Mikelly

Hey Import Racer, Did you get that Z off Ebay?? I'm refering to the one in your sig... Mike

Although I'd like to see screening processes implimented in the workforce, Some of these tests aren't the answer, even for tecnical engineering positions. I don't see them as being accurate always, or pointing at hiring the right candidate... Finding people with the right skills, and professional maturety is key. I've got senior engineers I can't put in front of the customer because, although smart, some of these brain-trusts simply have NO interpersonal skills which, to me shows a lack of someone being well rounded and balanced... The key is to find the right mix of technical and non-technical people, and to provide balance for all of them. I'll hire someone with a varied skill background in a minute over someone with a masters in EE if the guy with the formal education doesn't show me that he brings more to the table than a degree. Someone with a varied (AND successfull) background will learn faster, comprehend and problem solve, and interact better with his team mates from the start. There have been studies that bolster this. The key is to take these individuals and plug them into a formal education process and to get the company to pay for it... Giving you both a varied successfull background, and the education that many companies look for... Jim (BlKMGK) and I are both examples of people who are in senior engineering positions with less than a masters degree... Mike

Well unfortunately JOB will have to dictate WHERE I live. I'm gonna have to find something that will atleast make up 50% of my current salary. I need to seriously make a plan this time and stick with it. The wife is ready to get as far away from Washington DC as possible, and I may be able to use that as leverage to move our operation elsewhere. We'll see... Five years and counting. Mike

I have one somewhere in Les Heath's posession, but I will ABSOLUTELY buy one from you because I know the quality will be perfect. And if I ever get the other one back from Les, I'll either SELL it or stick it in the attic. Mike

I agree, a 225 should fit on a 7 inch wheel, 8 inch at most... With my Cobra R knock offs the White Z had a 5.5 back spacing with a 9.5 inch wheel. I was able to get a 275-40-17 under it and could have gotten a 315 under the car. My new project will require a 315 or 335 at the back... Traction WILL be an issue. However, with coil overs you can really squeeze a lot under the car. Mike

I wish that were an option, but I think we can "Say goodnight" to Mike Kelly's rear control arms... John Williams hasn't come through for me, so I'll be calling him this week to get the arm shipped back. mike

Yup, the next place we buy WILL NOT have an HOA... We'll already shopping land and I'm here to tell you, it is getting hard to find Land outside of HOAs. We're probably gonna look at relocating after her son gets out of High school... Maybe WVA, North Carolina, or Tennessee, Or out west... Basically 5 years is what we're looking at. Can you say BIGGER garage??? Mike

My wife sort of has a project... 95 Mustang 5.0 that I'm determined to make run better... Already has a bunch of bolt ons and in the spring we'll put the aluminum heads and a cam in it. Mike

Doug, This weekend... I hope to have the mud sponged and preped for paint by Saturday, and I hope to atleast prime it by Monday. I have to help Barry move on Sunday, But the rest of the weekend is gonna be spent in the garage trying to finish up the prep for paint. I still need to get the corner and ceiling trim. Tom, Any idea when you want the Z delivered? I'd like to move it on to you by the end of the month if Possible. Mike

Tonight I cut out the radiator core support on the new Z... Couldn't take it anymore... Had to "Start" making progress on it! Got the main section out and will dress the rest of it up over the coming days/ weeks! MIke

No Jim, I did NOT know that. Thanks, and now to find some OTHER, Less wet place to retire to... Damn! Mike

JIm, I understand your disappointment, but 550HP at the WHEELS is impressive, no way to get around it, and I don't care what vehicle it is done in... Congrats! Mike

Those of you who were at the ZF Racing Bash last year will remember Tom's dad gushing with praise about his son Tommy. This kid is amazing, sure as hell destined for something good in his future... WAY TO GO TOM! Mike

Mr. Washington, any chance you could make a factory GNOSE mold??? I know there are several who would buy a Gnose from you! Mike

Jim, can you e-mail me the number to that shop. I'm gonna need someone to tune the Honda for my Son when we get the motor done and the turbo set up. I also want to dyno my Stang when the heads are done. Mike

John, You need to find me a job in Boone... I LOVE That town... I LOVE that whole region. The mountains of NC are awesome... Nothing like Deal's Gap! I was in Raleigh this weekend and it was OK, but nothing like Western NC in the Smokey's... Mike

Well According to Grumpy, Dave and Desk Top Dyno, I should see 540 Flywheel HP... Almost got to meet Visard this weekend... But he ditched the get together... Oh well, maybe next time... I think the SCat 9000s are fine for what they are, but I would have liked to have snagged a 5140 or 4340... I'm just too freaking cheap... Mike

