Mikelly

Well tonight the kid and I dug the snow out of infront of the driveway... We really wanted to test out the Z06 suspension mods, the new brake mods, and check the Borla XR1 Exhaust in the Vette... WOW... LOUD... WOW... STIFFER, flatter tracking... WOW, NO TRACTION! Lots of chem-stuff out on the roads... I couldn't BUY traction... It was interesting with the traction control off. It was even more interesting when I romped on it with traction control ON! The TCS was overridden a couple of times! On the plus side, It is gonna be fun at the autocrosses and at the track! I can't wait! Mike

About four degrees positive Camber! I couldn't resits... I kid, but I care... Read read read... You do NOT want positive CAMBER... You want Negative Camber... You want your wheels to be like this: / For everyday and track use, you can get away with about a degree to a degree and a 1/4 negative camber once you get the parts to make the adjustment... You also would want to adjust your toe and give yourself positive caster of several degrees above the stock 3-ish setting. The real question is what kinda tires will you run, will you have a second set for trakc/ autocross use, and are you prepared to spend extra on adjustable suspension... Most of the hard core guys here have THOUSANDS tied up in their brakes and suspensions The adjustable control arms I used to make and sell were easily $900 shipped, and I suspect the guys offering arms up now will charge atleast that much, if not more. Coil overs will run you $400 for a set, then you need to have them installed... Prepare to pay at least that much to have them installed. I'll tell you what I tell all the new comers... Put pen to paper and plan plan plan... Get a budget and stick to it... And most of all, Don't do like most of us do and get soooo consumed in building it that HALF A DECADE goes by and you don't DRIVE IT! And most important of all... Welcome, Welcome to a new, and strange brew! Mike

Just finished putting speed bleeders and russel brake lines on the Vette and I gotta tell you guys, I don't know why on god's earth that the brake manufacturers install these bleeders worldwide. It took me less than an hour to install the lines, bleeders, bleed the system and put wheels back on, torque to spec and lower the car off the lift... Less than an hour... By myself... No assistance... No trying to get that extra bit of air out of lines... No trying to get that last bit of old fluid out of the system... Good stuff! Mike

Yup, I've gotten 13 today alone... We have the stink guys... If anyone receives it from me, I didn't send it... For the record, I wish we could take all the hackers and put them with all the lawyers.... Get a rope! Mike

I got popped one time when I was 17 years old... 110 in a 40... It was a life changing experience... Bottom line is I went to jail that night, car impounded, got ruffed up by the fuzz. My old man had to come bail me out... Wasn't a pretty sight... I got off with a 5mph over the limit ticket... The citing officer had a falling out with the PD over an injury that severely broke his leg during a domestic disturbance call and he was throwing all his cases... Mine was one of them. God watches over children and idiots... I 100% believe that! Mike

Couple points here... John C.s car was making over 300 at the wheels... that is a huge gap I didn't think was possible without a power adder. However, that is a LOT of money spent... Second, My mistake, I didn't see adjustable CAMS (And there is only one cam) I though adjustable cam GEAR... but I digress... I still say that will the changes he outlined, he would be hard pressed to make real HP... To many missing parts in the equation! Your compression comments are exactly what I'm refering to. I just don't see the need to spend the kind of money that ITBs and a programable unit would cost... Why not just implant a Turbo motor and harness instead??? Did I just say that??? Mike

Push it out of a C5 military aircraft??? Seriously, That car weighs in at about 3000# and it is pushing somewhere in the 140-150Hp range... Getting 230-240 crank HP is gonna take a WHOLE lot... John Coffey is turning 306HP (Correct me if I'm wrong John) on a SUNBELT built professional race motor... So don't get caught up in all the BS about people making huge HP gains with minor bolt ons... There isn't a single car out there without a power adder or serious internal reconstruction that is breaking 200HP at the wheels, N2o being the exception, and unfortunately, stock rod bolts and rings do NOT live long with lots of N2o! Good Luck! Mike 8)

I'd suspect you will need the 50 shot... The mods you list won't bring that car even close to 200 at the wheels... We spent a lot of bucks on one fo my Fprep motors in a 2 seater 260Z and barely cracked into the 14s at the track (14.94 for one pass only at MIR in 1993)... and that was with head work and a cam, header, tuning, digital ignition... AND I broker the trans on the 4th or 5th run... lunched 3rd real nice... You also have the extra weight penalty of it being a 2+2 ZX... Mike 8)

