johnc

The heat shield helps in stop and go traffic and will help prevent vapor lock. But once you're going 25 mph or more there's enough airflow through the engine compartment to keeps things relatively cool.

Parts for the 944 can be very expensive, but as with anything automotive, junk yard prices are pretty cheap. NASA, POC, and PCA run a Spec944 series for the 83 through 88 2V 2.5L cars. A car can be bought and built for $12,000 and raced for a couple seasons with no more expenses then fluids, tires, and entry fees. The driveline, suspension, and brakes are strong and last long if maintenance is kept up. A junkyard engine is $600 and will last at least a couple seasons of racing. And these 944s (unlike the turbos) are pretty easy to work on.

Not to pick on anyone in particular, just on an attitude in general... Remember these great words said 120 years ago? Some people think that these words are not appropriate for our soldiers who fought and died in Iraq. They are fighting for the very same reasons as the soldiers who died during our Civil War - freedom and liberty for the oppressed. Could it be that those who think a soldier's death in Iraq is less honorable then a soldier's death 120 years ago because our soldier's now are dying for Arabs and not our fellow countrymen?

Don't tell me you found those 2 cars IN the pipeline?

Its great helping kids with your car. Sometimes its a more fun then a day at the track. Back when my 240Z could be driven on the street I did a road rally where blind kids are placed in the passenger seat with route instructions written in braile. My codriver was a 10 year old girl that just giggled every time I got on the throttle. Needless to say we got lost a bunch of times but the organizers had secretly given the drivers maps and we ended up in third place with the girl getting to stand on the podium.

I did! Not as positive as the IRI report but still shows that the Iraqi's are feeling things are getting better. Here's a funny shot at the New York Times: http://www.rantingprofs.com/rantingprofs/2005/03/what_to_do_when.html

For those that recognize the name and know how his one telegram identified and established our foriegn policy for 50 years, Dan Drezner has a good obit: http://www.danieldrezner.com/archives/001949.html

Megarich right wing folks like Steve Speilburg, Bill Gates, Barbara Streisand, Alec Baldwin, Susan Sarandon, Ted Kennedy, Soros, Oprah, Steve Ballmer, ...?

Welding is the same as auto racing. Its 80% driver (weldor) and 20% vehicle (welder). I watched an outstanding weldor lay down beautiful beads on 4130 CroMo tubing, lying in the dirt on a real windy day, using a POS scratch start no amptrol TIG welder that shut off ever 15 seconds because it overheated the circuit breaker in the shop. Conversly, I've seen myself creat piles of birdcrap using a $5,500 full boogie throw down bad *** mofo Lincoln 375 Precision TIG. Its the person holding the torch (or the gun) not the machine!

Vehicle structures have gotten much heavier over the years. 30 mph front and rear impact and 35 mph offset impact requirements add weight. Air bags and related systems add weight. Tensioning belts and related systems add weight. In addition, performance options add more weight. 6 speed transmissions are generally heavier then 5 speeds. 18" wheels and tires are generally heavier the 16" wheels and tires. A turbo or a supercharger and related plumbing add weight. Even the Lotus Elise added a couple hundred pounds meeting US safety requirements.

Out of the box the 944 is a better handling and braking car then the 240. But, in SCCA ITS (the closest "stock" road racing comparison) the 2 valve Porsche 944 has to run 300lbs more then the ITS 240Z and I don't think the 2.5L engine can make as much power as the 2.4L Nissan L6. So, the 240Z consistently beats the 944. Handling for both cars is about the same and braking is similar for a 30 minute race.

Understanding "Duty Cycle": http://www.welding.com.au/pages/understanding_duty_cycle.htm FYI... I've welded for 30 minutes straight with a MIG welder that was rated for a 20% duty cycle. No trips, no problems. I was also pretty frickin' stiff after welding for that long around a plate seam. The only reason I stopped was that I used up a 10lb spool.

Uuuhhhh, no. Per the 2005 SCCA GT2 rules the 240/260/280Z and the 280ZX must weigh a minimum of 2080lbs. with driver or 2180lbs. with driver if running a 2.9L engine.

The reason why auto manufacturers are moving to DOHC over pushrod designs has to do with valve layout (3 & 4 valve vs. 2 valve). The cost benefits of a pushrod engine goes away when you're trying activate more then 2 valves in the combustion chamber.

Even the Iraqi's think things are getting better: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&e=1&u=/usatoday/20050316/ts_usatoday/mostiraqissayfuturelooksbrighter Unfortunately, some folks refuse to believe that: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michelle/malkin031605.php3

Flux core is "adequate" for most automotive jobs but gas is a while bunch nicer. A lot of the problems you guys are working through with flux core simple goes away with gas.

This is the benefit of a hybrid powertrain over a normal gasoline engine. In heavy city use (think New York City, downtown LA), waiting in line at McDonalds, and other low speed environments the hybrid gas engine isn't being used. But, on the highways the hybrid is always "on the engine" so its basically a heavy four cylinder car and its fuel mileage reflects that.

Jon, As you've learned, the rear frame rails really need to be done from the bottom of the car. Your work looks good and you might have a future in this... I meant to add that I was under a 1971 240Z the other day and saw stress cracks/tears where the rear trans tunnel turned up and met the rear bulkhead. Strange place to see them and I wonder if the car had been in an accident and was badly repaired.

Not true. From a post I made on another site:

Too late. Sorry.

http://www.usaweld.com HTP welders are mostly made in Italy, like some Lincoln and Miller models. I bought direct from HTP because I liked their service policy. If something goes wrong with the machine you call them on an 800 number. If you can use a multi-meter they walk your through diagnosing the problem and then either overnight the parts to you or send you to a local distributor that has the parts. But, as with my Miller and my Lincoln welders and plasma cutters, I've not had any problems. I figure its pretty rare to have problems with any of the higher dollar machines.

Not with the workmen's comp issues California has...

Ford Aerospace Aeronutronic division in Newport Beach, CA circa 1991. And that joke has been around since before Al Gore invented the Internet. I didn't claim to be the originator, I just claim that I did it!

Funny, I'm putting a 20B into a customer's FD right now.

Whichever is the cheapest. Both are good welders. When it came time for me to buy a big MIG welder, I bought a HTP 2400. I've used it about 300 hours in my shop for production welding of larger steel and aluminum stuff and I'm happy with the results. Its also about $300 cheaper then the best street prices on comparable Miller and Lincoln models. It also did all the seam welding on this 240Z: