dr_hunt

Mine measures 94 inches exactly with a tape, center of spindle to center of axle, however mine has a 9 inch ford rear so I'm not sure about it being exactly in the same place as a stock z.

If you are doing a diesel blower it is recommended that you double pin the rotors, they don't take alot of work, just truing up the ends and making sure the clearances are right, add rear bearing support plate and front drive. There are two different gear angles and both cast and steel gears on stock blowers. Know which is which before buying. Teflon strips are for stock cases with flex that have been mentioned, most blowers are now using tighter tolerances but that can have it's own can of worms. Roots lowers can last 60K miles between rebuilds on street machines, they run in their own oil so you have maintenance there. They are easy to rebuild with bearings and seals, if you can do a carb, you can do one of those as long as your not changing clearances.

I thought of that, actually, and I was going to buy another z, there was one for sale on this forum in Berkeley, but with my situation now, I had to back out. I was actually thinking of selling the Monte and building myself a twin turbo efi z, or a turbo efi z, or a procharged carbed z, or a blown carbed z, or a blown efi z. Maybe I'll just think about it and wear myself out. I think the trans brake problem is either the modulator spool valve is incorrect or it needs a solid plate on the back of the case between the case and tailhousing. The transbrake instructions don't say much, but I figure it's not getting apply pressure. I'm thinking of buying another brake and installing that or taking the trans all apart again, or buying another trans in the meantime if I can find some money. I tried to call the "redneck transmissions" guys in Abilene, TX several times but nobody has returned emails or phone calls, so that doesn't look good. When I get it fixed I will then get a friend to video the car and post it here in the Vid section.

Well, I was driving my '73 chevy crew cab 3/4 ton truck one night about 90mph. That long winded thing had a drive line about 15 feet long. Well, it came apart, took off the dual exhaust including mufflers and the fuel lines were inside the c type frame rails, beat them in half and caught on fire, and yes, they were steel lines too. Good thing the dual gas tanks were on the outside of both frame rails and it was carburated and had a mechanical pump on the motor instead of an electric pump in the tank or it could have been alot worse. IMHO when a drive line comes apart, they are turning at the same or more rpm as the engine, say 3K or 4K or whatever, they can beat the crap out of anything, drive line safety loop or not. I guess my point is that no place is 100 percent safe, just that the trans/driveline tunnel probably isn't as safe as outboard side of the pseudo frame rails, but that's MO and food for thought is that later z's apparently have moved them as well.

It looks like we could use some hard and fast numbers relating to downforce and drag at speed. Of course the ultimate factor in determining acceleration and top speed of any given vehicle is HP and TQ, to which, the HP to weight ratio of a v8 z probably exceeds most cars depending on the z in question. I think that is immensely interesting, certainly opened some minds, mine included.

I looked at the car chemistry pieces, but the S&S full length headers have fitment problems and there was no way to fit those into the pipes right behind the collectors, especially on the driver's side. I have flowmasters on my Monte and they don't do that much, great for racing, not much on the street and they resonate badly at cruise, so bad, I have to turn my Alpine stereo up to the max to drown out the sound. I think I'm going deaf. This is why I'm asking you guys what you'd use if you had my car, what works, what don't and for your advice, so thanks for the input. I bought some Dynomax bullets, I'll try those, if that don't work, I'll try something else and sell them to somebody. Can't have it all, but it would be nice. How about a frequency cancelling circuit powered by 12V and we make a stealth exhaust system that sounds like a stock 2005 Honda civic even with 700HP under the hood!

A nice sanitary job of running fuel lines, wish all were that clean. A thought with that route is; What happens if and when your driveshaft takes a crap, possibly cuts the fuel lines, has sparks, you know the rest. IMHO I'd run it where the stock lines are on the bottom of the car inside the pseudo frame rail or on the outside of the pseudo frame rail. I ran stainless braided hose on the outside of my reinforced frame rail, but that is a big expense by the time you buy fittings. Just my opinion, but I think it is a safety concern and with the HP these things crank out......well you know.

