[Installing new "knock off" rims anyone know anythi]

Yup.

[Electronic Ignition ??? for V-8 Conversion]

Don't know what multi-carb setup you have but MSD makes a great little electronic billet distributor model 8570 http://www.msdignition.com/

 

I use it on my car with the Tri-power setup and it works great. http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=236622

[Option to buy]

Pace has a brand new GM factory crate motor with a factory warranty for $1,189.00 (plus $100 if you don't have a core) http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?3=3169 so $1,200 sounds to high to me unless it's got some goodies.

[Aluminum vs. Iron heads and compression-why the difference?]

Here we go again with the "all things being equal." Yes, if "all things are exactly the same" the iron head will help to generate a little (and it's very little) more power because of reduced heat transfer. However, aluminum heads enable a higher compression ratio and therefore, will generate more power.

[Bugatti Veryon]

Autobahn in Australia? I think I missed something. Bugatti is owned by Volkswagen and they definitely have Autobahn's to drive the Veyron on.

 

Same reason they build McLaren F1 and Ferrari Enzo supercars - because they project an image AND people will buy them.

[Christmas shopping for me and my girl.]

Cool! She might like a Classic Roadsters Saxon, Sebring or Sebring MX. They are all variations of an old 60's Austin Healey. We have about eight of them in our club (GTSCA) http://www.usol.com/~hutch/ and they are really nice kit cars. BTW, Bob has used the red one in the picture as his

daily driver for about six years now.

 

They are kinda the poor man's (women's, person's? ) Cobra. The kit uses a custom frame set up for a small block Chevy or Ford. You can even get the body in various colors of gel-coat so you don't have to paint it.

 

Here's another example http://www.cars-on-line.com/62healey5501.html

[best place to find oem parts for 73]

For used parts you might want to try the Z Barn http://www.zbarn.com

[Carbon Fiber intake manifold?]

A Carbon Fiber intake can easily handle the heat. Quite a few race cars have been using them for years. If you have a late model Vette you can even buy a plastic one http://shop.store.yahoo.com/corvetteforum/zip-pm-393-gp.html

[weight of a V8 Monza?]

I had one of those once - it had a body kit on it and was painted white with red and blue stripes like the IMSA racer. However, it had a wimpy 140 HP 305 SBC in it.

 

So, not to worry!

 

BTW, you had to loosen the bolts on the drivers side motor mount and jack up the engine to change the spark plugs.

[Scarab vs JTR]

Remove the old linkage and hook it up to the accelerator pedal through the firewall. http://www.hybridz.org/Review/0002/GTO_27.jpg

[new 350 chevy engine for $1299 at jegs]

Pace sells it for $1189 but you have to have a core. http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?3=3169

[Cast iron exhaust manifolds]

Yes, the cast iron manifolds will help with the noise a little but they are very heavy and will not help with the heat compared to ceramic coated headers. You should really consider using a set of block hugger headers.

[Question on GM Delco-Remy 10SI alternator]

Thanks jgkurz because that's an excellent article. I will also add that the internal regulator in the Delco is identical except, as noted, it is excited "turned on" internally instead of externally through a wire from the battery. Usually fast idle from a freshly started engine is enough to turn it on.

 

You will however, need a second wire if you want a warning light.

 

Fortunately the statement “The 1-wire sounds easy, but I hear the original 3-wire may provide better voltage regulation†isn’t true.

[do I need a vacuum canister?]

I have found that the small 240Z vacuum booster is a bit marginal. You can upgrade to the slightly larger 2+2 version however, installing a vacuum canister certainly won't hurt anything.

[Where to find 350hp SBC?]

I agree with Tim240Z - at Pace Performance you can get a brand new GM 350 crate motor with a factory 12,000/12 month warranty for as little as $2299.97.

 

You can get a complete 330 HP 350 SBC (including carb and dist) for $3449.97 http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?0=239&1=241&3=940

 

If it was my car I would buy the ZZ4 http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?0=239&1=241&3=1212

[what's the benefit of projected plugs?]

Projected tip spark plugs reach farther into the cylinder and are exposed to more of the incoming charge (air & fuel). It is also a longer path for heat to travel through the electrode, into the ceramic insulator, through to the spark plug housing and finally into the head finally the water jacket.

 

This means that a projected tip plug will not only spark farther out into the incoming mixture for a better burn but, more importantly, it will have a much larger heat range. This is very important to help reduce the possibility of spark knock and, at the same time, help prevent spark plug fouling.

