Filmjay

Also note, that Pantera w/ the BMW motor seems to be also running a resonator. If overall pipe length is a factor as well, then why is the C5 Vette higher than the Panteras? The exhaust on that Vette has the entire length of the car to run while the Panteras don't. Is it a stepped primary perhaps?

So with the introduction of 180 degree headers into the thread here, I'm left wondering what the differences/advantages/disadvantages of 180 degree headers compared to a flat plane crank would be..... I'm absolutely enthralled with 180 degree headers. ...and I've seen a set of full length, 180 degree'ers in a Fiero (406 ci SBC), a late model Corvette (376 ci), and a 4.6L modded Ford Focus...none of which have very much extra space under the hood...so a well engineered set should have plenty of room in a V8 Z. Might be worth finally fixing the headgasket on the Northstar for.

...or you COULD just use some band clamps. Of course, I dunno if that's against any rules you might be up against.

So all I gotta do is find an IRL crank for the 4.0L. (...and cams, headgaskets, timeserts, injectors, etc, etc... ) ...and here's another 180 degree header video.

There's a handful of engine shops from TN on Ebay. The one I'd go for would be Precision Auto Machine in Tullahoma...and there's another one in Kingsport (I believe) that is also a good, reputable shop...can't remember the name off hand though. The Ohio Crank shortblocks are pretty tough to beat pricewise though. It would be tough to build that same shortblock AND have the necessary machining done inside of that price (about $3000)

Here's a budget 383...http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=629 Here's a mid-range 383...http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=461 Here's a high performance, 500hp 383...http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=69&t=261 Take your pick...right Grumps?

Looks pretty cool. Too bad for no V8 though. It could be on par with the Challenger, Camaro, or Mustang.

No shame in junkyard heads to get it operable as long as you're saving for something better imo. Might be a good opportunity to practice porting/polishing. Have you looked at the aluminum Summit heads? http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM-162111&N=700+4294925232+4294838998+4294908216+4294840140+4294889107+4294867081+4294867028+4294867079+115&autoview=sku They're ALMOST identical to the Trick Flow heads you're wanting, but they're about $200 cheaper than the TF's...but about that much more expensive than the iron Summits you picked. The aluminum Summit heads have a larger IR diameter(200cc vs TF's 195cc), more lift (.575 vs TF's .540), and dual (vs single) springs. Actually, your TF heads you chose and the Summit aluminum heads are almost exactly the same other than the few things I listed. The biggest difference is in the valve guide and seat materials used. But, if you're just going for those iron Summit heads just to have some cheap heads to get the motor running, I'd save a hundred and fifty bucks, go pick up a junkyard set and clean them up a bit....and put that money towards the heads you really want.

I have a dream. A dream of vast expanses of dry lake beds and salt flats..and attaining my speed licenses from the SCTA! I hope, one day, to be able to at least go for my 150 before I die. If you guys need a sponsor or even someone to scrape the salt off, or even air up the tires, I'll be there ASAP!

Well, I think it's great that he wants to be with his father. When my wife and I split a few years ago, she took our son to Oregon. So, I don't even get the luxury of seeing him on the weekends since I'm in Tennessee. And I can only afford to visit him maybe twice a year. Even then, it's usually a birthday or Christmas present from my gf now. Frankly, I can't wait until I'm in your shoes. I know it's tough on you right now, but YOU didn't do anything wrong. But, I'd rather fight to have him. Especially knowing that he'd rather be with me than his mom. Keep your head up! You know your son loves you, no matter what.

Ya, the nose and tail sections both do not look like Alpha kits. I don't think it's a McBurnie either. The angle on the rear spoiler looks like a Scorpion to me....the nose looks like a McBurnie though. hmmmmm..... $60,000 though?

LOL! I think he just meant stock. The L is a venerable classic.

What would it run price-wise? or speed-wise? Price-wise, $1500 and up. The sky's the limit. If you want decent (or even GOOD) performance though, look to easily spend 4,000-6,000...or more. Speed-wise? Depends on the source of your stock 350. MOST run-of-the-mill 350's of the 80's-90's were about 190-220bhp stock(don't forget to subtract 17-20% of that number for actual rwhp). Unless you KNOW it came from something a little hotter, then that's what you can pretty much plan on. So, you can find an ET Calculator with Google, and plug in the numbers and you know what you've got...or want to shoot for. MOST Z's are around the 2900lb mark, give or take a hundred here or there. So take that basic 2900 lbs, figured with about 190-200hp..you're looking at 14's...maybe 13's, depending on the weight.

Meaning?

Never seen one on a Z. They're usually reserved for the old, heavy, big, sloppy muscle cars.

I don't know about your immediate area...I'd check your local yellow pages...but there's a top notch chrome shop just down the road from me in TN a ways. They've done a lot of work for the Horsepower TV guys in the past. But, I'd still look around your area first. I'd imagine though that you'll want to actually DE-chrome and clean them up first before sending them in to have them RE-chromed....I've got a nifty DE-chroming trick. If you want it, just let me know.

That's a nice set up. Depending on what kind of numbers that motor made before, 400 bhp should be EASILY attainable. I calculated it, and figured your NA motor at 280 hp (just for the sake of the math.) and came up with about 400 bhp on 6psi. Of course if your motor in NA tune made more, then you'll easily be clearing 400 bhp. 10 psi on a 280hp motor would be at about 470 and 12 psi would make it sit at about 510. Of course, depending on your trans, subtract 17-20% and you've got your rwhp. Personally, I can't wait 'til you build a turbo-specific motor for that setup...that thing will be REALLY screamin'!

As long as you're "building the LSx of your dreams", it would interest you to know that the LS9 (from the new ZR1 Vette) is now available. ....it's a little over $23K...but available.

In my experience, cold weather is generally when most problems make themselves known. But, look at it this way, it gives you an opportunity to upgrade to an electric pump and free up some HP.

Oh PLEASE take it to the closest dyno once it's dialed in.

contact the local authorities on the matter.

After you adjust the headers (with a hammer. ) you could always just wrap them and the steering shaft if you're worried about it.

First car I drove around was my moms '89 Ford Escort. First car I bought myself was an '82 Toyota Supra. $700

7's @ 170's I do believe. It can more than handle 400hp. That "R200...Yes, it's good enough" motivational-type poster that's floating around comes to mind. It's features a 800-1,000hp Z doing a wheelie stand...on a stock R200. Wish I could find it again...

WOW! He wants $90K for that thing????? The fender vents aren't even cut out and there's still uneven gaps between some of the body panels. I do like the engine and some of the details though. I like the shifter box overall, but it looks pretty rough on the closeup. I'm sure that sadly, it will go to some poor sod with more money than brains. Budgeting out my conversion, I can easily see how you all can get carried away with details that would slowly add up. But, just for a basic completion, (not lengthening the car, moving the firewall, adding trunk kit, etc...) I can't see it being more than $25-$30K...well, doing the work yourself at least. But after talking with the guy with the unfinished kit, I don't think he's quite got $50K in it unless he was paying someone else to do most of the work. Yeah, he's got some nice stuff on the car and HAS put some nice details in its' finishing. But unless he's adding in a labor cost, there's not $50K in it. The body kit/dash, a nice paint job, suspension/brakes, VG30DETT, and wheels/tires are not $50K. Only thing that would make me shy away from it though is that he absolutely refuses to give me any pics of the frame rails.(wrecked car?) Plus it's pretty clear that it has NOT been undercoated as he claims from the pics he added later (at my request)