DavyZ

Man, thanks fot the advice! I had not thought about the plaster soaking up anything so I will pay attention to that. My idea was to 'wash it out' from the back of the mold....but how about just using some mold release compound? Not enough of a barrier? Hmmm. Phil, thanks for bringing up the floral foam idea--Terry O used it on his car, but I think the plaster would be easy for me to work with (I anjoy clay and sculpting things) but a bit messier. I still have not thought of a good place for cleanup from all the white powder & sludge. Bathtub methinks? Again, Phil, thanks for the help Davy

The car perfect stance with the coil-overs! Just beautiful IMO. The wheels are extremely nice looking and bring the whole thing together. Gun metal was an excellent choice BTW Davy

Well the time has come to cut and paste an airdam together. I'll be using what appears to be a ricer Honda Civic or Eclipse front end and using the pieces to bond onto a fiberglass Z airdam (this is with all crusty or junkyard parts, so don't get ballistic on me ) . I have plaster that I'll be using (note that it was Ed Roth's technique) to fill in the areas between and bring other areas out. The plaster of paris will help make a mold to use for a knock off for the real thing. Soooo, this brings me to my basic questions: 1) Is there a special technique to cutting the fiberglass? For example, would tape along the cut edge help to minimize splintering? 2) Will nitrile gloves or latex gloves suffice? 3) Any cheap materials other then the usual ones I should be thinking of? Note that this question is not a "how do I..." but just to get additional info. I still have to take pics of the Honda front end (at least that's what I think it is--or maybe an Eclipse? Who knows?) before I cut it up. In case any are wondering, I'm doing this merely because I have not found many front ends to the Z that I particularly have fallen in love with. I do enjoy the simple front end, but in the quest for uniqueness, I am pursuing this idea. To make something esthetically pleasing, yet not garish or 'rice' will be the art of it all. Davy

I'll add a contrasting opinion: ZG flares painted the same color of the car ALSO look good. Since you are doing the fender welt and not painting it too (anyone like painted fender welt???), then perhaps you might go with a contrasting color. I personally think that ZG's body color (bolts, everything) looks pretty good too. The reason I say this is that I see other cars with "bolt on flares" which look good in all body color. The reason the Z looks good with either is that the flares are small enough to 'accent' the lines of the car without totally changing them, even when painted grey or black. The new, yellow Nissan trucks with the grey fenders look pretty good--use that as a gauge. Davy

Your design is better--take that from a former graphic artist/car nut! Your design adds some 'muscle' to the car and makes the lines better defined, while still adding some curves. The Nissan design does not have enough 'shape' to it. Embarrass them by sending it in. Davy

Impossible to follow up Mike on his collection, but it doesn't take much to swallow your hard earned cash. Does the house qualify? I seem to spend money on home improvement stuff and the money just disappears... 1965 Ford Galaxy...289, AT, rust, etc. Books, books, more books...CD's, DVD's... Tools, coffee, tools, coffee, wine, tools, coffee, wine, coffee (you get the idea). I would say that besides the Z, the list above is where the money goes. Davy

Look in the phone book for steam or chassis cleaning. Davy

Sounds like you guys really did your homework on this one. But really, the V8 was rubbing in the S30?!? Scarab or what? Mine (S30) WON'T rub, I can tell you that--to be done this spring/summer Davy

Kyle has them on theat purple monster over at Zdriver.com. This may be a strange explanation, but here is why I would want the plates: The 240Z is now exempt from the biannual smog check, but not necessarily exempt from running smog equipment, so performance upgrades and other modifications are in a seemly grey area IMO. So, it follows that if you get pulled over by a cop and he happens to look under the hood, there might be hell to pay. BUT, with the historical plates, I would not bet that can add some much wanted confusion in the situation and they would be less likely to flip no matter what was under the hood. Make sense? It's really just a mind game of perception. I laugh when I see a completely modified 240Z with a V8, no smog equipment, etc with the historical plates The car never came that way from the factory, it is not a resto project, not stock, yet looks great and has "historical vehicle" plates. I love this country! Davy

