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SpeedRacer

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Posts posted by SpeedRacer

    ??? SBC Distributor Cap Dimensions stock and aftermarket???

    in Gen I & II Chevy V8 Tech Board

    Posted

    Funny, I use this http://www.msdignition.com/product.aspx?id=5709 distributor because of my Tri-Power intake and MSD says it is "CNC machined billet aluminum housing is 3/8” smaller in diameter and 7/8” shorter than conventional Chevy V-8 distributors with the “points” type cap" but they never state the actual size.

     

    I just went out in the garage and measured my MSD 8570 and its about 6 1/4" high off the manifold and the cap is about 3 1/4" in diameter. Sorry, its hard to get it exact.

    Show us your Shop!

    in Non Tech Board

    Posted

    When we built our retirement home I wanted to make sure I had a shop to build cars in. So yeah, this is my new garage.

     

    It's 40 feet deep by 25 feet wide and has a 14 foot vaulted ceiling in the back. All I have to do now is install the lift.

     

     

    Garage1.JPEG

    Successful 250gto body install

    in Body Kits & Paint

    Posted

    Wow, old thread - good search!

     

    I visited with Joe Alphabet when I originally bought my Alpha 1 GTO kit from him but didn't know he was still around.

     

    BTW, Joe bought the Ferrari 250 GTO molds from Barry Goldstein at Eagle GT - not the other way around. You might find this article interesting http://www.eaglegt.com/index.php?section=eaglegto

     

    Joe used to restore old Ferrari's so when the Ferrari factory lawyers came knocking he sold the molds to Tom McBurnie. The Ferrari Daytona replica that Tom manufactured was featured in the hit TV series Miami Vice. So it was Tom and his Daytona replica that got Ferrari's attention so they paid Tom a visit. Although Tom fought them in court he ended up losing the battle. Tom was out of the business for a while but now runs Thunder Ranch. http://www.thunderranch.com/ He doesn't sell the Daytona kit anymore but does offer the GTO one. The original Eagle (Alpha) front end had some serious problems. The area around the front scoops and gap to the hood was a very difficult place to keep any kind of tolerance. Just look at the hood fit most Alpha 1 GTO's and you will easily see the problem. We can thank Tom who fixed the problem by moving the hood back, using Corvette hood hinges mounted to the radiator core support and he also redesigned the grill opening so it more closey matched the real thing. John Washington solved the problem by making the whole front nose a one piece tilt unit.

     

    After Tom lost the lawsuit, the GTO molds went to Jim Simpson who owned Blue Ray Engineering. Jim sold them to Bill Cummings who started Stable Autoworks. Unfortunately Bill passed away and the business (Stable Autoworks) was sold the Jeff Krekeler. I think Tom Edwards (Scorpion Z Car) had the best GTO molds but they have since been sold to OM Sportscars. http://www.omsportscars.com/

     

    BTW, as I mention above, my car is an Alpha 1 GTO that I originally bought in kit form from Joe at his Huntington Beach shop. If you have Joe's number I would love to give him a call.

     

     

    236622_1_full.jpg

     

     

    Also, I don't know what happened to sball, but as a point of information since this thread started with a statement about bonding, you do not use Fiberglass to bond the panels. I can't remember the name, but the Alpha kit came with two gallons of an "aircraft epoxy" to bond the panels to the steel. And, after seven years mine is still holding up quite well.

    240z dash question

    in S30 Series - 240z, 260z, 280z

    Posted

    Sorry but the 260/280Z dash will NOT fit in a 240Z without extensive modifications.

     

    The steering column mount area, tunnel mounting, the whole heater control area as well as the air distribution system connected to the dash are completely different.

     

    I went through adapting a later dash to my 240Z because I had no choice. The Alpha 1 GTO dash was designed to mount on a 260/280Z steel skeleton, (after the vinyl covering and foam was removed). Since my car is a 240Z I bought a 260Z dash and had to adapt it. I ended up doing a lot of cutting and welding of the two different dashboard skeletons and HVAC components to make it work. I could not have done it if I had to save the padding and vinyl covering.

