Mikelly

Some good racing in that video man. What surprises me is how your RPMs rarely go above 6K. That motor is the definition of "broad torque!" Also good advise above to CrayZ! This website is great for one thing. It is a wonderful way to take expectations and change them forever, and in the process derailing any chance of ever enjoying the car, if you're not careful. I have 37 pages of "build report" to show for it. Get a helmet, get some track pads/hi temp fluid and get out there on the track. Mike

Clive, the dash display was not consistant in its brightness. I figured if I couldn't find the source of the idle issue as the vacuum ports (only three total) then I'd start with the grounds next. The first one was the winner. On the FAST system, I'm using their distributor, which requires you not to use the crank signal, but the ground for that source must be used. Now I know what happens when you don't properly ground it! Car would not idle on its own. Now it does, just like it should and just like it did before the rebuild. Thanks Garvice!! Been a long road. I hope to get some reasonable sessions in this coming weekend. Mike

Update: Zcar is now idling properly. It was the crank trigger signal ground wire. Apparently it didn't like being grounded to the aluminum head! Re-routed the wire loom so the D-ring would reach the block ground on that side, and secured it there. All the sudden everything is working well. The clutch is now finally adjusted enough to make the car move under power again and I'm in the process of buttoning everything back up under the hood for the airbox, the strut tower, and other minor stuff. So I'll take the Zcar to NCCAR next weekend. I still have a few things left to resolve, like securing that diamond plate on the passenger side, and making a new battery hold-down in the passenger footwell. At 48f/52R weight distribution, I don't think the battery will upset much relocating it. Onward and upward! Mike

Joe, I've only got two possible sources, the brake booster and the map sensor. I'll double check both today and confirm. The intake is sealed up tight, and the Tbody isn't leaking at the base. Mike

Randy, I'm doing a ton of reading on this very subject. Apparently underhood heat extraction is a real problem for serious tracking, as is the blocked grill. I want to tame the body roll and get the suspension drop to a mild but attractive stance, and not kill the daily driver status. So we'll see. I don't know that I want to dump $3-5K on shocks, so that idea of yours won't be in the cards for my build of this one... Mike

That is an unfair comparison. The Mustang would be better suited for a comparison against say a 370Z touring package car. I think the handling nudge goes to the 370Z but the Mustang has more power (They're consistantly dynoing them in the 430BHP+ range), and the weight is very close between them. I draw that comparison because the 370Z Nismo was in my sites but I couldn't touch one used below $30K. And the touring package car didn't impress me nearly as much as the Mustang did or I would have bought it. The Z32 was such an older platform and technology on unibody cars has advanced quite a bit. I am surprised the Mustang is a live axle car. Unless you go over train tracks or hit a manhole cover, you simply don't feel it at all. All I can say is drive one. Bone stock they will surprise many. Mike

Gameplan this weekend is to finally get the Zcar off the lift. The oil system has been flushed and the cooler/remote filter lines installed. 6 quarts of fresh new oil are in place. I'll test the accusump and dump the old oil out of it before I connect it back to the block. Then final adjustment of the clutch and the car should move under its own power. After that I need to secure the battery and mount the cools uit box. Hoping this car is ready for next Saturday. Also, Dealing with an issue everysince the motor was put back together. I mentioned this on FB. The car won't idle on its own. I may have to check the grounds or re-set the timing. But hopefully I can get that resolved in short order. Mike

The plan as of now is to improve the handling of the car by changing the springs/shocks/swaybars and adding strut tower to the package. I'll then upgrade the brakes to Brembos. After that I'll look at upgrading the cooling system and the oil cooling. Once those are done and the car is sorted, I'll think about more power. I'm told that upgraded intake and exhaust bits, and some software tuning can net 440 WHEEL Hp. To have 500BHP for such little investment, in such a nice package, I'd be very happy. Mike

Gollum, that was a shocker of the negative kind. It cost me $580 per year for the GT3, and $720 per year for the 8 year newer Mustang GT. Michael, it is no Miata, but also feels a lot more like my 996TT. I am very impressed with transition between corners. It doesn't feel like $3600 pounds at all. The running gear in this car is truly mechanical magic. Mike

