FastFloridian

Nope, smart idea. I’ll do that next weekend. I’ve got some shorty headers, but if I need to get a new exhaust I might go long tube. Not sure if the old exhaust clears my new fuel cell, I need to check on that.

Made some progress on the engine cradle. I should be ready to drop the engine in and mark where to attach it to the frame. I’ll be using some angle iron to sit on the frame so the cradle will be welded to that then bolted to the frame.

Good info, thanks. That’s certainly my plan, but good to know it’s the right plan and has some good reasons behind it. I just knew a positive offset was better for tracking, just not necessarily why. I may have asked before but what size tires do you run and if you could, would you go any wider? I was thinking of 305s for the tires and wheel width of 11”, maybe even wider. Still plenty of time before I’m ready for wheels, but starting think about it a little now.

Picked up a drill press on marketplace and started drilling into this thicker metal for the engine brace. Got the two pieces that will connect to the engine mounts drilled and bolted up to the engine to try and figure out the angles to attach it to the brace. I made some marks and will cut it and drill it next weekend. We got a lot of rain so I spent most of my time trying to adjust the front suspension. I got one of these wheel fitment things a few months ago and it was saying I needed some negative off wheels to fit I so started adjusting the track width to get it close to a normal offset. Lots of adjusting the toe/traction/camber arms but I think I got it in a better spot. I’ll start shopping for wheels later this year. I have a set that will work temporarily, but are narrower than what I want.

Started working on the cradle this weekend. Laine’s design was a good starting point, had to change some of the angles to work around the apex subframe bracing, but it looks like the 1-1/2” square tubing will work. I’ve got it tacked together now to test fit. I need to do some more measurements and figure out the where to put the vertical part and the correct angle. Hopefully get it wrapped up next weekend and then test fit the motor the following weekend.

I’m not too familiar with plate mounts, I looked it up a few months ago after looking at your engine bay pics and wondering what that plate was for 😆. Was it easy to attach to the frame? I’d have to take my accessories off, but it’s a good option if I can’t make the cradle work. Thanks.

Thats a good idea, I have some rectangular tubing I could cut into c-channel and weld into the notch. I’ll explore that option this weekend, thanks.

Well bit of a bummer this weekend, I made a mock up of the engine cradle out of cardboard and it doesn’t fit, the extra bracing on the Apex track attack kit interferes. I made a mock up using 1-1/2” instead of 2” and it might work, still a little tight. I’m going to try and make it with the 1-1/2” and change the geometry a little, hopefully it’ll work. Since no fab/metal shops were open over the weekend to get the 1-1/2” tubing I decided to make a bracket to mount my clearview remote filter. I’ll get it painted and re-mount it. Not sure this will be its final location, but I’m happy the way it came out.

Painted the bracket and snugged it up, happy with the way it fits. I’ll add a few more bolts but waiting to incorporate the bolts into a bracket I’ll make for the oil cooler when it comes in. I really need to get this engine back in, so I picked up some steel today, going to try and fab an engine cradle following the specs Brian Laine has posted online. Hopefully I’ll get some time this weekend to start on it.

Where did you order the rear plexi? That’s something I might want to do.

Looking good. Where are you putting your wiring panel and how are attaching it?

Got an Accusump for the Z, and made a mounting bracket for it. I’m going to have another plate on the front side to weld on some angle iron for the oil cooler to mount on. Added a pressure sensor so I can read the Accusump oil pressure with the engine oil pressure so I can see when it’s charging and discharging. the bottom bolts are just to hold the clamps and it’ll sit up slightly higher when it’s tightened up.

Been real busy last month or so, but got some time in the garage today. Trimmed up some bars for a harness bar and side bars with a hinge. Going to wait for the seats to come in before I weld them in. Installed the Autoplumb 20an fittings for the radiator and water pump. Permatex is curing then I’ll test some fitting out tomorrow.

@74_5.0L_Z thanks for the pick of your radiator frame, I had thought you maybe had an intercooler stacked up from previous pic. I ended up going with a dual pass radiator so I had have both inlet and outlet on the same side. I’m thinking of going with 20AN fittings, so I’ll 90 off the radiator and cut to the driver side.

Radiator came in, made a mistake on sizing it, but I think it still works just fine sitting on the frame rails, thoughts? Or should it get something skinnier that fits between the frame rails. I like the built in tray on this bumper, I’ll add some ducting that just continues this on to that bottom rail and continue it past to the end of the radiator.