--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00018 Date: 01/14/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 04:55pm \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: Roller Camshaft Hey Roy, I looked up and found some info on the Factory hydraulic roller cam blocks. Some 1986 and all 1987 and newer blocks had the changes which include: A larger thrust plate at the front of the block. This may require some machining to clear double roller chains. The block is tapped for bolts to hold the 'lifter spider'. This is the sheetmetal tray that retains the lifter alignment guides. Also they used shorter pushrods with the roller lifters (big surprise). And I believe the lifter bores were slightly taller... This is in addition to other non-camshaft related changes such as the one piece rear main seal. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00019 Date: 01/05/98 From: KEVIN RELKOFF Time: 09:37pm \/To: KENNY HENDERSON (Read 0 times) Subj: American Sports Car KR>Since when has ABS starting stopping cars faster then none ABS cars? When I KR>first heard of them.. THey all said, and did test with them, that ABS ars KR>didn't stop any quicker then a car with out.. It only helped in keeping the KR>car undercontrol. and still be able to steer the Vehicle.. KH> I think a good driver can stop a non ABS car as fast or faster then he KH> could an ABS equipped car. But, lots of people aren't good drivers. KH> They just think mashing the brake to the floor is the way to stop KH> fast. That would just put a car like a Viper into a skid. So ABS these days ARE stopping cars usually faster then Non ABS Equipped cars.. If i remember correctly, when ABS was brought out.. That It didnt' stop a car faster, then a Non-ABS car.. But It just Let you still have control of the car.. Which i thought what ABS was ALL about.. Letting you keep control of the car KH> You XR7 should stop from 60mph in about 130 ft, which is good. never tried to stop at that speed before.. Only from 100MPH before.. which wasn't a Good Out come.. I had like only 75% or less Braking power left after.. Odds are the Pads are glazed, also breed the brakes after that, and there was air in 2 of the Calipers, an Dirty oil in all of them.. Still yet to replace the pads But maybe this weekend.. Gotta Make out a `want list' for my boss to order me stuff =] --- Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR] * Origin: Value Link BBS 930-0715 (1:153/959) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00020 Date: 01/05/98 From: KEVIN RELKOFF Time: 09:37pm \/To: KENNY HENDERSON (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: cool cop cars KH> I always had Z rated tires on my XR7, so it wasn't very good in the KH> snow. The 2nd winter I had it, I bought snows for it and it was KH> excellent. Hmm I have Z rated tires on my car.. and its pretty good in it.. I guess it all depends on how you drive it =] THe only time the wheels spined on my car.. was when I made them.. THen again.. Most people do try to get doign my giving it alot of gas to start.. and bitch that the car/tires are bad in snow.. HECK i went up to this mountain this last week like 3+ Feet deep> and on the road/parking lot People in AWD/4x4's where getting stuck.. And I never did ONCE.. and I even parked on Ice.. KH> I'm not sure if what you did helps or hurts things. Look in Summit KH> Racing magazine. They have a TransGo shift kit for the AOD. Its KH> about $109 and will make a bit of a difference. It will shift much KH> harder and faster, and it will shift into 4th at WOT. Well Isn't that what Shift kits surpose to go, mak ethe tranny shift harder/firmer? Yah I was thinking of something like that.. But To me.. I would just go with the Manual shift body.. YES it's 3 times the price.. But it's like 10 time better=] least by what i think.. Least you have COMPLETE control of the Gear changes, also You STILL won't have to do `the 1-2-1 SHuffle' to hold 2nd Which can still Kill the valve body.. which i believe is the like one of the weakest parts off it, next to the input shaft ... Who cares if you can do 0-60 in 2.8! Trafic is backed up for 15 miles! --- Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR] * Origin: Value Link BBS 930-0715 (1:153/959) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00021 Date: 01/05/98 From: KEVIN RELKOFF Time: 09:37pm \/To: MARC GERGES (Read 0 times) Subj: Forced Induction KH> excited about a 'sporty car' that costs $24,000 and runs low 15s KH> and doesn't handle that well. MG> So what would a Camaro cost? MG> The Eclipse is here about 60% of the Camaro's price. Hmm Around here, When you compare liek the same age of a used Eclipse/talon to a Camaro/Firebird.. The Eclipse and talon are cheaper, and they Look better and you get Better options.. HMM which One would be a better buy? One that's pretty good on gas.. or one that's Hard on gas? And no one can truely say That The CHevs 305/350 Is better on gas then a 4 cyclinder Well Except maybe Roy.. My car <302,5.0l V8> Is crappy on