Zvoiture

There was a post in here titled Who wants to go Racing? regarding a Z outing to CA speedway. I have a couple people here in So Cal interested, but now it seems the post is gone. Stephen, are you out there? Need an e-mail address or something! steve77

So far there are four Z's in the 1st Annual Cops & Cool Cars Show in Santa Barbara. The show is Saturday, September 21, and TOMORROW, the 14th, is the last day to register for $25. After that it goes to $35. If you want to attend, you can still do it for $25 by faxing in the registration form on the 14th. Tomorrow. Saturday. Come on.... What are you waiting for? DO IT!!! What? Your Z is not 'pristine'? Who cares?!? Alot of the cars are not 'pristine'! What? Santa Barbara is too far to drive?!? Santa Barbara is less than 2 hours for 75% of the people getting this invite! What? You're too lazy to go?!? Well, then you have a problem! It's really quite easy: 1. Download the attached Registration Form. 2. Open the file and print it out (Black and White) 3. Borrow a pencil from your kid and scratch your name on it. 4. Drive to the 7-11 and pay Achmed a buck to fax it for you. 5. Grab a sixer while you're there. 6. Go home and think all week about what you need to do to your Z to be ready. 7. Find a cool person to shotgun with you to the show. OR: for MEGA points: a. Tell your wife of a shopping day in Santa Barbara. b. Make a reservation at a great place in SB for Friday. c. Make a reservation for an great dinner (William on Victoria?) 8. Friday night, the 20th, after dinner, go to the garage and do a couple of the things you planned all week to do. 9. Friday night 11:59 PM: Stand back and say, "DAMN! My Z looks pretty good!" 10. Finish the last of that twelver and go to bed. SET THE ALARM! 11. Wake up an hour before the alarm and can't lay in bed anymore! Grab your shoes and tiptoe to the garage. 12. Fire that puppy up! As she is warming up, reflect on the last time you were invited to a neighborhood BBQ. 13. Stash a crescent wrench, a heavy blade screwdriver, a mostly used roll of duct tape and a quart of oil under the spare tire. Don't forget lawn chairs! 14. Drive to Santa Barbara, check into the show, and join your Z buddies for breakfast! DO IT! Registration form attached... Steve McConnell Central Coast Z Car Club 805-441-6856

In order of importance: >>>>Who has my Jim Cook Racing and Paeco cattledogs? I MISS THEM! ...and I have forgotten who I loaned them to...(have forgot....I forget...I forgot....whatever...) >>>>September Meet: Sunday Sept. 15th Custom House Grill on the new promenade in Avila Beach. 11:00 or so...lunch at noon. 10 or so attending so far...PLEASE let me know if you are planning on showing up. >>>>Santa Barbara Auto Show...Sponsored by local and state law enforcement. (Hopefully there won't be any vehicle inspections!) Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Santa Barbara Showgrounds. Several Z's planning on entering so far including a few of our LA brethren. I have uploaded the flyer and registration form on the Central Coast Z Car Club website. The entrance form is in the 'photos' section for printing out and sending in. "Bargain" deadline is 9/14. This is not a 'Concours' event...it's just for fun. Lord knows MY car is not show quality! (If you prefer not to get the form off the site, I can send them to you JPEG, fax or mail...ZVOITURE@aol.com) Steve McConnell

there are a few FWD cars which I would be quite happy to drive>>>>> My list of FWD's I am not embarrassed to admit I enjoyed driving: Diamante (are they still made in Australia?) CRX Acura RL steve77

>>>>>Zvoiture is good for the money ...>>>>> Is that a compliment? >>>>>a fine advertisement tool for the site, A nice rear window decal promoting the >>>>> Hell, if you all bought me a car, I would paint it CLASSIC Z CLUB or 240Z.ORG in purple and pink and take it to every car show and z show here. (Where I live that's about two a week!) steve77

I used to run 10-40 in the winter and 20-50 in the summer in Sacramento, but now that I live on the coast, I just run 20-50 all the time. Castrol. But seriouly comtemplating the synth thing... steve77

