Redwing

Hi all, You may remember last Sept my RedBird met a post with bad results. Ever since then, the body shop has been promising to order the bumper ends from Japan, with a 6 months wait. I just called the body shop once again, that they have not even been ordered! I am livid!!! The first car show is next month, and she looks funny and unfinished without them. They are now trying to get All state to cut me a check and get me to order them. Not sure that is a good idea, thinking pitfalls may be included with that deal. Any idea where I can get them without the 6 months wait? Any good ideas on getting the parts, or suggestions about accepting the check? Wow, I am so very very pissed! Thanks all... Jai

This sounds good, well, at least not bad. Aha, you mention some oil use. She has always used some oil. Not much, a quart or two a year. So along with what has been said about the backfiring, blue smoke, downshifting and coasting, this all may be something that has been going on for a while? Brought to the forefront by the new muffler. Think? Hmmm... Thanks, Jai

Well, that is what I do approaching the corner. Then heavy acceleration to get going after turning. Then is when I see the blue - blue/gray smoke. Which he said a good thing. Hunh?

Mark, No I do not feel any loss of power, and she is running great! No feel to the backfire. Yes all could have been brewing, with me not noticing it. I just started paying attention to the muffler when the new one was put on. There was almost no sound from the other one, nothing to pay attention to. Jai

I don't think so. Will make sure when I go out again. Which will be Thurs. I don't go much when the temps are below 20 plus wind chill in the early morning. Thanks, Jai

Chas, Question on your comment on the simple test. After downshifting, and coasting on toward the corner, coasting around it, would that be similar to what you said about the coasting down a hill, then hard acceleration, to see a plume of gray blue smoke... a good thing? Thanks, Jai

Mark, I don't know what an engine stumble is. Would you please describe it for me? Also doppleganger... means several different problems? Sorry, I just do not know these terms. ? Jai

Hi all, Something has shown up since getting the new muffler installed. I have noticed that after gearing down preparing to turn that (backfiring) putt putts happen. Then when turned and accelerating again there is a large amount of blue exhaust sometimes with a small backfire. 1.) The backfire is coming from rear of car. Did not backfire before muffler addition. When gearing down, if I rev the engine some, little putt putts happen. 2.) Don't know if the gearing down makes it worse. I think it does. I had not noticed it before the new muffler, which makes it louder natch. So noticeable. 3.) I'll have to check oil usage, have not done so since it was changed very recently. 4.) Don't know if it is the same exhaust no matter which way turning. I'm more aware of it, being more visable, when turning right. I'll pay more attention next time out. 5.) A year ago RB turned up 100,000 miles. I can only guess that was her 2nd go around. I have no way of knowing what her actual mileage is. 6.) It is a backfire, not just a stumble. These answers are in response to questions sent to me by Mark. Please do ask if you need more information. By the way. I live in a very small town, and have been told twice now, that there is another red Z that looks like my RedBird travelling the streets here. I'm on a quest to find it and talk with the owner. If I do, expect photos of the 2 of them! That's exciting! Thanks for your input, as always it's the greatest. Jai

Thank you zKars. We have connected, and these parts are being sent from him to me! Great news!!!

These comments, both by Dave WM, truly point out what I feel. It would be wrong to allow that guy to replace them. He is not interested in learning, by his own statements, that some cars are not like all cars. I will not take my RedBird back to that man to replace the lost bolt and bushing. Heard the expression "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me"? I believe taking her back to him to replace the bushing is just asking for the same outcome in a matter of time. How to get the needed bushing is another deal. But my first thoughts about not allowing him to touch my RedBird stand true. He will NOT! Thank you Dave WM, for your great comments to help me. Jai

