Southernspeed

Can't see Monaco being cheap! Also avoid the E10 and E85 fuel. It has a high Ethanol content and, though I don't know about Zs, most motorcycle manufacturers say don't run on it!

Country Unleaded petrol price per litre in euros mid May 2011 Diesel price per litre in euros mid May 2011 Austria 1.45 1.37 Belgium 1.62 1.41 Czech Rep 1.45 1.42 Denmark 1.70 1.46 Estonia 1.24 1.26 Finland 1.59 1.37 France 1.64 1.32 Germany 1.54 1.36 Greece 1.70 1.49 Hungary 1.41 1.40 Ireland 1.51 1.46 Italy 1.56 1.42 Latvia 1.31 1.26 Lithuania 1.22 1.20 Luxembourg 1.33 1.15 Netherlands 1.72 1.36 Norway 1.76 1.64 Poland 1.31 1.28 Portugal 1.61 1.41 Slovakia 1.46 1.36 Slovenia 1.30 1.22 Spain 1.32 1.21 Sweden 1.58 1.51 Switzerland 1.39 1.43 United Kingdom 1.52 1.62 Just checked Livigno, it's about a euro a litre now

Why is Livigno tax free, even though its Italian soil? Are we talking about much cheaper per litre? Not that I'm complaining! The French Alps route is the exact one I have planned! I've no idea why Livigno is a tax haven but it is! I think I paid about 70 pence a litre or so last year. Clothes and booze are cheap too! And if you're coming from the north you'll go through an amazing 2k long single track tunnel through the mountains up to a huge lake. Head down the south side of the route de bonette and stop at St Etienne de Tinee. There's a cafe in the village square. Mention to the Patron that you've just done the Bonette and he may give you a decal as a momento, he gives them to all the bikers usually.

Awesome! Build up your arm muscles for Stelvio lol. Fill up in Livigno as it's tax free usually do a Euro trip like that on a Hayabusa but now I have the Z i'm seriously tempted to do it on 4 wheels! If you're going back through Italy to the French Alps, I suggest entering through Claviere then heading to Le route de la Bonette, Europes highest paved pass. Great drive, amazing scenery. Then follow La route des grandes alpes all the way down to the med!

Yep, can totally relate to that!

I was looking at a car the other night that Mark from Abbey had installed an HKS s/charger on. Really neat job that looked factory fitted. I think that added around 100bhp (could be wrong there). I think without nitrous you'll struggle for 450bhp on your budget unless you do the donkey work yourself. I have learnt from all my Chevy builds though, always use a known 'package'. Not matching cams to heads and comp ratio etc etc can lose you power. Good luck with it, we all like a 'build thread'

Is the whine consistent with road speed (diff or g/box output shaft/bearing) or with engine revs (clutch). If it's consistent with road speed but goes when you de-clutch, I would've said it could only be the diff. Component temp in the diff could explain it going when it warms up as taper roller bearing tolerances change with heat which will also effect C&P lash.

Aye, 'twas him!

Depressing the clutch can make the noise go from a bad diff as you are unloading the C&P gears. It could well be worth getting a specialist to have a look at the diff. He/she can tell a lot from the contact pattern and lash.

Not BMW syndrome then!! Thought you were supposed to be flying to Texas??

will low brake pads trigger the abs/hand brake warning light? Brakes are part of the handling/abs system so yes, on most cars it would.

As above but also check brake pad thickness.

.... looking good

I'll have to wait 'til he's back from Le Mans now as it didn't turn up today. But I'll let him off as it's Le Mans

Yes, along with a whole bunch of gizmos to adapt the steering wheel controls etc but basically yes, took out the Bose and put in the Alpine.

Well I ended up going with a recommended (by a good friend/auto electrician) local guy, Ian from Quatum, Garth Rd. Really nice guy. He did a really good, quick install. Very pleased with his work. He has to come back to fit a new facia plate as the one supplied was a crap fit, but I kind of expected that. I've gone for the Alpine ixa-w407bt. It's going to take some getting used to but seems ok. Bit disappointed that it doesn't (seem to) have the automatic sound level adjustment that all my previous stereos have had, and what ever happened to face off HUs? Looks like an easy theft to me! But it works well for what I want and you can build on it too with sat-nav etc. Now I just need a week in a darkened room to read the instruction CD

I had no luck selling my BMW. Dropped the price over a grand below what other similar ones were advertised for so in the end I part ex'd it at nearly £3k less than my original sale price. Strangely though, for weeks every sunset red Z I saw for sale at a dealer where I could do a px had gone before I phoned. I eventually saw one the day it came out in Autotrader, phoned him, reserved it then drove up at the weekend. There seemed to be loads of silver ones for sale, but Sunset ones were snapped up.

Still got her? The car, not the wife! Neither ! My Chevy days are over ... for now! Z days are here

She should be happy, my ex-wife came home and found me stripping a Chevy V8 in the lounge

Stretched tyres mate, should be 235/275.............. Can someone educate me! Stretched is ok?? Looks like they'd be ready to roll off the safety bead on hard cornering! I'm only used to fitting motorcycle tyres so this is a bit alien to me.

I wouldn't use it. Having rebuilt several High mileage V8s and motorcycle engines, and seen the thick sludge on some internals, I'd rather it stayed where it is than get loosened up and end up in the crank, oil pump or where ever. If people did regular oil changes they wouldn't get the build up in the first place. Regular oil changes is cheap insurance! I don't have a problem with using fuel system cleaners though which Mr Honda says are bad too, as they (the Motorex one I use) remove water from the fuel system and help clean any 'varnish' up. But obviously, an actual injector problem is probably better treated with sonic cleaning.

Welcome! 21 and a Z!! I hate to think what your insurance costs!

http://www.soundsecure.co.uk/ top guy Thanks for that

Rays for sale? Interested! PM me a price please

Passed a black convertible driving down in to Sutton this morning, looking very slick in the morning sun I passed you on a motorcycle, anyone here?