Mikelly

Mike

So yeesterday I got some slicks mounted up and then installed them on the Zcar. I hope to have time this weekend for a quick spin in the car so I can collect some data to send to the tuner for some tweeks before next Saturday's event at NCCAR. Also sold the M3 over the last couple days. When I was loading it into the trailer, I noticed one of the three big hinges on the bottom of the rear door (where the cars roll in) was BROKEN, after I loaded the M3 in. I'm not sure how long it's been that way... But I'm gonna have to address that ASAP. Mike

I would pass. I have to keep it on trickle charger. Next weekend at the track I will have my extra battery just In case.

So driving home today I says to myself, I says "Self, We're going to be driving the Zcar in less than two weeks and I needs to be a wrenching..." So when I got home I went down to the shop, put the car up in the air, troubleshot a rattle on a fuel line/fitting under the rear of the car, relocated the oil temp sensor to the return side of the oil cooler fittings, and extended the sensor wire in the harness. I have to get my car trailer checked out and then get some slicks mounted up by the weekend... I'll be attending the Chrysler Crossfire Club event at NCCAR as an instructor. I really dig that track as a "learning" circuit for new students! It's a one day event, so I'll drive up the night before and come back the same evening! Mike

Yesterday I pulled the right front wheel off the Zcar. I have a new tire to replace the one cut by the installer last time around. In the process I found my "shake". They wheel spacer I used on the custom aluminum front hub wasn't thick enough and the wheel was actually cutting into the front hub surface and not seating evenly on the brake rotor hat. I will be taking a wheel, and both front hubs to Tom Harris in the next few days so we can have the hubs outter diameter turned down. This was something I had completely forgotten when custom ordering the wheels... the INNER Hub diameter on mine isn't stock 240-280Z sized. Oh well, welcome to the world of custom parts! Mike

Now THOSE are numbers!!! WoW! Mike

No drama these days... I'll throw this out there... There were a lot of misconceptions, a lot of interference from others here and elsewhere, and lots of stress on my life to cause me to lash out at people here when I was an Admin. I miss helping run the show, but I don't miss that phase of my life. I'm a grand father, a business owner, a great father and a WONDERFUL husband now. I wasn't any of that when I was trying to serve to many masters and keep to many things straight in my life. The Datsun was able to be finished by lightening a number of LOADS from my life. The Porsche Twin Turbo was one. I'll be able to continue developing the Zcar and enjoy the GT3 on the street and at the track on a rare occasion. The Datsun WILL be at the track with the Chrysler Crossfire club on June 2nd at NCCAR. I've volunteered to instruct and I actually enjoy that track quite a bit. Mike

Woldson, I sold it last September after my dad died. Kind of one of those guilt things I regretted almost immediately. Glad to see you back again! Mike

The last week or so has not been good for working on anything... Been running my arse off... Hope to get the Zcar up in the air and find out why I've developed a bad shake in the steering. Checked the wheel bearings and they're fine...Won't be making the track event this coming weekend at VIR because the GT3 is getting delivered either Saturday or Sunday, as of "now". Mike

On Sunday I managed to redo the cable latch setup for the rear hatch. It now closes and locks more solidly and release with less effort! Mike

Thanks Guys... She's staying "as is" with the possible exception of a second set of wheels way down the road. She's already got all the right stuff from mother- Porsche or the last owner: DaSport Rollbar Fabspeed Exhaust PMNA 997 SSK Monoball Rear adjustable camber & toe arms Factory adjustable coil overs Factory adjustable swaybars Factory adjustable control arms The 996TT was a lot of work to get ready for track events. It would in general take me a day to swap out the seats/harnesses, the brakes, the tire/wheels, and do the alignment to make it all perform on track. I want to get back to something that I can drive everyday and then go to the track if I want and just lap it. Only additions will be a custom insall of a clear bra and an Ipod hookup. The car has never been tracked and under the pre-purchase inspection it was discovered that the rev limiter had never been engaged, which is a pretty rare thing in these cars. I'm not abandoning the Zcar by any stretch. It's my track whip until someone comes with a big bag of cash. Mike

