pparaska

Len, no way, I'm not mad about any of this. And Zeroed, no, I don't "Hate" ricers - I just kind of shake my head when I see their cars or hear their bumble-bee exhaust, or watch them transfer weight OFF of the drive wheels when launching (no fighting physics - unless you use the now illegal in NHRA rear tire unloading hydraulic "wheelie bars". Sure, we should be nice and all that - heck I wrote the mission statement. But we're human and opinions happen. Let's keep it civil though. I think it has been. If people want this thread pulled, email me, Superdan, Mikelly, etc. and we'll discuss it. Do a ricer a favor, and give them a friendly ride in something that actually PERFORMS and doesn't have stickers, 5" tip, etc. to "help" it do so. I bet you could convert a bunch of them. They have a singular perspective usually (we all did at one time), and if we show them a Japanese car that performs, even with an American V8 or Turbo V6 under the hood, they might open their minds. I'm about to hit the local car shows this year WITH my V8Z. My mission will be to talk to everybody with the friendly attitude that I always try to broadcast. I may try parking among/near the Hondas, etc. and see if I can widen THEIR horizons about other ways to take a Japanese car and do something a bit different to it...

Len, if you want to call any car made in Japan a ricer, that's fine for you, but it doesn't seem to jive with the definition that Lone and many others have given to the term. Yes you can rice out or turn anything into a poser. I like the poser term better. Maybe it's a good thing that the young new drivers DON'T put power mods in. More power means more speed usually (almost without exception when people are young ) and that means more people getting hurt because they don't respect the power and speed yet. And Posing really isn't that bad either - if someone builds a car up with wheels, tires, neon, body kits, etc. and the KNOW it's still a not-so-fast car, but just like how it looks, that's fine with me. The joke is when they believe that just because someone on the Internet or who lives in their area has the same model or even make of car that truly is fast, etc., that all cars of that make and/or model must be fast. This is the misguided part to me and that's what makes me laugh. I view your car as a hotrod. You took a production car, slammed a big, more powerful engine into it and made it PERFORM BETTER. Nothing rice about it in my (or Lone's or other's) definition of what a "ricer" is. Ricer, to me, is derogatory because it's associated by many as a definition of a car (or it's owner) that has made the car into a poser but then makes the false leap of faith that the car is now a PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. To me, just because the Z is a made in Japan and has mods doesn't mean it's ricer - it's just that you chose a light Japanese car that has good handling traits to add a bunch of power, i.e., it PERFORMS BETTER. Heck, one of my favorite things to see is a stock looking American, Japanese, whatever car that's been hopped up under the hood and fenders to perform much better than it's stock appearance. And adding wide tires and an airdam doesn't mean your just into posing either. When I was young and in college and had my Z, I didn't have the money for engine upgrades, a V8 swap, etc., so I tuned the L24 up as best I could, did simple engine mods and added tires, struts, springs for better handling and then added an air dam for better looks (yes "posing", you might even say), and to keep the front end from lifting so badly at high speed! Ricer, no. Poser, no. Just some mods to add handling and stability, while also changing/personalizing the styling a bit to make it more appealing to my eye as well. (I always thought the pointy nose of a Z looked strange.) Nothing's ever black or white, just shades of gray.

I can't decide: P-51 Mustang flying overhead 427 GT40 on a racetrack Mclaren F1 at full tilt ProMod Drag car V8 through the lights Ferarri flat 12

You should be quite proud! Congrats!

Guys, I called MSA Wed morning and Sal very nicely refunded my money for my autocross and show spots. I got a midsize rental rate of $27 through Hertz on hotwire and when I was picking it up the sweet thing behind the counter offered to a special upgrade rate - for $8 more I'm cruising the highways and byways of SoCal in a charcoal Convertible Mustang. Too bad it's a lame V6 automatic! Cool to be cruising with the top down in Sunny SoCal though! johnc, thanks for the ride at the autocross!

I'm registered, and I have a space registered for my car.... but I won't be using it. The thrashing in the garage for 3 long days was not quite enough to get it ready in time to get it there. I'll be calling them today to let them know I don't have a car for the autocross or the show. See you there (I do have plane tickets and a rental now)!

