A TRIBUTE TO MY SON, CHARLES IV
02-23-2017, 06:18 PM
#276
Neat to see you're involved in other endeavors besides model airplanes; wish I possessed the experience and skills to weld as you're involved with on the 280Z. Cool project.
Remember gawking at various brochures my father brought home in the mid to late seventies when the 280 just arrived and Japanese cars were beginning to gain critics approval for "attention to detail and overall parts fit"; the family ended up with the humble 2-door Accord hatchback loaded with standard features (seriously) including a single speaker radio and no a/c. Actually miss the standard startup procedure of pulling out a knob and illuminating an associated idiot light on the dash as a reminder that the choke was actuated.
Remember gawking at various brochures my father brought home in the mid to late seventies when the 280 just arrived and Japanese cars were beginning to gain critics approval for "attention to detail and overall parts fit"; the family ended up with the humble 2-door Accord hatchback loaded with standard features (seriously) including a single speaker radio and no a/c. Actually miss the standard startup procedure of pulling out a knob and illuminating an associated idiot light on the dash as a reminder that the choke was actuated.
02-23-2017, 09:47 PM
#277
Vic...nothing gets past you..! At least a couple of those nicks in the cord are from a "Meat Rabbit" I had left at the end of a "Meat Cycle" that was a runt..too small to bother with butchering. He barely survived his Runthood and I eventually let him loose about 3 years ago. He burrowed under the woodshed for his headquarters, has several other emergency places of escape here and there and I still feed him. There are times he gets into the workshop and there's rubber cords all over the place. He's even hit bare copper, but he's still going strong. His size eventually caught up to what a normal adult should be. The "experts" say this is no way for a domestic rabbit to live, but if you asked him I think he'd say he's lead a better life than most do indoors.
The sheet metal work I wanted "big" enough so that hot air can easily waft through the trans tunnel and out. The other consideration is being able to easily snatch the engine with the hoist, [with trans] and lift it right out of there without any drama. The C6 trans is a pretty huge piece to put in a tiny car, but there's just enough foot room for pedals, linkage and cooling lines. Anywhere a C6 fits, so will a Tremec 5 speed someday..!
The headers [I made from three crappy $80 U-weld kits] are "fenderwell" style, so they are easy to take on and off too. The headers are Oxy-acet-gas welded which is way less prone to pinhole leaks than MIG.
MJD, thanks for the warm thoughts. Now keep plugging away at your projects..!
Howdy PS..!
The 280Z VIN tag shows about 2700 pounds if I recall. All the original steel on the car is very thin. They tried to do a good job of rust proofing, but the bodie's drainage system is not that great.
All these years I thought the 280s were ugly and it was the 240s and 260s that I liked. What I didn't know was that they had a 280 2+2 model with an ugly roof line to make room for a back seat. This is what I thought made a 280 a 280. Actually, the standard 280 looks like the earlier models once you scrap the ugly bumpers and clean up minor details at front and back. So even though I always wanted a 240, this can be made almost identical.
The way I'll get my HP figure is to weigh the car, do some 1/4 mile runs, then use the free online calculators. With me in the car, let's say it weighs 3000 @400 HP it should do 11.40 @ 117 mph.
3000 pounds with 300 HP it should do 12.50 @ 106 mph. Something in this range would make me happy. You really need to spend money to go into the next higher echelon.
With flat top pistons [like this one has] it's not feasible to get more than than 10 : 1 with the smallest chamber [58cc] heads and this is the biggest limiting HP factor next to engine size and no power adders.
I'd rather work with a 351W, but the lower and narrower 302 should fit without hacking up the hood and still be able to use a generous air cleaner. I've looked at photos of Hotrodded Zs with aftermarket hood scoops and I think they spoil the clean look of these Japanese Corvettes.
The 350 Z sure has a strong following. I think the 5 lug front struts [from the 350Z] can be put into the earlier Z without too much work..I need to look into that. Otherwise 5 lug hubs are available for the 280 Z for about $350
Last edited by combatpigg; 02-23-2017 at 10:34 PM.
02-24-2017, 11:41 PM
#278
Neat to see you're involved in other endeavors besides model airplanes; wish I possessed the experience and skills to weld as you're involved with on the 280Z. Cool project.
Remember gawking at various brochures my father brought home in the mid to late seventies when the 280 just arrived and Japanese cars were beginning to gain critics approval for "attention to detail and overall parts fit"; the family ended up with the humble 2-door Accord hatchback loaded with standard features (seriously) including a single speaker radio and no a/c. Actually miss the standard startup procedure of pulling out a knob and illuminating an associated idiot light on the dash as a reminder that the choke was actuated.
Remember gawking at various brochures my father brought home in the mid to late seventies when the 280 just arrived and Japanese cars were beginning to gain critics approval for "attention to detail and overall parts fit"; the family ended up with the humble 2-door Accord hatchback loaded with standard features (seriously) including a single speaker radio and no a/c. Actually miss the standard startup procedure of pulling out a knob and illuminating an associated idiot light on the dash as a reminder that the choke was actuated.
Welding is a good hobby to avoid unless you have a burning desire.!
In the early 70s I knew a parts guy at a Toyota dealership who thought they were junk. The biggest issue were burned up aluminum cylinder heads he said were made out of recycled cans. The dealership replaced umpteen heads back then. I don't know much else about it but it didn't seem to take long for Datsun, Toyota and Honda to get a toehold in the market. My sister's B210 ran with almost no care for years and years
02-25-2017, 07:19 PM
#279
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My wife's Nissan '86 Pulsar - take a basic four cylinder Datsun/Nissan utilitarian car and cut it pointier - holds the record for us. She bought it new just before we met, once we got together I put quite a few disrespectful miles on it. We retired it at 375,000km with under $1000 spent on maintenance. Excludes tires/fluids, includes garage bills and parts we bought.
