Mikelly

It's the effect someone put on the photo... The front and rear look as if they're convexed...Like it's wrapped around something... Mike

Actually I like having the extra space of the back seat for "stuff". My director of operations has serious issues with bringing stuff to and from the office in her 350Z due to that ignorant "bar" at the rear tower. Makes putting much more than a computer bag back there a challenge. When I removed the bolt in cage from the Porsche, I welcomed having reclining seats and a back seat so we can actually take the car on trips again! To each their own... Mike

Everything here is no longer relevant to the build... Mike

What the community, the county and the board of supervisors need to weigh is this: Just from a PCA perspective, A club rolls into town with 50+ Administrative personnel/helpers, and at minimum 200 registered drivers, PLUS their family/friends. This group of 250+ people will need LODGING, FOOD, Entertainment, Parts. This group of 250+ People will roll in with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of transport, and track cars, and will plan to spend at minimum $1000 per "family" on that three day event. LOTS of discretionary income will be available to be spent at the local shops for anything and everything to keep friends/families entertained while that person is on track...I see this at every event I attend! That's one club, for one weekend out of the year. If they want to generate revenue for their community, they'll tell the NIMBYites to pound sand. The fact that the board of supervisors is seeing this as the opportunity it is, says a whole lot. Sales tax revenue to the county for all of the businesses that will be needed to support a track of this size, with the potential they're talking about may well make this deal happen. Times are hard right now and there are many many counties thru out the region that would jump at this chance. Mike

This is less than two hours from my house... I HOPE they pull it off, as it sounds like they plan another VIR, which would simply be AWESOME!!! Mike

I know, I know... But hey at least I finally went and LOOKED at one! I gotta get you and Jeff back down here for some R&R... AND you still owe me a cookout! And a motorcycle get together... And... I'll think of something... Mike

Once the "hybdridZ" in my shop is done, my motor transplant projects are over with (with the possible exception of a ZX12R in my ZRX1100). I'll sit on the LS6 motor I have to replace the 383 stroker with when it dies, but I have ZERO desire to dive into another motorswap platform. This is a younger man's game and my time is better served with my company and my family. But hey, they're cheap Paul, have at it! Mike

I know someone else started a thread several weeks back, but at the time I had nothing to offer...That was then... Friend of mine showed me the brochure for the New Genesis Coupe... I was floored at how good this car looks... So I went and saw one at the local dealer who just so happened to have a 3.8L. track option example in "Silverstone"... http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicle/GenesisCoupe/exterior/feature.aspx http://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicle/GenesisCoupe/interior/interior.aspx Now I drive a higher end european automobile and love it because it is so heavily modded and does everything so well, but also because of the fit and finish of the car. I'm a big stickler for quality of materials, fit of body panels, seams and gaps, paint finish, and interior design and layout... I was FLOORED when I sat in this new "Hyundai". The interior is well thought out and the materials used are easily on par with my interior. Granted, I'm comparing an 8 year old car's interior, but that car cost $135K when new. This "Hyundai" retails for LESS THAN $30K with all options ($31750 with the ZF6speed auto). The exterior, with the rear wing, and the rear cowl/difuser styling looks very nice and the angles of the car are very pleasing, to me at least... I can't get over the look of this particular car. Brembos stuffed behind 19 inch alloys, and an aggressive look that screams LOOK AT ME! Only complaint was the ride height. One of these lowered about an inch and with tinted windows would make an excellent daily driver and would surely be a hoot to drive. But, a HYUNDAI? YES, a Hyundai... Check one out if you haven't already, and do NOT go by the website or pics in magazines... They simply don't do it justice. See one in person and you'll know what I'm talking about... I may go back for a test drive in this thing... Donna's BMW is getting a little long in the tooth, and we could turn it into "Mike's DD". If I can get her to seriously consider this car, we may well end up with one in the garage, for a more "extensive" long term review... Still can't get over how nice this thing looks ... Mike

I have them and will be installing them on my little low budget mild zcar build. You can see pics of it in the S30 projects build under my user name... It really is tame for this crowd, but it's all I can do. I bought these to be able to adjust for bumpsteer on my car since the ride height isn't stock. Mike

I just acquired a built LS6 (Big heads and Cam) that ate a head gasket and needs a head bolt helicoil repair, so I'll be in this same boat at some point... Subscribed/ copied to my archives... Mike

