Mikelly

Say what you will but it boils down to two things... Are you better off now than four years ago??? Four years ago I was making about $78K per year, driving a 1993 truck and a 90 Honda Civic, no exterior garage, and squeezed into my little (No Familyroom) garage... Today, four years later, I have DOUBLED my investments, have a LARGE two story garage behind my house, added 550 Square Ft. to the living space in my home, drive a 1999 Corvette and a 1998 Chevy Silverado 4X4... and I'm sitting ontop of a $44,000 pay increase... GEE, I guess I should be upset with my PERSONAL growth under the Bush regime???? Conscience.. Most people voted their conscience and most likely sat down and looked at where they are today vise where they were before... and MOST probably didn't want to change leaders under the current circumstances with our country. Interest rates are lower on homes, cars, second mortgages... People are paying less for more... my home mortgage is $1070 per month... It rose more than double in value in less than 5 years, and costs THE SAME as it did when I bought it... No, Sorry, But my world is MUCH better than it was four years ago, so I'm happy I voted for the AZZHole. Just my opinion... Mike

Nope Forrest, Not necessarely... Let's let Ivan fitght his own battles... Shall we? Mike 8)

I wasn't going to chime in, but Steve and Ian used 280ZX Illuminas on their car until they swapped to Bilstiens... Guys, yea I agree to a point that it was his place to make sure what he bought was what was sold, but come on now... We have to all be reasonable... And furthermore SOME of you have commented incorrectly without even READING the original post completely and understanding the issue... I'm not taking sides on this, but what I'm saying is PUT YOURSELF in the buyer's shoes... And as always BUYER BEWARE... Shame that we have to deal with issues like this... we can always DO AWAY with the forsale section all together and do away with the headache of people being taken advantage of or people feeling they were taken advantage of... I'd like to think we can rise above all this and ALL BE FAIR... Bottom line is we should all know what it is we are buying when we buy it, AND when we sell it. If you represent something as XYZ, then it best DAMNED WELL BE XYZ... To future buyers, TRY TO VERIFY WHAT YOU BOUGHT IMMEDIATELY... dealing with it within a few days is MUCH better than a few months... Mike 8)

I'll bet dollars to donuts it is all atalk and your buddy will be here in four years... the wounds will heal, only to be opened again... And if he goes, so what... Good bye. The Supreme Court will NOT change... Democrats will stall and filabuster the nominations to death... this means nothing in that area... there will be checks and balances... Let the panic begin... Mike 8)

I'll have one available within the next couple of weeks... We're converting a Scarab to a JTR... Hit me offline if interested... Mike 8)

I agree 100%! I think John Kerry did an outstanding Job in his speach today, and probably took a few pages from the aftermath of Al Gore's little stunt. Draggin this into the courtroom and spending millions of dollars was NOT the answer. Kerry made the best decision of his political career. Kerry gave a very good, very heartfelt consession speach and I was moved by his tone, comments, and finally something honest from him. Maybe his other messages were lost in the mood and hype of the media and entertainment personalities... Shame really, since we only base what we know of either candidate based on the media's tact. Here is what I hope comes out of ALL of this... If you are a performer or entertainer... Do your job and STAY OUT OF POLITICS. I don't care about Bruce Springstien or Oprah, or Drew Berrymore, Arnold Swartzineger or any one else in Hollywood think. Pdiddys Vote or Die campaign was a good example of failure... motivated the SAME NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE to vote as 2000. It did not work. The media... STICK TO THE FACTS. If you have a PERSONAL AGENDA as a reporter, then KEEP IT TO YOURSELF OR CHANGE JOBS! Ted Turner and Rupport Murdock don't need to try and influence my vote. The editors at the Boston Globe, the Newyork Times or the Washington Post should stick to strictor guidelines and quit trying to influence voter opinion... The media FAILED in their exit polling... GEE, wonder how this will impact future elections... Folks, We witness history before our eyes... Let's hope we all learn from it. I've gotten one or two e-mails from folks here who would like to see the political tone of the board go away, and I for one agree that we need to get back to why the board is here and let this community (HybridZ) HEAL from what has been a very SPIRITED political season. We've debated and discussed the issues, and we have voted, and watched the populous make their choice... Overwhelmingly. Time to move on... Anyone notice in all this that I've actually started working on my Z again? Now THERE is one for the books! Mike

