Heavy Z

Too much work for me...

That biker movie you're thinking of is "On Any Sunday"

Sure, I remember "The Car", it was a lincoln mark III, modified fenders/bumpers, chopped top. How about Speed Zone - worth renting just to see a lamborghini skip across a lake from one side to the other like skipping a flat rock!!!

Hmmm, I'd go east bound 'n down for this one - Smokey and the Bandit I or II will have none of the qualifications you're looking for, unless your imagination can stretch some of the rules. If you like Burt, check out Hooper - he's got a rocket-powered firebird in that movie you might be interested in. Anyone remember a movie starring Lee Majors called "The Last Run" or something like that, it was set in the future when cars were outlawed. The Road Warrior IMO pushes the word "hybrid" to the furthest point so far. Another would be The Hidden - alien body snatchers that like to steal ferraris. A stretch yes, but nice cars and some good chase scenes.

A friend of mine got rolled by CHP for having a modded engine in a '64 mustang a few years back - he had to remove all the hi-po stuff, bummer...

Hmm, an LT1 you say? The fear of venturing into a new engine, especially 'cause you're pumped about the L motor you've got is a tough thing. I remember sitting there at the edge of that bridge too, wondering. I ran across, and would just assume burn that bridge down because there's NO WAY I'm ever going back to the other side. That's just my opinion. That LT1 you speak of will change the attitude of your car considerably as you know, but a big decision nonetheless.

Here ya go: Headers to dual 2 1/2" into two moroso spiralflows into flowmaster Y-pipe, 3" from there to hooker aerochamber w/tip. Done here in Sacramento at marco muffler on fulton. Nice job, too.

Hard to say how loud it is, I don't notice it w/ soundproofing and a fairly noisy exhaust system.

Hell, that car needs an impulse engine up front, say like an SR20DET for around-town tooling.

Oh, sorry I got mine at Jegs and I was wrong about the flow, it was the 6-8 psi version. At summit it's the 7 psi street/strip pump. Thanks for the explanation on the birds - get a cat that likes to climb and you're set. Good luck wit da gas pumper, bro.

That rear end will have no problem with the hp you're after, but I've got some bad news on the limited slip. Unfortunately, Nissan didn't put limited slips in Z's until 1987. We're all stuck with a one-legged open diff unless you spend the $700 for an lsd at motorsport, more dough for the quaife, or get lucky and find a later lsd but know that some modifications are necessary to get it to fit.

Huh?!? Maybe you could re-phrase that last part... I've got the 5-7 psi carter and yes you should run a regulator. Make sure you mount it strait or they can sing like a banshee.

Thanks Dave, I appreciate the vacuum info you shared. I've got it set at 12 but thought checking with the hybrid crew was worth a post to get some other opinions.

Oh yeah, this is a '73 blazer w/o smog, so I'm just trying to get a feel for dialing in a 383.

Thanks for the help Dave - sorry I was short on engine specifications. 9.5-10 to 1 compression (not sure) comp cams XE268H (224/230 duration@.50, 477/480 max lift) Thanks,

Hello everyone, I'm trying to find out some info on timing the 383 in my blazer. It's got the stock distributor w/ vacuum advance, help me out and tell me what the numbers are for setting it at idle. What degree should I shoot for at what idle rpm? Thanks!

Weren't thumb screws outlawed under the 3rd Geneva Convention? I'd try posting a wanted ad at ZCar.com, check local wrecking yards, maybe try nissan or motorsports auto. Someone here might just have some laying around, you never know... Good luck!

Glad to hear it Mike, having clearance on the street is key to a good in-town haulassmobile

Yep, spacers. BTW, did you ever find out if those springs were right for your Z?

Don't get the blues over the height of those AZ springs, I thought the same thing at first. Remember that they are stiffer than stock and so won't compress as much. Stock springs at 80-100 lbs/in need to be longer because they compress much more under the weight of the car. If you do manage to find springs that are as stiff as the AZ springs AND 14" tall, you'll have a great set of rally springs that'll lift your car probably 1" or more ABOVE stock if you're going for the jacked-up Z look, but I think you're shooting for stock height. Install 'em and you'll see, good luck!

Let us know how the AZ springs work out for your Z.

The way you describe it in the corners sure sounds like too stiff of springs is your problem. On a bumpy road you'll take a corner and skip along, sorta like a flat rock thrown at a lake. No give in the suspension will do that, change springs and you'll probably be set.

Arizona Z has some nice stock height springs that are rated at 185 lbs/in and I think are $80-$90 a pair. They are stiffer than the euro springs but are still comfortable IMO.

15x8 all the way around on mine with 205/60's in front and 225/60's in the rear. The width may seem small on paper but they fill the flares out nicely. See my album for pics.

Is it just me, or does the styling of this car already look 5-10 years old?