Yup, my footers were ridiculous. 42 inches deep and 24 inches wide. I used 110 TONS of gravel... That is NOT a mis-type. I have a 6 inch slab and 5 courses of block ontop of the rebar inforces footer. We dug the footer 42 inches and then filled 32 inches deep with #57 stone. Talk to your inspector and GET A SHRINK SOIL TEST done before you even think about doing anything. In my case, it cost me an additional $4000-5000 to have this issue resolved... That cost was with ME doing the work... Couldn't imagine what it would have run with someone else doing the work. Forgot to mention, mine is 24X32 with a second story bonus room of 11X32. I used a 12 foot X 8 foot door. Mike

Well I took my 383 down to Raleigh, NC to meet Pete's, and now MY engine builder. Dave will be balancing the shortblock for me and assembling it. I just paid for a Scat 9000 crank and an SFI 153 ring flywheel...$332 for both, shipped! So, with that, the rods and pistons, and SFI balancer I got, I'm about $1100 in the bottom end. Very cool! Not sure what balance and assembly will run, but I can't wait to get it back. Now I'm scrounging together the money so I can get the rolling chassis down to Ashland to get the cage isntalled! Mike

PeteP and I were discusing this bending issue while driving back from Raliegh NC this weekend. I think there is some cofussion as to where the sway bar mount has been welded on our previous control arms. If you look at the outboardside of the arm where the arm mounts to the spindlepin/ strut assembly, we welded a flat tab about 1/8th in thick to that tubing and drilled the appropriate hole depending on axle type and swaybar type. It was the customer's call as to where the hole was drilled. Anyway, Ian and Steve have a large sway bar (I think it is 7/8th thick) on the rear of the car I support (And ZF Racing will continue to support that car's efforts as well as those of Doug Carrow this coming year!) and we have had NO issues with bending after more than a year on the car and mutliple track events, solo 1s and solo 2s. Will the piece last on a race car for 10 years??? Who knows. Is it working now? Yes. I have periodically asked Ian to throw the car on a lift and take pics for me or to just take a peek and see what's doing under there just to keep tabs on the situation. They have assured me that under inspection, the arms look as good as new, and no issues with fatigue have been notices. That said, it would bolster my expectations of the arms ability to withstand the rigors of track abuse if I could get them to slow down long enough to pull one off and have it Xrayed. Unfortunately, their season is longer than most and they only have about 6 weeks off during the offseason. This offseason They have opted to install a fuel cell, new wheels and tires, and additional cage... I'll try to take some pics of what I'm talking about with the sway bar mount. Maybe Pete can chime in... Mike

Well after losing a 4340 crank and a 5140 Crank, I'm back to buying a Scat 9000 crank for $200. Oh well... AND it looks like I won't be doing a slid roller since I want to use a knock sensor... So I'm keeping the hydraulic roller cam and valvetrain I have... Damn... Somethings stay the same. I'm taking the motor to Pete's engine builder this weekend and having the crank shipped to him... Now to find a 153tooth ring internal flywheel... Mike

Jamie, 1st and foremost is to hammer out the finances. Forget about what you bring to the table as a mechanic. You need someone who can RUN and MANAGE a business. That will be your BIGGEST key to success. Don't forget all the little details like uniforms, tools, supplies, shop materials, the list goes on and on... I've done quite a bit of research on this and I'd pick your buddy at Rosen's brain about what caused his terminal failure. THAT SHOP was a dead ringer to succeed I thought, and it tanked... Do lots of research... THAT IS THE KEY! Let me know if I can help! Mike

I was wheeling and dealing with two different vendors offline about their cranks... One SOLD me a 4340, but was out of stock... $500 for it WITH bearings and he couldn't tell me when it would be back in stock... Then the other guy had several 5140s and sold me one of them, low and behold it wasn't the 6 inch configuration two piece he thought he had... 1 piece and 5.7 rods.. Mike

I'll actually be there from the 10th to the 15th with my wife who is in a training seminar in Lauderdale... I was gonna wait until 1st week of March to post it... I'll have cell phone and try to hook up with people since I'll have free time during the day... I'm basically just going to get out of town for the week... Mike

I am not sure HOW I missed this thread. Larry is gone now, incarserated for crimes against current laws on the books. Among my many other claims to fame, I once had an FFL license. In 1990 I chose to unload all of my assault weapons and the only guns I have had since have been my handgun, a shotgun, a 22 rifle and a world war1 vintage sniper rifle. Being former law enforcement, I saw the writing on the wall. Too many high profile cases where high capacity weapons were used. I also gave up on the NRA. Got out and do NOT endourse them anymore. My thoughts and prayers go with Larry to the big house. However, bucking up against "The Man", the feds, is NOT smart. No matter the principle, I can only encourage each and every one of you guys to use your heads, vote at elections, and make a difference in that manor. Harbouring illegal and banned weapons is stil ILLEGAL. Although I don't agree with the classification of what a "LEGAL vs. ILLEGAL" weapon is, laws are laws and seeing someone like Larry have to go through this just sucks X10! ...and Yes, I bet the feds are watching this site... Mike