Mikelly

Let me know if I can help... Give a yell if you need to! Mike

I KILLED a set of BFG R1s in 12 Solo2 races one year... Don't know if I'd run those or hoosiers or Yoko a008s on ANY street car... Lots of companies make large size Z rated tires in size 16...Check out the Bridgestone RE730s! I'm running those in a 275-40-17 on the rear and 255-40-17 on the front... I've also got flares, so I understand the fitment issue... Mike Kelly

The shop that painted my car actually fab'ed up a Paxton unit one time, making brackets, plumbing and such to drive the supercharger on an L6 motor, and the owner of the car had pulleys custom made to accomidate the SC belt system for $900... NEVER got the car actually to run because the guy had a family emergancy and sold the car before it ever got tested. Turbos are more expensive initially, but in my opinion make better, more, and reliable power without the failure of belts, not to mention the power you loose in the belt system. That doesn't mean I wouldn't run one. Super chargers are less complex add-ons, but also make less power and provide fewer options in the upgrade arena when considering changes... Change the pulley, maintain the belt and fight belt slippage and throwing... or upgrade the unit. There is only one KIT currently being sold for the L6 applications...Through MSA. Mike

Ditto to what the above posters said...I already had the 2X3 boxed frames in place... Mike

Specs on the cam can be found Here: http://www.iskycams.com/CGI/Search_1704?sort=racesearch_price&category_id=3193&category=3193&kit=&skip=1&cat_id2=&description_id=1704&opt=id&action=Display+Products&attribute1=9045 &engtype=93&application=0&opt=id&do=Try+Again Cam number is 201282294. This is the cam I currently have in the car... Mike

Well here is the issue I'm facing: I won't be allowed to go out and run the unlimited class the first and possibly the second time out at ANY of the events I'm aware of. You must first prove yourself to be safe, follow the rules, and prepare a suitable car. My first class qualification effort will be in the 135MPH zone. So if I'm able to have the car ready by this coming October (2002) then I won't be running the 200MPH class anyway. Realistically I may end up getting rid of the T56 and opting for a Richmond 6 speed for the custom gear selections... Who knows.. Still sorting that out. As for the issue with the 383, many guys are running them all day long in these and other events... I'm having my rotating assemly balanced and will look at beefing up the lower end in areas that will allow me to rev to 7000RPMs... Mike Kelly

Well and here is another point FOR keeping the Scarab... If it is an original factory done conversion, you would be insane to do the JTR and depreciate its value... REGARDLESS of any percieved or proven performance benefit. Did I just say that??? Mike Kelly

I'd also talk to some who have changed their configurations from the Scarab to the JTR and see what their initial feeling was after the conversion. Dan Porter, owner of this site was one of the guys who swapped from Scarab to JTR. Bottom line is, ultimately it is your choice. From an engineering stand point it does make sense to lower the position of the weight in the car, and move it further back to the firewall. Of course, if you are happy with the car, change out a few things that Pete mentioned above and see how much it changes the cars feel. Mike Kelly

Guys, I'm getting ready to tear down my 383 stroker to re-ring it, and while it is down I'd like to go ahead and have the rotating assembly balanced. Where in our area can I have this done??? Also, what do you guys think the cost is gonna run? Mike Kelly

From someone who is doing one of these "Topend" projects, my recommendation is to get the chassis and brakes installed and sorted, then drive the car on the street...Then install the motor you plan to live with, and the fire system and net/ safety... You may want to check the requirements for a fuel cell and the cage design... Lots of headaches ahead for you in that area. Mike Kelly

James, You need to get documentation on those carbs and how to adjust them.. The carb running 4-6 sounds like it is WAY out of adjustment. You need to learn how to adjust the carbs and then sync them up to each other or you will never be happy with that setup... Go to a borders book and find a weber manual in the autotech section of the store. Mike

Owen you have it to rich... Back it down a few... Wet plugs are a bad thing... Before you go any further, check the dipstick for gas in the oil... You may have just flushed your rings... Mike

If you look at some of the MSA show pics from this past year, there was a forest green chopped early Z that was a work of art... It was a convertible with a chopped and laid back windshield frame. Mike

Well after over a month, I called ISKY Cams back and got their recommendation for my current configuration... I have two choices... Go with a cam one size down and take a 5% power hit, or get a set of 3.9-4.11 gears for the rear of the car... They recommend the gears, and they also claim that going to programable FI MAY fix my surge problem anyway, but I should still run a deeper gear... So now I'm looking for a 4.11 gearset for my Clutch type LSD unit... Lovely.. Mike

Well in my opinion they aren't ANY better than the Kits offered by Mike Gibson here on this stie. I have the outlaw fronbt kit with 5 lug conversion and you can hold the outlaw caliper up next to the wilwood unit and they look very similar. Mike's Kit prices are cheaper too! Mike Kelly

Yup, seems that some of them were made of F'glass and some of steel. You CAN weld the steel units or braze them and fill 'em in. Mike

I LOVE THOSE WHEELS!!!!!!!!!!! and I swapped to the 5lug conversion...Lovely... Man THOSE ARE SWEET! Mike

You would be correct John... Wheel speed...Tough day at work and I need SEVERAL drinks... Correct again about plumbing the lines and gauge. Will do that first. What I should to is get a finned cover and the aluminum brace one of our members sells... Mike

John, What I'm hearing is that the Clutch type LSD without the rear finned cover causes the oil to heat up quicker above certain RPM ranges. With my project I plan to hit some sustained RPMs and I suspect this will become an issue. Mike

Brace yourself...Compomotive wheels are hellaspensive. You will get sticker shock. Mike

Lets also remember that you really do gain a lot by going with coil overs...ride height adjustability is nice, but you can also use scales and REALLY set a car up properly to get 4 corner balancing, plus swapping out for different srping rates is nice... I think progressive rate springs are hit and miss depending on the company, and Eibach normally has a great reputation, but their progresive rate Zcar springs need to be a bit stiffer and the transition coils need to transition a bit sooner. Also, Ross' comments about reselling those is spot on... Mike Kelly

Guys, I need to source a diff cooler and pump for my project... Any input would be much appreciated... I'm running the 87LSD R200 without the finned cover. Mike

Bubbafet, I'm using the Outlaw 12.2 inch 1.25" thick rotor with Outlaw 4000 calipers that Mike SCCA sells. However, Ross is looking for someone to test his new setup... Might want to take him up on it. For what its worth, I'm real happy with what I got from Mike. Mike Kelly

YUp...Bigger is better...More leaverage. However, with the power steering unit, you should be fine with a 13-14 inch wheel. I'd like info on your power steering... I'm running the same size tires in the rear, and 255-40-17s in front, running 12 inch 250# coil over springs at all four corners. Mike

This question really depends on who you ask. There is atleast one guy out there who LOVES his SCARAB conversion and will argue up and down that the JTR swap is not all it is cracked up to be. If you take his stance, then you can slap a V8 in without buying the JTR Kit. With this setup you can drop any V8 in with little fuss over transmission clearance, or header issues, or ground clearance. I did the JTR conversion and I'm VERY happy with it, but it depends on what you can afford, and what your driving style is. Mike Kelly