Mikelly

"Have I got a deal for you!" From the other side of the fence... I should have been in logistics, or maybe a buyer for some large corporation... The most favorite part of a project is searching for and getting the "DEAL"... To me, that is the funnest part... Just me, but you feel good when you find that "deal" that is unheard of... I'm searching for a car trailer right this very moment and I may have found that "DEAL" in a trailer with a minorly damaged frame for $1200. Deal or dog? Who knows... but it has been fun and exciting... Besides, how many times have you purchased something and then found out you paid WAY MORE than something was worth? Mike

If you guys are refering to the unit on the K&N website, you can't use it. I called them and according to K&N, the plenum doesn't move enough air for anything larger than the cubic inches it is rated for...and THAT is the problem. Although I'm as confused as everyone else, because my Vette has a plenum size that is somewhere close to 80-90mm and I don't get the sense that the diameter is restricting me much on the vette. Mike

I Have a brand new brake setup from Ross at MML that I'm selling cheap (Compared to new!) and it uses OFF the SHELF PBR calipers... The whole setup, including new aluminum hubs with quality bearings already greased and loaded normally runs $1299 plus shipping from Canada... I've got the two piece rotors, already installed on the hubs for $700 plus shipping, and can get the brackets to mount the calipers for an additional $50, and can send you a link to the vendor for the calipers (With pads) for $200! This is a SMOKING deal on this setup and saves you about $300 over new... These were installed on Jim's car and then pulled off because of an issue with the backspacing on the custom CCW wheels... it was cheaper to replace the hubs than have custom wheels remade. Let me know, as they are sitting here and ready to ship out. Mike

Used to be a site called http://www.hybrid-honda.org (I think) that was nothing but technical info, just like our site, and even more strict than us if that can be believed. In my opinion, that was the most non-BS site out there for just getting the facts... Tons of tech data, articles, wiring diagrahms, specs for all year platform motors, trans, differentials... Swap writeups... Well worth it... Mike

YOu could also shim the bushings in the TC box to get more caster. That would help quite a bit. Mike

I wasn't particularly impressed with Rossi up until he left honda and went with Yamaha... That was when the mastery of his style and capabilities came to light for me... I always thought that he was getting the best gear over Max and other Honda support riders, until he left and went to an underpowered, underfunded team... And cleaned HOUSE! Rossi is Quite possibly the most talented rider of our time. Mike

Funny, Last night I got a call from my CC company... They found suspicious activity yesterday and killed the account last night after confirming that I wasn't using the card in some podunk town in ohio... Nice... MIke

I beg to differ... I've had a few instances where I took folks to small claims court and I've always won... If you get your documentation together, have your facts straight, and dress and act professionally, checking the ego and emotion at the door, you'll be surprised how well you'll do... And when the judgement is handed down, ask for employer garnishment, stating that the defendant has been difficult enough to deal with... Let the courts set how the defendant should pay, and sometimes they will act as the broker... Defendant pays county, county cuts you a check... Makes it hard for him to skip out... Also makes it real easy for dumbass defendant to end up in jail if he does skip out. Mike

John C, you're living my dream... My goal for now is to get the Zcar done, since I've got so much money and time invested. I'll drive it this year and most of next year while I'm getting back up to speed and once I'm doing enough solo seat time in the advanced group and invites to seat time events, I'll get my provisional and buy a race car. I'm already planning to upgrade my trailer this summer to an enclosed unit. I also plan to buy something to race similar to yours. I recognize the dangers, and I've been asked to move UP in speed groups, and have declined because I'm not SAFE in those faster groups, or at least don't feel as safe. So I like to think I'm grounded and use good judgement, but its the others that scare me... Mike

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=1074999&forum_id=23 Fortunately none of these guys was injured and they were ALL instructors... However, Stupidity abounds at times even during HPDEs... Mike

Actually, I was growing more and more concerned that you guys would eventually have someone post my obituary. I got my motorcycle driver's license at 16 and have never been down on a motorcycle... I've been riding on and off for 22 years on the street, have bounced off the rear fender of one truck in a rain storm at 20mph, not falling, Bounced off TWO cows once (Saved by the crashbars on the bike) and bounced off a guardrail, riding it to a stop as I went around the onramp when a rear tire blew out... But in all that, over all that time, I've never hit pavement on a motorcycle... And I've never gotten a ticket on a motorcycle and I've been well over 170mph (Speedo indicated so who knows what the real speed was) on this last demon that I just sold... It simply was a matter of time. I'm spending all my extra money these days on track days and prepping the Z to finish it up, which was making me look harder at HOW I was riding on the street...Mind you, I'm not some squid who does stand up wheelies or stoppies, or in general acts up in congested area... No, I'm getting as far away from civilization as I can when I'd go ride. At 38, I don't think I want to go like that... Not on some motorcycle riding hard on the street... I was suiting up in full leathers, back brace, hard armor, knee sliders, and preparing for battle every time I went out... It was just a matter of time...I wasn't getting on the track on the bike... It was gonna be a bad get off... BIG yardsale/ parts explosion... Glad it's gone... Mike