As a new muffler was being installed, muffler man noticed the bolt and bushing missing from the rear lower control arm. He advised me to get it fixed soon as it was dangerous to drive that way. I took it to Pete my mechanic immediately. Getting a spare from Greg, Pete placed it in RedBird without a bushing, and tightened all of the other bushings as they were loose. I learned that this should not have happened, the bolt and bushing should not have fallen out. Wednesday I went to the mechanic who replaced all the bushings over 2 years ago. He said it was not his problem. That "all bushings loosen up with time". So I said "after driving my 240Z for 259,000 miles, they never came loose on her. Why?" No answer. But he then did make a crude comment about my 280Z being "a mess of get around fixes". To which I mentioned, "well the stalling issues she was having (that he wanted to remove the head for), had been fixed by a simple replacement of the ECU, and she has run perfect since. And, that info was given to me by members of CZCC". To which he smirked "I remember you talking about that online group. I don't believe anything online people say. I have been working on cars since I was __ (3, 6, 10?) years old, and I know about cars." Arrogant! I was so frustrated that I posted about this encounter on Facebook, not naming him, just saying a mechanic who worked on my car. Poof, in a short time, he posted to my comment saying he had now ordered the bushings. Stating he had JUST THEN found out online that they work loose, a known problem with "those cars". (Now believing online help?) Saving face to the world, saying "sorry for the misunderstanding." No misunderstanding, he had an about face. If he had JUST THEN found that out, how did he know before when we were talking? Hmmm... I REALLY REALLY REALLY do not want him to touch my RedBird again. Not sure how I will handle this. If I had the spare $ to order the bushings myself, I'd love to tell him that since he has been such a jerk, go stuff the ones he ordered where the sun doesn't shine. ? That's the abbreviated sad tale. If any of you have information on these bushings loosening up or not, I'd love to hear it. Thanks all... Jai

Merry Christmas to everyone... Sending peace and love to everyone... Jai & Lissa

I took Redbird to the muffler shop to have a different one put on her. The owner spotted the missing bolt in the rear lower control arm. He told me it was dangerous and to have it taken care of immediately. So I went right to Pete, and sent Greg a text with the photo and asked if he had one off the parts car he had. He did, and brought it right over, but the bushing is missing. Pete also said others of the complete lot of bushings I had put on 2 1/2 years ago, were loose too. Pete put the bolt in and said RedBird was safe to drive until I get another bushing. Wondering if I should have a talk with the other mechanic that did the bushing job? I got lucky I think, it could have been a bad accident in the wings. Unhappy magnam... Jai

I thank you Mark for sending the door parts. I took heed of your suggestion, and the door works perfectly now with having saturated the hinge and the striker plate, etc., with WD - 40. So not sure if I need to get the parts replaced or not. Guess time will tell. Jai

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL... Wishing all my good friends a wonderful, safe, and great day! Blessings for everyone... much love... Jai

Good IDea. Thanks for the INfo. With Redwing, my Dad always replaced his tires off his Mercedes wayyyyy before he needed to. So Redwing got his take offs that I ran about 2 years longer. Good deal for me!

That's a lot of driving. Is this a for sure thing, or is it iffy in how one gets this break? Would be easier if could be ordered by phone and paid by pay pal.

Mark, The only thing that works right about the passenger door is that it will lock if the inside post is pushed down. The key does nothing for the door, will not open it. I forget, it may not even turn. I have thought it was the wrong key for that lock. Which is low on the aggravation list, I have almost no use for that door. Thanks...

This month I will get my heating assistance fron the gov, IT will be $350. So I'll use that. Excuse the text errors phone screwing up.

THANK YOU MARK!

Thank you for this offer. I really appreciate IT.

195 - 70 - 14 But on Redwing I ran 205 - 75 - 14's and they fit well.

Hi all, I haven't been able to update you as both my phone and tablet were un-corroptive. Rex at body shop said I need a round striker part, newer or in better shape than the current one, as this one is worn out. Today I can get the door to at least half latch by pulling up on the outside door handle and closing while holding it up. That works for being in car too, just more awkward. Anyone have a decent spare they would sell me, and how much? Rex also said that when balancing the tires, the all 4 were low, due to dry rot. Aghhh! Those tires were new with the rubber "hair" on them when I got Redbird in Dec 2014. So now I need new tires. Any suggestions about that? I'm not the purist sports car addicts a lot of you are, so I don't need the very best. Just good quality long lasting tires. Thanks for all your super suggestions and information. You are great! Jai