Fired it again this AM, set timing, hooked up trans brake, fixed regular brakes, seems the push rod was too long, had adjustment but the new master cylinder must be wrong one, had to cut off an inch off the rod to make them work right, got that done, brakes work awesome. Ok, guys, my 10 year old boy was the first to drive it. Kind of putted around with a stock holley 750DP on race gas 2-3K rpm. Have a trans cooler line leak that made alot of smoke and filled the cockpit with smoke and the trans brake is not working so no reverse. Went back, drained gas, changed carbs to my C&S 900 cfm Aerosol Billet, filled it with alcohol and drove it again. It was running pig rich, -10 lines probably still full of gas, and my boy didn't have it quite all together, our eyes were watering, couldn't breathe and he killed it down the road trying to turn around cause it was loading up, then it backfired and caught the carb on fire, kind of, no biggie, got that out with a good huff. Got it fired, I drove it this time and HOLY SHIT, what a monster. Spins 9 inch wide 29.5 tall slicks all the way through first gear, smoking them bad ass like a top fueler. Pedaled it, got it into second and hang on for the ride. Look back at the clouds of smoke and two heavy black tire marks fishtailing down the road. If it ever hooks out of the hole, there'll be some need for wheelie bars for sure. Definately going to have to get a little taller gear or taller and wider tires and cut the rear fenderwells for some clearance so I can lower the rear ride height. Cooler line leak is no biggie, but the no reverse thing isn't going to be an in the car fix. I bought a cheap trans brake off ebay and I guess it doesn't work. I bench tested the reverse piston when I built it and it engaged fine so it has to be in the valve body, so the brake/valvebody is the culprit. I think I'll buy another trans so I can keep the car going and fix this other one that's in there now for a spare. I can't believe how quick that car is compared to my 11 second monte! It is one bad ass ride!

Vancouver is absolutely one of the most picturesque places I've ever been. I could live there absolutely anytime. I had a buddy that was from PEI on the other end of the country and he took me lobstering. Another fab place. While working for Schlumberger in '89 in Wy, we cemented a long string in an oil well in Buffalo basin by Cody at -65 below with 40mph winds over a three day period. It was so cold that we couldn't pump even heated water. As soon as it hit the iron pipes we laid on the ground it would flash freeze. We ended up with 50 guys with propane burners standing out there heating the pipes so we could pump our job. I didn't even know what cold was until then. In WY it only snows once, then it blows it back and forth across the state until it wears it out by March. I worked for the same company in Alaska in Dec and Jan and -65 was like everyday and the polar bears would come at night looking for tidbits whether they walked on two legs or not.

I think the problems with the z from what I've read are; 1. Too much air gets underneath the car. 2. Air stays in contact with the roofline all the way to the trunk. 3. Air goes around the radiator through front bulkhead holes and actually lifts the front end of the car, adding insult to problem 1. Now from what I've read, there are a host of other "minor" aerodynamic issues like headlights, wipers, mirrors, etc. but when you add up all the minor things, then perhaps they aren't so minor.

Mike, do you smell business opportunity here???? What about a group of z guys, engineers included, form an LLC, and build one to rent out, and of course special consideration for z projects in the development of some wicked aerodynamic bolt ons for z's. I had to include us engineers, cause we think we know everything and more than anyone else.

Ok, Z, finally got off my lazy butt (been one hell of a bad week) and looked through my qjet piles. All I have is later model electric choke versions that are complete. I do have heat choke parts, but not in a complete form to send you one. What else can I help you with?

Guy, I know that the turbo 350c came in the Caprice and Monte carlo SS, I had both a 79 caprice and a 84 Monte SS. I didn't buy a new vehicle until I was 35 years old. The caprice was falling apart and the Monte SS got stolen and ended up in Mexico. You'll get it figured, sorry I couldn't remember everything.

Well said, thank you! You are correct except for one thing, I didn't have foster parents in my eyes, I had a dad and a mom, for it is those who raise you that are parents, not those who biologically made you. It seems that these odd threads that show up in this forum that give you insight into all the goodness of people that exist in this world that are worth talking to, you all are included in this group. If I can help, I will, just ask or drop by my house at 1100 Chapparal Drive in Socorro, NM sometime.

Tim, I went with the AFR 220's. I bought both of my sets from cnc motorsports on ebay. Hard to find, hard to get once you order them. I think the part number I got is 1060, which is for solid roller. I think the 220 cc ports are fine for this engine since it runs alky and with alky you could use a larger plenum and intake runner since there is twice as much fuel being input. For larger engines, like the 383 and up the 227's would be nicer. When using the AFR heads you will end up with one hell of a gap at the intake manifold ends You'll find that they have alot of extra's that you may need, but when you read the literature it doesn't mention them. In fact I think that they say offset stud girdles are the only special requirements. I filled my gap with RTV and let it dry for a week. Went to the muffler shop today and they ran 3" pipes back behind the trans mount. I bought some Dynomax bullet mufflers off ebay for 70 bucks and I'll install them when I get them. I installed the fuel cell today and I'm going to run the fuel lines and mount the aeromotive pump, lines, and regulator tomorrow. Then, Wee dog eeeeee! We'll take it for a drive. Shift that baby!