While we're mincing up this lubrication topic into teensy pieces.... "RESTORE LOST COMPRESSION!".... "TEFLON COAT THE INSIDE OF YOUR ENGINE!".... "WE DRAINED THE OIL FROM THIS ENGINE AND IT RAN FOR 100,000 MILES!" Anybody add any miracles to their oil? I'll go first. Hi, my name is Steve and I have tried oil additives. It started out real small at first, just a little Marvel Mystery Oil, but then it turned into a $1000/day heroin habit. Just kidding. I have never tried any of the big snake oils (Slick-50 and that other one...????). I remember when Slick-50 first came out and it was this pyramid scheme and cost $50/qt! I have tried a few of the other, cheaper, non-guaranteed-for-life ones. Do they make a difference? Who knows. I have always looked at it from a simpleton's standpoint: 1. A product that "adds (or coats) some magic ingredient to your engine will either: A. Work really well; or B. Gunge thigs up horribly. 50/50 win/lose. 2. A straight concentrated lubricating additive will either: A. Work really well; or B. Not improve anything. 50/50 win/tie. I might feel differently if I had a brand new engine. I don't use additives in either of my 'new' cars. My Z has a bejillion unknown miles on it, so the additives get the benefit of the doubt. I have been using a quart bottle of this gorgeous honey-like stuff Hy-Per Lube with each oil change. At our local Z shop, Z's Unlimited, Steve Landoni swears by this product (the name is totally escaping me right now....MD-4 or something?????? They have a promotional trailer that goes around to the shops that has an engine with a slip-wheel on it...??) It comes in a little blue can with a pull-tab and is dealer-direct. He buys it by the case and swears by it. A can goes into every car that comes in. Seems like it was $5 or $7/can too. Ouch! steve77

Ok, Sorry...I was wrong. 2many DESERVES the fund. I really appreciate the effort all of you are contributing to 'the cause'. In an outpouring of gratitude, I am sending a check for $500 to the 2manyZs GT2 Race Car Purchase Fund LLP. It really is a good cause and all proceeds are tax deductable. 2many, everyone says I love you. Here's to you. A REAL American hero. What a great country. steve77

I just moved into an area I have noticed is 'Saturn-blessed'. They are fricking everywhere. It isn't too long before you start noticing similarities in driving style/attitude. Man! I hate Saturn drivers. What a bunch of self-important double-zero's. Did you read that recent publishing of 'Highest Automotive Customer Satifaction'? Uh huh. You guessed it. To quote one of my favorite bands: Pick-axe. Pick-axe. Pick-axe. Pick-axe. steve77

That 81 ain't no classic yet brother>>>>> I crushed a '79 last month and have no problem crushing another. BUT not until I lift that drivetrain. (did I mention 5-sp/3.90?) steve77

The synthetic argument is pretty compelling. But there is an 'old wives tale' about not switching in an (older) car that has been 'raised' on petrol-based. Any truth in that? I also met someone the other day who "changes his synthetic every 3000." This is the first time I have heard that. Any benefit? Everyone else I have met uses the 3-5000/filter, 10-20,000 oil method. Comments? steve77

Hey, what's this? 2many already HAS too many Z's! Nissan calls him for parts, right? Why doesn't he start morphing all those rusting corpses in the back yard into a nice alternative to the mail truck? Don't feel sorry for him! It's a trap! Don't send him any money...SEND ME THE MONEY! I need it worse. I need 1500 to buy 4 z's. Yep, count'em: FOUR. An complete 81na 5-sp(3.90) with 15" mags, a complete 77, a complete stock 72 and a 73 with custom suspension and engine (f54 280) and wheels but with repaired front damage. What a time to be broke!!! Forget 2many...think of ME! steve77

I followed a Suzuki Grand Viagra XL-7 today for about 5 miles down a VERY STRAIGHT section of Hwy 1 at a crisp 32 MPH. The license plate frame said, "Get in, Sit down, Shut up & Hold on!" Man, that drives me crazy. steve77

I interviewed for a management position in LA for Marco Fireplaces ('zero-clearance' sheetmetal firplace inserts you see in all new construction--at least here in CA) and the owner took me to this horrid part of LA to tour the assembly plant. We walked along this elevated platform and looked down on HUNDREDS of mexicans working to stamp out the multitude of sheet-metal pieces that go into one of these things. All of them wore heavy cuffs around their wrists attached by long straps to the wall behind them. They were set to exactly the right length so their hands would not reach the jaws of the machine. Way off topic, I know, but the image was kinda burned into my eyes... Sorry about that!.....Back to racing! steve77

Ed! Start a new thread. A discussion that good will just get totally lost here... steve77

1/8 mile (not 1/4) DIRT TRACK >>>> Yeah, there is one of these tracks a few miles down the road! I have never been, but I met a gut the other day who own/drives one of these sprint cars--they look ike flattened stock cars with really bad body work. I can't imagine what it would be like...the track is SOOOO small. It's like a football field! These guys are pretty serious, though. The car he has is BUILT. As I recall, it is a Mopar built out to about 500 inches with mechanical FI--no battery, electronics, starter--nothing. steve77

