Dudeboy

Willstar, Do a search on Dayton Wire Wheels. They can build you a wire wheel with custom offset/backspace. As far as price they are on the high end as far as wheel prices.

I have look at every wheel and tire combination on the market. If you are looking at more of race/street wheel (custom size, offset and backspace) prepare to spend some money: Simmons Wheels, Kodiak , Complete Custom wheel, Bogart, Kinesis, Jonbloed and RS Watanabe (spelling?) Racing Panasports. With these wheels prepare for a wait time to build. In your Billet- there is Budnik, Billet Specialties, Bonspeed and Intro Wheels-there are some other billet wheels out there, but you are limited to bolt pattern and offset/backspace. Check out Image wheels in the United Kingdom, they will make any bolt pattern or offset you desire, and they have vintage to modern choices of wheels.

Hugh, I bought my Z with right rear tailight damage, and I knew I wanted to shave the bumpers. You, may want to replace your panel with a panel from a donor car so that you get the Z shape in the rear. I had steel welded in to patch the bumper holes and the tailight damage and then utilize a product from Eastwood that is a metal filler, the stuff mixes and it looks like molten metal, but once you begin sanding it turns primer gray. I epoxy primered over the metal filler, then I smooth over some Evercoat Z-grip lightweight filler and then another coat of primer. I have a 77 -280 so I do not have the bumper indentaions on the side, so you can go in several directions to smooth that out: complete cut and replace with sheet metal or fiberglass/bondo and fill in. Some welding and alot of sanding and shaping will get your Z smoothed out. Hope this helps.

http://www.skulte.com The F-body crowd use Skulte to put corvette wheels on trans-ams and camaros. They also do custom adapters -quality work.

Summit or Jegs should have the covers. Check a hot-rod shop in your area that sell lake or rad-rod sidepipes.

Check out Dr. Gas - drgas.com (nascar exhaust specialist)on the high dollar end but you can put together a 3 inch piping to complete the patriot exhaust. Also, there is 1969-1972 Corvette competition side exhaust that may be 3-4 inches diameter from end to end as another option. Summit has them in Black, I do not know if they have it in chrome?

Michelin TB5 and TB15 --at Coker tire, or purchase from a performance Michelin store in the U.K.

I have been lucky, My neighbhor has helped me with the suspension and bodywork, and he is anticipating doing the drivertain swap to my car as I am. Ed has restored a MGB, and now working on his 70-71? convertible mustang. Reading Pete Paraska talk about his dad strikes a nerve with me as well. The name Dudeboy was my Dad's drag racing team in the late 60's early 70's and I get my love of cars and wrenching from him. My parents retired to Las Vegas about five years ago, but now are in the process of moving here to Georgia To make a long story short, I will have my Dad here in June to wrench with me and I am really looking forward to having him here. I am also blessed to have a wife that love's cars and will come out to the garage and make sure I am not hungry or thirsty - and also indicated she wants to assist when it comes time to dropping the V8 in the Z.

Go to http://www.buyavette.net Outside of buying direct from a Chevrolet dealer, they may have what your looking for and/or you tell them what you want.

I had issues with a Dodge Caravan bought brand new 1997.. Found the forums that indicated all the issues I soon would be facing.... I thought I was lucky and would not have any problems ... Wrong !!! Had all the issues over time !!! Put the wife and the kids down several times. When the warranty ran out it got worse. One of the reasons my Z does not have a V8 is due to me dumping money into the Caravan. Couple of months ago Sold the Van to Carmax for $2200.00 !!!! paid $30 Grand for it (including financing) and I estimate over 9 years spent over $15,000. est. for 4 complete brake jobs, water pump, two clock springs and other misc. crap outside of routine maintenance. I love the Dodge Magnum station wagon, hemi truck and viper, however until Dodge get there act together and stand behind what the make, I will not purchase a Dodge again. My .02 cents, cut your losses and find another vehicle. By the way, I have a Toyota 4-runner I purchase new in 1998, no issues but routine maintence for six years that is what really pi$$ed me off about the van !!!!

The wheels look like 1970ish Enkie's. Go to zparts.com (Eric Zeyerlin's site spelling ??). There are a used set of wheels in the for sale area that look like your wheel and they are called Enkie Apaches. I just remember Enkie having numbers for wheel description and name, so maybe another member can chime in.

