death, stress, and kid "Stuff" got me thinking... What have you accomplished? I mean really accompished??? If your number is called tomorrow and you are yanked out of your shoes, what can you stand before your maker and be proud of? Can you? If you die tomorrow, is there someone who is gonna stand up and speak the truth about the wonderful guy or gal you had been in life? Is there someone who will be moved to speak about the "real" you and be able to depict you in death as you were in life? This isn't a religious thread, but maybe one of Karma? The point is you have one shot at life, and 80 years go by like waiting in a Dr's office, so Jr. Don't blow it, and PAY Attention. I was 17 years old when I graduated highschool. My father was LOWER (way lower) middle class and we lived on government cheese and foodstamps. It wasn't corvettes and 125K per year gov't contracts back then. I was happy to have a home and a roof...parents that loved me. Looking back, I'm simply speechless at the way life has turned out for me... Strong stock indeed. But yesterday I got into a conversation with one of my best friends and it turned into "what if... " and who I'd want to speak on my behalf if mr. grim came knocking... WHAT have I accomplished besides pissing off the wife and stepsons lately? Well that can be a tough question to ask yourself, and to give a fair answer! Well??... But lets face it... Life knows no schedule and death does not coordinate with day planners. So where am I going here? Those who haven't ejected by now, hang tight. There is a point, and no, it isn't on my head... We push to develop the most impressive cars on the planet, and we have the collective wisdom here and now... Don't bogg down in the most technical of details and drag this project HybridZ out longer than you can justify at the end of the day... It's a car. We're not curing cancer here (although, right now my family, extended family and others wish it were that simple!)!!! The object is to build, drive, and enjoy the ride. Can you do that? Will anyone know if you didn't get coil overs, or big brakes on it for the trip back and forth during the daily grind? Build, drive and enjoy for YOUR car for YOUR application... After all, you are who you should be building for! So, I'm sitting here thining about this life, this life that Dan Porter and Owen have for ever changed for me personally, and I know that in that last breath, that last instance life is here within me, Some how this site, you people, will be in my mind... Crazy as it sounds, along with my family, wife, son, step kids, all the friends along the way... You will be with me... but what will I have accomplished, that I can speak of, of course... So what have you accomplished? Just think about it... Clock is ticking! Mike

Bootlefoof, I am in NOVA every day, Monday to Friday. I"d like to stop by sometime and get some pics of this puppy in person if you don't mind... Mike

Go on... Git now... Gidderdone... GET THE CAR... Cleaner the better! Mike

SO my Vette had spent the last two weeks on the lift due to a bad rear diff, and some other mods I was cookin' up to fix a few other potential issues... Tonight, After dinner I figured it was time to shake her down and make sure it would be "commute" worthy... So I took it out and filled the tank, and then hit one of my "Circuits" where I can evaluate the car for any vibrations, noises, and toss her around a few corners... So at the end of all this "fun", I decide to slowly go back through town, down the main drag and then home... I'm cruising along when a Red Mitsu EVO 8 Pulls by me and starts rowing the gears... I blip the throttle in traffic a little, but coming off the heels of my reckless driving ticket, I figured I'd take my time and not get stupid... he hauls azz past me right in front of the state police barracks... I just shook my head and pointed at the officer in the parking lot LOOKING at him and writing HIS TAG down... I'm sure his side of the story will be "another kill" on a ricer board... Nice! Kids... Mike

Mark, I got an adapter block from LGM for the LS1 that allows you to plumb oil coolers into...It still retains the sender port of the factory piece too... $99! You might be able to use that to plumb the accusump... I just did get the lines run on the vette with the cooler and that adapter this past weekend... On Corvetteforum there are some detailed pics and threads on doing an accusump on that motor... Mike

Just spent four days buttoning mine back up and I may actually get to drive it this evening... I'd test it out this morning, but I've got way to many tow bills as of late! Mark, Sorry to hear about the motor, but you knew it was coming, right? Accusump! Don't leave home without it! Mike