gas MG> In fact I never drove one of those big US monsters, I'll definitely MG> have to try. I'm the oppisite. Never driven in a Import =] But Still i have to be like you, Have to Drive a camaro/Firebird/Mustang one day just to truely See what make sthem so `great' I've driven a '88 5.0l Mustang and It was SLOW!! and it had less milage then my car.. <'91 cougar XR7> and I swear my car, ALOT heavier, had alot more Pull to it.. One Day I have to test drive a '96-8 Camaro/Firebird to see what makes them so great.. heh This message should get some flaming back heh So far I've only put down the mustang.. And i'm a FORD MAN! I myself if i woudl Buy a BRAND new car.. I would most likely go with a honda Civic =] Nice cars, GREAT gas milage.. pretty peppy.. and a HELL OF A LOT of after markey Goodies for them =] and also they are cheaper then i think ANY domestic Vehicle to repair.. and HECK they are like Cheap to buy too =] MG> 112 feet? Either my convertion chart from feet to meters is wrong or MG> your car breaks better than every Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren MG> available... 34Meters? that truely doesn't sound right.. Hmm come to think of it.. It may be possible.. Since i have stopped my car from 40MPH in like about 30-45 Feet.. But that's Floored with ABS kicking in on a WET road.. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR] * Origin: Value Link BBS 930-0715 (1:153/959) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00022 Date: 01/14/98 From: DAVID WEI Time: 08:42pm \/To: CHRISTOPHER TARANA (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: cool cop cars -=> Quoting Christopher Tarana to David Wei <=- DW> "This is CNN headline news, a drag strip near Vancouver, Canada had a DW> *VERY* powerful explosion, it had wiped out everything within 5KM DW> radius, and lefted a crater 4KM wide. From the computer and written DW> record salvaged at the site, indicated that at the time of explosion, DW> a car named `David's Nuclear Mustang` was running, but no radioactive CT> I hate to argue on the open echo, David. But I saw this piece CT> on NBC's Dateline, and it wasn't David's Nuclear Mustang that was CT> responsible for the explosion, but a Todd Jasper's Modified 16 Sec CT> Fiero with a Holley Throttle Body! Apparently the car stalled after a CT> record-breaking 17 second quarter-mile run, and someone was seen CT> spraying Starting Fluid into the air intake moments before the strip CT> was decimated! :-) (TIC) Hehehehehe... :) Well, the Mustang would qualify as Thermo Nuclear, and Fireo'd qualify as low-yield nuclear artillary shell... (Yup, they made Nuclear warhead shells... :) ) ... Don't confuse me with facts!! ___ Blue Wave/OS2 v2.30 --- Telegard/QWK v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Vancouver, B.C. Canada (1:153/757) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00023 Date: 01/15/98 From: CHRIS ZYCHSKI Time: 05:31am \/To: ROBERT JENKINS (Read 0 times) Subj: Vehicle Confiscation RJ>-> Yep. Like the fact that this invades our privacy even further, that RJ>-> insurance company clerks *do* screw up from time to time (I could get RJ>-> into some stories here but...), like this is going to be something RJ>-> for remote use in the cop cars and therefore accessible to others to RJ>-> abuse, etc. RJ> The easier the cops can bust people without insurance the lower RJ>yours and everybody elses rates will be. RJ> -Robert- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH... You're joking, right? -cc * SLMR 2.1a * If I buy the steel wool, can you knit me a BMW? --- Renegade v5-11 Exp * Origin: The Bearsville BBS * Warren, MI * (810) 582-9429 (1:120/650) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00024 Date: 01/15/98 From: JEREMY LOWREY Time: 01:55pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Nova Back with the '74 Nova (bwhahah)... I've got a steering question for ya. When turning lock to lock, there is this really disconcerting popping noise in one place in the turn, and it feels like it's catching at that point. We've checked all the linkage, nothing is hitting. The steering is also tight and doesn't center itself (if you turn it to one side, it does turn back towards center but not nearly all the way). We've already replace the gearbox, and that helped but didn't fix it. What could it be? I know my steering wheel is bent out of round, but that wouldn't be causing the drag on the steering etc (tho it does hit the ring in 1 place). Could it be the enourmous tires I have on the front? They're on 15x8.5 Centerlines (225-50's). I'm going to be switching them to 15x7's, will that help any if this is the cause? The reason I suspect that might be the case is this is all original equipment steering for this car, a car that came stock with 14x6 rims and a really small tire mounted on it. I think the linkage and stuff is just not setup to turn a tire of this size and contact patch. Is there any way at all to fix this problem short of replacing all the steering equipment with newer stuff (like, say, ripping the front end off and welding Corvette suspension stuff in it's place)? Thanks in advance... --- Telegard v3.09.g1/mL * Origin: FidoNet [Novatech-TX].