Owen

I did some looking on the net and could not find a cheap bender that did mandrel bends too. But, rather than sand, how about some balls inserted into the pipe? I read that this is the way mandrel bends are made. I use a tail pipe expander to keep the pipe round when pressing my own oval tubing, so maybe some hard baseballs inserted into the pipe would prevent the dreaded "crush bend"? Owen

What's a good price for tubing benders? In the long run this should pay for itself and even make you some money doing stuff for other people. Anyone know of a good maker? Owen

I'd like to know how to do this with the tranny in the car! Owen

I bet they're gonna use a jointed steering shaft like someone here did. Notice that it's an American Z? And notice those two tubes where the battery would be and under the MCs? The car has a bolt-in rollcage, who knows why... Are those the 280ZXT companion flanges in the underneath shot? Owen

CA is NOT requiring retrofits of catalytic converters, etc. However, I'm still kinda unsure of whether the rules go by the date of the emissions systems or by the date of the block. BLKMGK, you will remember I am running a block older than the car, which I thought was illegal. I talked to some people at Random Technology and they told me that there were no concerns of the car catching fire with their catalytic converters, as long as the car isn't coated underneath with gasoline, etc... I'm getting a Random Cat, heard too many bad things about Catco. This is NOT to pass emissions or get certified by a referee station (I don't plan to). This IS to let me roll through roadside smog sniffers without getting pulled over each time. Owen

I get mine from local muffler shops, speed/tuning shops are good too, especially if you know someone. The muffler shops will sometimes bend you a J or a U too. Owen

Some pictures of a Q45 engine in a 240Z. Interesting engine mounts, can't tell how it's built though. http://v8zcar.topcities.com/s30z/q45z.htm Owen

Looks like B.A.D. has a wide range of ratios for the diff as well! That's good news. I know I promised to scan those pictures of the Q45 engine in a 240Z but my computer at home is busted...will do soon. Owen

"We have found digital instruments for the car. Would the instruments fit in our non digital dash and how is the wiring different?" It depends....on who makes the instruments. You can try Dakota Digital or something. Owen

I was thinking about an alarm with a remote start option, simply bypass the neutral safety switch. But I thought about it and recalled how many times the valet parking guy had left my car in gear and me almost rear ending the car parked in front of me. Thanks for the story, I have decided not to go with that option Owen

About the cable, same problem I had. Getting a replacement is too expensive, so a little wandering around at Home Depot found me a replacement (any length cuz it was on a big spool) that is the exact same threaded steel cable inside the Lokar housing. Cost $2.50. I also got some cable clamps that work way better than the ones Lokar gives. If you absolutely don't need the braided hose that covers the throttle cable, then this is the best alternatve. Owen

I can't remember his name right now..Alfonso??? has a 2nd Gen RX7 with a 327, T5, and solid axle. I met him last month or so and it was a total sleeper! I'm sure the 3rd gen RX7 will accept the SBC no probs. Owen

I like the sideskirts in the MSA catalog, not too expensive either. But was wondering the same, YAY or NAY? Somehow just having the front air dam makes the car's lines look strange from the side. Cuz the the lower lip of the dam is lower than the bottom edge of the door. I don't know about the rear tailgate body piece though...have to take another look. Owen

BLKMGK, check out the last Turbo mag with the red 240Z on the cover. Those are pretty similar wheels but they are the more expensive brand name kind, Racing Harts I think. How much are these ones from Complete Custom? Owen

Thanks, was able to view them fine after that. I thought I knew the answer to your question but now you got me thinking...it is a rear wheel drive though...the driveshaft I got from a Q45 was in 2 pieces and long as hell! Owen

Ummmm. they're not showing, at least not on my computer. Do you have a link to a page they're posted at, like a photo album or something? Owen

Drilled a hole in the gas cap huh? I plugged up one of the vents on the tank (I think) and the other one has a tube going down to the ground. Got rid of the expansion tank and all. Owen

What TimZ made is the same as those Moroso, etc. oil/vapor separator valves and tanks. Good show! Since the Moroso ones cost at least $130...just for the tank. Sweet looking engine by the way. Owen

Congrats! I'm gonna have to check my slave one day... Owen

My mods were not done in any particular order....due to availability or because I couldn't decide on what I wanted. And at other times, a better idea hits you later on and pushes your completion date back even further. I would say though...pull engine and tranny first. Widen tunnel if necessary, fix underside and engine bay rust, do brake and fuel lines, engine bay paint (mine is just black heat paint). Put in engine and tranny, check ground clearances when doing coilovers, exhaust, etc. I don't know if having the engine in when the roll cage is welded in is good or not...if the car's not level, it could permanently tweak the car? I stripped my paint right after pulling the old engine...2 years ago...rust.... Owen

Casting numbers basically...that can be used to identify the year or period that the block was made. Performance guys naturally look at these to find the strongest blocks, etc. What's so stupid is that even if the block was old, if the entire engine was equipped with smog stuff and did not turn the sky black at the time of testing, then why not? My smog stuff would then mysteriously disappear too Owen

Couldn't find the pix of the rad upper mounts... Owen

Thanks! I used a bunch of washer too cuz that's what I had I just need to get some longer bolts though. BLKMGK, I'll check out your site, hopefully the part numbers for that upper mount are there but if they aren't can you email them to me? One other thing for anyone contemplating doing this, I'm using the BlackMagic fan and I had to put washers in between the wall and the mounts there too. It's basically sized for the single row Camaro radiator. Owen

What does the referee station mean by "engine"? In my other catalytic converter post someone said my late '69 block in my '73 was ok if the emissions complied or something. I thought the entire engine had to be '73 or newer (in my case). Do they give special considerations if my car has the older block but is still substantially cleaner? If not, I'm not going to get the sticker... Owen

Got my Griffin rad, 19 x 24. It's too tall with the JTR lower bracket, the rad cap hits the underside of the hood. I put some spacers in between the bracket and the frame to hang it lower but it's still hits a little. Should I be using a different lower bracket? Also, I used some old door weather stripping and put that over the bottom vertical fins in between the rad and the bracket. Thanks! Owen