I think all that ilk of auto manufacturers, Hyundai later too, went through problems like that until they got their act together on the various early quality issues. They might be slacking off again these days.
I think all that ilk of auto manufacturers, Hyundai later too, went through problems like that until they got their act together on the various early quality issues. They might be slacking off again these days.
Last edited by MJD; 02-27-2017 at 06:29 AM.
02-25-2017, 10:46 PM
#280
That's outstanding. I've know people that spent more than $1000 back in the 1980s for a simple repair at a dealership.
I was thinking about getting a little econocar....how about this belly tank Lakester...?
Or maybe these Fiat Topolinos...?
I was thinking about getting a little econocar....how about this belly tank Lakester...?
Or maybe these Fiat Topolinos...?
02-26-2017, 08:06 AM
#281
Some of my old toys. A couple of Austin Bantams. I had the mold and sold a few. Tbucket (and mold) too. 1932 3 window coupe, 1932 Ford sedan, and a Model A roadster. All fiberglass. My welding skills are only ok, I would rather be itchy. All that is left is the gray one with a piddly Vette motor (Chevette) The yellow one was a 302 Ford, the red sedan was a 305, and the Ford 3 window coupe was a 283. The Tbucket was the same frame as the yellow stretched Bantam. It was just too cold and rainy for a roadster here. 
02-26-2017, 07:10 PM
#282
What a great looking body..!
Building just an "open tub" roadster would be a big enough project with FG, but building cars with doors and a roof sure looks like a job and a half.
The few companies that offer these bodies in various stages of completion have pretty reasonable prices when you consider they are not exactly geared up for mass production.
Building just an "open tub" roadster would be a big enough project with FG, but building cars with doors and a roof sure looks like a job and a half.
The few companies that offer these bodies in various stages of completion have pretty reasonable prices when you consider they are not exactly geared up for mass production.
02-27-2017, 06:44 AM
#283
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My thoughts lean towards twisty country roads.. last year I bought my wife a 25 year old Mazda Miata ('91 Special edition in green, primo condition 41k miles) which was not a big investment but it paid some dividends. 
Anyhow.. once I got acquainted with the car I realized that they are (a) really fun and handle nicely, and (b) they need another 100hp. A hopped up older Miata might be a potentially affordable solution to me Jonesing for something sporty for the last three decades. Take a 2100lb car that handles nicely and add some hp = whee fun. Lots of them out there. Even small block conversions.
That's about the extent of my sporting ambition re cars.
Anyhow.. once I got acquainted with the car I realized that they are (a) really fun and handle nicely, and (b) they need another 100hp. A hopped up older Miata might be a potentially affordable solution to me Jonesing for something sporty for the last three decades. Take a 2100lb car that handles nicely and add some hp = whee fun. Lots of them out there. Even small block conversions.
That's about the extent of my sporting ambition re cars.
02-27-2017, 09:36 AM
#284
I kind of fizzled out of cars lately with the Ontario government stealing your car and holding it for ransom when speeding over 50 kph over the limit. Emissions are on streetrods now too,so that ruins everything. These are grandfathered in. The Miata might work nice on a 4.3 V6 with a carbed intake manifold. They are ok stock too. Less smiles per gallon though. Are we on the right thread here?
02-27-2017, 10:28 AM
#285
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Well CP was talking cars so it kinda carried on like idle lunch table chat, but yeah it isn't quite on topic.Not sure there is a right thread for this on RCU, least not where some of us hang out.
They do need more hp. I read somewhere that the turbocharged 2nd generation at about 175hp was the first Miata to actually feel like it was fast.. that's like 260-270hp in a 3100 lb car. But with your butt scraping the road zipping around tight roads at 50-60mph is a bloody riot.
V8 Miatas run 10's and 11's at the strip, when they hook up.
They do need more hp. I read somewhere that the turbocharged 2nd generation at about 175hp was the first Miata to actually feel like it was fast.. that's like 260-270hp in a 3100 lb car. But with your butt scraping the road zipping around tight roads at 50-60mph is a bloody riot.
V8 Miatas run 10's and 11's at the strip, when they hook up.
02-27-2017, 06:12 PM
#286
Miatas have quite a loyal following.
Canada seems strict about their roads, but there's a bunch of drag strips listed in BC last time I checked.
Every summer there's a strong showing of BC hotrodders at the shows down here.
They seemed to have all the old Mercury Comets for some reason.
Canada seems strict about their roads, but there's a bunch of drag strips listed in BC last time I checked.
Every summer there's a strong showing of BC hotrodders at the shows down here.
They seemed to have all the old Mercury Comets for some reason.
02-20-2018, 08:30 AM
#288
Boy oh boy, bring's back a lot of memories, nitro, burnt rubber and let the 'squirrels' let loose on the strip.
The driver had to drive then and not point and stab the pedal. Belly tanks "ARE" Bonneville
as well as 53' Studebakers with small block engines and superchargers. My 2 cents worth.
06-30-2019, 12:48 PM
#294
02-19-2020, 09:04 PM
#295
Hello Chuck,
I'm stopping by to let you know that once again my former military brothers, and I will lift a drink in Charlies name this weekend.
The list has grown of fallen friends to 5 now over the years, and even though Charlie was not in our unit, he is still an ARMY Brother, and still will hold a place of HONOR every year with us.
Thank you, and God bless your family sir.
I'm stopping by to let you know that once again my former military brothers, and I will lift a drink in Charlies name this weekend.
The list has grown of fallen friends to 5 now over the years, and even though Charlie was not in our unit, he is still an ARMY Brother, and still will hold a place of HONOR every year with us.
Thank you, and God bless your family sir.