The block is a production 379 casting relatively late model 4 bolt, but does have the driver side dipstick. The Crank is a Eagle 4340 3.5 inch stroke cross drilled mains and lightening holes in all four rod throws. The rods are and early set of 6 inch carillo's that have been modified to eliminate the washers under the bolts that I traded for and were NIB, The pistons are JE's I'd have to look at the box for the part number. Cam is a very old TR grind I got off ebay, was NIB, not the 4-7 swap, but the valve event timing really showed some improvement on DD over newer grinds, So I used it and it dyno'd at a corrected 650HP. I'm at 5300 elevation in Alb, and the density air is usually around 6000 or 7000 feet sometimes worse in the summer.

The z-28 springs had a limit of .510 lift or so depending upon installed height. From the sounds of it, 100 lb on the seat the builder may have increased the installed height as they usually have 110lb on the seat. So, with 1.5's you should be alright, 1.6's I don't think so IMHO.

Well, no, I'm completely perfect, just ask anyone. I was adopted back in the 60's which was unheard of back then at the ripe age of 18 months with cigarrette burns on both arms from abuse as a baby, I didn't talk until I was 4 years old cause of abuse before my folks adopted me. Lucky, my folks were simply the best of the best the world had to offer, my dad was an A&P mechanic out of the airforce and a commercial pilot for TWA, my mom worked for Braniff airlines as a ticket clerk. My dad taught me everything I know and allowed me to learn o' so much more. I started working at 7 during the summers and paying taxes, bought my first truck with my own money and paid my own insurance, tires and gas. He died 2 years ago of cancer and I've been at a loss ever since, cause there is no better man in my eyes. My ma hangs on to me and my sis and of course my boy. But there is no love greater than that of my dad and mom, to take me as their own and treat me better than any other kid I ever knew and make me what I am today. Consequently, I have a deep love for all children, not just my own. Of course, buddy, we all have our faults, but I'll quote one of the last lines from her 4 page note so it'll remove all doubt for your girlfriend. "I think you are the most kind hearted and considerate man that ever lived, as long as you stay on your good side." It takes alot to piss me off, believe me, but stealing money and treating my boy like second rate, pretty much raps it all up in a nutshell, tells you right where you stand. If you think I'm kidding, I'm not. If someone you love and trust will steal, then they'll lie, cheat and run you down all over town, make no mistake about that, or the fact that they will never, never change. Try this out for size and see if you can walk in these shoes. When we married in '00 two of her kids were in college and one in high school. Their dad was and is still a worthless shiveling piece of crap. I sent her two college boys $350/month for two years till they graduated now one's in med school, gave her daughter a '95 mazda 626 car that I paid 5K for and she totalled it in 6 months. Fixed their cars whenever they broke down, paid off a loan for a $1500 laptop that I never got either. Gave both boys pistols for their 21'st birthdays, one a 45 colt and the other a smith model 19 .357 mag. That's $700/month, plus plane tickets for my wife to travel back home every month and a cell phone with a nebraska number so the kids wouldn't have to dial long distance to talk to their ma, she didn't work for 3.5 years, house was filthy and the yard was full of weeds. Add that up and I think you'll see what she's talking about and maybe what I'm talking about. I give, give and give till it hurts, then when you screw me, I'm done, like a faucet, off baby and no drips! I also believe in pulling my own weight and the same goes for everybody else, women included. I am what I am and you can call her to verify that, other than that I don't think I owe anybody anything and I treat all people the same, until they show me otherwise, always have, always will.

Here's the deal. First off, I make alot of money at least in my mind which isn't much, but its 6 figures, and I put most of it back into my three companies as a tax shelter. I really miss that money and it really pisses me off to no end, but, it could be worse, alot worse since I have a 20K check coming next week from some equipment I sold!!!! Secondly, I thought of filing the truck stolen, the cops tried to talk me into it, but my lawyer said she'd get out of it since we are still married, something he called marital consent. Thirdly, that gets a judge into things that control your life and I think I can screw it up all by myself without him screwing me even more. Fourthly, the money. I could have proven without a doubt that it was company money and she stole it, plain and simple, but then that'd be a felony and really all that would do was show that I had the power over her. Fifthly, see thirdly about that, I don't have time for more court bullshit in my life right now. Lastly, the dodge, my lawyer says he can get it back, might take a few months, but he says it'll be back, so I figure it's on rent right now, just without the rent. In summary, I'm figuring that since she is gone, and doesn't have access to my money anymore, that is enough. Don't kid yourself, I would really like to put the shaft to her, but I figure as stupid as she is being right now, she'll get what she deserves in the end.

