Heavy Z

That's too Bad, he was one of the greats. Who else wrote songs like 'Bird man kicked my a$$', or 'chicken cow'?

Marsh - welcome aboard Hybrid Z! Bushido - I'm not running any spacers. Thanks for the kind words you guys and good luck with your Z's, whatever color you go with.

Thanks BWD, I'm happy with how the hood worked out too, I wish you could hear the sound the carb makes pulling air through the scoop at idle. Yes Pete, I am a happy pappa. Thanks to you and the people on this site for helping me and for great advice in getting things done. Flashback photo from last summer at Dan Juday's BBQ, shortly after I bought it and added rims.

I only needed a disk because I blew an input shaft seal on the tranny and soaked the clutch, it ran me $100. The previous owner put the unit in so I'm not sure about the total price. It also uses a special t/o bearing from McLeod, although mine's not hydraulic. If you want a hydraulic t/o, do a search or talk to Greimann as he's done it in a Z and there's some stuff you need to know that'll make it easier for you. You can get more info on McLeod products at 714-630-3668.

I've heard mixed reviews on the centerforce, but the McLeod I have in my T5 (also an '85) has worked great with no problems after a year of daily driving pushed by a 400 or so hp V8. Mine is the street/strip model w/ an 11" disk.

Check this rayjay setup I posted a while back, it works with a carb, and someone on this site said this turbo was an upgrade available for the old Scarab Z: http://www.hybridz.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22848&highlight=rayjay

Two weeks ago I put a super victor-style single plane manifold on my 327 in place of a performer rpm, and personally I'll never go back to a dual plane on a Z. Grumpy's posts that Joe mentioned are right on the money about single planes and Z's. As for a carb I'd go with a 650 Demon or Holley DP.

You may have your disk flipped around, double check because if you try to put it in backwards it'll do the same thing you describe.

You guys are too kind! Greimann, I'm not being nice but honest when I say your car is straiter, remember I saw yours not long ago. As for paint jail Davy, the Z was out of my hands for only a week - the spray quality is good but it could use more bodywork. They did mess up a couple things so it's going back in two weeks. Seeing it in photos though does make me want to give it to Dan's guy next summer and get it done, right now I'm just happy it's one color. BTW Scottie, I agree 100%. Here's a little photoshop I did earlier today for my new wallpaper:

Thanks guys. Maybe my next paint job will look as good as yours Griemann, although I will do some colorsanding anyway. As for where I am in Sac, I live close to downtown.

From what I recall with the radar gun he'd know how fast cars are approaching from the rear, on the freeway he'd know if someone was coming up fast (i.e. a cop). The tail lights could be changed to alter the way the car looked at night at a distance from the rear, it could go from two bright tail lights to four dim ones, and a couple other combos (including no tailights) so that if you were far enough back and this guy ducked behind traffic, once you catch up the lights wouldn't match to what you saw earlier. That's what I remember of the reasoning this guy had.

Thanks for the encouraging words, everyone. Jeremy: The paint is DuPoint acrylic urathane, shot by Maco's finest crackhead. Damon: That's a '69 comet grabber scoop. It looks similar to the Mach 1, but tapers towards the front and thus fits well over the hood bulge. Dan: Your car is in the hands of the most skilled painter I've ever met. I only wish your guy did my car too. John: The mirrors are spun-aluminum and I got them from Victoria British. I've also seen them at places that sell parts for cobras. Owen: My rear "bumper" consists of 3 things - the rubber bullets are crystler bump stops w/ some stainless washers for accent and filling up the side indentations are adhesive bumper strips from JC Whitney.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the comments. The ZG's are from motorsport, they only have one size but they are smaller than some other ZG's I've seen. I'm running 205/60/15 front, 225/60/15 rear on 8" rims with plenty of offset.

It could be exhaust, I had a car that made a similar sound when the exhaust blew out.

Yep, I went black even though my car wasn't as strait as it could've been - it's my daily so I guess this way I'll sweat it less in parking lots. I'm still deciding on a grill, I've got a stock one but was eyeing some mesh in a local parts store and am leaning that way. I'm thinking of painting the inside of my light buckets silver to match the rear, and am still waiting on a couple of trim pieces to arrive to complete the car. It is close, though. A big thanks to all of you on Hybrid Z that have helped me bring this car together. Brett

I'll call G&R tomorrow. Thanks!!!

5/16 it is, much sturdier than being stripped. Thanks everyone for the help. Brett

I see 'long rod' 350's around, can a 'long rod' 327 be made? Since the 327 and 350 have the same stock rod length (5.7"), can both motors also then use 6" rods with different pistons? I haven't seen one done but this article Davy posted has me thinking... Thanks

Very cool man!! Great motor with the long rods and supercharger, that sure will be a unique Z once finished.

Does anyone remember the vette featured in C&D/R&T (can't remember) about 10 years ago that was set up to be extra stealthy? It had a radar jammer that sent out whatever speed you'd desire to dial in, a box for monitoring police band that also tells you when their radio transmissions were within 3 miles, of course radar detection, a radar gun mounted rearwards, and controls for re-configuring the tail lights. I know cops are using different stuff these days, but at the time this vette was pretty impressive.

You guys have just proved for me that louvers aren't just an accessory, they're a ticking bomb perched on your car...

Great score, the perfect sidekick to any garage. I love those cars, and would've bought one if my insurance company didn't consider them an "unsafe vehicle" (their words), and said my insurance would be $2,700 a year! They wanted no part of those RX7's, but they'll insure my '71 Z for $23 bucks a month...go figure. Enjoy the RX-7 (and the Z), you've got some of the best of old and new sports car tech in that combo.

My holley is stripped where the air cleaner screws into it, and I already tried going up to a 7mm with no luck. Is it safe to tap it out to a 5/16, or are there any other ideas out there on how to fix this? Thanks!

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/enginemasters/articles/ford/smallblock/0307mm_grandtime1/

I just found a couple of Grumpyvettes articles on timing, great info in those archives! It looks like the stock springs are too heavy and that all advance in by 2800-3200 is a good place to start. I'll try it out tomorrow.