Same here... Mike

I've been doing track days for quite a while now. In another platform I suffered a major catastrophic failure of the motor (threw a rod thru the block). Road course duty is much harder than most people think. You're out there for 20-45 minutes PER SESSION, and that abuse throws more heat into the oil and sustained abuse at the motor than you might imagine. I'd recommend picking a motor that will be easy to maintain and cost effective to rebuild. From what I remember when we were sourcing parts for my Son's RB motor build, the RB series just isn't cost effective, especially if you're on a budget. To answer your own question, price out rebuilding both powerplants. For the "best" bang for the buck, using it on a road course, you're much better served to sort the braking and suspension first. Those two areas will pay much larger dvidends to those wanting to learn proper road course skills. Having a lot of HP/ torque and no way to use it in the application you've chosen can be quite frustrating. I've seen many drivers in much higher HP cars get humbled by the skilled driver in the underpowered and well sorted Mazda Miata. Just some things to think about from someone whose been doing the track day thing for going on two decades (on and off since 1985). Mike Kelly

Can you post some specs and dimensions of that rear diff setup? Mike

Everything here is no longer relevant to the build... Mike

Probably won't get much done this weekend as I'm teaching another car care clinic today and I'm going to spend time with the wife tomorrow... Mike

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r226/Mikelly_2006/Mikes%20Zcar%20Pics/PICT0006.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r226/Mikelly_2006/Mikes%20Zcar%20Pics/PICT0006.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r226/Mikelly_2006/Mikes%20Zcar%20Pics/PICT0012-1.jpg Mike

Savannah Georgia is where I'll eventually call home... Spend a night there and enjoy Riverfront! Mike

Everything here is no longer relevant to the build... Mike

Let us know when you're in town and maybe we'll host a ZCar Shindig... I put them on a couple times per year. A couple of the RB types show up occassionally, although none of their projects have shown up yet. Where you should go? Google: Maryland International Raceway Virginia International Raceway Watkins Glenn Road Atlanta Take a sidetrack thru Charlotte North Carolina if you want to experience some automotive history. Lots of museums and race shops there, although most are dedicated to NASCAR, there is some worthwhile stuff to see and lots of Zcar folks in that state and region. In Florida I'd go to Daytona and stop in their museums. There's so much stuff to do on the east coast, it's really hard to pinpoint, but I'm sure others will chime in... Mike

Take a stroll down memory lane and remember what happened when I started losing interest... First it was Mike's hipdeep in making control arms for the masses... Three years later and I buy a Corvette and start modifying and then tracking it... 2.5 years later and the Z finally has a rollcage, but not much more... And we move to the new house, and start the business up... and then I make the (on this board) sacreligious mistake of buying my dreamcar and posting about my run of good luck and mixed blessings... Guys see a "Zcar" project that someone else has suffered thru and they don't see the countless hours spent away from family and friends, the broken marriages, and lost friendships, the mounting credit card debt or many other failures along the way. They just see something they want and "think" they have the skill, time, space and tools required to build the project out. I have another guy on here who I've been helping with his build. I've sold him stuff cheap, given him a bunch of stuff, and want to see him succeed with his project. But I keep telling him "Enjoy it for a while". He has some coilovers he wants to have put on and I just keep putting him off... The car was on jackstands for a year or more, and I know this has strained his marriage already and he's a newlywedd. Now with children *(just had twins) I know time is even shorter. So for him to bring his car down to me for a weekend or more is a real challenge. The car is drivable so enjoy it. Drive it around the block as an escape to get away from the stress of life... Take projects one bite at a time. Look at your Zcar as a Pizza. It's not smart to sit down with a large pie and pitcher of beer and think you're going to knock it out in one sitting... Take each piece of the project one piece (or slice of pizza) at a time. Don't try to do to much. Keep the car as drivable as you can for as long as you can so you can remember WHY you are doing the project. If the project sits on jack stand for 3 months or more, you're losing the battle and you will be much more easily sidetracked. It's that simple. Buy a nice daily driver and let that suffice while you finish your Zcar Zeeboost. If you dive into another Make of car, trust me, it will draw you away further from finishing that car. Had I stuck with a plan, my Zcar would have been finished in 2004, not 2009. Do I regret the cars I've been fortunate enough to experience? Hell no. But I absolutely kick myself for "pushing" this pile of Datsun, Chevy, and aftermarket parts around for so long while I spent valuable time and money enjoying other cars. I should have finished one project before starting the next... You should too! Mike Kelly

Everything here is no longer relevant to the build... Mike

Just finished bleeding it.. http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r226/Mikelly_2006/Mikes%20Zcar%20Pics/SlavePic2.jpg http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r226/Mikelly_2006/Mikes%20Zcar%20Pics/SlavePic1.jpg Other than the pedal being a little stiff due to the shorter fork, it seems to work very well. I cut the fork so short because it was a unit from Jegs and had a 45 degree bend in it about 2.5-3 inches down from the end... I had to make a choice, and cut just past the bend, which made it stiffer than I'd have liked... Oh well! Otherwise, seems to work well. I'll make a heat shield to protect it from the exhaust if the pipes get that close that they become an issue. Mike

Everything here is no longer relevant to the build... Mike