[972-475-3833].[Texas] (1:124/7006) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00025 Date: 01/14/98 From: MARC GERGES Time: 08:50am \/To: ALAN MORRISON (Read 0 times) Subj: Active Handling Salut Alan! MG>>> Salut Alan! MG>> Mmmh... except for those 400000 Luxemburgers, everybody MG>> misunderstands me :-) I'm thinking of changing it... 'Salut' is MG>> in luxemburgish used as 'hello'. And as 'Goodbye', btw. But MG>> 'cheers' is fine too :) AM> Salut is fine... It immediately says you're not from around these AM> parts! Hey, if it qualifies me as a heavy drinker, it's probably not that fine. And I guess after reading the first line of my mails, everybody can guess I'm not from that part of the world either... :) MG>> Right... but I don't really think export to europe will be very MG>> important for the Corvette. Vettes never sold good here, partly MG>> due to their image. A couple of years ago they were one of the MG>> preferred cars of brothel owners and the like, and this image is MG>> still in people's minds... although those people drive Mercedes' MG>> today :) AM> Europe and the US have different needs from their cars. Really? I mean, do you use cars for other things than get from places to other places? I guess many of you are commuters that need their car to get to work daily, some of you need it rather seldom and some need it to haul stuff around. Others probably need it to enlarge their ego, same as here :-) The historic situation is completely different, though. You bought 15 million of Ford's Tin Lizzie, and we bought comparable numbers of the Volkswagen. There's a difference of 30 to 40 years for that car that put ordinary people on the road. You always had cheap fuel while it was scarce here after WW II and expensive. On the other hand, we had the advantage of having many european nations and thus a big number of different cars: while up to the seventies, most of your business was made by the big three and some small imports - we had dozens of auto makers with cars as different as one could imagine. You had 55 mph speed limit while the lowest highway speed limit here was around 75, many countries without limit at all. The needs might be the same, but the cars we want are different. AM> Tiny, cars from there may not sell well here either, so I expect the AM> opposite is true. But also the good ones, (in this case powerful with AM> good handling and acceleration) will sell either place if they don't AM> have a reputation for poor construction. But those really powerful ones are expensive and most times not really needed - cars for the enthusiasts. 90 percent of people want reliable cheap transport, and that's were the big business is done. AM> I hope the large improvements in the engineering of the C5 are a AM> signal that it is intended as a world-class vehicle, even if sales AM> are moderate. ams (one of the big german car magazines) tested and compared the C5 to many other sports cars and it made very well. To be honest, in that price class the Corvette might be a car I'd like to choose. But it's the price class of three Golf's or two Mercedes C-classes. Not exactly the best selling class. But the Corvette's image is changing, I expect it to sell quite well for such an expensive car. AM> BTW, it is exceeding sales expectations, which is part of the reason AM> for the limiting the magnesium wheels to export, as was originally AM> intended. Do you happen to know what sales expectations are for germany and europe? I'd love to check how it sells here... AM>> Also you can go to the C&D website at: www.caranddriver.com MG>> If the internet weren't that expensive here... :( AM> Our larger public libraries here are starting to have access... Glad AM> to see our tax dollars are doing something useful for a change. Oh, it's not the access - unlimited access is here for $20 to $30 per month. It's the phone costs... AM>> They could import some of the UK Fords for less than what they AM>> sell for here it seems. It may be a volume problem, more than AM>> price MG>> I guess Ford prefers to sell their american made cars for higher MG>> prices, don't they? :) AM> They are required to do a lot of R&D, and crash testing on any new AM> model before it is released. Regulations have come very close in the last time though, a car that complies with european regulations will meet all american demands without much changes. From a technical point of view it's far less difficult to make cars compliant to both market's laws and regulations. AM> It has gotten too expensive to chance litigation for errors in the US AM> where everybody has a lawyer on 'speed-dial'! And the millions that AM> are paid out for past blunders gets paid by consumers. This is definitely a point: such things don't exist here. And I believe that might be a reason for many european companies not being on the american market any