Send me 5K and I'll not only give you a detailed report, but add you to my christmas card list to boot. I think you should do a diesel conversion, I don't think that's been done before. Use big turbo and propane injection. Just kidding, I'm good at spending money and if I helped you with ideas, you'd have to go find another 10K.

kingdoms and fortunes have been funneled down the little hole, not to mention my meazly bucks.

Crap, I honestly can't tell you, cause I don't have one handy to take the pan off and see. I'd call a trans shop or B&M. Honestly dude, I'd have to be there, but again, if my memory serves me, and with what happened yesterday, that's a big if, there is a solenoid on the valve body that makes it work, ie. puts fluid to engage the clutch in the converter. If you trace that wire to the right plug, that should be it. Yes the engine had to run to work otherwise you won't have fluid pressure in the trans, but I'm trying to remember if it was connected to the other wires something about governor pressure to keep it from stalling the car as a stop. I just can't recall, been too long. Crap, I've got to find a carb for the qjet question guy and take some pic's of the z for another guy here on this forum, I"m a slacker.

Yeah, I guess it's not that big of a deal. My dad told me once, "You're not the first and you won't be the last". He was talking about something else, but I guess it applies here as well. The money isn't the big issue, it's the fact that they take it, like that is all they wanted from you in the first place is what burns. I bought the house before we married and it is in my name, I made 20 times more money than she did so she couldn't claim half, at least not in this state. But thats what 8 years of college while working full time, masters degree in engineering and a PE license will do for you if you bust buns. I worked full time while going to college and took out student loans, which I just got paid off this last summer, I didn't have to rely on anybody else like most women do. She wasn't my boys mother so I guess I forgot to mention that, he's ten and we have been married for 5 years, but he didn't like her anyway. She didn't even get him a birthday card or even a christmas present this year, hell she wasnt' even here for chirstmas, she was in Jamaica. Like I said, I'm stupid, or probably more correctly, I'm just focused on different things, like any guy, cars, cars, football, hunting, fishing, playing with my boy, yada, yada, yada, besides, I had my boy for 10 days including christmas day so that's all that mattered to me. You are all right, very right, I'm just not the kind of person to bad mouth anyone. If you take somebody down a notch of two by badmouthing them, then that doesn't necessarily raise you up a notch or two, at least in my mind. However informing others of bad products, experiences with companies is just saving somebody the grief and education you already have. No, No punchline today, just got back from the bank, took her off all my accounts, cancelled her credit cards, debit card, atm card, so she can spend some of the cash she took instead. She called this morning and said that she was back home in Nebraska already and that she'd bring my '99 dodge back if I'd buy her one. The nerve, really, the nerve! Ok, so I told her I'd buy her one, it'll be ready friday, not really, but thats what she thinks. She'll come back, bring my truck, cops will be waiting to serve her with divorce papers, restraining order and pick up my truck. She can have my little daily driver '92 S-10 with the 4.3L auto shortbed truck instead. I bought that after we married for her then 16 year old daughter who told me it was a "POS" and she wouldn't be caught dead in that crap. It's all our fault you know, we let this happen, we should raise our daughters not to be expecting somebody to take care of them for the rest of their lives and we should not baby our boys, but teach them most of the things discussed on this forum, so that they can do something. The ability to think, solve problems, and use common sense is an ability that is learned not inherited I think, and it is our responsibility as peers, parents, friends and relatives to make change for the common good of all people. Afterall life is about change. I just don't know where women these days get the idea that we owe them anything or why they shouldn't be productive members of a team, providing an education and nurturing our kids without asking for half of everything I have, going to have, or may have, if things don't work out. I collected 3300 last night that was owed to me and today was payday, so at least that'll cover the bills. As for extra money to finish the z, like paint and body, it left with whatshername. I did buy a quick disconnect steering wheel adapter off EBAY and I think I'll take the day off, install that (requires welding) and go to autozone and buy him a new steering wheel, and if he wants a different one he can take it back this weekend as I pick him up friday night. Shit, if I get a fuel cell installed, then we could possibly drive it for the first time this weekend on race gas. I want him to be the first to get behind the wheel, even if he is only 10. He drives my 690HP monte up and down the street (rural) and the cops all know me anyway, so it's no biggie. He won't get them over 30mph anyway, he's too cautious, which is good. You guys are all great, I thought the world had gone to shit, just nice to know that there are many of you in the world that are still what I'd consider "friends" even though I've never met you. Maybe I'll go to a SEZS or cruise to one of your events with my Peterbilt towing the z. Now is that overkill or what?! Everybody has a usefull purpose in life, I guess I still have purpose left or god would have called me up by now. Thanks for the ears and your time. David