Yeah, that's fun to do in the LS! (and easy)...meebee we could start a club: ZandLSowners.com! So far there's two members...any more? steve77

Yes, I did the pump myself....Talk about easy. There are a few reasons you just can't beat a Z! WAYYY up there on the list of effort/result mods! steve77

Lots of people make their own out of bar stock drilled and tapped. There is some explanation in the latest SPORTZ mag, and you should be able to find plenty of info by searching... steve77

Yeah, if a car can't turn 4200 r's for an hour, then somethings wrong! I have a 5-sp and I really don't feel 90+ for an hour is working anything to the extreme. It is very temperate here. Never get a frost and never goes above 90. Even with the turbo oil pump--STILL shim it and bump up the relief spring? On an older engine, would there be seal problems? Stupid ?....Where is the relief? I'm guessing IN the pump? steve77

Nothing. I never drive crazy. It's dangerous. steve77

All right! Thanks Fred....So what synthetic 40 wt should I get? steve77

Was just catching some HOT Neck-car action on SPEEDVISION. One of the only two real NASCAR races per season. It's so funny to see these guys navigate Watkins Glen! It's like these great, soft slugs or station wagons or something wallowing over the hills and around curves. They use EVERY POSSIBLE inch of the track. Still, it beats left, left, left, left...... steve77

Your are killing me with this post. I would love to come down and watch races at Laguna >>>>> Then put your butt in the car and get down here. It's only what, 15 hours? Or you could fly down here. I could even get you a donor Z you could drive up to the races in with us! (oh there's some real good grammar!) seve77

1. I don't recall ever calling anyone on street racing. It's bad, yes. But we all own sports cars.....because.....??? And sports cars are produced.....because.....???? Women have breasts.....because.....???? Maturity removes impulsiveness, not testosterone. 2. I was not RACING. I was merely cruising up a reasonably deserted highway at an off-peak hour in an automobile which has had every suspension, braking, and drivetrain-contributing part replaced. I am in greater control of the Z at this speed than my any car I have driven. I drive my LS400 at 85-90 all the time, and nobody even notices. The driver doesn't even notice!!! "Oh, wow. I'm going 90. Wonder how long I've been doing that?" In control? Sort of. Aware of road conditions? No way. Driving the Z is like pointing your finger. 3. Brand new 280 ZXturbo oil pump. This is a very simple switch which gives you considerably more oil pressure. 4. No, I did not see the oil foaming. That was just a guess. A stupid one. I seriously doubt if the crank is slapping the 'lake' and there is no water in the oil.... 5. I don't think the viscosity has anything to do with it. I also don't think heat is a factor. Once the engine gets hot, it isn't going to get any hotter. It was at operating temperature the first 5 minutes of going 4300 and driving it for 15 hours that way is not going to raise the temperature any. Likewise, once the oil has thinned down as much as it's gonna, it's not going to thin down any more. 6. I don't think temperature alone can be a factor on the operation of the sending unit itself. I suppose gradual heat rise on the contact wire could be? 7. Still, it HAS to be the sending unit. Somehow. I just can't picture modern oil (not to mention brand-new oil) causing this kind of situation in a motor. 8. The SU is also brand new. It is a NAPA, though, not a Nissan. Each brand has its fans among Z drivers and I have always found NAPA oem parts to be top-notch. 9. 4200 r's isn't extreme!?!?!? Is it? The car just starts to run good there! It is well below the yellow-line. Is it? 10. A cooler? The need for oune would suggest the oil in the pan is not the same temperature as the engine. I would think the oil would be the same temp as the engine almost immediately and stay that way. How can it get hotter than the engine? 11. Plenty of oil in the car too. My car holds 6 quarts. 12. Never did another sustained run like that again....Haven't since. The oil pressure guage still works perfectly. Don't know how accurate it is, but as I said before, it responds quickly and predictably to engine conditions. It used to be real sluggish, but put the new SU on and it practically follows the tach. Likewise, when I installed the turbo pump, all ranges took a very noticeable jump. 13. Maybe I could put fins on the pan. There has to be a certain cooling effect at 95! Speaking of which, anybody ever try those fins that go around a filter? Pretty dorky looking, but seems plausible. Did I miss anyone? Just messing with you guys and thinking out loud... steve77