RickB

It appears to me that it is most likely a rod or maybe a wrist pin on the right bank of the engine. I have it up at a friends shop now i just need some time. Shouldn't be too big a deal. RickB ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Thanks guys... Yep, I've seen zfan Mike's car (very sharp and clean BTW, see my pics on my website). Yeah, I need some 15" rims.. ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Yep...it seems that tires tend to jump in size from the point i am at now. I would prefer not to go all the way to a 26". BTW, I know that the turbo 6's are low rpm torque motors Also, did you hear the Greg Kring bought a Stage 2 motored car! He went a 11.30 something run at 129 mph on street radial TA's, pump gas and 15#'s boost! On slicks he went a 10.06@138 if i am quoting him right!!! ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

thanks all...BTW, cool link ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Thanks again for more feedback. Oil pressure has remained consistant. I fired it up this morning to load it on the trailer and didn't notice any knock. Of course I wasn't bringing the rpm's up either. I'll be checking it out soon. ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Thanks for all the replys folks...it would be fun to have events that we could all put names, faces and cars(!) together huh. I have the car on my trailer here at work and will work on diagnosing it tonight when I have access to a lift and a couple of "2nd opinions". Ya' never know...it could be loose torque convertor bolts (been there), or even carbon (seen it happen). Worst thing I'll get an "opportunity" to improve it huh!! I'll keep you all posted. Kevin, thanks for the kind words. BTW, non nitrous pass was a 13.04@104+ and juice was a run out of gear 12.12@110+. Pete, I wasn't getting on it around the corner. I just first noticed the knock after making the next turn. Your point is well taken though and valid were that the case. Thanks again for or all the suggestions. ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Thanks Scottie... yes, that is my final drive ratio. that's a reasonable RPM though past my torque band as I have a small cam. ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com [This message has been edited by RickB (edited March 12, 2001).]

I was thinking Kevin could answer this but thought it may benefit others and myself to post this on a forum. Anybody else who can pitch in please do... >> Kevin...did you calculate my tire size vs. trap speed rpm? I have an engine knock and I am curious as to how high I might have revved it the other night. 205/55/14's, 1/4 mile trap speed 110.8 I can measure the actual heighth of the tires tonight if needed. Thanks for coming out, it was good to meet you! I'll post this as a thread as well for everyones benefit. RickB ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

I have pasted a response from another thread and wanted some input from you all. First some background, Friday night I ran the car through the 1/4 mile for the first time in a while. Turns out my tires are too short and I revved the car hard through the traps. I don't know how high but I ran out of camshaft and the car nosed over (12.12@110+). I should have shifted into OD. I trailered a wounded GN home for a guy and drove my car as it was fine. Next night I went cruising and no problem. I went out on a back road and got on it...no prob until i turned the next corner and I started getting a knock under load. Car runs fine, no percievable knock at idle. I pulled the valvecovers and all the rockers are tight and oiling well. thanks in advance for your responses... >>> quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally posted by Ray: Rick it actually sounds like a collapsed piston... rods usually knock at idle more beause of the lower oil pressure. If you caught it early enough where it didn't score the cylinder you may be able to just hone it a little and throw a new piston in... Does your motor have cast pistons??? If so you found the weak one.... Have you isolated which cylinder it is??? This may be cheap to fix.... --------------------------------------------- Ray...thanks for your response. Question...yes, i have cast pistons (as far as i know?). If the piston "collapsed" then wouldn't I have some smoke as an indicator? I plan to get it up to a friends shop so i can put it on a lift and pull the pan. First I will pull a plug wire at a time and see if thast takes the load off a cylinder so i can isolate it. Actually, i think I'll make this a new thread. thanks again, ----------------------------------- ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com [This message has been edited by RickB (edited March 12, 2001).]

Ray...thanks for your response. Question...yes, i have cast pistons (as far as i know?). If the piston "collapsed" then wouldn't I have some smoke as an indicator? I plan to get it up to a friends shop so i can put it on a lift and pull the pan. First I will pull a plug wire at a time and see if thast takes the load off a cylinder so i can isolate it. Actually, i think I'll make this a new thread. thanks again, quote: Originally posted by Ray: Rick it actually sounds like a collapsed piston... rods usually knock at idle more beause of the lower oil pressure. If you caught it early enough where it didn't score the cylinder you may be able to just hone it a little and throw a new piston in... Does your motor have cast pistons??? If so you found the weak one.... Have you isolated which cylinder it is??? This may be cheap to fix.... ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com [This message has been edited by RickB (edited March 12, 2001).]

