1 tuff z

hey all, called mike from jtr to explain my [current] dilemma. along with tight clearance for the 3d plug on the driver side [thanks dalemx, used my bench grinder to slim down my plug socket] i can't get the stock plug wire to go onto the plug. additionally there are 2 other wires that actually touch the headers. he suggested a ford wire kit that would have slimmer wires [where they go on the plug] and an angle to them at the plug~45 degrees. so my question [now that i've done my normal hybrid search] is what is anyone else using with success?

guess i'll get to grinding! thanks for the offer dale, much appreciated.

i was putting in new plugs [before i fire it up for the first time] and the only one that is a challenge is the 3d from front on the drivers side. i have the jtr headers and can't seem to get the plug socket in there. anyone else have the same issue? if so, any solutions-other than dropping the header to change the plug?

details? cf over fg? if cf is is vacuum formed? turn around time? pricing?

and....don't forget about the rubber shift boot! it is often torn and/or dry rotted and can no longer seal effectively.

mine is a 73 240. i just pulled the trans [t56] and left the engine [ls1] in the car. tranny goes back in friday. process=car in the air, unbolted the tranny, attached my hoist to support the engine. unbolted tranny crossmember [with floor jack supporting from center-below]. working solo i alternated [slowly] lowering hoist and jack. i monitored the eng-to-firewall clearance then separated the two and once apart lowered the trans to the ground. took me all of 15 minutes. looks like it'll take 2 of us to put it back in... tip-lube the dowels that align/mate the eng to tranny to allow easy assembly & disassembly & fit

put the car up in the air, supported the engine with my cherry picker and pulled the tranny-wasn't as bad as i had anticipated. then found the [clutch] leak culprit-the o ring that resides at the end of the hard line which goes into the clutch slave [held in by spring steel roll pin]. of course it's a special 'square shouldered' o ring that can't be purchased separately so i ordered a new slave today should be here by friday so i can get the tranny back in and keep progressing... figured that even though the donor car only had 20k miles on it a new clutch slave is worth the price of admission.

dale & dave, did you both use the black permatex & factory stainless steel sandwich gasket when mounting the sanderson/jtr headers to the head? still need to source the copper gaskets for the collectors.

had nice weather saturday and my 10 yr old son helped put the eng/trans in. i should have known something was up as it was all going too smoothly! he comes out as i was working on small stuff [that which takes the most time!] and said 'dad, something's leaking under the car'. great, i say and looking i spy drips coming from the hole between the bell housing and eng block-clutch fluid. so, now the trans needs to come out so i can figure which part of the slave cyl is leaking... anyone pulled just the trans [t56] from their z? it looks to be not that difficult...

there are also other 'spots' on our z cars where those nasty gasses can enter the cabin. i'd check the following; grommet for fuel filler neck, grommet for fuel pump/sender wiring, grommet for license plate wiring, grommets for vapor tank lines, rubber plug in spare tire well, hatch plugs [side and/or underside of hatch] and finally, the hatch seals themselves. additionally, check hatch fitment [ie-closing tightly enough]. once that's complete, i'd also check the length of the pipe that extends from your muffler. it should be at least to the trailing edge of the bumper, if not a couple of inches beyond. i've done all of the above and get almost no fumes in my z at all.

the clutch flex line came yesterday! last night i put the tranny & eng back together and tomorrow morning will slip her in the hole! one think i noticed is that the sensor/plug on the pass side [there are 4 casting protrusions that surround this sensor and appear to be there for protection] to of the t56 is very close [when mounted in the car] to the trans tunnel and appears that when i connect the wire harness to it i'll have a clearance problem there. anyone else see this? i tried massaging the trans tunnel but it doesn't want to move much in that area. my thoughts are to disassemble the push in connector to gain the clearance i need. i'll post pics on monday!

i've been told [by an f-body guy] that the yokes are the same. i'd keep it.

i did a quick search and came up with this [i'm sure there are more]. http://forums.hybridz.org/search.php?searchid=302304 most of the pics are unavailable but i'm sure blueovalz has pics on the process in his gallery and that, consistent with his enviable z madness, is also well documented [terry is always a great reference!] http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/pictures?userid={7DC317B0-8EDB-4B2E-A837-F708D07C9769}&inv=9C67398D46D99D9&userid={7DC317B0-8EDB-4B2E-A837-F708D07C9769}&AlbumId={58D0E16C-17AA-4A01-9908-4535ADE54EFC}&inv=9C67398D46D99D9&GroupId={75FF3451-95EB-4D59-974B-686622B9408B} as i looked at all the 'mods' the guys are making to your z [antenna, marker lights, fuel door] the drip rails just make sense to continue with the 'clean hugo' look.

philip, are you going to remove the drip rails as part of hugo's makeover?

we tig welded the steel -6 male fittings to a small square steel plate then welded it to the tank, then pressure tested it. it's a 76 280 tank that is now in my 73 240. i had to find longer 'j' bolts for the tank straps as the tank seems a bit 'taller'. i ran the tank vent lines to the vapor tank [had to plug either 1 or 2 lines on that tank] and i'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all works ok. i purchased all the brake & fuel lines & fittings from earls in california, tom neely was great. when i told him what i needed he started rattling off part numbers-everything has worked great. http://anplumbing.com/

vinh, here's a pic showing how i ran it. the silver upper rad tube has a bung welded in with a nipple threaded in where the other end of the steam tube attaches. i rotated it underneath so it's basically hidden and, as you are working toward, keeping the engine bay as tidy as possible. [http://album.hybridz.org/showphoto.php?photo=5241&size=big&cat=500&page=2]

pics of the fuel line plumbing is now in my gallery, feedback and helpful comments always welcome! http://album.hybridz.org/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=8104

vinh, here's a pic of the steam tube on the eng, for clarification.

spent hours yesterday plumbing my fuel lines [we here in upstate ny had an exceptionally rare and balmy winter 60 degree day-normally we'd have about 3' of snow and warm temp would be above freezing] and enjoyed the sun on my back as i worked on the z. another first for me-using 'an' fittings and attaching them to stainless braided teflon lines. from the tank feed, fuel filter, fuel pump, to the front then pressure regulator and back again. once the clutch line arrives the eng/trans goes back in, finish wiring and...[hold breath] and turn key! i'll post pics in my gallery on tuesday of the fuel line progress, comments and feedback always welcome!

first question, have you used the search function yet? i realize that you're fairly new here and may not know about it. there is literally more information along with pictures than you will ever need here [a very good thing] and if you take a little time, you'll find what you need. on the remote chance that you don't find what you're looking for, then post and others will do their best to help. you'll also find that by not using the search function, others will consider it the lazy man's approach and won't get much help at all... fyi and welcome to hybridz!! ps-search for the following 'frame rail support', 'baddog parts', 'floor pans', 'roll cages'.

holy crap philip, this is an amazing undertaking! [i'm also] interested in a mull-hugo compilation dvd when it's all done. i'm always amazed when i see the work of true craftsmen, such as who you have helping hugo working their magic. love the video's also, sure wish i had the creative talent to do something on the same level for my z... keep us updated as we're all enjoying the great progress!