rudypoochris

That looks awesome Stef! I am glad you waited for the RB-R's as well. What tire are you running? 245 or 235 front? I haven't figured the center cap bit out myself yet, but I thought they looked cheesy anyway so I wasn't going to use them. If anyone figures that issue out please let us know!

dsommer and myself are handling it. Thanks guys for your input though. This is great to hear. Do take pictures when you have a chance. I would love to see more bronze!

If I remember correctly the early 280z's were lighter, probably similar in weight to the 260z's. The later 280z's eventually ended upa round 2900lbs with heaviest options, once again if I remember correctly. Gollum and I took his 75 280z on truck scales a while back and weighed his in around 2620lbs IIRC. Put my Explorer which is suppose to curb weight at 4046... weighed in at 4340lbs. When I went on and off the scale it always added 160lbs (I weigh 150lbs, but the scale reads out to the +/- 20). Scale always returned to zero, with just me on it the scale read 160lbs as well. So it was relatively accurate and thus I believe it its readings +/- 40-50lbs if anything reading heavier than actual.

I did send out repeated email messages to you as well as others, as well as multiple posts here in the group buy thread, telling people to contact Kim about ordering. Did you do that and he still did not respond until now? When was way back when? I know there was an issue with people jumping the gun and Kim was probably not able to process these orders before the samples were seen by myself. Let me know what happened and I will talk to him about it, this is unfortunate. The 9.5"s being out of stock is due to the relatively large number of persons who decided to go 9.5" all around. Hopefully Kim can order some more 9.5's with out the 9".

If there are balancing issues, let me know and I will sort it out. The group buy is for a set of use able wheels... if they are unusable or substandard as far as functionality goes - let me know please, this would obviously be unacceptable. Thanks!

I have had very positive experiences with: Dan Juday ktm Stealth-Z and many many many others. Never had a bad experience with a HZ'er. =]

Maybe... but none of the independent tests have even come close to Nissan's time. Other vehicles they have.

That is what I am planning on running. They really do look much better in person. They are beautiful wheels.

I highly doubt it can do 0-60 in 3.3 seconds with out launch control. Edmunds pulled a 3.3 sec with launch control, which out 4.0 seconds. They said they only ran it with launch control a couple times to preferve the drive train. 3.3 sec and 4.0 sec are a world apart. Also there has not yet been an independent test of the GT-R that looped the Nurburgring anywhere near the claimed 7:29. Not that I know of anyway. Here are the times I know: GT-R northloop times so far (20.6km lap) 7:29.03min Nissan factory claim 7:50.00min sportauto magazine driven with one of the three early testmule 7:54.00min Porsche testdrivers (US model) 7:55.90min Chris Harris Drivers Republic magazine UK (Japan model speed limiter removed) Here is the link to the last run of 7:55 - http://magazines.drivers-republic.com/driversrepublic/thetruth030/

I think some people have had success fitting the 17x8.5 +4 offset wheels, but I don't know if that is RB only or also RB-R.

There are no offset options... The 17x9 is a -13 and the 17x9.5" is a -19. You may be able to cover them by just rolling the fenders... but that would be a lot of roll in my opinion. It is not possible to recess them any farther inwards as this would interfere with the suspension. It MAY be possible to gain very minute amounts front and rear, but that would require a different offset which is impossible with out another group buy. Hope that helps! -Chris

They did... you have to turn it off to turn on launch control. By turning it off you void the warranty. Using launch control even once voids the warranty of the automobile. So yea... you can reach the claimed numbers if you are willing to void the warranty and destroy the transmission after a relatively low number of launches. We will see what the magazines write for the 2010 model which will not have launch control. 0-60 in 3.3 seconds becomes maybe 4.1? Who knows.

