Mikelly

Plumbed the rear brakes, mounted the 13inch front rotors, and mounted the park-lok and bias adjuster today. I also started fabing up my last set of TC Rods for the project. I found out today that the calipers I've for might not clear the ears on the bracket mount for the rotor I was using (85 Turbo 300ZX) so I'm gonna have to look at something to correct that or ditch this setup and go with something else for the rear. I'm also planning to order Ross' stub axles... ALong with the Tranny, that'll be the last major ticket item other than the cromoly cage, paint, and that's it... I'm getting closer... Lots on my mind though... Good therapy, still... Mike

Yup, Happy belated you crotchety old... Er' nevermind... So, the wife let you hit the bottle? You ready to come out to the right coast and come to work for me yet? Mike

Screw him... Looks good and when you are driving yours with a smile ear to ear, and he is still wondering why his doesn't handle, look, or do ANYTHING well, other than continue rusting, you'll be then one shaking your head wondering why he hasn't gotten onboard... Mike

Exactly... Dale is 100% correct. Make sure you know what the material you are throwing into the oven can handle. There was a thread on one of the sportbike websites where a guy had a failure of a wheel the day AFTER he picked it up from being powder coated. The wheel was not designed for the temperature that it was subjected to and the owner destroyed the bike in the resulting failure, and got himself a stint in the hospital for his troubles... Powdercoating NON-load bearing items is one thing... But I'd be careful on wheels, hubs, and other items, especially those made of aluminum. Contact the manufacturer. To those of you who do powdercoat for a living or side work, I'd be real friggin' careful what you powdercoat. Good way to get a lawsuit from some whiner who will look to place blame elsewhere... FWIW, I trust Jamie Taylor with ALL my powder coating info... He's been in this buisness for a long long time and his company does the largest volume of powder coating in this area to my knowledge. Their oven could hold two of Mike's Scions! Mike

Ben, Jamie is running the 300ZXTT R230 rear. Jamie, We're all looking forward to seeing what you whipped up on the 30th... Pete is salevating to get a rear control arm fabb'ed up. Mike

Hydraulic... Got it From Mike Gibson a while ago...

So after the events of the morning and the funeral I attended, I decided I needed to do something in the garage that would distract me from my down, somber mood. I managed to bolt in the brake booster, master cylinder, Clutch master, and the vacuum canister in my project. I also got the MSD box layed out, along with the coil. I need to get a through-firewall mount so I can run the coil wire, but I'll tidy that up over the coming days. I also scored a set of Cobra Red Powder coated PBR calipers on Ebay and once they arrive, I'll go ahead and mount them and plumb the front section of brakes. Tomorrow I'm gonna hang and plumb the rear calipers, along with the bias adjuster and parklok for it, map out and start sorting the fuel line routing, and the Battery box mounts... Mike

Just got back from one of the most moving, and memorable funerals I will likely attend for some time. Steven Schyler Miller was the best friend to both my stepsons, Craig and Jeff. As some of you know, Steven was killed in a horrific accident while going to work last Monday morning. He was on a stretch of road, heading to work, when a 21 year old kid in a semi logging truck ran a stopsign and ran over Steven's car. Steven died at the scene of massive impact to the chest and head. He bled out before they could cut him out of the car is the unofficial word I got. This young man was a kid I would have wished to have as my own son. Respectful, polite, and courtious are just a few of things that come to mind. When I heard of Steven's passing on Monday afternoon, his face popped into my mind, and I see him there now. This young man hadn't been to my home in almost a year, but I remember everything about him... His smile, facial features, the smell of the cologne he wore, the tone of his voice... Everything about him. He was thoughtful, carring, and funny as someone with his goofy sense of humor could provide. He was a special young man. Donna and I were compelled to go to the funeral because of the significant impact his death had on our two boys. Jeff had just signed a lease with Steven and they were moving in together at the end of the month. Craig hung out with Steven more than his own brother, since brothers have tension and bickering sometimes... Craig and Jeff are no different. The thing about Steven was that Donna or I could say something like "Make sure Jeff is doing the right thing at school" or "Make sure Craig isn't screwing around in his car!" and Steven would have this calming re-assurance about himself when he said "I got it, trust me!" You knew that this young man had a pulse on his friends and kinda helped guide them. It was something a parent or stepparent couldn't put a finger on until today... So we dressed our best and headed to the Culpeper County Highschool about 45 minutes from our house, and attended this funeral where there were at least 300 people in attendance from all over the area. Steven touched many lives, and the devistation of his death shook us all the core of our beings. We collectively sobbed while story after story was told by friend and family member about something memorable about this special young man. I'm not overly religious and don't go to church, but I've got a strong belief in my creator. One that runs deep in my appelachian soul. I can't help but think that this man's work, at the beginning of his adult life, just weeks after graduating from a computer technical school and days after starting a promissing new career, a new life as an adult with the world ahead, to be cut down so soon, I can't help but think that his job here was done. My stepson Jeff, would not have made it through Computer Tech School without Steven there to balance his temper and impatience. They carpooled, went to school together, hung out, double dated, tweeked their import rides, started one of the largest car clubs in that area together, and were inseperable as best friends are at that age. Jeff would not be where he is right now, without the strength of Steven there to aid, balance and guide him. I guess Steven's job was done... But what was more amazing was the story of Jeff and Steven told in the stories of all those other kids (Literally 100 teenagers or more) who wrote of the same types of experiences about this young man. Someone so special, and so amazingly calm, happy, and fun, at such an age, to have been cut down like this, to no fault of his own, makes no sense... I know some of you are reading this and saying all kids are special to their parents... But this kid wasn't mine, and I'd have wished mine to be a lot more like him. He was special beyond words. It is a truly sad day when we burry our children. It is the most unnatural thing you can do, and my heart aches for Steven's mother and father. I can't imagine and do not ever want to experience the pain they are suffering in this time of loss and sorrow. So unexplainable the loss, I could only tell my wife while she sobbed in my arms... "Why ask why honey, Why ask Why..." Sorry to bring down the board... MJK