Damn, I thought you fell off the face of the earth! Glad you are Back Myron! Mike

First off, RUN... Don't walk, But run, away from that project... Run... OK, you're still here I see... Not good... OK, now empty the wallet, empty the savings, empty the college fund for the kids... Now we can start! Seriously, do a search and you will see what many of us have done with various projects, with varying success. Welcome, and prepare to read a LOT before you spend a dime... I'd follow Terry's advice and nail down suspension and brakes, and shop for cost effective parts for your chevy/ Ford/ Whatever swap! Mike

Pete, Dave talked me out of the thinner gasket... I went with the .040 to error on the side of caution... I'd hate to be out in the middle of nowhere'sville with an option for 87 or 89 octane and be worried about detonation... I won't be able to put the power I'm making to the ground as it is, so I'm not gonna sweat a couple thousandths gasket clearance.... Mike

I've still got the video from a guy who was selling these out in california back in the early 90s, and the sales info... The video is increadible, as it shows them firing one up for the first time, its performance at a hill climb event, as well as at Phoenix IR. Nothing beats being in the driver's seat, but the video footage from there isn't a bad second! Mike

Chris, Welcome to the club... First Hybrid I built was the same way... I stood there scratching my head and then, like a light switch, it flicked on and I remembered the stagger from the rod journals! Mike

Well I have it from a very reliable source that that specific car is for sale... Not cheap, but sounds like a sound and reliable car for track or street. I think Pete P. said it was going for $7000 back around the beginning of December! Mike

I think my Digital camera does about 15 seconds of video/ Sound... I'll have to play with it... It doesn't sound all that loud. I think my wife's Mustang GT with Flowmasters sounds louder... Which is OK with me! I wanted it to free up HP and have a little more growl, and the Borla is full Stainless, with stainless hardware... Nice LARGE tips (I went with two tips vs. the four stock configuration!) This exhaust and the cold air kit I installed are supposed to be worth 40HP on the chassis dyno... We'll see... The one GOOD thing about the vette guys is they have a LOT of disposable income and a lot of them dyno their cars with each mod they do... So you pretty much KNOW what works before you commit to buying something. Mike

Yea, What is sad is that I thought I was helping this guy out... I just wanted to assist in getting him and his "Fiberglass parts" operation up and running. Someone, Somewhere knows where he is... I'd be tickled to death if I came home one day to find the parts sitting in front of my garage... However, I won't be holding my breath... Mike 8)

...Drive them" theory! We were snowed in yesterday, so I took the opportunity to install new suspension and a new Borla Exhaust on the Vette. The Z06 Sway bars were easy to put on, but the old shock top bolts were frozen in place and had to be soaked with penetration oil... But all is done there... Now we are getting ready to install the russell brake lines and speed bleeders, then install a Z06 clutch master cylinder and slave unit... I'm ordering a 6.0 crank for the motor build this week, and my engine builder will pick it up when it arrives so he can take measurements... I hope to have a motor for the Vette in my shop within the month of March if possible! Yea, those rich corvette guys... ANYBODY can just buy a fast car... NOBODY ever mods them ! Mike

On the brakes, check the master cylinder for seeping... Minor moisture around the booster, or under it. As for the oil presure issue, I'd first check the gauge. I'd not sweat it too much in regards to fixing it... Atleast the pump is external and easy to swap out... If the gauge checks out fine, and the sendor is good, then buy a pump. If you can afford it, I'd just go ahead and buy the sendor and the pump and be done with them. Mike

Not so... Go over to http://www.corvetteforum.com and you will see stock LS1 blocks handling a LOT of power... They are extremely durable, and can make about 500 crank HP with not much more than simple bolt ons, a cam, LS6 intake, headers and exhaust... and a little LS1 EDIT tuning! I'm already working a build for one for our 99 Vette. If I was starting out with a bone stock Z and was doing a Swap, I'd be all over the LS1 as my first choice for a swap. And quite frankly, if I didn't already have my 383 done, I'd be using the LS1 in the Vette as the donor... Mike

With regards to the whale tails... I've had two on high speed cars and they work. They work so well that they actually crack at the seems during the high speed runs I've experienced. I had bought a rear spoiler/ tail light panel similar to what Terry had on his car, and I'd loaned it to Les Heath, along with my Gnose... I would realy like to get that spoiler back. I've never seen another like it. Mike