...It's called burned the candle at both ends and in the middle! Seriously, I've been going on 5-6 hours of sleep for years, and for the past month, it's been more like 3.5-5 hours a night. You see, the kids are in bed by 9, the wife can't last past 10 most nights, and well, I never learned how to go to bed at a decent hour - I just can't turn it off! Too much fun stuff to do! (BTW, it's 930 PM and I've been at the office since 8:30 AM - deadlines baby!) Yes, lots of time, labor and $$$. And I'm not exactly proud of spending lots of any of those 3 things in the garage either! You see, one day, I WILL be certified as crazy. Most people who know me figured out a long time ago that I'm just not "right". I'm only half kidding here guys - ask Mikelly, DavyZ, Alsil, Michael - they've met me and they can vouch for my self-analysis Thanks! Sounds like you're having fun! Jon, thanks again for the compliments. But that little bit above is the reason that the car has too much time, labor, and $$$ for a sane person to put into a car. So this sickness that I have resulted in a car you guys (and I) like. That's cool - I wish more mental illnesses had an up side . But if I had it all to do again, my Z would be very different - mostly thanks to all the good ideas I've learned here at HybridZ! Gotta finish up a few things and go see the wife at home!

Yeah, that hi-rise holley dual plane has gone through a bunch of names (It's a Street Avenger now, I think, it was a Contender back in the early 90s, and it's had other names), but it's always been known as the PN 300-36. It's "rated" at idle to 7000, but I'm sure it's giving up power at the top end. Grumpy was it the 300-36 that you did a back-to-back drag strip test with against the Vic Jr? All I've done is idle, rev and run in my motor with the 300-36. Once it's been run, I'll let you know what I think of it. But I have nothing to really compare it to (unless I bolt the Vic Jr to the motor). But I'm having some pretty bad rich idle issues right now, so I doubt I'd go that way. Well maybe if I went with the Vic JR and moved down to the 600 vac sec I have. I think the 750 vac sec is just too big a hole to have a decent signal to the venturis with the 57 degrees of overlap (IVC 63 deg) in my cam and the 9.7:1 (177-184 cranking pressure). But I agree, unless it's a really mild motor you never spin above 4K rpm or so, the performer (non-RPM) is not going to breathe as nice as the 300-36 Holley Dual plane.

I am in denial guys. I just can't believe that picture is for real. O.k. 'fess up! Who used Photoshop and did that to a picture of a stock C5. I can't believe it I tell ya, I just can't believe hit (shakes head).

I'm 40, and I watch SpongeBob, Dexter and Samari Jack. All quality shows, I tell ya. (Man, having kids opens you mind to SO many things. )

I'd go with the Campbell Hausfeld one over the Craftsman. The craftsman oilless compressors are loud and heat the air too much (causes condensation in the lines more).

It's 830 PM and I'm still at work, but I feel I need to answer this one now... RacerX, thanks for the kudos. It's very rewarding to hear compliments like this, especially from an obviously knowledgeable car builder and body and paint expert! Updated photos are days if not a week or two away. If I can get out of work enough before Friday night, and things go well, the last little bits to get the car exterior and a bit of interior finished to make it driveable will allow me to drive the thing, do a several hundred mile shakedown and head WEST to the MSA show no later than Tuesday AM. I know that's nuts and it probably won't happen, but that's my plan. Anyway, once I get it all together on the exterior and get it out of the garage, I'll shoot some pics and post them. How did I pick the Z? Well, I'd had a 70 Camaro, a 68 Nova, and I wanted something that handled. Back in 1980 or so one of the HOTROD type mags had and article about the ScarabZ and I fell in love. I had a bud that knew a Z fanatic and he helped me find my Z. That was in 1981. This is the same car that I ended up building finally. That's my Z story.

Do yourself a favor and spend the extra couple of bucks on the 1.5" diameter VDO fuel pressure gage. I had a Jegs one and it was VERY unreliable. Just one data point there, but the VDO one is easy to read (white face, black markings) and seems to be a quality piece (not surprising as VDO is known to be the good stuff). Trouble shooting with no pressure gage is tough enough - trouble shooting with a junky gage might even be worse.

In case you haven't seen it, check out the "structural mods" link off of my main website page (see my signature below).