Sounds like he has a serious case of identity crisis and has no self esteem at all--as soon as you hear guys bragging about themselves, you know they feel so inferior that they can't help but start talking..... ....then again he might just be stupid Davy

He's a member on this board too Davy

Even with the 'minor' setbacks, you guys are making some great progress! Looking good so far Recording what you do each step will always help the newbie along. Too bad about the hood clearance, though. Just where is the oilpan in relation to the ground? Was the engine as low as you could put it? The V8 sits nicely in an S30, so I'm wondering if you had major clearance issues with the steering rack, crossmember, etc? Nice work though--up & runnin' by summer??? Davy

They used to sell them at the local Kragen/Checker/Schuks. Victoria British used to sell them. Now, I'm not sure. Davy

Try to keep from selling the car if you can, Scott. I'd sell my stereo, dog, and clothes first!!!!!!!! "You do what you gotta do..." Hang in there, Davy

Well, how about a formal welcome to the forum? Welcome! If you want something that is smog legal with a greater power potential then the NA motor, go turbo. Get a 280ZX motor & tranny and swap it all over with the smog stuff. Build on it from there and have plenty of fun! Once you start messing with the NA motor, you have just gone outside of EPA regs anyway, so you might as well start with a legal turbo motor. BTW, I would have a hard time believing that another state would out reg California as far as emissions testing/regs, so if you want a V8, swap in an LT1 with the smog stuff---that should be legal and have buttloads of power too. Just a thought. Davy

Excellent cars that do well for V8 conversions. They are more modern then a 240Z and much more comfortable. I like the Z car because it is truly a classic and has that "raw" feel to it like an old hot rod. Just a preference I guess. Davy

The biggest one was 10/19/89 in SF. That baby rocked all the way at UC Davis where I was at school--emptied the pool! Our house in San Jose was OK, but SF and Oakland were doing very badly and a lot of people died. I'll be happy if we never have another like that Davy

As a moderator I am glad this turned out civil, although I'm very surprised that it made it out here in public---I believe this should have been kept offline first since real names or screen names were never mentioned. I was going to lock this thread and will still do so at the request of either party OR it can just die as I think it should. Everyone not directly involved, please stay out to avoid bumping this topic up. Thanks, Davy

Ummm, no. Reverse that, Mudge. It takes more dollars to equal one pound. The British pound has always been worth more then the dollar. Darius, the Reaction Research YZ body kit looks pretty good on the car---there are a number of guys on and off the forum that have them as well. I wanted one, but they are a bit steep for me--nice that you have the means$$$$ I think black is a good choice and keeps with the whole theme of the car. I think the 19's are a mistake unless you're out to make a statement, then they'll be ok. Good around a track too. So what are you doing about headlights????? If you opted for the front fenders and airdam, there are no headlights as you well know. You selling your old clear covers by chance?? Davy

As are the heads.... Davy

Yeah, that is a BIG surprise for me too. Man, you think you know somebody... Davy

Thanks for the great info! My locks are bearly working as well, and I'm actively thinking about something better. Zed N: good idea about eliminating the 'button.' I never liked those and I think something (anything) would be better in it's place. A simple spring and barrel lock would be fine for my purposes. The only thing I don't like about a barrel lock is when the key starts to wear out--the lock gets more difficult to open, not easier like tha stock lock!!! Davy

Use the search function too look up all the info on that swap. As far as I know, there is very little info to go on, and no kits at all. You may have to design everything yourself, but this should be fairly 'easy' if you are pretty handy. Good luck! Davy

This happens only at work with the stupid dial up connection and IE, but NEVER at home with my cable and IE. Food for thought. Davy

Ah, it always helps when a real PRO weighs in! Thanks for the help, Racer X!!!!! Davy