Here's what I did... I went internal balance after I had a Oil Pickup brace vibrate itself loose due to EXTERNAL balancing on the last 383 stroker, causing the motor to cavetate and lunch the bearings... We did twist it up a little bit... But I don't think I ever got over 6800RPMs... I went internal balanced, got GOOD Hbeam forged capscrew rods and a Wiseco Pro-True Forged Kit (Included wrist pins and rings) and used a Scat 9000 crank. This bottom end should be good for deep into the 500HP range and didn't cost me over $1200 BUILT... Shop EBAY and get the best deal... Rods were around $300 and Piston kits were around $379. I paid $229 for the new Internal Balance crank... I'll N-E-V-E-R build another external balance motor in my life... Mike- 8)

Phil, Thanks for the laugh. Bottom line is the democratic party put forth another BAD CANDIDATE and L-O-S-T! They'd have HAD MY VOTE, had it not been for Kerry... Biggest Myth of the whole election? "Get out the Vote"! Less than 10% of people 18-24 voted... Man I'm loving it today! Mike

Well My father is collecting social security and as long as it is there for him, I'm fine with it. I don't PLAN on it being there for me, so if it is, Ill be pleasently shocked. We need social reform across the board, including healthcare, retirement, and welfare. I didn't vote for Kerry, and I didn't like him. I didn't want to vote for Bush because I personally think he pressed to hard in different areas, and forced a good man (George Tennet) to chase a rabbit down the wrong hole, forcing the issue with Saddam prematurely... although I do believe we were right to invade and SHOULD have dones so PRIOR to 2000. I really didn't want to vote Bush... I hope we will see a conclusion to the BinLadden saga, and I hope we'll be able to put Iraq to bed with their own operational and fully functioning government. Only time will tell... One thing is for sure, I will NOT have to WONDER what in all HELL Kerry's PLAN was... Will he NOW give us the magical solution to assist with Iraq and the Middle East? Come on... He said he had the answers... So is he just going to ride off into the sunset with his little secret answers....???? You guys are missing an even further reaching issue... Look at how the REST of the elections shook out Daschle is GONE... Republicans now have the HOUSE AND THE SENATE... You democrats better get your helmets and sinch up those harnesses... Your in for a long four year ride! Mike

Or the lie perpritrated on them in the process of disarming the populous... Yea, nicely done Down under! Mike 8)

Can't I just be a foolish drunk??? Rex, I'd recommend this if you ar at a point that you can afford it... And keep in mind it is pre-taxed, so the sting isn't so bad... Go to a local broker, set up a personal 401k and MAX out what you can afford on it... I didn't start contributing to mine until I was 30 (And I'm kinda embarassed about that late a start) and I've now for more than $150K in that account... I tell younger guys coming into my field to do this all the time, and within a years time they always come back to me and thank me... This money will ONLY grow, if you invest wisely and keep on top of it... just don't get so "Into" it that you have a heart attack over a minor loss... Mike 8)

Gee, and for one brief moment I actually thought about a write in candidate... John Coffey! What amazed me was the shock... They simply could NOT get their heads around how it WASN'T (And you heard it from me first YESTERDAY!) close. The guy had the LARGEST popular vote ever recorded... Still didn't get my candidate... Damn! On the plus side the lesser of the evils one, AND maybe I'll get my atomic salute the middle east! Mike 8)

Guys, I'll caution you to use restraint here... I hope that Ivan steps up and makes this situation right... That said, There are always three sides to a story such as this, so lets please use caution here... And as always, BUYER BEWARE... Mike 8)

Bill, Godspeed to your father, and may god give you strength in this time of need. Having almost lost my father last year, I can tell you that I often wonder how I would have turned out without his guidance and wisdom... and now being step-parent to 2 children, I often wonder how my own father never came into my bedroom while I was asleep and taken his claw hammer to me! Bill, Your stories of WHY you became a Zcar guy touch the heart... We're with you man! And you father will be watching you from a distance... Knowing that his time and patience paid in spades everytime you turn a wrench of fix an item around the house... He's living on in you my friend! Mike 8)

SAE and Metric Sorted??? Uh, You better be happy that we now have Nuts, Bolts, and Washers in their own containers! SAE sorted from Metric? What next? Cats and Dogs living together in sin... MIke 8)