So we did it... I put a deposit down on this... I'm gonna own another Porsche...Got to get it shipped from the left coast, but I can't wait to get back into a Pcar as my daily driver... Mike

Give em hell Matt! Hope to have my Zcar issues resolved over the next weekend... Mike

Matt, Thats what I'm thinking about the battery issue too.. I'm amazed nobody else has posted up on this type of thing, but I'm guessing that's the case... I'll have to throw the red-top back in and sell this Braille if it doesn't work out over the next week. These cars car be hugely rewarding, when they "work"! Hahahaha Mike

Not a good day with the Zcar... For some reason the charging system still isn't charging the battery. Took it for a drive this afternoon and by the 3rd mile, the car was having "issues" due to electrical drain on the system. I don't quite understand what the hell is going on with this damned thing... 3 alternators later, still can't seem to figure this one out... I mean really, it's a single wire and power wire... On top of that, the car has a BAD shake in the steering at about 75mph... And ontop of everything else, the data logger isn't recording data. I'm pretty sure this is something I'm doing wrong, but yea, just another brick to the load... Mike

I'm gonna be distracted for a few days wrapping up a few things on the M3 so it can go to its new home in NC. And I'm gonna be distracted getting the car trailer ready for the season and purchasing a new (to me) Porsche... That said, I am going to wrap up the windshield wiper wiring and button up the hardware on the fuel cell surround. First event of this season is May 18-20 at VIR with PCA. I'm taking the Datsun... Go big or go home... Mike

Very nice... That's a very solid and reliable package... The torque will be a lot of fun on an autox course! Well done... Mike

Thanks man... No updates as of late. Was in Gatlinburg, Tn. for a little R&R with the wife, so I probably won't get back to the final punch list until over the weekend... Mike

There's been some interest in the whole "fuel filler" neck that I did on the car, so here's a few specific pics... The fuel system has been since replaced with a single filter/pump for the EFI, which works like a champ! Summit Racing Fuel Can with a JRZ 45 degree neck/flapper roll over setup. If the car turns upside down the flap assembly won't allow fuel to spill out the neck... The cell has a feed, a return, and a vent roll over valve that vents to a small niple on the underside of the fuel filler neck! The filler cap/neck that is part of the body was originally bought through Racerpartswholesale a very long time ago... I believe Rebco was the label on the box... I think I bought the thing in 1998. Hope this explains some of the setup. I did the initial cut/install and Jamie Taylor did the bodywork/blend/paint. I think it turned out pretty darned well and really gives this Datsun a unique touch... one of many!

Believe this is the link he was shooting for... http://www.subesports.com/ Beware that some companies offer zero fee for shipping,and others will gouge you for hundreds of dollars... Mike

To nice today to be trapped in the shop all day, but I did manage to wrap up the wall sections segregating the fuel cell from the driver's compartment. I'll finish off the upper deck over the coming days. Tomorrow morning I need to sneak out in the car and log some data so we can get the Traction Control parameters setup... Mike

500# springs aren't that stiff on these cars with the right strut and the right suspension. When I was in Watkins Glen last year, I put about 200 street miles on the car and had several passengers in the vehicle as we were allowed to drive through the streets and countryside. Nobody complained about the ride and all were shocked when I told them the spring rates. That said, my car does have full subframe connectors and a 14 point rollcage. Mike

Tires are cheap Matt, put some NT01s, or MPSCs on it and go up! Nice info about Scott Pruit! Very cool! Mike

I set the car up with toe plates and reset the toe to zero this afternoon, and wired up the traqmate harness... Still need to wrap up a few small issues, but getting there... Mike

Took it out for a brief drive yesterday afternoon. Needed more fuel for the car. Last time I drove it about two weeks ago, I commented that it was going to be "quick". Well I now will change that by saying that traction is going to be hard... getting above 4KRPm the car will break traction without effort... I didn't heat up the hoosiers, but I'll def. need that traction control. Going to go ahead and do a front end alignment so I can drive the car and get the data logged and sent back to Ev. He needs to be able to set some parameters on it so we can then use the TCS. This thing is going to be a handful on the racetrack! Getting excited... Mike