Mikelly

Pics are at: http://photos.yahoo.com/dat74z scroll to the end and you'll see them... I'm gonna weld on two brackets for the upper mounts to run threadall to the upper support. The frame rails and the base of the mount where the radiator will sit will have rubber pads to difuse any mteal on metal vibrations. Mike

Hallafreakinluya! I started it tonight. Got gas leaks, and a few other issues to resolve, but god that thing sounded wicked as hell running out the header... B18B1 might just be quick! Mike

Pics to Follow Jeff... I've got to edit them... Mike

I had a guy ask me to send him my control arms so he could install them, test them, and then decide if he wanted them... This guy was offended when I told him to seek mental help! Mike

I ran a 4bbl setup on an L28 motor for a long time... I hated the Holley 390... It was horrible... Reduce the timing, then get down in jet sizes... I'd also get the quickchange spring set and start playing with that... The 390 carb is almost too big AND the intake is crappy... It dumps most of the fuel into cylinders 3&4 and leans out 1&6 real bad... Hard to balance... You might think about going back to a stock carb setup or swapping to a factory fi setup. I was running high 15s in the 1/4 and swapped to fuel injection and flat top pistons and jumped into the mid 14s... That was with headers, a scheider cam, and 3:70 gears W/ LSD... Mike

...And of course, Pete Paraska's phone call from the track and the news of his latest adventures and success entering the 12s had me out in the garage late this afternoon... Spot welded the few seems around the fresh air ducts in the fenderwells of the engine bay, as they had come loose in removing the radiator core support... And then I fab'ed up and welded in the lower radiator support, with the proper angle forward at the top and kicked in towards the steering rack at the bottom... Should aid in air flow through the radiator... Pete got into the 12s boys! On a wheezing 327! Congrats Pete! Mike

Oh trust me... I'm NOT buying the auto version... ...And yes, it is nice being able to afford a 20K car... But I'm 37 years old and this 20K USED car is the nicest (and most expensive) car I will have owned to date. I've always had several cheap cars and the Z to tinker with. Mike 8)

Ihad a gnose once.... It was a nice Gnose... Mike

Lets put it this way, The boy has been brow beaten so much over this turd of a car, that he knows what I think of it. However, it is his car, in his name, and he lives elsewhere... It isn't on my insurance policy and I have no say in the matter. However, He is starting to see the complexity involved in motor swaps and custom mechanical work... He is rethinking the whole "TURBO Swap" fast and furious scam that Sport Compact and others have been preaching... He is slowly coming towards the light... Mike

On your install could you place the rear hoop elsewhere? I'd like to retain my seatbelt pocket... I've found over the years that you just don't use the racing harnesses. I'm interested in this since I'm ordering an S&W cage this month. Mike

Well my gameplan is to actually turbo my 1990 Civic Hatch for one reason... To learn about turboing... We'll have 5 tagged and legal cars in the family when the Vette arrives... and I've got a motorcycle, so I'm not pressed if it grenades. However, I'm not doing the turbo on his motor for the reason listed... He has no backup car and I want his to be reliable... So I'm gonna experiment on mine with the first kit we bought for his car... It is a small TD25 with a Mustang SVO intercooler... Should be enough for my double overhead 1.5 motor... Mike

Ah but here is where the rubber doesn't meet the road... My 383 stroker has forged Hbeam rods, forged pistons, is fully balanced internally, and is set up as a roller block. The complete short block BUILT with new SCAT 9000 crank, cost me a total $1400 including the flywheel and fluidamper. We have more in his pistons, rods and machine work. I finished wiring everything except for the TPS and the 02 sensor last night. I have to glue the TPS back on, as they are made into the Tbody... Stupid design... If the TPS goes bad, you must replace the whole Tbody... And I have to wire the plug on the end of the new 02 Sensor. Then it's onto the plumbing, which is NOT matching up so far. The key to doing one of the swaps would be to have the donor car, not just the engine... THe axles Pepboys gave us are the wrong ones, so they need to go back, and the shifter countershaft is too short... If I had the car with all this stuff, I could have referenced and cannabalized the parts, as well as reference the water line routing... So Tuesday afternoon we started.. About 4PM... He drove the car up from his house and we put it on the lift and started. After removing wiring, axles, water lines and radiator, and the motor was out by 7PM. Wednesday we swapped over the needed parts from the civic drivetrain. Thursday late afternoon Craig and I bolted the tranny to the motor and dropped it in for a test fit. Yesterday I made the two mounts we didn't have... Firewall mount and the lower right hand mount. Then I installed the wiring harness and the radiator. I've still got to weld in the 02 sensor bung and weld up a full exhaust plus install the integra computer. On top of everything else, the starter that came with the motor won't work... It is offset for an automatic. New one is $190. The hits just keep coming. Mike

I'm pretty much sure I'm getting the Pewter colored higher mileage car... based on the conversation I had with the guy last night... Also, Someone made a comment in an earlier thread about the LS1 NOT coing in 97-98 Vettes... That isn't the case... All C5 Vettes came with the LS1 motor... I JUST bought a set of the thin spoke 5 stars for the car and I don't even own it yet... I need helP! Mike