Wayne I just got back from a horrible funeral... Thanks for the smile, as your comments were on the mark... I certainly didn't take offense to your comments my friend... Please don't think that. Mike

Well there are good and bad examples of "Car Owners" in all the sports car crowds... And the mooks who wear gold chains and open shirts are there in the Vette Crowd... I've completely QUIT posting on any of the Vette BBs except in the forsale sections or in the roadrace/ autoX sections of those boards. They don't run those boards the way we do, and it isn't worth the grief from some jerk to post pertinent info... The vette guys who are regulars at the track day events are another story all together. Very fun, cool guys, for the most part. Mike

I have a set of Ross' aluminum five lug 300ZX front hubs WITH some 13inch two piece rotors I'll sell you VERY reaosnable... See the forsale ad I posted... Bearings, studs, everything you need except the caliper and bracket... I think I can get the bracket from Jamie for $50 as well... dat74z@yahoo.com MIke

Very nice indeed... Coming from some hack who just whipped a few sets together, these look friggin' awesome and simple in design, form and function! Mike

The uptight Vette Boys would have a collective massive heart attack! Alex, I'll give you a buck to do it! Mike

How on earth did I miss this "treasure"? I'm gonna be sick! Mike

Oh Christ! That one got soda out the nose! I can always count on you Alex.... Mike:lmao:

I just got out of court in Spotsylvania, Virginia where I had to answer to the charge of Reckless Driving… couple of observations I walked away with, since it has been a while since wearing a badge (Was in law enforcement for 5 years back in the late 1980s), or being in court. Dress appropriately… Do not go into court to answer to a charge wearing jeans, a jogging suit, T-shirts, anything with slogans on it, or anything dirty, ripped or torn. Don’t go into court wearing shop uniforms, or burger king outfits. I was amazed at HOW some people dress when going before the judge. NEVER and I do mean NEVER plead guilty. Even if you are. Most times when the judge hears a plea of guilty, there is NO reason not to find you guilty since you have admitted guilt. :toetap: Leave emotion at the door. The judge doesn’t want to hear how this officer is lying or that officer is out to get you. The officer is an officer of the court. He is an extension of the judicial process and therefore given the presumption of being truthful… Unless you have hard evidence that the police officer has perjured him self, don’t even think about arguing this defense. Over the last 10 weeks I’ve had a number of people from the various boards I surf on tell me to “get a lawyer†and prepare to get screwed in court. Virginia is notorious for taking licenses and throwing people in jail. I actually talked to one lawyer about my case in passing and he recommended that what I was planning was the appropriate course and that often times a lawyer won't get you any further along the process when dealing with traffic offenses. It is kind of hard to argue that I did NOT spin my tires, so that defense wouldn’t work… I did spin tires. So then what does that leave? What caused me to spin tires? I told the judge the truth. I was sick. The car wasn’t fully in first gear, and popped into neutral when I let the clutch out (It could happen ), and I shoved it back in first and the car broke traction… I also mentioned the snowstorm of three days prior and the resulting sand aiding in my loss of traction. I mentioned that I was not that polite to the officer because I was sick, and I believed that this reason aided in the officer writing me for the more serious offense of reckless driving… I then turned to the officer in question and said I was sorry for that conduct :blueangel: . But then I told the judge that I didn’t think what I did was reckless, but improper and maybe stupid :yesnod: . The judge agreed and reduced the offense to improper driving with a fine of $50 plus court cost ($56)… All this AFTER the officer made it clear that I spun tires, then fish tailed through the intersection, all in a 1999 Chevy Corvette. This is the seventh reckless driving ticket I’ve had either reduced or thrown out in my 22 years of driving :crazy: and this one, more than any other, was the one that kept me up at night. I lost sleep and was stressed out over it. Why? Because I’m 38 years old and I was driving a Corvette. I was pretty sure that I was going to get off or get it reduced without a lawyer, so long as the judge appeared to be fair and balanced. But if he was a judge that was harsh, it could mean loss of license. This particular judge was fair, to those who were properly dressed, and used proper manners in court, spoke clear and plain English, and did not use slang terms. It was quite the experience… Track days for me from here on out. Mike