more. One trial could eat all their revenues for years, and that's not worth it. MG>> Besides it's not only the price of the car, it's also the running MG>> costs. From what I can read here, a V8 is not really expensive to MG>> run over there? Well, here it is. AM> Premium gas (93 Octane R+M/2) is going for about $1.23 per gallon AM> right now in this part of the US. It may be $1.60 or more in other AM> states. My other car, also a V8, runs on regular gas which is about AM> $1.07 a gallon (28 cents per liter?). I live in town and typically AM> drive less than 150 miles a week, so $5 or $6 covers it. ... here you could drive that cheap only with a bicycle :-) AM>> fuel required to maintain highway speed on a high-torque V8 with AM>> proper gearing, may be less than the complex multi-valve small AM>> displacement engine that runs much more rpm. MG>> This probably only goes for quite low highway speeds. I'd like to MG>> know how much such an engine drinks at highway speeds of 80 or MG>> 100 mph. AM> 100 MPH here, for any length of time, would get you a trip to free AM> room and board... and your car impounded. But, with stock gearing AM> and the six-speed tranny, 1650 to 2050 RPM would be 80 and 100 MPH, AM> respectively. (The C5 has a .50 overdrive sixth gear) Wow... I don't know of many cars that make 1000 at 200 rpm. Bigger cars here are typically around 3000, smaller at 4000 or even more. And some don't reach the 100 mph limit. AM> Guesstimating 25 to 30 miles per gallon at these speeds, which are AM> barely into the torque band for 6th gear. This is based on 27 MPG for AM> my Camaro turning similar RPM, even though it's not as aerodynamically AM> efficient. Mmmh... considering the fact that drag rises with velocity^2, I don't believe 25 or 30 is realistic. More around 20 or a bit less. Would you mind looking up how many hp the C5 delivers at 2050 rpm? cu .\\arc ... Eagles may soar but weasels aren't sucked into jet engines! --- * Origin: sympathy for the debil (2:270/47) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00026 Date: 01/14/98 From: MARC GERGES Time: 09:22am \/To: ALAN MORRISON (Read 0 times) Subj: Active Handling Salut Alan! MG>> The Vauxhall Cavalier and the Opel Vectra are exactly the same MG>> car, it's just the Opel sticker for continental europe and MG>> Vauxhall for the UK. AM> Thanks... This is the sort of thing I would like to know, as I was a AM> bit lost with most models in the UK when I visited. Feel free to ask - I am quite informed about the european market. AM> Even the models we import here were a bit different. You have Vauxhalls? AM> And the name Vauxhall is not known to most people; I only knew it AM> from seeing it in auto parts books, until I saw some in the UK. Up to the 70ies, they were not identical to Opel and were sold in small numbers in continental europe to. But later they simply became rebadged els. AM>> The Cadillac Catera is an Opel Omega derivative. MG>> Right. Not sold in europe as Cadillac, though. AM> No, I suppose it would be a waste to finish them here and ship them AM> back to compete against your other brand. You mean the car is finished in America? They are built in Russelsheim, Germany and I see them occasionally on trucks heading for harbours. But they look quite finished to me, at least the exterior. Haven't seen them from inside, though. AM> But I understand the other Cadillacs, with the DOHC V8's, are AM> attempting some sales there. Many years ago Cadillac was a fine car AM> that didn't share parts with other GM makes. Since the 1970's they AM> have been forced to use some components from the others, and quality AM> was sometimes lacking. GM is trying to differentiate the brands, AM> improve quality, and reestablish some of the Cadillac's lost status. Cadillac is an outsider here, but in the last years known for a couple of lovely cars and engines - the Seville and the Eldorado made much for that image. I believe their sales will continue to rise in the next time, they make really fine cars... cu .\\arc ... We are immortal, but only for a very limited time. --- * Origin: sympathy for the debil (2:270/47) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F1K00027 Date: 01/14/98 From: MARC GERGES Time: 09:28am \/To: ALAN MORRISON (Read 0 times) Subj: Escort Salut Alan! MG>> No, that's not the Puma, it is what we will get in a couple of MG>> months as the Mondeo Coup (the Mondeo is the Contour). The Puma MG>> is smaller and uses an inline 4. It's not a terribly fast car, MG>> but looks great and is said to be a pleasure to drive. AM> OK, thanks for the info. I had heard the name Mondeo mentioned AM> somewhere but didn't know what it was. This little Cougar is cute, AM> but at 3,000 pounds, it isn't tiny. No, not really. AM> Is the Puma engine smaller than 2.0 liter? It's around 1.6 or 1.7. Competes with Opel's Tigra, the Renault Mgane coup and other pocket rockets. cu .\\arc ... IALWAYSWANTEDTOKNOWJUSTHOWMANYCHARACTERSWOULDFITINTOAFIDOSTYLETAGLINE! --- * Origin: sympathy for the debil (2:270/47)