     

     

    236622_5_full.jpg

    Garage done so now I need a lift.

    in Non Tech Board

    Posted

    Well, I finally have the last of the epoxy on the floor and the cabinets in place so now I need a lift. I don't know if I should go with a two post like Grumpyvette or a four post. The two post has to be bolted down but the four post could move around if I needed it to. Also, not that I need the space, but I could store another car on a four post.

     

    I am looking at Derek Weaver http://www.derekweaver.com/update/index.aspx in Texas. Does anybody here have a lift From Weaver? If so, which one and what do you like and/or dislike about it.

     

    Any recommendations on other lifts I should look at?

     

    Thanks,

     

    Speed

     

    Garage1.JPEG

    project 250 gto

    in Body Kits & Paint

    Posted

    Unfortunately the wheelbase on the 2+2 is longer in the wrong area - the cabin. The original GTO has a much longer nose than the Z car but from the windshield back it is quite similar. Of course the windshield on the GTO stands up straighter.

     

    I have never seen a GTO kit for (or on) a 2+2 and it would take extensive modifications to the rear of the kit to make it fit. When you were done it still wouldn’t look right because the roof line would be to long and look all wrong.

     

    To do it right you would have to extend the nose like Chelle did. Then it would be hard to tell it from the original. You should check out the car that Chelle has built because it is probably the most awesome Z based GTO around.

     

    Speed

     

    236622_9_full.jpg

    Is this the fastest z? 1000 hp

    in Non Tech Board

    Posted

    Maybe, at least speed wise in the 1/4. There are however, a couple of quicker cars. Ron Jones had a BBC 280Z that ran a 8.56 @ 160.08 MPH and (as dr hunt said) Jap Tin had a SBC that ran a tick slower speed at 156.4 MPH but went through the 1/4 mile at 8.46 seconds.

     

    Ron used to post here but hasn't been heard from in a while.

    Effective alternator placement

    in Gen I & II Chevy V8 Tech Board

    Posted

    Alan Grove has an absolutely huge variety of SBC alternator brackets. http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/ If your car uses the JTR mounting position you will not be able to use the low brackets because the steering rack will be in the way.

     

    The one shown on the Alan Grove front page (part number 215-R) is great and I use it on my car. But...you will have to use a long water pump and run the wires over to the right side of your engine compartment.

    whats a good/common manual tranny to use??

    in Gen I & II Chevy V8 Tech Board

    Posted

    Like most other decisions the T-5 is a good one IF you don’t go crazy with the 350 engine in front of it. Most early GM T-5 transmissions will easily handle 265 – 275 lb-ft of torque. The later “World Class†versions generally handle 300-330 lb-ft of torque. Since the Z is so much lighter than most of the GM cars that used the T-5, chances are that it could handle a bit more since you will probably spin the tires before you fully load it. That being said, if you are going to drop the clutch at 5000 RPM on a daily basis you will eventually break it.

     

    It works really well with the JTR mounting since the shifter will come up through the stock hole without any modifications.

     

     

    236622_5_full.jpg

     

     

     

    There is one odd thing though. The common Chevy V8 T-5 available is from the Camaro. For tunnel clearance Chevy tilted over 14 degrees. But, if you use the Camaro bellhousing you can use the JTR crossmember with a stock Chevy transmission mount.

     

    However, if you use a 1984 and up Corvette bellhousing you can “straighten up†the transmission but you will have to modify the JTR transmission crossmember or make a 14 degree wedge for the rear transmission mount. You will also have to straighten out the shift lever since it is also on a 14 degree angle. This is the better solution since the Corvette hydraulic clutch system is much better than the Camaro version.

     

    BTW, the Chevy (both Camaro and Corvette) hydraulic clutch system works very well in a Z car conversion. All you need to do is make up a line with the Z car fitting on one end and the Chevy fitting on the other.

     

    I have had around a 400HP SBC with a WC T-5 in my car almost seven years now and never had a problem. I certainly don’t abuse it but I have been known to light up the tires on occasion. And, since fifth gear is an overdrive you will find it really helps with fuel economy and a much lower noise level when cruising down the highway. So yes, it can be a good choice.

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