Thanks Pete, I was looking forward to the first race of the year next weekend. I was cuttin' consistant .520 and .530 lights the other night practicing. Bad thing is I just spent about the last of my "mad money" on my trailer so I'll be scraping for the rebuild. I had thought about putting a basic 400" SB together for the torque benefit... hmm?? No knock at idle or low rpm, knock at rpm and increases with rpm. ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

I think i have a rod knock. sucks. ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

It can be done...used to be quite often. I had a pair of recaps on a wild vega Wagon (see my website). Scottie is right though, they camn be hard or... impossible to balance. I have checked out the Buick guys and their radial recaps...I like them! I would like to have some for my Z! ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

man...I'm way behind the 8 ball huh? A subject i really like. I bought my first nitrous system in 81' and the NOS solenoids (fuel and nitrous) still work and operate on one of my former cars to this day. I have run 200+ shots on standard bore cast piston smogger motors (mid 11's in a V8 Vega) without hurting anything. Make sure you have fuel! Make sure you have fuel. Make sure you have fuel Check my past rides page on the website below. Have fun! ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Ditto twice on what Andrew said.... BTW, I had a 400sb in a 69' Chevy truck that i towed, drag raced and street raced with. It didn't overheat. Drill the steam holes out, use a 400 head gasket as a template. I went 10.87@122mph with a 406" no frills SB in a fairly heavy 74' Nova. Using a healthy shot of nitrous That same car went a stout 12.17@112mph without nitrous on 235/60/14 plain Jane radials. All this with a phase 2 chevy off road solid cam and mildly ported old double hump heads. I REALLY like the 400's! ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Welcome Razor...this is a cool site! ------------------ RickB@DragRacer.com 280V8 http://www.rickb.racemail.com

Hey Cole...good to have ya around! Thanks for introducing yourself. ------------------ RickB 280V8 http://photos.yahoo.com/bornabov

Hey Kevin, I am located in Little Elm which is about 20 minutes due north of the Metroplex. I will be racing my V8 Z tonight just north of Denton at North Texas Dragway. I have a very mild low compression 350/700R4 combo with a 100 shot of nitrous. Mods include a Performer intake, 600cfm Carter carb, shorty headers and a mild torque cam. The car is also lowered and uses the stock lockup 700R4 torque converter. My car is kind of a sleeper as i race it with small 205/55/R14 Nitto Drag Radials. My last quarter mile pass (a month ago) was a 12.08@111+ with a 1.76 60 foot time (drag radials, pump gas and nitrous). The car hooks amazingly well on these little tires. I believe that my car will hook more consistantly with a stiffer rear spring. There is a very quick (low 10 second) IRS suspended Z in the area that i think runs heavier rear springs by suggestion of a HybridZ member. Call if you want to catch up with me sometime. 972-740-8421 BTW; I shift around 5200 rpm and use the factory 3.54(?) gears (open differential). The car weighs just over 2700 without driver and with a full tank of fuel. ------------------ RickB 280V8 http://photos.yahoo.com/bornabov [This message has been edited by RickB (edited January 12, 2001).]

My 76' is clearly stamped in the door jam something like "Non Emission" or along those lines (it's at home in the garage). RickB

Thanks Ross. I paid for and ordered a set through a tire and wheel warehouse store three (!) months ago...I asked them to send me a check for a refund this week. He seemed to think they were an odd size?? He did get a set but the shank on them was way to short and did not make deep enough thread contact. Maybe I should try Discount Tire?? RickB

I have an old set of 14" mags (Riken's maybe??, see pics at my sig link). I would like to replace the old lugs. The chrome is trashed and some are not as deep of a shank as I feel they should have. 1. Can anyone please suggest where I can purchase some new ones? 2. I also could use the proper thread size and pitch? Do one of you know what stock specs are? 3. Thanks! ------------------ RickB 280V8 http://photos.yahoo.com/bornabov

Today my little Z banged out a 1.76 60 foot time on 205/55/14(!) Nitto drag radials!!! I was able to juice it as soon as the rearend squatted. I'm impressed with these little meats... ------------------ RickB 280V8 http://photos.yahoo.com/bornabov

cool... ------------------ RickB 280V8 http://photos.yahoo.com/bornabov

I use a Hurst Quarter Stick behind my 700R4. I like it. My stock 76' 280 rear is holding up well so far to my abuse and the previous owners. I did not do the 700R4 swap but...it does not have a computer. Others on the forums can help you out with the tech side. I understand TCS has somehting that will allow you to use the lockup. My lockup works BTW. ------------------ RickB 280V8 http://photos.yahoo.com/bornabov [This message has been edited by RickB (edited December 07, 2000).]

Scottie, I ran my Turbo car on the foot brake. But, I have made some 7.40 1/8th mile passes in a friends GN using that trans brake...worked great but it was kinda weird shifting into second to release it. BTW, my last turbo car just went a 11.20@123mph for the new owner on the nitrous at low boost on a street chip. RickB