Spent about 30 minutes driving this car on PERFECT zero traffic rural roads today where i was able to test the suspension, brakes and transmittion a fair mount. I'm sure I woke the neighbors by running in 3rd-5th gear at near redline, but I'm happy to report that this car is very capable, very stable at speed, and did nothing surprising. I can't wait to get this car on a racetrack near me. Mike

BlackdogNY, I have a dodge Cummins 3500 diesel for the nasty stuff... So here's what happened yesterday. Guy flew in from Ohio and handed me two checks for the GT3. I hand him title and keys and he heads off happy with the condition of the car and everything that came with it. On my way to meet this guy, I got a call from a dealer about my inquiry of a 2012 Mustang GT premium package car they had on the lot. It was still available and has 95% of what mattered most to me and was the right color, Silver/black trim. So, off my wife and I go the 50+ miles west to check this car out. After driving it, and settling on it, we start the negotiations. My wife is an amazing negotiator, as I was ready to just buy it and pay them what they were willing to come down. In the end, we got this car for $22750, and when we considered their lending options, they came back with 1.44% interest on a 60 month note. We decided to go ahead and buy the car, put $5K down on it, and drove it home. I'm absolutely shocked at how much car you can get for that much money. The 5liter coyote motor and the 6 speed manual trans are very impressive. Heel/toe shifts are cake in this thing and no pedal or shifter upgrades will be required to make it happy shifting at the track. The sound is intoxicating from this thing. Can't imagine how good it would sound with the right pipes. I'm also impressed with the interior layout and the seats, which are leather but not heated. And the Sync system with the sound system that came stock in the vehicle sounds better than some systems I've installed in cars over the years. Over all I am happy with the purchase and plan to drive it rain or shine. Having a 150 mile round trip commute really is a bit easier when you have some creature comforts to get you by. So We'll wait out the economic crisis before I buy my next supercar. And when the replacement arrives, I won't feel bad about parking the Mustang outside. I expect to have it at the next track event at NCCAR on March 24th. Mike

You know, I've been in the Zcar game since 1987 and there are times when I meet people and have instant connections with them. Pete Paraska, Tom Harris (My newly adopted son since oh, 2002?), Joe Gonzales, Joe Sheeler, Jim McNemar, Doug Carriow and a few others. Matt Isball is one such character. Spent a good bit of time the other night chatting with Matt about cars, guns, politics, and any number of other topics. I can't wait to hook up this year and chew the fat, and share some track time together!

BRZ/FR-S is off the table now. Talked to several guys who have put appropriate tires on them and found them to be "Miata-like". Actually looking at a 2011 Ford Mustang GT and a Mistubishi Evo MR right now. The GT3 will be gone by the weekend, so I'll have space to park something. My goal is to get something I can commute in, have fun in, and drive at the track when the Zcar is not functional, which as we all know is like, well, All the time. Mike

Matt, There are a few sources for metal versions of them but this one seems the best: http://www.hoodlouvers.com/product-category/size-medium-hood-louvershood-vents/ Carbon Fiber units can be found through these guys: http://www.genesisparts.com/index.cfm?section=catalog&form_cat_id=4 Mike

Got out in the shop for a while this afternoon and was able to pull the headers and ovalize the outer pipes in the press. I now have clearance on the plug boots. I also adjusted the clutch rod more and then bolted the front aero back on the car. My back is still not 100% so I had to call it a day after only 2 hours, but today was the first time I have been in the shop in over 3 weeks. Mike

Got out in the shop for a while this afternoon and was able to pull the headers and ovalize the outer pipes in the press. I now have clearance on the plug boots. I also adjusted the clutch rod more and then bolted the front aero back on the car. My back is still not 100% so I had to call it a day after only 2 hours, but today was the first time I have been in the shop in over 3 weeks. Mike

