TomoHawk

I don't mind a few non-OEM things, as long as they are easily available and an improvement to the old part- like tyres.

Now that I'm thinking of this, why not eliminate the rivets completely. By soldering, or gluing, something like a pop-rivet, which has a hole in it, into the hole where the rivet goes, you could actually use a screw. Properly glued or soldered in, it shouldn't turn, unless the screw is really tight. I like that idea because you can slowly tighten the screw and draw the piece down as you adjust it. I have problems positioning the pieces in my car AND pushing the screws in at the same time. mlc- The idea of the small nail is suggested ecery time we discuss this idea, and it sounds like a good alternative to use in a pinch. I'm concerened with leaving them in there because I think the head will catch or scratch, IMO. Maybe somebody can keep an eye out for some large tacks with thick pins. thx

If you use a screw, I would suggest filing the threads off. I have some nice button-head screws with hes holes in them. Otherwise, I was thinking of using something like a large tack, with a head a little larger than that of the rivet. If done properly, it would plug the hole of the rivet, and cover the head of the rivet. I just can't think if anything off-hand, so I'll have to schedule a trip to the office supply store, and maybe the DIY store. What's the diameter of that little pin? thx

Do they have roads in the Solomons? Do you suppose the Saline water or air did it in? Some people tell me I should expect my FLORIDA car to be full of salty holes. thx

The only thing I could think of is to omit the pins and use a screw in its place. That way you can re-use the same rivets. New cars are using the same kind of rivets.

I have a chat thing set up on my website. If you want to, I can recode it to a Z-theme and we can agree on when to chat. FWIW thx

Hey, I do "oval-track racing" myself. I can tell you it doesn't take that much skill. I also race yachts (you call them $1,000,000-dollar sailboats), cycling (as in bicycles), and r/c stuff too. Did an airplane race once in high school. But I have my favorite(s) too.

Chris' idea has some merit- Why don't WE take our own poll (including write-ins?) and send the results to SPEWDCHANNEL.

I've never even heard of any of those guys they want you to vote for, so how vould they be so good? I'm not talking about popularity, but if they're "the best," wouldn't they mae it to the media or papers? Take Micheal Schumacher- He's a 7-time WORLD CHAMPION, and even had a PERFECT RACING RECORD, taking 5 firsts until the 6th race this year. He didn't make the final list. I'll 'assume' he was considered, but for some unknown reason, he was taken off. I follow NHRA, WRC, F-1 racing, LeMans and other racing, and I've never heard of those guys, even the two NHRA-associated guys (IHRA sucks). I'll assume that they only condsider automobile-racing only, but then how about people like Luigi Conetti (UIM F-1 boat racing champion) He wins just about every race. Or even Lance Armstrong. Sure he won the "Tour," but just to get there you gotta win so many races to work your way up the ranks to "Category 1" which is what you have to be to enter into semi-pro cycling, or the Olympics (been there- tried it). This guy is obviously a champion on a daily basis (he works out 8 hours, EVERY DAY!) -2 sense.

At first, I thought the SpeedChannel was part of the ESPN system, because of all the Bush-league racing & NAStycar stuff. Did you notice the ratio of NAStycar races to ALL the the other ones combined? You could add in all the fishing other car shows(Car Crazy, CCR, tuner transform, etc.) and not get an equal number Who knows somebody at the SpewdChannel? thx

Go to Speedtv.com to vote for "Driver if the year" : http://speedtv.com/features/591/ Even though there are only two are real drivers that know how to turn both left AND right. From the TV commercial, I recognized the names they dropped as NASCAR drivers ( NOT real driving) there's only one IRL, one champ-car (aka nascar), and one outlaw driver. he list is so short, they shouldn't even have bothered to have a vote! Can somebody pass on the complaint for me (somebody with contacts there?) Apparently, you have to vote for on of THEIR picks, which is probably not theone you want to vote for. Their criteria for selection seems a little off to. And they don't give you the opportunity to write-in your own suggestions, so they can adapt their selections for next time. I wanted to vote for Sebastian Loeb, or Colin McRae, or somebody like that. WRC rdiving ( or those guys doing the DAKAR race) ris about the most diffucult stuff I can think of, even though the co-driver tells you what to do... thx

BTW, are you all awaarethat Barrett-Jackson & SPEEDTV are going to have an online interactive contest to see who can guess the closest to all the winning bids? No info yet; it's still too early.

I've got a mate in my yacht club, who drives an MGB, that is always asking me about my 280Z. I think his boy has one, or two? I kid him about catching the oil & putting it back in every time he drives it, but it doesn't bother him- great guy. I'll look for an MG to park next to the next time I go to a car show.

Thanks Chris- That's what I had in mind. I've got a 3-ring binder with all the important documents (title, appraisal, tires receipts, alignment specs, etc.) in plastic sleeves. It would be good to collect all the original sales stuff as possible. I've got another week before my holiday is over. Then, winter will still be around another three months, IMO. thxZ

That's what you get when you watch too many AMERICAN muscle-car shows, who tell you to go to the manufacturer to get your build sheet for your 1963 sportscar. But just for kicks, who do you think I would want to contact to get that information, assuming it does exist? thx

Well, since I'm not in California, those cancer warnings don't apply...

YOu mean $2,000, right?

I think a better question would be to ask how far back do records at Nissan go? thx

You have to have a cool surface for water to condense onto, like on the outside of a glass of icewater. A surface cooler than the dewpoint of the air. The warm exhaust system parts will just cool down, and stay dry. Storing in a closed garage keeps the temperature fairly constant everywhere. Even if you did have a few drops, which is the most you'll get, of water anywhere, it will evaporate quickly. Most of the water comes from the exhaust itself.

If you store inside, there's no condensation, even in an unheated garage.

The dangers of cold-starting your car are more for your daily-driver. 7 times A WEEK, you start the engine after sitting overnight, draining. On the other hand- if you store the car and only start it monthly, that's only 4-6 times over the winter (Nov - April in Northern U.S.) Either way, it doesn't actually drain DRY. There's still a light smear of lube on there. the engine prefers to have more tho. I was planning on adding a quart of oil before I start the engine. It's a shade low as it is now.

Keeping the battery off the cement goes back to the days when you had caps on the 6 cells. Remember how the clamps got the corrosion buildup? for the same reason, some of the acid fumes can get UNDER the battery, and eat up the concrete. So if you put it on a bock of wood, to elevate it, the acid fumes dissapate. Ventilation is a good idea too, but I would assume it's in your garage, which probably has fresh air occasionally. I keep my battery in the basement, on the bottom shelf, near the chargers. Probably doesn't matter at ALL now, with the sealed batteries. I've never experienced flat spots, and I store mine straight from Nov - April. Maybethe flat spots only happened to the old-style bias-ply tyres? thx

I really wish you hadn't said`that.... But it's good you did, before something happens. What do you think was the problem or the fix- just retighten periodically? thx

It's too late to get pictures because I've cleaned the whole area. I can tell you the scratches didn't go all the way through into the metal underneath. It just makes you wonder that if there was so much room, how did the scratches get there in the first place? Possible an occasion slack in the chain? thx

I really hope the timing chain isn't touching the valve cover! thx