RAZ1

Chris, there is a Z club in Albuquerque. Our monthly meeting for September will be on Thursday the 14th starting at 6:30 pm at the Country Kitchen on the corner of San Pedro and Menual (same lot as the Mall) PM me if you want to talk before that. Art

That would be in Orlando

I'm confused? This guy is tailgating a slow driver in the left lane and you pass both in the right. I see no fault here. Happens all the time in New Mexico. This guy then catches up with you and starts to tailgate you in the right lane? If so, that guy is a jerk. Tapping the brakes has always been my way of telling someone nicely to back off. I see no fault here. Slowing down to 35 and letting him pass you so you can catch back up to him is where you might now be taking it a little too far. All of this is of coarse, if you were in the right lane throughout this entire episode. If you were in the left lane then it is your fault. Beware though. I have a friend, he's about 6'2" - 260lbs and carries a gun (permit and all). One day a guy cuts him off and then this same guy gets pissed at my friend for no reason. This guy gets next to my firends truck at a light and starts telling him off. My friend (a very calm guy and someone you want to have on your side if you are ever in a bar fight) tells him to follow him (he was on the way to the toy store to get his kid a birthday gift). This guy follows him and my firend calmly pulls into a parking slot at the store and this guy drives up and blocks his truck, jumping out of his car yelling at my friend. My friend gets out of his truck looks at the guy, pulls his gun, points it at him and says "bang, your dead". At which point my friend lectured him about acting crazy in New Mexico and that at any given time you never know when someone will pull a gun on you. After my friend finished explaining the finer points of driving manors, he layed the gun down on the hood of his truck and asked the guy if he wanted to settle this the old fashioned way, and of coarse the guy got out of there real quick. I have a feeling that guy sh!t his pants.

The car was decent. Good glass and sheetmetal. Floorboards had some rust. The motor was complete with the flattop carbs. Interior was toast and it had four chrome rims to go with it. I just don't have the space to keep these kinds of Z's so I gave it to guy who was willing to tow it away after I had taken what I wanted.

Someone called me the other day and asked if I wanted a 240Z parts car. All I had to do was go get it. It was about 7 miles from my house. I pulled the exhaust off it and found that it was a true dual exhaust. Does anyone here recognize this setup or is it a custom job. I plan on having it soda blasted and using it on the 240 down the road. The only thing I will change is the mufflers. Thanks in advance.

I had first-hand knowledge of the "other" incident and I believe this has nothing to do with that kind of garbage. I didn't know Carl that well (never got on his bad side), but he emailed me often about the magazine and Z's. He was also the first to notice problems with the "other" incident that helped me to put the puzzle together. When you say he was a no bull kind of guy, you are correct, he could see the bull coming and wasn't afraid to point it out. I don't often post on this site, but I'm here everyday and I will surely miss his presence.

Ron, we want to do a feature on your cars. I know you have the Z and the rodster. Do you also have a 510 as well? If so I think it would make a great cover shot using all three. I think we have a pro photographer in the SoCal area. I'm not sure what issue it would be in, but I will campaign for it to be in either the second or third issue. Get back to me on the third car. Art

rdefabri, We stopped processing orders a month ago and did not charge anyone for the Summer 2006 issue. We couldn't charge a cc for something that doesn't exist. You can order the Fall issue of Nissan Sport when it becomes a back issue. I can already tell you that the editor for vote yes and it doesn't matter to me if it runs. All it will take is one more vote of yes and it will be in. Mike, we are still running the "Best Pose" story in the Fall issue of Nissan Sport. Look at it as starting off with a bang. 1 Bravo 6, we are not in the newstands overseas but the largest number of overseas SZM subscribers come from Australia. Japan is second.

rdefabri, your wife and car will be in the Fall issue of Nissan Sport. But I did tell you that it might be hard for us to publish the picture that won.You told me that you would send some more pictures, but I never recieved any. You still have time. I will show the winning image to the rest of the team here and they can vote whether the image stays or goes. Because there is no Summer issue of SZM, all articles moved to the Fall. No matter what, the article on the contest will be in there even if it's not the exact image that won.

