Zvoiture

PEPSI!!!!!! I'm not crazy! steve77

So there are a few of you here..... steve77

I sell quite a bit of stuff and might present a flip-side to this discussion. I try to price my shipping very fairly, but ALWAYS lose money on it. There are three kinds of car parts (I am excluding blocks and tranny's, which are HEAVY and LARGE): 1. Really lightweight, but BIG (like window regulators, door trim, consoles, dashes, grilles etc.) 2. Really f'n heavy and often quite small (diffy's, brake rotors, halfshafts, A/C compressors.....) 3. The easy ones: Appropriately sized and weighted (heads, valve covers, struts, headlight buckets..............) You're screwed on #1 because the size of the package puts you in a heavier shipping bracket. You're screwed on #2 because you have to pack these things VERY WELL or they punch through the box. Oh, and they weigh a lot! #3 is the only thing you really break even on. Sure, $30 bucks sounds like quite a bit to ship a set of headlight buckets. Shipping itself is only about 10-12 $. But the packaging is where you have to really love what you do in order to keep doing it. I bill myself out every day at somewhere north of $50/hr, as I am sure most professionals do. Obviously, many trades bill at somewhere above $100/hr. What is my time worth? If I happen to have a box that works, great, but that is rare! Or, I have something CLOSE that has to be modified, smaller or larger, with a box cutter and tape. Ker-ching! Or worse: I have to go BUY a box. Ker-ching, Ker-ching. Grab whatever you have around for packing and jam it in there and tape the shoot out of it. Ker-ching. Then I have to take it to the UPS depot and fill out the shipping info and write a check and drive back to where I am working. Ker-ching! Then about three days later the buyer (understandably) e-mails to know why he hasn't received it. Retreive shipping info from truck and e-mail him tracking number. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Z community and LOVE helping people, but time is money! How much is my time worth? steve77

Yeah... I checked Z-Home and didn't find a registry for this obviously very collectable edition. Perhaps this is a 'Works' car? steve77

Anyone want to start a discussion on slip angles in a Z? steve77

All I wanted was a wrench, and SHE WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO ME! I'm not crazy. INSTITUTIONALIZED! You're the one who's crazy, INSTITUTIONALIZED! Oh, oops, sorry guys, couldn't help it.... some around here who grew up on the fringes of society in the '80's will get it..... steve77

Thanks, guys....Yes, I failed to mention these would be going on a fairly modified motor. At LEAST built to the limit of ITS and possibly on something a bit hotter. Of course, bigger is better, but what I think I am hearing is they are just about equal to a well-worked set of SU's. Agreed? steve77

Ya gotta see this. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2442670310&category=6187 steve77

I am speechless. Yes, I have seen drifting before and am familiar with the concepts and, yeah, I suppose it is kinda cool in a real teenage boy sort of way, but the level of stupidity represented in this video is enormous. I've never seen more than one car do it at a time. Tell me these guys are not actually racing, because that is NOT the fastest way around the track. Someone needs to explain 'slip angle' to them! Putting two or five cars in a row performing this sort of 'racing' is beyond ridiculous. There are just too many places for someone to screw up and then it is like dominoes. It does, however, provide some great laughs. the funniest is watching the silly, worthless ground effects fly off. The SCCA is going to have fun with these guys. "ARMS INSIDE THE CAR PLEASE! ARMS INSIDE THE CAR!" This whole 'movement' represents something else horrible and insidious that is becoming a segment of society, and, unfortunately, bona-fide racing events. Do you really want poeple of this destructive mentality alongside you at the track or coming at you sideways at 30 MPH while working the course at an Auto-X? The people who truly support grassroots racing just grumble under their breath and nudge and wink at each other and lock up their tools while on grid or course. They pay to race, and as long as they pay, most racing events need them. Soon they will go away, if not permanently as the fad dies (remember minitrucks?) or at least to events designed for them. steve77