At this point if anyone would like to donate to me, I would be very grateful! I did not go into this group buy expecting or even wanting anything more than a set of Watanabe look-a-likes. I got exactly what I wanted, albeit it took longer than I expected and it was a bit of a journey, in a good way! I have learned a lot from this experience which is really reward enough in my eyes. The group buy has grown significantly from the initial concept of one style and one size to two styles and two sizes for a total of four unique wheels. After countless hours spent, repeated trips to the supplier, sourcing and mounting four tires, test fits on multiple cars - multiple times due to different wheels, etc. it is an understatement to say we have come a long way over this past year and some! This would not have been possible with out the commitment of our HybridZ family. I am not a rich man (In fact I am a 20 year old college student, for those who didn't know =P. I first started putting things into 'motion' with this buy back when I was 18... I has been a while!), but I did receive a complimentary set of wheels. Do not feel like you are obligated to give me anything! If you like the wheels and feel like giving back, now you can - I would be very appreciative to say the least. Thanks guys! PS. Naturally I will continue to provide service and support for this group buy. My address is: Chris Moris 1824 Alameda Ave. Davis, CA 95616 Paypal: chrismoris@gmail.com Thanks again guys, Chris Moris

By the way, it is a huge pain in the butt to machine that mount from the ~3"x~3"x~4" cube like I did on a 3-axis end mill. Emachineshop.com can make them for IIRC $117 a unit with an order of 5+. This is much more expensive, but it literally took my relatively rookie self 3 days to make that one piece. If I were to do it again and had the mounting blocks and stuff I created to make it, I could probably cut the time in half.

It is indeed still alive! I have been quite a busy college student actually, which is why I haven't been able to do much of anything on the Z in the past maybe 2-3 months. I am actually particularly disheartened because I went through all the trouble of custom machining a clevis and then sending the components to a custom cable maker. Well somewhere along the delivery route back to me, either my roommate or my apartment complex basically misplaced the cable. Very frustrating indeed. It is the 'next' thing for me to do. I am just waiting for funds and a free weekend.

Well... She was 17 and I just walked away. So I mean, maybe I will see her next year amongst 80,000 people? Haha. My friend told me I should of given her my number and told her to call me when she turned 18, but I am really not that kind of guy. LOL.

I went to Monster Massive in LA on the 25th, then I went to a party on a techno bus for actual Halloween. I met a ton of people and had a legitimately awesome Halloween. I didn't have a costume, only on the night before Halloween. Mainly just a lack of funds and motivation, maybe next year I will go as a Z car mechanic - or the black zoolander. Here is a video from monster massive: I am literally in the 3rd row here ho lding up one of those girls... We talked for 40 minutes... Me being all smart and such ask her her age... Seventeen... and that is when I just turned and walked away. Was such a buzz kill because she was quite beautiful, but I mean really. REALLY!? After 1:20 or so the guy turns around to show the indoor crowd, there is an outside too.

No, you can still order them. Merely contact the representative at kimcosmic@juno.com and let him know you would like a set.

High horsepower really shouldn't change anything when it comes to steering.

Well, your strut to rim clearance does not change when loaded. The only thing that could/would possibly change would be the tire to fender/air dam clearance. Post photos when you get them all done! Additionally, what are you running flare and air dam wise?

Quick technical question for those that know... If your battery is as dead as this, will ROLL starting it work? I would think not... now how about if you are on a small hill, lets say one that is flat enough that worse comes to worse you can still stop the car with strong foot power?

Well I personally specified and fit these wheels on a couple of cars. The rim should not rub on the strut at all. I am confused, has this happened to you (you do not need tires mounted to find this out)? I have heard of the possibility of the rubber rubbing the fender around where the lower valance meets the fender, but I have not been able to duplicate this on my 240z or my friends 280z.

Just a thought... I believe someone linked in the off topic section how to build a 3d laser scanner accurate to 5 mil or something ridiculous for pretty cheap. Might be worth investing in such a thing?

I think it is important to understand that the couple/rag joint call it as you will, does not change the rotational axis at all. That is to say, it is merely inline... it does not need to be a double U-Joint because there is no axial changes through the coupler as is. It merely soaks up inline vibrations.

I do not know what a rag joint is. I have deduced that you are talking about the rubber, urethane, or ABS coupler that is usually situated between the steering column and the start for the steering shaft. Mine is urethane and it is there so I do not turn my arms into goo. I assume the OP removed his because he is racing on relatively smooth surfaces and wants that much more steering feel. Is this what you are talking about?