Nope, they are aluminum. Supposed to be a very good choice... We'll see. Mike

JUst got done fabricating and welding up the two motor mounts that we didn't have... Three hours... JEEZ... Next I'll work on some of the wiring and water line issues... Must get food... Mike

Well the build cost a lot more because we built it for turbo application... Forged pistons alone were $580... We ARP studded the complete motor, had the rods race prepped and shotpeened, and upgraded the fuel, cam gears, intake and exhausts, as well as the 5 speed trans, and ACT clutch/ Flywheel kit. We didn't scrimp on the build... AND you Honda kids are getting screwed, no ifs ands or buts... I've got less money spent on my 500+hp small block chevy... The aftermarket sees an opportunity... and they are gouding big time... Mike

Trust me... You do NOT want to use them... They did not puts the specified parts in the build on several key points... Hadn't been aware until we pulled the motor appart, and that motor had less than 3K miles on it when we did pull it appart... They are not a trustworthy vendor... Mike

Well the time has come and we've had no fun putting this motor in... I've had to fabricate two motor mounts and have had to buy some new parts for the motor since some from the old setup (LIke the Starter) weren't compatible, and the 02 Sensor would not come out... On top of that, the fitting I welded into the oil pan for his turbo oil return is now damp with oil... Nice... On top of that we snapped the TPS off the intake while lowering the motor into the car... got hooked on a mount on the fuel filter bracket... My older stepson has no patience, so he has been relegated to parts bitch, and since he is broke, I'm spending money like water to get this project over with... On top of that, I just got a phone call from him. Seems that someone like the stereo in our little civic that he is driving while we do this swap, and they broke into the car... DId I mention I hate thieves? All this for MAYBE 150HP at the cost of about $3200 and counting... I have NO idea what in gods name these kids are thinking in doing these swaps... For the money he has in body paint and motor mods, he could have bought a really serious contendor. This project, Without the Turbo kit is still gonna put the total for this car well over $10,000.... For a 1994 Civic... Why? On the plus side, Craig, My younger son, is a real joy to work with and he has been the calming factor when he isn't at work. 8) Mike

I'm gonna do a Tremec TKO2... THe T56 wasn't the best trans for my combo AND it is a SUPER heavy trans... Mike

Pete, I've got the Isky cam from the previous build, as well as the heads and valve train... My heads are the Dart Conquest... 76cc 215 runner with 205/160 valves! And guys, I provided the parts and had the motor balanced internally and assembled for $300... No way I could have done that here in Virginia for that price... Should make some serious power. Heads are at the shop now being massaged. Mike

Actually I was pleasently surprised... $200 more per year than our Mustang GT... GOnna be $900 annually full coverage, with $250 deductable! Joe, Not likely... I'm already in contact with Greenwood about a body kit... I'm gonna look into some LS1 mods as well. I could very easily get wrapped up in a Corvette project... Something modern would be very cool... Mike

Guys, I've got several "GooD" deals lined up to purchase a vette... Can't believe how inexpensive some of them are... Anyway, I have found one locally with some higher miles on it for really cheap, at $18500, and with 6 speed, AHS, Traction control, leather, power everything, and new tires. Guy is gonna buff a few scratches out of the paint, and I'm gonna test drive it and we're gonna go from there... If that one falls through, There is one in Utah that is modified... 97 with an LS1 motor Dyno'ed at 358HP and 358FT# torque at the wheels... Penski double adjustable shocks, Baer racing brakes, Mallet custom wheels... Headers, LS6 intake, tons of other stuff... Very nice, for about $23000, but I'd have to have it shipped... It is also an auto, which I'm not tickled about... But the parts and the records on his race history are impressive. There is another in Va. Beach, which is a 2000 model, which is a targa as well, loaded, with lower miles... About 54000, but it is also and auto... They want $20500 for it... Pretty cheap for the level of performance... Decisions decisions! Mike There is

Nice Suspension... Love the response of the travel... I'm not even a boob guy, But nice pasties... Mike

Check out the pics of the car with 10 inch 300# coils, 255-40-17s on back with 245-40s upfront riding on 9 inch 220# coils. I have it slammed for the look. JUst wanted to see how low she would go... Also, Note that the cell install is done, except for the misc. block off sheet steel that needs isntalled. I also have a pic of the Hercules bruchon beedliner. Gonna Upload pics of the other Z that is being sold shortly... BTW, This Z could also be had with ALL the big brake stuff and ALL the other stuff with it, gages, Painless wiring... The whole shooting match... New suspension, adjustable couild overs with Tokicos, ZF Racing Powdercoated arms, Big Sway bar up front, adjustable NISMO bar in the rear.... Interior parts, glass, Might even consider the 383 Stroker and Holley Programable EFI along with it... Offers accepted... NO PARTING OUT... Don't ASK! Mike

Last night I finished welding up the framework for the new cell, and started applying the Hercules Bed liner in the floorboards, rockers, trans tunnel and firewall. Tonight I finished up that whole process... turned out real nice... Should provide some serious noise/ sound deadener! Next... I'll start focusing on the underside of the chassis and what color I plan to paint the underside. Decisions decisions... I've also got to finish welding up the strut house brace brackets... Mike