Denny, I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. I've seen the difference first hand of the amount a Z twists just jacking up one corner with and without the subframe connector, and it's very eye opening. There was a guy that lived near me that was putting a GTO 250 kit on a 280Z. He was having trouble with the flexing of the unibody until he put in subframe connectors something like what I have in my Z and on my website. Before the subframe connectors, the guy couldn't open or close the door on the Z with one wheel jacked up. After the subframe connectors, the doors worked as if the car was on all four wheels even when one wheel was jacked up. Yes, the torque boxes/rocker boxes are the main lower structural members in the cabin area of the Z, but that method of transferring load is not ideal. With the thin sheetmetal of the Z, it is not very stiff. Not to mention that the ends of the rocker boxes rust on almost all Z's and there goes you connection to the torque boxes. Trust me , subframe connectors DO make a difference. I've seen the results with my own eyes and I believe .

I was able to use the 240Z handbrake cable for the Hybrid early/late 280ZX rear disc conversion (see the right column of the opening page of my website for info). I also put Wilwood spot calipers on with my AZ Zcar WIlwood brake kit and used the 240Z cable.

Aah. That looks familar. I did something very similar with a mid-80's Ford LTD blower motor. I got the idea from someone else who did it. Man, that think puts out 3 times the volume of air the Z fan did!

Like THAT matters. Take that sentiment to Zcar.com, leave it out of any posts on this site.

If it's the new Holley system its the Commander 950 computer, and the throttle body, etc. has been redesigned also, over the older 4D and 4Di systems. I've been haggling with myself for months about whether to just drop the cash on this $1400 system for my 327. With my current carb woes with a 57 degree overlap cam, it may not be long in th future. The commander 950 stuff has gotten alot of good reviews in the mags and on the Internet. Supposedly this system is much better than the older 4D/4Di system.f Now, if I could just convince myself that the added benefits of port injection were really worth it, I could make a decision between a TBI or port 950 system. The $1000 difference doesn't quite seem worth it to me.

Thanks Grump! BTW, the "borg" link has the T-10s, T-5s, T-56s and numerous Tremec 5spd (yay!) sift recovery points.

I think that yes, the 240Z consoles were different, as the choke lever moved around, and maybe the 70 had a different fuse box placement? Most of the differences won't matter, I think, for most people, if they can live with a new shifter boot location, no ash tray, etc. But there are differences between the 240Z and 280Z that may matter on the console - not sure. IMO, the shape of the 240Z dash is nicer, especially around the center three gages. But making one dash cover won't work. Heck, even the 240Zs were a bit different as far as hazard switch placement, lighter, etc. But those might be able to be served by one dash cover. Just pick up an MSA catalog and see how many different part numbers there are for dash covers for the 240,260,280Z.

Ryan, thanks for the update. It seems things have turned around a bit for her and you. Just wondering if she's talked to specialists at the Mayo clinic or Johns Hopkins about the brain tumors. It's pretty amazing what can be done these days, with treatments and surgery, if the experts are involved. I wish you all the best of luck, and tell her to keep the shiny side up - glad she's out enjoying herself in the new machine! Is a supercharger in her future?

I was looking at Maroons, and a mid 90's Mercedes Benz bright Red (had a bit of a light blue tint to it - kind of neat), but I too didn't want the extra attention that Reds get from the guys behind the radar gun, etc. I've read the same types of reports as bbbowtie, and although they MIGHT be fabricated, I know that Red cars (and bright yellow ones) attract my attention more than others, so it stands to some reason that the guy behind the radar gun will be more prone to point it at a Red car. I also considered the charcoal color like SuperDan's car too. Then I saw the 95-97 Audi A4 "Europa Blue Mica" on a new A4 on a lot and fell in love. BTW, be careful, they used the same name for the 98+ color, but it's a different paint code, if you go that way. Mine's paint code LZ5T and the later one is LZ5K. Oh, thanks for naming the color after me . Anything's better than that brown Datsun used! Even the yellow-green color they used to have (color 112?) would be better than that, IMO (sorry if I offended anyone with a brown Z - just not my cup of tea.)

Beautiful Car, Beautiful Color, Beautiful Fnish!

They look good! I'd be surprised if under hood temps weren't lower while car was sitting.