DavyZ

Happy Birthday, Z! Davy

Open up and let your feelings out, Len... Davy

Because it keeps people calling.... Sales is a dirty business... Davy

Very cool design! I do have one question for those in the know: What in the blazes are the jointed ends (Heim, etc.) for in a strut bar? I though the idea was to 'box' the compartment, and therefore MINIMAL/NO movement was the idea. Is my assumption incorrect???? Set me straight here, guys! Davy

LOL!!! Hahahahaaa! Davy

Aux, I'm seeing the failure of my ways; my mentoring has not paid off at all--you are just young, free-spirited individual who can't take advice from his wise elders. So here you go: Actually, I think the turbo four would be a great track motor (as Randy pointed out) if you plan on keeping your car as a track only car you indicated in the past. If you plan on lightening the car up even more, the motor starts making sense. HOWEVER, it cannot be denied that a SBC is the easiest and cheapest way out. It is cheap to add 100 hp to the engine, but taking 300 lbs off the car will be more difficult. What I really think this all boils down to is simply this (pay attention): You feel 'strange' having to shift a V8 at 5000 to 6000 rpm because you daily drive a 4 banger that redlines much higher than that. In other words the torque feels good, but the revs don't equate with what 'feels' right? Am I getting warm? So, may I suggest an alternative: 1) Destroke an LT1 (as some others have suggested) to get maximum revs and a higher power band. You get your EFI and a V8!! 2) Build a 377 or a 350 (both destroked motors) with balanced & forged rotating assemblies for maximum revs. 3) Be a chump and just go with the SR motor!! Either way, once I build the SECOND motor for my car (turbocharged V8) you will become road fodder for my intake at Thunderhill, regardless of the 4 banger you choose! lol I'll help you in whatever you choose, Buddy. At least you have a car!!! Davy

Michael, you should have posted the link to your site (hosted by Pete?) to give the newbies something wild to chew on! Davy

Darius, in the unlikely event that you are actually reading this: does the phrase "DARWIN AWARDS" mean anything to you?? You got guts, man, but it's better to be alive. That looked, ahem, painful... Davy

The Z looks really intimidating with those wheels and that BIG intercooler up front. Heh, it's going to be a blast to drive Davy

Spray glue is very difficult to get off of other parts of the interior if you screw up. I tried to install a headliner ONCE. I think I'll pass the next time around. You did great on the price, though! Davy

SW and Chris Alston both sell pre-bent 'kits' for the z car. They are around $150 for an 8 point kit and more $$$ for a 10+. I would try the search function and get the info out of the forum---I do remember some guys trying the HF pipe benders and not liking the outcome... Just food for thought. Davy

Although I have not done it, I would think you could use the JTR set-up and go from there. I would be very careful and measure the engine bay first to see if there is a possibility of interference anywhere. Funny thing is, I can't think of any since the engine is the same L6, correct? That would be one heck of a sleeper--surprise the heck out of Mustangs and even a lazy Vette or two! Davy

Pete, looks VERY sweet, almost OEM looking. Very nice write up indeed. Thanks for the great info, Buddy. Davy

This is one of those "it's so simple, anyone could have thought of that." But I have to tell you, it really doesn't hit until you think about it. This is a very practical solution to find nagging pinholes--thanks for the tip! Davy

Not sure if you fried the ecu, but it is possible. Davy

Sam, it was completely relevant to the Chevy forum--no worries, Mate! Davy

Tim, We used to have a spell check for the 'pre-post' writing; I lived by that thing. Now I spend most of my time worrying about what I just wrote!! lol Seriously, I have to agree about the Chevy forum being the catch all forum. The easier thing to do would be to swap places with the Mopar forum Pete, I'd be glad to move things around once in a while, but I am completely unaware of how to do it. I thought only administrators could lock threads and move them about. I have sooo much to learn. Davy

You got me! lol I got really jealous and my jaw hit the desk too; then I read a bit more...you turkey. I like the pictures and I'll use them for constructive purposes to bounce off my turbo friends... Davy

Ross, I did buy a good used system from Rick Johnson that is mandrel bent all the way from a Y-pipe to a Borla Stainless, then to a Dynomax Super-Turbo. He assured me time & time again that the system was relatively quiet. It won't be hooked up for a while, but I'm hoping by the end of summer. Is this a 'now' project, or will this be finished by summer's end? Just curious. Davy

Most air bags are set off by an electronic g-force meter. Basically, it measures the decelleration of the vehicle, which is why you won't pop the bag if you rear end someone on the freeway, but may activate it if you bump into someone in a parking lot. Eh, I suppose there is a method to the madness somewhere... Davy

I think we need a "whew!" smiley. Good catch, Terry. Thanks for posting a VERY easily overlooked item---brain, file that away! Davy

Welcome to the forum!! Hopefully some of our more seasoned veterans can give a few shouts of info here. In the meantime... I had an SW cage that I sold (needed money, but I liked it). Some guys will advise against the "kits" offered by these companies, and say to go to a porfessional race car fabrication shop. However, I think the kits are fine and they meet the specs for drag racing. There are some really in-depth threads about cages in this forum. It has been nicely hashed out with lots of great information. You would do really well to use the 'search' function and keep asking those questions!! Good luck with the project and keep us posted! Pics, man, pics!! Davy

http://www.zcarcreations.com/ http://www.modern-motorsports.com/ http://zcarparts.com/ There are others too. Mike (scca) does sell all kinds of stuff too, as does Mike Kelly, who makes some trick A-arms. Hope this list helps. Davy

Welcome to the forum! The wheel question is only one that can be answered with asking, "what offset do I need" first. The Z has traditionally needed wheels with a zero (or very near zero offset). You cna run those size of wheels you just mentioned IF the offset is correct for the car. I believe Pete Paraska has 16" x 9" wheels on his car, so I think yours should fit fine. If you want to really find out what fits, then use the search function in the forum to scare up all the information you want---you WILL find answers to your questions, with second and third opinions... Davy