fhptom

I would think why #3 was cleaner is due to the coolant/water getting in there and basically making it a steam bath. This would most likely also make the exhaust come out with less heat so it was not completely burning off before exiting. I have had too replace head gaskets on most every Z I have had. Usually just bad head gasket only requiring a mild shaving of head. Once it did lead to a small crack in the head and I had to have it welded by someone specializing in welding AL. Tom

Looks real nice from the pictures. I always wanted to do a orange Z but have not gotten around to it. Great job. Tom

Those numbers are almost identical to mine with a very similar setup. I just put triple 45 OER carbs on mine and will re-DYNO to see what kind of improvement they make. I think my comp is slightly higher than yours since the only way I could get rid of my detonation was to run 105 race gas. Tom

Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like I really need to read the manual that came with the camcorder. Sometimes it helps to know how to use something before you start using it. But that takes the fun out of just ripping open the box and just using it. Tom

The caps are just a plastic/rubber ring with a fine wire mesh/screen to stop any debri from entering air horns. Picture the lid off a jelly jar with the middle material gone replaced by wire screen. I was using the ITG foam filters on my SUs. I really liked them but the foam barely lasted 3 years on my car before it started to crumble. Most of the cars I see at the track running triples or any type of velocity stack(old Ca-Am cars) do not cover the air horns. I thought I could just sell/ebay those nice K&N filters to recoup some of the cost of the OERs. Tom

I have been playing with my new camcorder(JVC Everio HDD) and I get great video downloaded onto my computer. When I upload to YouTube it looks like crap. Almost blurry or grainy like it was down back in the 70s. I have tried .mov, .mod. and .mpeg formats all with same results. I know clean video can be had on You Tube just not sure what I should try next. I am using a DSL connection. Any thoughts. Tom PS. You can see my videos under same name fhptom.

Well I found the port on the intake manifold for brake booster. It was just blocked off with a plug. Next question for other triple carbers, especially those that track thier cars. My carbs came with 3 K&N filters also but I am thinking about not using them and just getting some caps from Pegasus Racing. Will that tend to allow too much air into carbs that I might have to recalibrate? Knowing that I now have to buy 6 of everything if I need to retune. Tom

Is that the taller rear spoiler (4" or 5") you were talking about making for sale? That would look alot nicer than the run I made out of AL. Tom

Well I finally got my wish and got a set of OER 45 triple carbs. They bolted right up with no problems and car started on first try. Idles and revs great. Oh the sound is SWEET!!!!! Drove it down to the end of the street and like everyone says "it sure feels faster".... As soon as I get back from Vegas trip I will take it back to the DYNO and get the real facts. Now everyone will know if triples really are worth the cost. One question though, since I lost vacuum assist for brakes on intake manifold what do I do with it? Cap it off and push harder or is there another answer. Tom

Hate to be another stick in the mud but like Sho-Z said you have given the law a reason to pull you now. Just last night pulled a guy over just as he was leaving work at 1AM( burger joint). He forgot to turn his lights on. He got out of his car and stuck his hands out and said "I don't have a license, are you going to take me to jail". Had 9 suspensions on an ID only. I did not even have to try hard and got that one. If you are going to tempt fate make sure you have all your ducks in a row as they say. And do not get upset if you get a ticket for something you know you did wrong. By the way your car is really looking good. I would pull you over just to talk to you about your car. Tom

Well I would say that you have done more than just a little work to your car so far. I like the fender solution and would not worry about rocks hitting it. If your going to be doing track events a super clean paint job is going to be the last of your concerns. Go fast and brake hard is what will consume your time. It looks like you already spilled some blood on those fenders or is that a spot of paint dripping. I like the blood idea because that means you are the car. Tom

That engine barely made it a third of the way through the ROLEX 24. My friend works with the guys who one the Koni championship last year and they got one of the new V8s to run in the 24hr race. Automatic Racing I believe he said they spun a bearing or something small like that then parked the car before it got any worse.

Jeff, they look like different wheels anyway from front to rear, at least different center caps and color. If you decide to get rid of them and go for new let me know I am redoing a 280 now that I am going to put flares on and I will need wider wheels. Tom

That should not be too difficult as long as it is just the outer fender and not into the shell. You can just use some scrap sheet metal or they sell complete replacement parts for that portion of the rocker. Tom

Cannot add anything to paint issue but as a 1983 UK grad can you get them winning on the basketball court for me. It hurts to see them play as horribly as they do now. Next time I make it back up I will try to hook up with the L-ville Z guys. Tom

Or-Jo looks like you have enough room to really try out your skills off pavement. Might be a good idea for my Project 2008 car since it has so much body rust that I am having to cut everything up anyway. NASA has a rally division and I could hook up with the guys at Grassroots Motorsports magazine. They are building a car to do rallying. Tom

Looks like you already have a pretty ferocious power plant in that Z right now. Theres a guy next to my friends race team that messes with nothing but Mustangs and I was surprised when he said he gets those motors from the JY for around 500 to 600. Easy way to get 300HP. Tom

Jeff, let me know if you go any further with this. I might be able to help out with cost in return for trying to make a set of fenders. Tom

Those are some nice looking welds. Did you use that Craftsman welder in the background? What amperage is that welder? I wish I could get my welds looking like that. I guess I just need to keep on practicing. Tom

I drive a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. Cool lights and graphic package. Secure closed in rear compartment. Free rides given. 2004 Titan extra cab. Tom

After pulling the front fenders, hood and starting on some rust repair to the rear I thought I would see if this thing even runs. PO said he had it running in Nov 06 but lost radiator for some reason. I put in a spare rad, checked all the fluids and plugs plus the fuel that was still in there. Put my battery out of my track car in. 5 seconds of cranking and it started right up. a little miss and the water pump was bad. Replaced the water pump with my spare and it was smooth sailing. I believe I just doubled the value of the car by just getting it running. Now finishing it and selling it to get my Triple Mikunis does not seem too far out of the question. Tom

Be extra careful with beach cars. My neighbor bought a Z from a guy in Daytona w/o getting underneath the car for a real good check. When he got it home me and his dad looked underneath and the whole rear end was rusted completely out to where when we jacked it up the rear broke loose from the body. A life near the beach will kill a car, especially Zs known for rust. Take Jeff up on his offer to go look at it, he has a nice 1st gen Z. Tom

In Central FL Home Depot rents thier little trucks for 19.99 for the first hour. Now in outrageousland (CA) who knows what it is. Tom

Those rear quarters give the car a whole new updated look. I wanted to get to that stage but unfortunately has not happened yet. Saving cash for a set of triple Mikunis. 44s or 47s. Tom

Unfortunately I crashed that one my freshmen year at college. Some 20 years later I am back in the game again. Hopefully since all I am doing with this car is track days I will not be crashing it. Tom