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Hi all, Just stepping in to set a few things straight. Firstly I'd like to state up front that I'm neither a true Holden or Ford fan, but I have tended to lean towards Holden because they have had a superior product since the early '90's (Other Aussies will know what I mean). Secondly, the new Ford Falcon will give Holden's market dominance a serious run for it's money and it will be interesting what Holden do to combat it. Ford have been running behind for a while (hello, EA and AU falcon!) Thirdly the Commodores are not a piece of sh*t as stated above, what they lack in elegance they make up for in driving pleasure and grunt (the V8's and super charged 6's anyway). (Remember, economic family car, practical over fun) Anyway, now that that is clear. As Mike mentioned above the two door version of the family sedan is the Monaro (meaning womens breast in Aboriginal but that's another story) and has quite a racing history in Australia. HSV's versions of these start from around AU$40k (I think) and they have just put a show car out that (if produced) will sell for AU$220k (doing 420kw from a 427ci V8). The middle range HSV's will be imported to the states (50,000 per year for the first year...) as the Pontiac GTO to try and revive the old name plate... Not sure on the history of the GTO so I don't know if the Monaro will continue the legacy or not? Anyway it will be equipped with the GenIV V8 (to be built 2004), currently using the Gen III (hardly an old engine as leeroy mentioned above) or the HFV6 (from 2004)which is a pretty damn good Cadillac engine (also to be used by BMW) from what I hear. Finally with this V6 Holden go twin over head cam and get an all alloy engine with 4 valves a cyclinder (finally) On top of this the the suspension is pretty good, not brilliant, but very predictable. I know that the IRS they use was disguarded by BMW in the 70's and trailing arm isn’t cool, but it does mean that the masses can have a good lookin' car with pretty good handling. Especially in the HSV's which are lowered and tricked out a little. The GenIV will be running through a 6 speed (maybe a Hollinger?) and or a BMW developed 5-speed automatic, think 5 series (by 2005). So Halz, your mates can finally say, “Yep, finally after lagging for 20 odd years we have an alloy engine with overhead cams and 4 valves a cyclinder…” Now for the interior refinement :classic: As I mentioned above they are looking to produce the 420kw version with a 427, but they have already produced and sold about 500 (correct me if I’m wrong) GTS 300, which wring 300kW out of the old V8’s that were built in Australia. They are looking at making another run of these called the R8 (I think?) with the Gen III. A very quick car that, as many reviewers state, handles very well for its bulk. It is after all build as a family car first and formost, so don’t go comparing it to Skylines and the like. All of this speil is just to point out a lot of common misconceptions about Holden and the above shown VY Commondore (ah, Commodore). I admit the current VX commodores (which Mike probably drove) aren’t anything special unless in HSV guise, but Holden are continually innovating which is why you see so many around the streets of Australian cities. As well as winning the great races, including Bathurst a couple of weeks ago, they cater to the buyer. As I said before though, lets see if the new Falcons’ (turbo’d to 230kW stock) has the goods to take GM down. R. (Hope that clears it up a little, or maybe just muddies the water :classic: )

I somehow missed that? Any hoo, I'll get the pics I've got scanned and the article as well. It explains the two lumps behind the seats R.

Hey All, Has anyone else seen the pictures of the soon to be release (in Japan anyway) 350Z soft top? or to the Japanese the Fairlady Z Roadster! I'm sold, they look pretty damn fine, but at $80-90k Australian I'll have to pass.... Pity :classic: The article I've got here recon's teh new Roadster will eventually make up about a third of US sales for the new Zed car. Anyone else seen anything on these little beauties?? Cheers, R.

That would be nice, but I cant' quite justify $30+ on it! R.

I'm still a good two months of getting mine back on the road! Take her for a good run for us won't you ZmeFly? After all, that's what she'll want after being penned up for so long :devious: We just jealous though, Have Fun! Cheers R.

In Aus you see a similar bumper sticker a fair bit, mainly on V8's. "Only Milk and Juice comes in 2 liters" The V8 boys think this is very amusing.....