[anybody got any connections or know anything about laptops?]

I'm sure you are aware that you will get more for your money in a desktop. Like this listed @ Tech Bargains:

 

Budget Desktop 2.53Ghz $399

 

Fast and cheap!

Dimension 2400 Desktop P4-2.53Ghz 128MB/Free 80GB HD, 48x CDWriter, Free Office 2003 Basic, Ethernet, XP Home $499 - $100 rebate = $399 shipped free.

 

Click Outrageous Deal $399 in middle left box, Customize it on left config, Select ISP

 

However, check their web site often http://www.techbargains.com/ as they usually list some great deals. They often have excellent coupon codes as well.

[help identify this engine (quick!)]

I wanted to change my 327 to a 302 but the crank is nodular iron and the best deal I could find on the crankshaft was $1,200 .......... USED!!!!

[Lowest price on the gm goodwrench crate engine???]

Close at Pace $1195 but they add on $100 core charge. http://www.paceparts.com/product.asp?3=3169

 

Nic-Rebel450CA - Is your engine brand new (not rebuilt) and have a 12 month, 12,000 mile GM factory warranty?

[Another fine 250 GTO to admire]

Sorry Scott - I have two guys near me building GTO's and I got confused.

 

Your car is looking great and if you decide to go with the Weber's you HAVE to call Mickey at Inglese http://www.inglese.com/ Four DCNF Weber carbs lined up down the middle looks awesome!! It is not the normal setup Weber IDA or IDF that you see. They are the very carbs that Ferrari uses and they line up back to back right down the center of the manifold (which will also fit under the bump in the hood). You will need a front drive or angle drive distributor since there is no room with all those carbs. With the Kirkco vavle covers, add a remote oil filter and you will fake out many, many people.

[standard 327]

Wow - 180 RWHP seems way to low for a 327 to me. But, it's hard to tell without seeing the specs. on the engine. I'd try heads (Trickflow http://www.trickflow.com/ aren't to expensive for good aluminum heads - $969.95 @ Summit http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=search.asp&type=bykeyword&searchtype=both&part=Trickflow+heads&x=12&y=12) and definitely a cam. Might need a carb. and/or intake to match but that depends on what you have now.

[Another fine 250 GTO to admire]

John,

 

I have been trading e-mail with Scott (AKA 250gto) for some time now. Although I haven't seen his car, he lives about 20 miles from me here in Michigan.

 

This will get some people excited - in his last email he advised me that he was able to find the guy who made my valve covers. Supposedly the guy had five pair left so he picked up a set!

 

It's a great looking car but it is getting better. He has bought Scorpion Z's trunk kit and lots of other parts. It's my understanding he intends to re-paint it as well.

 

Also, although it's not shown on his web site, the last time I talked to Mickey over at Inglese http://www.inglese.com/ he had 24 un-machined SBC manifolds that had four DCNF (yes, that's the same carbs the the real Ferrari used) running right down the middle of the manifold. No room for the distributor so you have to use a front or angle drive.

[Speed Racer Back onTV]

Ahhhhhhh............My friends still call me that!!!!

[Another fine 250 GTO to admire]

That's a "Simpson" dash that was made by Jim Simpson http://www.simpsondesign.net/ when he sold the Ferrari 250 GTO kit (which he called a Rhino). BTW, It doesn't have to be glossy.

 

You can get one from Jeff at Stable Autoworks http://www.zcarkits.com/ or Tom at Scorpion Z Cars http://www.scorpionzcars.com or John at Reaction Research http://www.reactionresearch.com/dash.htm John also offers the older "Alpha One" style dash as well.

[Rusty Brake Line BURSTS!!!!]

Had that happen on my '69 Vette one time when I was leaving the parking deck at the GM building. Going down the ramp, I stepped on the brake and the rear line burst! And, to my surprise, the front brakes wouldn't stop it. There was a curb on each side of the ramp with a rounded metal edge on it. So I eased the right front tire into it and it helped me stop. Messed up the sidewall a bit but at least I didn't hit the cars at the bottom of the ramp!

 

The car was never driven in the snow but, as it turns out, Chevrolet ran the brake line on top of the frame to the rear of the car. Over time, mud and sand had built up around it especially by one of the hold downs. Ever time it got wet it rusted a little bit more.

 

Five blocks later I would have been going 75 MPH down the freeway!!!

 

Anyway, sounds like another good reason to use stainless steel brake lines.