Fortunately I'm "Healthy" in that area... Now I'm in "Honey I want a new kitchen" mode... "You are getting a cage in the Z and a paint job..." I like the stuff in the kitchen just fine... It works... It's functional... and it is paid for... Guess who will win this one... We started putting down new floor in the Kitchen this weekend... Mike

Every time a vintage datsun has entered (Two previous Datsun 510s), the chief complaints were about how "Rough" the ride was and how "Unrefined" the cars were... In my opinion, the SCC event is a J-OK-E. They want participants to have a car that has DVD, PS2, 2000 watts of sound system, handles like a Benz on the street (Grandma testride??? ) with Hybrid (Think toyota Prius) economy, and be able to run low 10s in the 1/4 mile while breaking every lap record ever set at Willow or Thunder, or Fontana, or where ever they have the road/ 1/4 mile portion of the event. A Zcar isn't going to do well in that event, no matter how well appointed, refined or well equipped. I hate the event, I hate the judging, and I'm unimpressed the writers at SCC... However, YMMV! Mike 8)

I get Gmachine and Energy Suspension bushings in ALL the time, and I have to honestly say that the Energy Suspension units (Think I have an extra NEW set BTW...) are VERY nice... come to think of it, I also have a pair of used front adjustable camber bushings I'd let go cheap as well... Mike 8)

Oh Man... I laugthed so hard! Just read this outloud to the wife, and she was shaking her head, laughing and pointing at me... Terry, I think I found a long lost uncle! Must be in the blood! Mike

I'm just glad we already own the #4 tanks for the torches... About fell out when I heard them qoute the pricess for purchasing your own new tanks now! I had to clean the garage up yesterday afternoon and get things organized, as a buddy wanted to borrow the lift to install a Lingenfelter oil cooler kit on his Z06... talk about a pain in the ass! Install took just under 3 hours... He had never been to the shop and was Very impressed with the layout... This place is turning out really nice! Gonna be hard to sell it, especially with my $1070 mortgage on it... Mike

Finally, after 2+ years of working towards a finished exterior... Our garage will be done done and done... No scaffolding set up in the yard! No slivers, chunks or sections of siding laying around! Everything is DONE... I'll paint the LAST gable end today, and we will be done except for an exterior mtion light on the upper deck, and wiring of an outlet up on the upper deck as well! Now I get to move the whole process in doors, and finish the upstairs of the garage over the winter... wiring is run, so now we need to blueboard it and start insulating, hang the lights, run the 3 feeds for the electrical, sheetrock it, put down a vinyl floor, and call it a day! 8) Mike

I'd not go the 1JZ route. Jim Pearl-AKA BLKMGK has done a TON of research on the 1JZ vs. 2JZ motor and he is actually contemplating getting rid of his 383 stroker in his Z and putting a 2JZ in... I'd either go the 2JZ route or do the SR20-DET...I agree with the others that the Skyline motor, although nice, is gonna come at a premium (As might the 2JZ). The reason I'd lean HARD towards the 2JZ is that the support in the US for the last generation Supra is HUGE here, and parts resources are MUCH DEEPER than other powerplants... Can you get parts for the RB motor? SURE. How long will it take, and how long are you willing to wait. Just some things to think about... 8) Mike

It should... I'm going to have fun matching up the parts for the Gforce Fivespeed... Seems thge McLeod unit is the prefered unit of the Gforce manufacturer, along with their hydraulic realse bearing kit... Mike

Tobias, I think the point here is that "Those tha actually know what they are doing" AREN'T RICERS! Fast C-A-Rs are cool in my book... even if they are wrongwheel drive! Mike 8)

Well, After months and months (Years actually) of storing bolts, nuts and washers in cans and boxes, and then watching Doug and Pete dig through them for pieces to put Jim's car together, I finally broke down and got organized with some container packages... Yup, last week I sorted through most fo the stuff in the garage and now have it pretty well organized... I'm also buying a complete new Torch outfit tonight, and will get my tanks exchanged for full units, as well as buy some SS wire for the mig, and get a tank of 100% argon. Finally, I'm going to buy (Probably tonight) the pedastols for my grinder and vice so I can get both off my roll around work table... I also need to do this for the drill press I have... I need a bigger garage!