There is a misconception among some sport bike riders that because they are riding superior machines that they magically posses those superior skills... I know of a hand full of motorcyclists who can put a knee down safely and execute maximum corner speed without leaving their lane or putting someone else in jeapordy. I won a case of beer on a bet that I couldn't do just this... But most guys (Or gals) simply don't take the time to learn to ride properly, get into a slugfest with someone who can drive a car, and come up on the losing end... That guy will tell that story to his closest friends some time down the road when his ego heals up... Good job on recognizing the red mist and backing off. After my stint in court last week, I sold my bike and track day parts... I'm done motorcycling for now... and done with any form of tagged street legal sport bikes... i'll own a track speicific bike, but never a tagged and legal one again. Mike

Sold my bike and about $2000 worth of extras to make room in the garage, cut down on ticket potential, being in an obituary, and in general making more time for the Z, track days and riding my bicycles more... I won't miss it and I won't miss mindless soccer moms driving tanks while applying makeup, answering their cellphone, driving with their knees and turning around to yell at little suzie... People suck... Mike

Yea Tim, That was what I used on my previous setup, and may again since the Sq Inch requirement for filter material is so high... I was hoping for something a little cleaner though! Mike

Guys I'm doing research on the whole TB adapter/ air filter plumbing issue for both Jim's and My motor projects... We're both running 1000CFM Tbs and the plan was to go with something like this plenum adapter: http://www.knfilters.com/Racing/plenum.htm Problem is this puppy filters ONLY about 45 sq. inches and We need something in the range of 120 Sq inches of filter surface... Anyone have suggestions for this... Will use tubing to plumb the air from in front of the radiator outside of the engine bay... We don't really want to hang a regular carburetor air filter setup on the TB, hiding the FI... I thought Tim or someone sent me a link a long time ago to an alternate solution out there... Mike

Nice... Not only did she hit the bike, but then she pulled forward and backed up again... Finishing the job properly... And she was in their "H2"! Fitting, really... Mike

Roger... Already spreading the word... Bastards... My wife is the head of the Credit Card department for a small Credit union and I can't tell you the stories she relays to me, but this is a GROWING and serious problem... Mike

I thought hearders were for SHEEP... California, where men are men and sheep are nervous... Mike

First car I ever raced in was a Ford Fiesta... Most fun I had in a car until I found my First Datsun Zcar... Mike

Grumpy has the answer if my teaching is correct. I'll assume a road race intended use since that applies to my intended use! The complaint with the Porsche 911 world class handling has always been the wonderful handling it is, right up until you get to the knifes edge of it...and it cuts you deep! Then the pendullem effect (That Jim M. Experienced a few weeks ago in his nice shiny new GT3 at supersonic speeds on a road course!)kicks in and sends one spinning off into the grass... Having the weight low is nice... having it low and balanced within the two axles would be even better. The biggest complaint I've had about fuel cells in Zs is that you are stuck hanging the thing out past the rear wheels... right where the previous tank was, and is still not optimal... This is also the reason I moved my battery from the rear deck and into the area behind the passenger seat. That weight will offset a significant amount of PMI while aiding in weight ditribution from front to rear, and moving it lower still! And John, Lets not give Kim Blough any credit here, my friend... a 55/45 balance is not optimal for a V8 Zcar, especially when sitting the motor so high in the engine bay and forward over the steering rack... Bad is bad, no matter the color, and a 55/45 ratio on a road race setup is NOT gonna win TTD no matter what Mr. Blough's memory will have him believe. Mike

What Tim Said... Someone in Zcar land is a step-by-step on how I repaired one on a 260Z... But the right answer is to move the battery elsewhere so you can get better weight ditribution. I'm getting ready to move the latest Zs battery to a space behind the passenger seat since I cut out the storage boxes. I'd like to keep the weight lower in the chassis if possible! Mike

Yup, these were seriously worked to flare out further and especially at the bottom of the flare front and rear ... Mike

Ample to me is like 1/4 inch... Hahahaha! I think his BS on the rears were 5.5 inches... Don't remember, but that kinda sticks in my mind. Those flares are the MSA IMSA flare that were seriously re-worked... this car has a line like none I've seen... Perfection is a word I'd use. Mike

You can see some pics of Jim's car with the 18s on at: http://photos.yahoo.com/dat74z Pic the red Z folder with Jims pics in it... He got Z06 sizes to insure he would have tire selections for some time to come! mIke

We recently installed a set on Jim McNemar's car so use him as a customer with similar setup for your application IF your car has flares... jim's car uses the 18X11 CCW and it fits with ample clearance for his coil overs. Mike