Had a similar situation happen with a guy in a Porsche 911 Cup car a few years back. It's amazing how egos will erase the most recent of memories! Well done Matt. Mike

John, I've talked with two owners who have experienced the same issues with severe understeer and it doesnt' seem to matter if it is the "further setback" on the motor of the BRZ or the FR-S. I've actually considered a slightly used NISMO 370Z now in the mix as well as the Cayman. I love the package of the BRZ/FR-S but the whole lack of power thing makes me wonder if I'll be "happy" long term in it. Mike

So as some of you know, my truck was hit by a telephone company bucket truck last week and I'm jacked up a bit. I also JUST sold the Turbo miata project car we bought last September, and as NONE of you know (Except the handful that follow me on FB) my GT3 is being sold. Got a lot going on all at once, no? So I'm in a rental car for the next 2-3 weeks while my truck is put back together, and I'm seriously thinking about holding off on another exotic until the economy settles down. So in the mean time I am looking at buying a new (this is NEW for me) daily driver. I'm wanting something RWD that is LESS than $30K that I can commute in, do track days in when needed, and just enjoy as a daily driver. I am SERIOUSLY considering the Subaru BRZ. Thoughts and opinions, please! I am not opposed to USED (generally not a fan of buying a new car) but it does have to be RWD and does have to be fun for my 150 mile round trip commutes. Mike

I love this!!!

Dave, glad you're OK. Saw my chiropractor today. I'm in for 6-8 weeks worth of cracking and the like... Mike

Dave, Check my build thread... I was the victim of the same on Thursday, with a bucket truck.

I found that mine really liked the 500ft.400 rear setup. Seems so much more compliant with the Koni 8610s. Mark Icard tipped me to that. I really need a softer swaybar though. I'm picking up the inner tire on most slow to mid speed corners. Wish I had the crew to help me dial in my ride. Mike

Ever feel like you were having "One of those years?" Couple weeks ago we had to let go of a few employees due to lost services contracts. Pull up another hole on the old belt. Then we met with our CPA and found that it was almost negligable to take a "owners paycheck" on the company, due to the assorted tax changes. So pull the belt just a little tighter still. So I've been in a funk about finances and spending, and made a knee jerk reaction to unload the few bits of debt I have so I can weather the impending storm of 2013's financial disaster in my industry... Wednesday night I put the GT3 up on the market and within 24 hours I have a buyer, which I knew would happen. I was coming home from work Thursday afternoon thinking about how that would free up some fun money for me to go to the track more this season, just minding my own business, when traffic came to an abrupt stop. I look in the rear view mirror and to my horror, a powerline bucket truck is coming fast and no sign of stopping. So I pull towards the median and the grass, but not in time. The bucket truck hit me and pushed me another 50 Ft. My truck, a Dodge 3500 is now sitting at a really steep angle to the left side, and I'm only about 5 feet from oncoming traffic. First responders get to the scene and they can't come near the truck. They're concerned it will roll over. So I wait some 30 minuntes while they bring in another large firetruck to stabilize the truck before they can get in, put a neck brace on me and get me out on a backboard. I'm finally taken to the hospital where they Xray me, Cat Scan me and confirm I'm going to be OK other than muscle soreness... And boy am I. Friday was spent getting rental car and collecting my personal effects from the truck, and Saturday I was back at my customer's site for a software delivery. Today is the first day I've even wanted to think about my Zcar or this site. I'll know more tomorrow, but after visiting my truck, I dont' think it's totaled. I think the impact missed the frame and I "hope" they can just fix her. The last time, when the semi hit me in 2009 it took me 10 days to find another Dodge 3500. I finally had this one tuned properly and was happy with the 20.7mpg commuting in it. Really don't want to have to replace it, since it's paid for. I plan to get back into the swing of things by tomorrow afternoon. I need to remove headers and clearance some sparkplug boots, check a few things on the induction to figure out what's causing the motor to surge when idling, and then start buttoning it up and change the break-in oil out. Things are going to get tough for us "Americans" in the coming months. Doesn't mean we have to stop living. We just have to live smarter.