DavyZ

I had no idea the black car started out as the 'work-in-progress' car you show in the pictures--it's come a looong way. A ton of work went into the car, that's evident. Very inspiring; thanks for adding them to the mix! Davy

I used to go to a local VW club when I worked for the VW dealership. Their cars are very simple (older Beetles and vans, etc) although they have some good custom touches. Most of the guys have bigger motors and the like--parts are cheap for them too. One guy, Rick Zavala, owns a Beetle known as "The Burglar," which was built by Gene Berg (Berg Transmissions) that used to drag race in the 1970's I believe. I think he said the car does 11's or 12's in the quarter. I would be plenty scared to do more then 75 mph in an older Beetle Good topic, BTW Davy

Yes, if the numbers match and it's some kind of really special car, be careful what you do with it. HOWEVER, if it is not a 'desirable' performance model, get a 440 install kit from Schumacher Enterprises and big block that bad boy! Man, that would be my take on it. What a gift---you lucked out! Davy

Alex Costa has some pretty serious machinery in his garage---they are working on a twin turbo Nova that sounds just sick from what he tells me. Buy the book Fuel Injection by Jeff Hartman in the Powerpro Series books. Jeff shows how SBC manifolds are converted to efi use. Just about ANY manifold can be converted, and the shape does not have a whole lot to do with streetability apparently (single plane vs dual plane) when using efi and forced induction, from what I have read. The ultimate shape of the manifold (tunnel ram vs stock height) will make a difference in the top end and it does affect flow characteristics. Get a manifold with injector bosses for a machine shop to drill out and it'll make is easier for them (stronger too). This is the route I'm taking although I like a 90 degree elbow at the top going to a throttle body. Anyway, this can be done and it can look trick too Davy

There are pics I had not seen before---thanks for posting them on your site. Hey, at least the car looked good in the pictures Hope you healed up from your accident too. Davy

BTW, spacers are less then 10 lbs for all 4 of them, that equates to about 2.5 lbs per spacer---not bad...and that is at the center of the rim. My $.02. Davy

I am VERY glad that you ZX guys speak up once in a while!! Pretty soon you'll need your own ZX V8 swap forum Davy

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too funny!!!! Davy

The cheap way that many guys do that look is to buy that texture paint from hardware stores and use it instead of Zolotone. I like the look and will most likely do the same to my engine compartment. Davy

Pete, forgive my ignorance, but do you know if a Mustang shifter will work on the Camaro T5? I know that Mustang shifters work on Datsun T5s, and that your Tremec is a 'Ford' transmission with mods to work on a SBC, but I'm just curious... Davy

Heh, gives some people a new found respect for n/a motors. My how those 'boat anchors' work so well and sound soooo sweet. Davy

Sweet looking rack! Highly functional and I really like the gas can cages. Looks sturdy; how much does it weigh? Davy

Shane, that looks great. What are the specs on the IC?? Thanks. Davy

Use your right click botton and arrow on the 'x', then go to 'properties' at the bottom of the list, left click and then cut or save the url address, then paste it at the top of your computer screen and you'll go right to the pic. The reason you may not be able to see it on the forum is that some websites don't want you to use their bandwidth to promote your own pictures on the web for free; not Jon's fault. Comprende? Davy

John, I think they look pretty good Are you going with a wider wheel & tire package with 'em? They would look sweet with some Volk Racing wheels or the like. What wheel & tire combo are you thinking of? Davy

Jon, link no worky. Davy

Jared, what Ross is saying is that the biggest pattern you can go with 5 lug on the Datsun parts is 5 x 4.5. To get a larger pattern from the max on the Datsun parts to accomodate other wheels (yours may or may not need them) is to use spacers or adapters that Ross supplies. If the offset that you want to run requires some spacers, he'll know what you need. Hopefully he'll chime back in, but if he's out today, you can always email him directly to answer questions---Lord knows I have!!! Davy

I feel much better now, knowing that my friends on this board have toiled much harder then I! Davy

You can quickly tell on a 510 if they are steel: no cooling fins. Davy

What exactly does an aviation-type unit look like? I'm not familiar with it. I was thinking about something else. My bad. Davy

Man, I just spent a good hour (or more ) changing spark plugs on my wife's Mazda MPV. Not impossible, but pretty tight in some areas. I did the job correctly and even used a torque wrench and anti-seize compound, etc---even gapped the plugs . During my hour of busted knuckle and scraped forearm pleasure, I wondered about some of the PITA cars out there--I know there are some MUCH worse then this. So let's hear it! What is the WORST car you ever changed spark plugs on? On a PITA scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate it? I give the Mazda an '8' on the PITA scale. Me no like. Davy

Man, you just keep improving the car and then blowing my mind! I like the 'improvements' and the work, I'm sure, is really top notch. Leonard and I were having coffee the other day in the Avenues (SF by the beach) and we were discussing the refined nature of your Z, how everything just flows together really well--and drives that way too! I do apprecciate the chance to drive your car; an experience I will not forget! Davy

Steve, do a seach for some good info on this topic. I know for sure we have discussed this before. Good luck! Davy

Leave it. How's that for succinct? Davy

In the far recesses of my mind I remember somewhere that it will raise your compression from somewhere in the realm between 1 to 2 points. That means if you are making a pathetic 8:1 compression with the stock pistons, you will be getting someplace between 9:1 to 10:1 compression, which is really ideal for the street and pump gas. Hopefully someone who knows for sure will chime in to make sure I am not leading you astray. I think the question you raise about "will the stck dish work with these heads" is asking about valve to piston clearance? Yes? If so, that has more to do with the lift of your cam then anything else. Under .500 inches and you should be ok. If your heads are properly setup, you'll be fine over that. Again, hopefully a truly educated person will chime in. If the question does not ask about that, then the simple answer is 'yes' they will work fine. Davy