Hi Michael, yes we plan to cover the SX line, Sentras, Skylines, Roadsters and 510's. The funny thing is, when we first started SZM, I tried to get the roadster and 510 crowd into the magazine. I called writers, contacted websites asking people if they were interested in writing articles for these cars. And to my surprise they all said no thank you and good luck. My goal was always to bring in the older Datsun cars, but it was hard to do without the support of the community. We want to do it now because we think it's the right thing to do. if you think the Z community is small, the 510 and Roadster crowd is microscopic in comparison. But that's not a reason not to include them in the new magazine. Montezuma, that's the great thing about living in to good old US of A. You have the right to vote on it. If a club doesn't want to be a member that is ok with us. We never try to force any club to do something they don't want to. I will contact a club once or twice to see if they are intrested, after that they will never have to worry about me hounding them. if I were at your meetings I would have said don't join even if one person was against it. This program is a support issue. But there is one thing I don't like and that is a double standard. A club (and I belong to one) has no problem taking membership dues from a member they wouldn't know if they were standing in front of them every year when it comes time for renewal. Chances are a certain few have never been to an event or meeting but the club is willing to take their money and spend it anyway they see fit. So that to me is more about taking money from someone and offering nothing in return. I'm getting off subject. This is an issue that bothers me with or without a magazine.

TexasZ, you can still get SZM back issues. Just go to www.nissansportmag.com and go to the order page.

David, since you have a first class upgrade and now that we will be polybagging the new magazine, 1st class mailing will not be needed. To make up the difference we will be extending your subscription a few issues. The good thing for everyone now is that they all will receive the magazine in a protected plastic bag. It also means that we have a few issues to show you that we will still be commited to the Z. Art Singer Associate Publisher Nissan Sport

For the guys that know me, I'm not going away anytime soon. So if you thought this was the best chance to get rid of me, you are sadly mistaken. . On a serious note, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to PM or email me. Art Singer Associate Publisher Nissan Sport

I happen to have an extra JTR manual. If you want it let me know. I think they sell for $40+ bucks. I'll sell it to you for $10.00 plus $2.00 shipping. Just PM me if you are interested.

Sorry guys, if I hadn't mentioned the quoted debate/discussion in my post (Carl picked up on it quickly) this might have been just nice remarks about a very good looking setup. Steve mentioned the Mark thing so he is well aware of the debate. If I were Steve I would only have this one of a kind setup since it is so unique. Ron, when will all your cars be finished? You're still working on one right?

I was talking to Steve after the show and for now it is a one of a kind setup. He has no plans to manufacture them at this time. It's very unique setup and looked very OEM. He made everything from scratch from the intake manifold to the balance tube. He did a great job putting two original air cleaners together to make one longer one. Maybe if enough people ask him about it, he might think about producing a few. But I doubt it. A few years (quite a few) back there was a discussion about a 3 SU setup never being able to work. I think Steve did this to prove that theory wrong. Are you reading this Mark?

April 28, 29 & 30

I'm going. have to, it's a magazine thing. leaving ABQ on Thursday morning and hope to get in early Friday afternoon. Two things I can't miss why I'm there. One is the dent and scratch sale (I'm a cheap ba$tard) and going to that Japanese Auto Parts store not far from Knotts Berry (sp?). That place is great especially with all the cool stuff upstairs.

Ricklandia, now that is a funny story. I'm glad I wasn't there because you would have been pissed at me. I wouldn't have hidden in the crowd, but I wouldn't have been much help either due to the tears running down my face from laughing so hard. Classic.

I have the correct manifold that you need. You would have to find the linkage stuff but you will have the manifold and balance tube. Your cost? Nothing, just let me know you want them and it's yours. I feel like giving today. Art