I"m looking for rear spoiler ideas... The car will be stock body, no flares, no Gnose (Thanks LES ) and have tires tucked under the wheels... Still haven't decided on the rear bumper/ no rear bumper yet, but I've pretty much settled on the front spoiler I'm gonna use, which is the one I had on the previous car... Looking for pics of rear spoilers for ideas! Mike

What a car... I still have the sales brochures from the early 90s... I'm glad someone has one of these and is actively competing in the thing... They WOULD NOT ALLOW this guy to compete in the Real Street Eliminator Contest... I love it... That car is amazing AND has heat and AC at 2200# WITH a full tank! If you see this one on the stand, grab it and read the article... That car is one of my all time favorites! Mike

OK< so yesterday Doug comes up and we decide to mount the Dart aluminum heads, push rods and roller rockers back onto my 383 stroker... So we get the head bolts cleaned up. I re-used the ARP bolts I had instead of spending the $100 for studs... Couldn't see the need in replacing basically new head bolts... Anyway, we got the heads set, installed the pushrods, and then installed the rockers. These are Harland Sharp rollers, and we installed them with only a half turn pre-load on them... What have you guys with large roller rockers (Of the type I described) done for setup on these? We looked in a manual for factory rockers and they wanted a full turn on the adjuster... I just didn't think it was the same for these aluminums... and Doug agreed... What say you guys??? Also, big disappointment... My Cutler aluminum intake WILL NOT bolt up to my heads... The two center bolt holes on the intake rail are angled wrong... This intake came off a marine application, so I'm assuming there is a difference in the marine heads??? Mike

Moridin, As I stated in the qoute you posted "Your family, or someone you know personally" Bigwhytedude, I've got a top Secret SCI clearance with special background investigation, plus a few accesses that are "read on" types of access for short term programs. TS SCI With SBI is the minimum needed for working at CIA and a few other agencies... This information is all accessable on their homepage, as well as their 17 page "Pre-application". I'm pretty much done with this thread... You can lead a horse.... Mike

Fair enough... As for the "Doormat" remark... I said "My rights"... Not anyone elses... Do with yours as you see fit. This country is great in the fact that I can be put in harms way to fight for the stars and stripes that so many would set flame to and burn... So it is also my right to say "Hey, do what you have to do, and infrenge upon my rights if it is in the name of national safety!" I'll offer this up to every person on the board... Tell me someone in YOUR FAMILY, Or someone you PERSONALLY KNOW who'se been unlawfully detained, and whose rights have been violated by the patriot act or patriot 2. Pop, I use my experience with my job, and the data I have access to because I have it. It is no different then someone holding knowledge of a cam selection, or certain engine combo. Members here have been to my home, seen the plaques, medals, and other related government certificates for promotion, and such... Don't know how else to verify what I do for a living. Don't think I need to. Furthermore, I don't care. It is up to everyone to make their own assumptions. My point is that I have a view that most don't get a chance to see from. Getting the level of access to data I have takes jumping through many many hoops constantly, and for life. I chose that path and am very proud of it. And I use that knowledge and access to that data to my advantage in making my comments. Again, I make no apologies. Less than 2% of the national population are offered the chance to apply for the CIA or other agencies where this level of clearance are required to work. My pride in that selection, and the ability to pass through the lengthy process, shines through... If that offends some, I offer no apology either. It is what it is, and I'm a very proud irishman. As for the comments I made about WMD... They were there... I know that based on what was reported by those on the ground before we went into Iraq this last time... They are finding out that most of them were detroyed in the months and weeks leading up to this latest war. However, Why wouldn't Saddam comply with the UN resolutions? He continued to act as though there was something to hide, and human intelligence on the ground was telling us exactl what I stated here all those months ago. Bottom line is Clinton wouldn't go back into Iraq, even though there was just cause for over 8 years. So we went in to verify... Who knows where they are. There is evidence that lots of chemicals were dumped in the country side and strong suspicion that some of the evidence was trucked into Syria. We'll probably never really now the full story on what happened to his stock piles, so I'll take all the shit you want to hand over for it... I've got broad shoulders, so just pile on! As you so quickly point out, this is not an exact science and the world would be perfect, but for man kind. We do make mistakes, or we would be treading water via the soles of our feet. Mike