I've got one... Choice piece and at a very respectable price! Mike

How about "OEMSUX" or "NOPURST" OR I personally love "HYBRIDZ" MIke

Ultimately, You want to have both if you can live with the noise factor of camber plates. I'll be doing camber plates along with my adjustable lower control arms. BTW, Nice looking arms... They look very familiar! Mike

YUp, John! I had my slab poured to 6 inches on half the floor, using 3500psi Fibermesh. I also ran rebar in the floor and the footers... I still had the floor slope and crack over time... Oh well...My lift has been well used and has earned every moment of its stay in my shop... Best investment I've made in any tool for the shop! Mike MIke

Reason I specified the OSHA rating... My corvette is about 700# heavier than most of the Zs here, and it has been in the air on my lift for two solid weeks now. You can park another vehicle under the car that is on the lift with a twin post lift. Things I'd look for are ground clearance, weight rating, the size of the "Feet" of the posts that the unit will sit on, and especially OSHA safety devices. If you buy one, I recommend having it serviced by a professional. If you buy a used one, take someone with you who knows how to look at them and make sure you don't buy 1500# of headaches! If you get a deal on a unit, I recommend replacing the cables (If it is an electric/ hydraulic) and having the unit serviced by a pro. My lift is an older AMCCO lift that is 9000# rated and has held my fullsize 4X4 extended cab truck on overnight, due to the safety latches... NEVER let a vehicle rest on the hydraulics... ALWAYS lower the vehicle onto the safety stops... I always tell people to remember the Space Shuttle when screwing around with JACKs and LIFTs. If a hydraulic line or seal fails, the car will fall onto the safety device at a much faster rate, and possible SHIFT and fall OFF the lift. I'm no mechanic, but the stories told to me by the guy who serviced my lift, plus the stories I've read about cars falling off lifts always keeps me on my toes when working on cars ON my lift. When prying or muscling a part on a car on the lift, ALWAYS be aware of the lift and make sure the car is NOT moving on the lift... It sounds simple, but seeing a car that had fallen off the lift and talking to a mechanic it happened to, it is SOOOO easy to have one come off on you if you aren't paying attention. NEVER assume you'r picking a car up in what may look like a logical point... My Vette has special lift pucks for it, and you must pick the car up in the specified location or you will CRACK the balsa/ composit floor/ firewall. Other cars have similar issues, like hatch glass cracking if the car is picked up improperly. Educate yourself about the car (Look in the owners manual) before you jack it up or lift it up! All the above issues are why I got the added liability insurance for my home/ garage. Accidents happen. Mike

I'd like to see this one in person... I'm truly impressed... That roofline is simply awesome! Where in Virginia are you located? Mike

ONLY using the Northern unit I have... The unit Jody is using from Harbour Freight seems to have different dies for the bender and seems to work well... If you're going this route, get what Jody has... mine will end up as a mini-press and that's about all I can see using it for... Mike

Yup, while at the last shindig, Jodey brought his spacers and we tried bending some 1 5/8th. I had previously bent 1.5 inch tubing without kinking it. I plan to buy a real tubing bender designed for cage work from a source locally for about $500. Mike

That is a heck of a ride! :thumbs: Day trips for me used to encompass runs down the BR parkway, and then west into West Virginia, up into Maryland and back home, all via back roads... I may end up with a Ducati Multistrada... Test rode my Buddy, Barry's the other day... What a NICE friggin' EYETALIAN motorscooter... I envy you! Mike

Damn... If you come across any more of those spiffy hats... Tim send me a couple of transfers and I'm sending you some money!

Four post lifts eat up a LOT of floor space... I personally do NOT like them. My twin post lift cost me $900 and I love it... UIsed it now for 3+years and it was the absolute best 900 I've ever spent. Make sure whatever you get is OSHA approved and contact your home owners insurance agent to get an education on the "doos and don'ts" according to your policy... I added 1Million worth of liability insurance to my policy and my policy does NOT cover any vehicles not on my insurance policy. Mike

Congrats!!! MIke :thumbs:

Would LOVE to be there, but the Vette is being put back together today... I'm actually missing today's event I paid for at Summit because of my rear differential going south in the Vette... Oh well, about 80% back together! Mike