rdefabri, here is a step-by-step on restoring your steering wheel courtesy of SZM. Enjoy. Sorry, no pics A Turn for the Better Refinishing the steering wheel on your 240Z is one of the easiest and least costly ways to upgrade the appearance of your Z’s cockpit. After all, the steering wheel is the one part of your car you see and touch every time you climb inside. In this article, Randy Lewis shares his experience from A to Z, having completed refurbishing the steering wheel on his three 240Zs. Follow his advice and in three hours or less (excluding driving time), even the greenest home mechanic will puff out his (or her) chest at the $15 refinished beauty. Difficulty level: 2 (10 being the hardest) Time: 3 Hrs Parts Cost: $15 Tools: socket set, philips screwdriver Overview After nearly 30 years of wear and tear, it’s amazing that most 240Z steering wheels have held up so well. Generally, these steering wheels suffer only a dull or worn finish on the rim, and perhaps spokes show chipped or peeling paint and a few rust spots here and there (Figure 1). Even in Arizona, where I live, the sun and heat don’t seem to have had an adverse effect on the rim as is typical with many American cars. The rim of the wheel is actually plastic, despite a rather realistic looking faux wood finish, fooling some owners. With age, the rim takes on a nice patina that tends to make it look even more like wood than when it was new. The trick to restoring a 240Z steering wheel is to enhance the rim’s patina, not remove it. Step One: Materials and Disassembly You’ll need the following materials to refinish your steering wheel, all of which you should be able to obtain at your local hardware store (Figure 2). • 220 wet/dry sandpaper • Very fine steel wool • SOS soap pads • Masking tape • One spray can of semi-gloss clear lacquer • One spray can of primer • One spray can of semi-gloss black To begin, you’ll need to remove the steering wheel from the column. This involves removing the horn pad from the center of the wheel (which simply snaps off as you pull it toward you) revealing a 22mm nut that secures the wheel to the column. After removing the nut, lock washer, and the spring-tensioned horn contact plate screws, you should be able to tap the wheel gently from behind, with equal pressure from both sides, and pull it free of the column. Once you have the wheel removed, take it to a sink or laundry tub large enough to submerge the entire wheel. Step two: Preparation The first step is to gently clean the rim and remove the years of accumulated dirt and grime. An SOS soap pad is the best way to do this without removing the patina. While running water over the wheel, or submerging it, slowly work your way around the rim with the pad, being careful not to bear down too firmly. You will notice the water turning an orange or brown color as the mild abrasive of the steel wool and the soap begin to work. When you no longer see color coming off the wheel, turn your attention to the spokes and center hub. Use the 220-grit sandpaper to smooth any imperfections from rust or peeling paint. Though it’s considerably more work, I would recommend completely removing the paint for the smoothest finish when new paint is applied. When you have completed these two steps, set the wheel aside to dry. When the wheel is dry, it will feel a bit rough to the touch. You’ll want to go over the wheel with very fine steel wool to assure that the surface is as smooth as possible. Again, be careful not to rub too hard and remove the patina. When the rim is universally smooth to the touch, carefully mask the spokes and center hub with masking tape (Figure 3). Step three: refinishing Once you have completed the masking, it’s time to spray the rim with clear lacquer. One very important note here is to spray several light mist coats (smoothing each coat with very fine steel wool between coats), rather than a single heavy coat. This avoids runs and orange peel; clear lacquer is especially prone to runs. In the event you don’t heed this advice, you will have the unpleasant task of removing the lacquer with thinner and starting over. Trust me on this one, I learned the hard way. Let the rim dry overnight to make sure the finish is good and hard. If you notice some variation in gloss level once the lacquer is dry, you can even out the finish by burnishing the rim with a paper towel, which acts as a very mild abrasive. Next, remove the masking tape from the spokes and center hub (checking to make sure that no sticky residue remains) and carefully mask the rim. You will find it helpful at this point, prior to spraying, to suspend the wheel with a wire coat hanger, giving you the ability to spray both sides of the wheel simultaneously. Spray the spokes and hub with primer as a base coat for the final finish coat. You will want to lightly sand the primed areas prior to spraying the semi-gloss black, in order to achieve the smoothest final finish. I have found the most durable and smoothest finish is obtained using high-temperature engine enamel. When you are satisfied with the results, simply remove the masking tape, reinstall the steering wheel in reverse order and go driving (Figure 4). When someone at your next club meet asks where you got the new “wood” steering wheel, tell them you found it in Sport Z Magazine for $15.

the facts were brought out last year. "I have stated from what I have read from here and at Zcar.com, that, he did in fact, put up an auction for some type of GPS. That I can see is fact." True "I can see that Imabubba states that he and one other individual did not receive them." True "Now I see where you are coming from, trying to help out the Z crowd, but I see that you are making accusations, yet there is nothing to back them up, if you get my point." Call the Coronor of PA. If you want I will find the phone number. Call the cemetary. They will back up what I've stated. "You say he tried to rip off Gateway?? How do you know this? How did you get this information? Do you have proof of that?" Yes, it happened back in 2003. When he didn't pay for the computer, Gateway put him on the "bad" list. It just so happens that the guy he ripped off for the GPS just happens to work for Gateway and was able to find this info out. I can get you his number as well. "You state that he forged a government document, then, why isn't there an arrest record? Can you show that?" The police consider it a low level crime and not a priority. So it could take years for them to act on it. This came from a news reporter from Uniontown that was going to do a story on this. I can probably get his number as well if you want it. "You say that his girlfriend fell out of love with him and then turned. Can you prove that, do you have an affidavit?" it's a guess. I have no idea. "Also I haven't been around long enough so I guess I wouldn't know but I haven't seen any relief fund that you have mentioned or, this thing where they were trying to sell his car and rip people off." If you were hear when this all first started, you would have seen that there was talk of starting a fund. "All I am saying is that, "you say", you have done a lot of detective work, and apparently you are a well liked person on here whos word can be trusted." Liked is a strong word. More like tolerated. "I am not into arguing the main subject, but from all that I have read, I see only a few things and those are these:" 1) He did sell parts on ebay 2) Imabubba says that he never recieved them 3) He is supposedly dead, I think that is a bit drastic way to take things, for the money he allegedly took. 4) You allege that he has ripped you off. All true What I see now is this 1) The person posting on the names Deltadawn and Zmefly are not of Pennsylvania, you should double check that. 2) Why would someone shame theyr'e datsun by calling it a Honda ? 3) You talk about Deltadawn like you know her, do you, have you had contact with her? 4) I'm not out to make you out to be the bad guy at all. "What I am saying is, if you say something, prove what you say!! All I was stating from what I read in this forum and at Zcar.com is I can only see those few things he has done." See above "You say he ripped you off, but you do not go into detail so I cannot say he has really done anything to you. I am just looking at facts that I can see and are based on truths that can be backed up." I went into detail a year ago, no reason to say it all over again. everyoine knows what happened. This was just suppose to be a fyi, not a rehash of what was already explained. "I also stated that if all these things he did were true then he needs to be put away for as long as the law allows!!! Peroid end of it." I like mental torture. "It's just that to me, for someone to go through so much trouble to make himself disappear, allegedly forging death certificates and the like, wouldn't just come and appear out of the blue to show his face again." Not allegedly, It's fact. as stated above I can dig up all of the important phone numbers and you can make the calls yourself. "That is just pure idiocy no matter how smart or smart someone thinks they are, and you have to agree with that yourself." Totally agree. Ah, Will, you're making me blush.

