Phantom Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Mike, I haven't been lurking around the forum in a long time. Last I remember you were infatuated with German engineering and out of the Zcar business. Good to see you back. Quite frankly, after having driven my son's stripped 240Z with about 354 rwhp I would have real trouble imagining one with more that didn't have a gazillion dollars in handling improvements, brakes, and tires on it. I think mine is going to be on the receiving end of some TLC this winter. It's been 9 years since the build and I've basically had to do nothing to it. It even has the original 1998 spark plugs as they only have 36,000 miles on them. Yeah - i know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted October 12, 2012 Share Posted October 12, 2012 Funny, I still have the same spark plugs that came in my donor motor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted October 12, 2012 Author Share Posted October 12, 2012 (edited) Phantom, I still have quite the infatuation with german engineering, and daily drive a 2004 GT3. I also found my way around to focusing on finishing the Zcar and actually got to drive it a little bit on roadrace courses last year and this year, very little. True to form, it couldn't make it long before "issues" would crop up. I eventually got all those issues resolved and then managed to cross an oil line and starve the 383 stroker of oil. It's in the shop now, but I'm selling it in favor of the lighter LS1. I've got about $40K wrapped up in the cage, suspension, brakes, fuel deliver, EFI, Carbon Fiber stuff, wheels... Well it's down in the 2585 pound range now, and with the 383 stroker pushing 450BHP and 490#ft. torque, it was fun, but it wasn't uncontrollable. Less weight with a little more power would be perfect. Check out my thread in Members Projects to get an update on where the car is these days and how it's developed. Mike Edited October 12, 2012 by Mikelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 (edited) I quit keeping track of the receipts a while back-it only caused me pain. Ignorance is bliss! Edited October 13, 2012 by RebekahsZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 LS1 and no budget concern? Time for ITBs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Yeah, the Z is hard to walk away from. Too much personality. I'm still keeping track of what I have in mine but I used it as a daily driver for 14 of the 20 years I've had it so that's the argument I use with my wife as I remind her of how much we've spent on cars for her in that timeframe. What bothers me at this point, though, is the $500 in parts I've had sitting in the garage next to the car since last Christmas and I still haven't installed them - not to mention the new console my son gave me for it about 5 years ago. I underestand the German engineering attraction too. Once I moved to snow country I decided to get something with AWD so wife & I agreed on a little Audi A8L. One of the most capable cars I've ever driven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted October 13, 2012 Author Share Posted October 13, 2012 My build spanned 9 years and was very frustrating. During that time, I got married, became a stepdad in the midst of turmoil, ran ZF Racing LLC until I stopped in 2005, Built a Shop, started a new consulting business that took off, Moved to a new home, built another shop, moved offices twice, and all that time the Zcar just sat and made no progress. Pushing it around and spending thousands of dollars due to schedule and scope creep, just took the life out of my live for the Zcar project. I had to sell the other projects so I could focus on the Zcar and “finish it†enough to be able to drive it. Once I was able to drive it, I started getting motivated about the project again. Being able to take it to Watkins Glen last year for the Vintage Grand Prix celebration of all things Datsun was when I fell back in love with the car again. It gets really easy to get demotivated when there are so many other cool cars out there to own. And once you start looking, well there in lies the issue... Yeah, the Z is hard to walk away from. Too much personality. I'm still keeping track of what I have in mine but I used it as a daily driver for 14 of the 20 years I've had it so that's the argument I use with my wife as I remind her of how much we've spent on cars for her in that timeframe. What bothers me at this point, though, is the $500 in parts I've had sitting in the garage next to the car since last Christmas and I still haven't installed them - not to mention the new console my son gave me for it about 5 years ago. I underestand the German engineering attraction too. Once I moved to snow country I decided to get something with AWD so wife & I agreed on a little Audi A8L. One of the most capable cars I've ever driven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 Starting to spend money guys, so now is the time for recommendations... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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