More details coming to light... the truck Steven ended up under had run the stopsign and Steven was not at fault, and did not fall asleep as was initially the rumor... Driver of the truck is 21 years old and does NOT have a CDL license to drive the truck he was in. Charges have been filed. My reckless driving ticket was due to me spinning tires in second gear while making a left hand turn at an intersection. It was probably improper driving, but not reckless... I'm going in to plead not guilty and roll the dice... On the ONE UP NOTE from this start to this week, I've got a guy who is buying my ZX9R Ninja this week... He just paypal'ed me the deposit and he is relatively local! Mike

So let me get this straight... We were attacked, and enacted some laws that would target those we were about 99.5% sure were bad guys or their supporters, and it worked by and large? Gee, this can't be right, so by all means lets STOP IT NOW! I'm in no mood for political debate... Send to hell all those opposed to the US of A! That's right, double taps to the foreheads... Mike ( WHo has had a very $HITTY Day!)

You know what you have in your car, and this car LOOKS clean... might be worth checking out. If I was looking for a daily driver Nissan, the 240SX would be my first choice! Mike

So I just got word that my two stepson's best friend was killed in a car accident this morning... Young man just out of college, heading off to his first month working for a new company... Apparently the boy fell asleep behind the wheel and lost a battle with a semi... This young man was best friends with my 17 year old and my 20 year old... They were inseperable... Gonna be a rough week... I've got court tomorrow for reckless driving, the 17 year old has court on Wednesday for reckless driving, and now the loss of the two sons best friend... If you've got kids, give them a hug... Mike

I like it... very original... Mike

Grumpy, I have a question... I went through this recently and it was stressfull to say the least. If the balancer has been tapped on with a rubber mallet, should I remove the thrust bearings and replace them? I clearanced them afterwards and everything was within spec. Also, My threads were damaged only about 2/3rd the way into the crank. I had put a tap in, cleaned the rest of the threads, and can torque my ARP bolt down to 75PSI with the remaining threads... Should I bite the bullet and just tap it to 1/2 inch or use what is there with red loc-tite? Mike

That price is not out of line with current tuning with dyno time and adjustment of your valve train... Sounds like they are charging you for about 4-6 hours worth of labor, and the price is increased due to the word DYNO in tuning... Plus the welded in bungs, which take all of 10 minutes to do, and I'd be happy to do for free, but you are no where near me, so that isn't an option. Pay it. The car will not be the same car that enters the shop... Tuning with a dyno is important, but make sure they do a test drive after the dyno pulls to make sure the part throttle drivability is not an issue as well. Make sure they give you a nice SAFE tune and don't lean the piss out of it to get that last Nth of an ounce of power, while scorching your pistons! Mike

You guys are going down the wrong path... According to S&S it isn't their header that is the problem. Their "Guy" told me that they do custom builds for heads on Datsun Zs, but the price rises drastically... They believe it is the way we are mounting the motor using the JTR that is the issue and how we move the engine lower and further back, causing the tranny and headers to sit lower... The guy didn't even want to see pics I could mail him. They have a product to sell and they are selling a lot of that product and have no desire to change their jig. Also, be forewarned, that tubing used by S&S is pathetically thin... We've damaged TWO sets "tweeking" them. The first time I chatted with them on the phone, their "Guy" told me he would love to hear ideas about making it better... and would even consider making a different style... Second time, you would have though I was talking to a different company altogether... Good luck and keep us posted... Mike

Check my ad in the forsale section... Killer deal on a complete brake and aluminum hub setup... Mike