Going back to the mention of Redbacks earlier I keep running into them around my back yard. Not the small ones, but these things have nice long legs that make them look that bit scarier Oh, and just to add to the previous comment on Redbacks (our states Cricket teams name too) they are actually very poisonous. Not sure if they make Australia's top 20 most poisonous, but there only disadvantage is their fangs. Almost none existant, so the chances of them piercing human skin is very minimal. Better keep them out of any open wounds then :sick: All in all don't mind spiders and snakes. Got a mate who is scared of moths though.:classic: Cheers, R

Prices in SA seem to be through the roof, if you can find them. I've seen two in the last couple of months that were in the $12-$14k bracket. One was immaculate, and had every conceivable mod and other had been restored to factory. Haven't seen and since though, only 2+2's. R.

Hey ozlime, I can only say there is Adelaide Z Cars this way who have a good range but I can't vouch for their knowledge or service. Their number is 08 8384 8748 and they do stock some nice front air dams. They seem to be predominatly a wrecker so they don't know heaps about the history etc. Cheers, Ross.

Cheers, All is becoming clear :classic:

What other models did that bonnet come on? Does anyone know? My 260Z 2+2 came with it and it definately wasn't turbo and I'm pretty sure that it's the original bonnet too? R.

I know what you mean, I'm in IT but this gives me the need to fill the car with as much technology as I work with each day! Overall I agree that carbs are easier but when it comes to tuning, my little PC can do all of the tweaking, not me. I don't think efi is easier, just different. Fault finding in an Efi system can be a killer, especially if all the sensors look fine but you know one of them is dead! It'll be interesting to see how it all goes! Cheers, Ross.

OK, so I asked more than one question but I think that I can get a more reliable and more easily tuneable end product using Efi. I don't have an air flow meter, but I do have a laptop and the right software (real time telemetry (sp?) here we come!) I'm looking to put a Delco computer in at the end (think GM) and just need to source a few parts. Hopefully it'll all work in the end or I'll be back to the twin SU's!.:stupid: ! R

My mechanic actually made one of these and has it hanging up in his shop. It looks like the real thing, right down to the red handle. Sick, Sick Sick R.

This is a list of some absurd rules and customes from around the world.... In Lebanon, men are legally allowed to have sex with animals, but the animals must be female. Having sexual relations with a male animal is punishable by death. (Like THAT makes sense.) There are men in Guam whose full-time job is to travel the countryside and deflower young virgins, who pay them for the privilege of having sex for the first time. Reason: under Guam law, it is expressly forbidden for virgins to marry. (Let's just think for a minute; is there any job anywhere else in the world that even comes close to this?) Topless saleswomen are legal in Liverpool, England - but only in tropical fish stores. (But of course!) In Santa Cruz, Bolivia, it is illegal for a man to have sex with a woman and her daughter at the same time. (I presume this was a big enough problem that they had to pass this law?) In Maryland, it is illegal to sell condoms from vending machines with one exception: prophylactics may be dispensed from a vending machine only "in places where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises. (Is that a great country or what? Not as great as Guam, however.) Can't vouch for the validity of these but hey, it got a laugh didn't it Ross.

You know you're living in the 02's when: 1. You have 5 passwords, but can only remember one. 2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years. 3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three. 4. You e-mail your buddy who works at the desk next to you. 5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends is that they do not have e-mail addresses. 6. When you go home after a long day at work you still answer the phone in a business like manner. 7. When you make phone calls from home, you accidentally insert a "9" to get an outside line. 8. You've sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three different companies. 9. Your company's welcome sign is attached with Velcro. 10. Your resume is on a diskette in your pocket. 11. You can only write on 'sticky pads'. 12. Your biggest loss from a system crash was when you lost all of your best jokes. 13. Your supervisor doesn't have the ability to do your job. 14. Contractors outnumber permanent staff and are more likely to get long-service awards. 15. Board members salaries are higher than all the Third World countries annual budgets combined. 16. Interviewees, despite not having relevant knowledge or experience, terminate the interview when told of the starting salary. 17. Free food left over from meetings is your staple diet. 18. Your supervisor gets a brand-new state-of-the-art laptop with all the latest features, while you have time to go for lunch while yours boots up. 19. Being sick is defined as you can't walk or you're in hospital. 20. There's no money in the budget for the five permanent staff your department desperately needs, but they can afford four full-time management consultants advising your boss's boss on strategy. 21. our relatives and family describe your job as "works with computers". AND THE CLINCHERS ARE... 22. You read this entire list, and kept nodding and smiling.> 23. As you read this list, you think about forwarding it to "friends". Hope you enjoy, Ross.