For Immediate Release SCCA PRO RACING, SLIPSTREAM GLOBAL ANNOUNCE FORMULA DRIFT CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2004 LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 7, 2003) -- SCCA Pro Racing Ltd.® and Slipstream Global Marketing, Inc. announced at the Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show today a new partnership creating Formula Drift®, the first North American professional drifting championship. Announced as a four-event Championship in 2004, SCCA Pro Racing will sanction the events, promoted by Irvine, Calif.-based Slipstream Global, which was responsible for the first professional drifting event in North America, the 2003 D1 Grand Prix. “SCCA was responsible for the initial development of road racing in the United States 60 years ago, and it is logical that we be at the forefront of the first domestic professional drifting Championship,” said Garret Mudd, SCCA Vice President of Marketing. “Slipstream Global has asserted itself as the leading promoter and expert with its involvement in this year’s D1 Grand Prix at Irwindale.” In the new agreement, which also includes car shows produced by Vision Entertainment, SCCA Pro Racing will provide event operations, technical inspection and services, safety procedures, licensing and series administration. “To legitimize Formula D, SCCA Pro Racing has come on board as our sanctioning body,” said Jim Liaw, Slipstream Global Marketing, Inc. Co-Owner. “SCCA will provide the on-track know how and safety precautions needed for a successful program.” In addition to the four-event Championship, Formula D will also include six to 10 exhibitions at main stream motorsports events in conjunction with SCCA Pro Racing’s SPEED World Challenge Championships, the American Le Mans Series and the Indy Racing League. The 2004 series will be documented on ‘Formula Drift TV,’ with the series of programs going to networks at the conclusion of the season. Television shows will be produced by LivePlanet, the company behind the HBO hit series ‘Project Greenlight’ and founded by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey and Chris Moore; and Want Media, a leading youth marketing and media production company on behalf of Slipstream Global. “Want Media is thrilled to participate in the development and production of the ‘Formula Drift TV’ series,” said Mark Lacey, Want Media CEO. “Drifting is the most exciting new sport to hit North America in the past decade and the fact it already has a large, youth-oriented international following is a testament of its cultural significance and credible commercial appeal to young males.” Further information, including the 2004 series and exhibition schedule will be released at a later date. Well, I guess that makes it officially a sport. NOT!!! steve77

G35coupe 6MT LHD model: steve77

Usual suspects over here and across the pond: Jenvey and TWM. http://www.jenvey.co.uk/ and http://www.twminduction.com/ From early morning memory...hope they work. steve77

...want to go look at a car and if possible photograph? Owner is absent and it is about a 6 hour drive one way for me. steve77

Not to switch gears completely.... Almost a 'Where Are They Now' sort of note: I have a big brochure here on the G35 coupe. A "Hand-operated parking brake on center console" is an OPTION on the 'sporty' version with a MT and the big brakes and wheels. I assume it is pedal-mounted on other models, as it is not visible in the pictures. BTW, it is mounted on the LEFT side of the console, next to the driver's seat here in the States. Can anyone vouch for this location on a RHD version available elsewhere (assuming they exist)? steve77

Yes, the world's biggest FI fan is starting a thread on carbs...get over it! It is out of necessity. I am curious what a Z runs like on triple 40 dcoe's or Mikuni's. I've been around and in quite a few cars with 44's and 50's, so I have a pretty good idea of what THAT is like. Several people have told me not to consider anything under 44. I never realy had paid attention to anything under 44 before, and now that I have started shopping, have discovered 40's are quite plentiful and reasonable. I know without dyno charts, this is an extremely subjective conversation, but am hoping to glean SOME sort of input. What is the performance gains--if any--of triple 40's over twin round-tops (stock or re-worked). Sound, feel, top/low end......? steve77

1, 5, 12, 16. Life is full of tough choices. steve77

Hmmmm... 5 speed.....good chance a F54/P79.....quite possibly a 390 R180..... Dimers always grab up the suspension.... possibly a decent 3-core....ecellent wiper motor..... EI..... Hmmmmm steve77

Yes, I too feel the blasted media is horribly biased towards the left. steve77

Did you see the two others in the background? Someone in NJ has a treasure trove of parts. Someone should find this guy. He has TWO MANY Z'S!!!! I'm a bit far away........ steve77

http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6187&item=2442040134 steve77

Yes, Eric, the part you are missing is: I'm an idjiot! I actually read it several times looking for the answer. steve77

>>>>Had to look that one up on dictionary<<<< Gee...I hope I spelled it right..... steve77

Eric, is the "set" doubles or triples? steve77

Misogynistic bastards, all of you. steve77

Yes, we have a big weiner! Twolips it is! It's 3AM here....YAWWWWN... off to Willow Springs for some vintage action with this guy: (this pic is from Las Vegas last weekend)