Dan Baldwin

I've personally seen cracked spokes on "racing only" Pana's. The geometry is the same, the material is the same, and there's less of it, no way around it, they're running at higher stresses. I'm not saying they are not a "high quality" cast wheel. But there absolutely is a REASON the lighter weight wheels are specified for racing use only. They have less fatigue life in them. Street usage over 10's of thousands of miles is harder on wheels than multiple race seasons. The stresses of repeated 1-g braking and cornering for ~ an hour's usage per event are minimal compared to going over cobblestones, potholes, etc. etc. for 10,000 miles per year. Again, talking about fatigue life, not impact damage. If you don't put very many miles on your car, no big deal, but in any case, the lighter weight wheels will not last as long as the heavier ones.

The lightweight racing Panasports are prone to developing cracks in the spokes when used extensively on the street. At least they were 10 or so years ago... I don't think the "racing" ones are forged, and they look similar to the heavier "street" ones. To be significantly lighter, they sacrifice longevity. There is a reason they're marked "for racing use only"!

Mine (fresh from a junkyard '87 turbo) measured 23 lb-ft YEARS ago. Gotta be less than that now. No problemo on the track, even with 238-255rwhp driving it. Dunno why anyone would run as much as 80-90. Basically, that would FORCE you to use a bigger rear sway bar, which acts to increase the amount the inside wheel is unloaded, sort of a vicious cycle I think. I'm running no rear bar, btw. I don't think I'd go with more than the 45 lb-ft the Nismo units supposedly came with.

Yup. But consider that your car's braking system, ancient as it is, was designed and engineered by professionals to ensure proper braking distribution. You will either need to educate yourself on this to determine what is required, or find an engineered and tested setup (and I'm sure there are setups out there that have NOT been engineered OR tested). Don't just throw a "big" brake setup at the back to balance the "big" brakes up front and hope for the best. You need to ensure that the rotor working diameters and caliper piston areas conspire to give proper front/rear balance, while ensuring the fronts lock before the rears.

That *IS* scary. Something's wrong with your brakes for sure, no way the rears should lock first. I'd have a look in there, could be the rears are dragging. Or you have teflon brake pads up front :eek:

Theoretically, it's only normal (clamping) force times coefficient of friction that dictates frictional force, irrespective of area of contact. The 4x4 pads have 4% greater area => with the same coefficient of friction, they give 4% more braking force than the original calipers. Again, it's a good thing they don't give MORE, because there's already too much front bias! True. Also, less heel/toe action, better wear characteristics, should give better modulation, should run cooler, etc. But to me it isn't worth it to JUST do the front 4x4 caliper mod, as it increases front bias, and stock is already conservatively biased to the front. More front bias => rears are doing less braking at front lockup => less total braking force at front lockup => longer stopping distances.

I ran Hoosier R3S04's (the new ones) at two time trial events last year. First event I ran them at, for the first few laps holy CRAP i've never experienced so much grip! Then after about 3-4 laps they kinda lost some. After three sessions ~15 minutes each, this effect was reduced a bit. Second event I went to, they felt really slippy-slidey, but I turned my best ever time with them. They WENT faster than they FELT. The character was quite different from the old Hoosiers, the car moved around a lot more rather than carving the curves. Still fast though!

FWIW, there is still 30% of the car's weight on the rear tires at 1-g braking, unlike a motorcycle which has a MUCH shorter wheelbase and higher center of gravity. Stock setup biases the fronts. Further biasing towards the front should actually INcrease ultimate stopping distances, as the rears will be doing even less at impending front lockup. Fortunately, the Toyota truck calipers only have 4% more piston area than stock. Still, I don't really consider this mod (front 4-pot truck calipers ONLY) an "upgrade".

Tom, At what rpm were you making peak power? Mine peaks at ~6250-6500. I limit it to 7000, sometimes 7200. Anyway, if your peak torque in lb.-ft is less than your peak power in hp, there's definitely more hp to be had given a big cam, big carbs, and headwork, whatever the absolute NUMBERS are. My peak hp is ~15-18% greater than my torque in lb-ft.

My car has dynoed at 255rwhp (see my post on page 1 for link), but only once. Two other dyno runs on different occasions (both before and after the 255 run) had me at 235 and 238 respectively. On the same day I did 238rwhp, stock 350Z's (factory rated at 287 at the flywheel) were doing 240rwhp (DANG!). Stuff to consider, anyway...

Dyno sheet here: http://www.classiczcars.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=6881&size=big&sort=1&cat=500 For some reason I couldn't get the image location... Anywho, 255 rwhp (on that day, anyway...) NA 3.1 liter (KA24+.5mm pistons, LD28 crank) Sunbelt ported and cammed N42 head 11:1 CR 45mm OER racing 3x2 carbs, 39mm venturis Nismo 1 3/4" 6=>2 header, 3" exhaust That's about it...

Generally, coupes have 225mm flywheels, 2+2s have 240mm. Different clutches, too.