I'm on a high horse? If you call making people aware of a situation, then yes, I'm on a high horse. Everything I have ever stated is fact. trust me, I have a lot more to lose then ZmeFly would by me making this up. I did my homework with help from Imabubba. Anyone who knows me personally on this site knows I'm not out to create something that isn't true. You are dead wrong about the ISP. Back in the day when this came to light, it was the first thing that was confirmed. Fact: 1) When you are stupid (and ZmeFly and DeltaDawn did) enough to email a forged copy of a death certificate to us and allow us the chance to call the state coroner of PA to varify it, that is how you find out the death was faked. We also called the cemetary that he was supposed to be buried in. They had no record of him being there. 2) ZmeFly made the mistake of trying to rip off Gateway for a Computer. This is where a lot of the dective work was done. 3) DeltaDawn did not turn on ZmeFly until a year later. I guess falling out of love will do that for you. 4) The main reason I have been involved with this is I was rpped off by him (and yes, I take resposibility for that), but it doesn't mean I have to sit back and let him try to scam someone else. 5) I became very active in this when I realized YOU guys wanted to start a relief fund for DeltaDawn and the then deceased ZmeFly because you felt sorry for them. I called Mike and made him aware of the situation. If you think his death is still real, by all means sned them your money. 6) ZmeFly faked his death because he couldn't take the heat of having himself exposed to the people that admired him most. 7) look at his website, it say Uniontown PA. He has always lived there. 8) I can't explain why someone would be so stupid to use the same screen name as before. And he still has his 280ZXT in his sig. But then again he thought he was being really smart when he sent us the death cert. 9) FBI? no. Just someone that won't let somebody get away with ripping people off. 10) Boostedz, believe what you want. You can even make me out to be the bad guy, I really don't care as long as the truth gets out. 11) You've got it wrong, people aren't jumping on the bandwagon, they are jumping off it. They jumped on last year.

Zedrally, this should have been gone last year when this all came to a head. But since James is back on the scene and trying to get back into the Z community, then it's important that everyone know exactly what's going on. If you have been lucky enough not to be scammed by him, that's great. But everyone on all Z forums should be informed. We are not talking about one or two scams, It's many, and you shouldn't be the next victim because you weren't made aware of it.

This was first brought to this sites attention when it looked like you guys were ready to start a relief fund for deltadawn. At that time it had to stop and i talked to Mike about this. he was very helpful in showing James for what he is. Granted, the forged death certificate is what really opened the door to the fact that his death was a scam. We did a lot of searching and phone calls and even the local newspaper in his town was going to do a story on it. I'm sure you guys all remember the obit in the online local newspaper that was linked so all could see. He put a lot of effort into faking his death. And to top it off, the death certificate was actually his sisters (or sister-in-laws). The cause of death was obesity. if any of you have met or seen pictures of him you would know that that was the last thing he could have probally died from sonce he is tall and thin. He made the big mistake of ripping off Gateway Computers a while back and then in another scam the person he ripped off (on an unrelated scam) just happen to work for Gateway and that is when James' cover was blown. I was ripped off from him many years ago and told him that i would never forget it and that one day he would get his. Keeping him out of the Z community is the least I can do considering all the other bad things I wanted to do. Ah, but hell, I'm a peaceful kind of guy.