Hi Guys, One question that I can't find an answer to on this site or in any of my reference material. Does the 280ZX Dizzy use the Hall effect to feed back to the ECU? If so does anyone have the stats on it (ie voltage high and low?) And while on the topic, where is the crank angle sensor on a 280Z(X) efi engine? Is it in the spindle with the Dizzy like later model nissan engines? Also, does the 280Z(X) efi engine run an O2 or knock sensor? And does anyone know what brand of computer is used in the efi nissans? I think that's all! Any help is appreciated but especially to do with the dizzy as I'm trying to source an efi dizzy for when I efi my 260Z. Thanks, Ross.

If I did win the lotto.... Hmmmm, the possibilities are really endless and all in all I would probably have three or four early Zed's, not to mention a new 350Z. However, if I had to keep it to one Zed, then it would be an early 240 with a neat, but not over the top, front air dam and small rear spoiler. Sparkling chrome and a mostly stock interior (maybe some killer seats and harnesses, no real nead to go for a cage etc as I'd have dedicated V8 race car in the garage and this is a daily driver after all ) As for the engine and drive line, I'd put the AWD drive system and RB26DETT from a Skyline underneath.... Unfortunatly no one will ever make a AWD Zed as the cost would be phenominal. That's what I'd do anyway. If it was a small lottery win then I think I would just put a VG30DETT in and stiffen all the suspension with stock body work... Nothing more. Nothing Less. Ross.

No sign of any adds down under, but then I'm not sure when the official Australian release date is either? May not have passed yet, but I've seen plenty of articles relating to its launch in local mags.... Unfortunatly none of the write ups are particularly thrilling, they all say it is adequately powered but understeers like a dog. Anyone seen anything different? R.

I'd like to know the reason if you find one smg1404 as my old 260 does it as well? I've noticed that if I'm changing lanes and I hit one of those lane markers (reflector thingies) on the line then it fully 'wiggles' for lack of a better word. Anybody have any thoughts on where to start? R.

I'm in Aus, and I've got a 260z 2+2 speedo that is in KPH and has no Zero. If anyone wants it drop me a PM and I'll let you know my details so that I can sell it. I really don't need 2! R.

You could always have your injectors cleaned and tested by a Auto electrician/injection place. It cost me $8 per injector to have them acid bathed, sonic tested and fully cleaned out. It turned out my injectors were fine but if one was stuffed then I wuold have only needed the one new one. My 10c anyway. (not 2c, inflation and all)

As always with these kind of things, figure a budget as close as you can and then at at least 30% in price and time (if not more). Be prepared for it to take longer than expected and cost more than expected this way it's not a stressfull experience as well! Only real advice I can give so far is do your home work before you go fork out big bucks for parts and accessories. Make sure the company that sells them is giving you what you want... Also, and most importantly, spend the extra time getting a shell that has no rust. This will take the most time/money to fix so if you can start without it and only need mechanicals then you should be set. Good luck with the project! Ross.

You're Trippin' :sleepy: Easy mistake with that extra flaring for the intake but that's definately an injected engine, you can see the fuel rail just above the runners that do (I must admit) look like Mikunis.

I agree with Cuong, the RB series of engines (even the RB30) are a good choice if your just after straight out bang for your buck. the EFi on these is smooth and efficient, the sensors are all easy to reach and swap out and with an after market ECU the sky's teh limit. If however you need to work with in the constraints of a racing class, then the L28 is definately the go. The nissan parts bin is almost bottomless when it comes to what can be done with them. Flexibility is an understatement :classic: R.