This is a very interesting thread, fazzt73 would you be able to make the competition hood scoop. Here is a picture here http://zhome.com/History/ComHood.htm I have my been searching the salvage yards here in GA, and other car buddies searching across the country with no luck. Thanks

My first Z was a daily driver 280 as well, got me through college without breaking the bank. I had most of the "hot rod " mods done to the car and the wife said 'I am pregnant". I did not give it a second thought that I had to sell that Z and get '" family friendly vehicles" (My wife had a 16 valve Jetta, that was on its last leg !!!!). Nine years later, the wife was aware of my Z loss and depression and found this 280 for my birthday 2 years ago. Have pictures of Georgia Z club presidents car "Blue Beast" Sweet !!, found this site (Hybrid z Bible), see the Darius video, read Pete Paraska's site and others and meet some cool Georgia Z Hybriders. Now I want to put a V8 in my Z, which one? carbureted SBC or LS1 or LT1 ???? LS1 information and parts suppliers are growing by the second. The wife ask me, "Why are you looking at corvette, Trans Am and Camaro motors? Why don't you just buy the car ? So, I bought a corvette, however the thought has cross my mind to sell the Z. But, I will regret it if I sell this Z, I know this car like no other I have ever owned, and as I go through this process of trying to create the Z I want, it becomes a mission that I made a plan, set goals and I did it. I am keeping this Z!!!!!

Congratulations desert dog on your purchase. Yes, DavyZ you still have your Zcar magazines lying around:)Your info is correct.. It was the issue that was all about hybrid Z. I think Terry (Blueoval) has an article in that issue also. That black Z and Bob Hanvey's Z are 2 of my favorite Zs'. Desert dog please update as you do your drivetrain swap, I am gathering all the information I can for the swap as well. Good Luck

Here in the states you can get a Pirelli Pzero Asimmetrico Giallo, the size is 345/35-15. Check tirerack or 1010 tires--warning these tires are not inexpensive. To get and idea of the size of these tires, find a early 1980 's Lambhorghini Countach pictures (the tires on the rear). Michelin has a tire that is not sold in the states, from what I have found, however they can be imported from here: http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/michelintb15.php These are not inexpensive either, but they are 15 inch and wide.

J.Soileau Rb26zcar, Thank you, Thank you. I was trying to figure out the price list and make a guessestimate at price.... You did the smart thing and contacted them. I like the RM1 (Panasport looking wheel). I would like that wheel in a 17 x 11 and 17 x 8. Just my 2 cents.

Here you go. The fit and finish could be better, I figured I wait till engine swap, brakes were completed and have flares and more bodywork/paint be last on the list.

Grenade300, Try Arizona Z car. Even though he is not in the fiberglass business, he was able to get a three piece spoiler shipped to my door. Also Z Specialties e-mailed a few months ago indicated he had one for sale. The web-site is zspecialties.com. Keep in mind some of these spoilers come with screws encased and some do not ( mines did not, so I epoxied and fiberglass the screws in) and they will take some massaging to get a good fit (alot of massaging .

buzy, Congratulations on your purchase. I drove a 2006, very sweet. Hey Mike (2003z) I like your 2005. I love my 2004 vette so much, the plans now for the Z is LS1 all the way

There is a 1970 Corvette here in West Georgia that has the set-up. He bought everything from Edelbrock except carburetor, and he did the cam and performance valve springs. He is running a Demon carburetor like the Chevy Hi-performance test mule. I have thought about as well, depends on how much you want to spend, and what you are going to do with the car. This is HybridZ, I say do it and if you don't like the performance of the set-up, at the very least you have first hand experience.

thanks Mike, I Have pictures of the Hulk and your Z is one of my favorites. I notice your Dad's Vette parked on the right in the early photos. Man, thats terrible..they have to replace your Dad's car with a new car or check. I went to the Corvette center to look at a 2002 ZO6, but it was already sold and they had 3 2006 vettes very sweet and out of my price range !!!! and this 2004 coupe was sitting there. My 7 year old already knows he wants a viper:) Great choices and I hope it works out for your Dad.

Whats happening Jason! Thanks and any time including any time next Saturday or Sunday will be good. As you can see I have some yard cleaning and I am cleaning out the garage tomorrow-I am still purchasing a storage unit and making more room in the garage. I am more focus than ever:) !!!!!I just have to start saving again. Let me know how your schedule is next weekend?

Here is a picture, and thanks guy. http://album.hybridz.org/showphoto.php?photo=4928&cat=500&page=1 I had a business, and sold it and we had some hard financial times about four years ago like so many other Americans. I am economics major and I knew what we need to do -budgeted and financial planning. Quicken is great software !!!!! you know where you money is going !!! The Vette was sweet deal that me and the wife could not pass up. My Z is still on my mind:) dr_hunt, I have two children a boy 7, and a daughter 5- my son is the Porsche Turbo I never bought and the daughter is the Detomaso Pantera I am cashing in chips !!!!!!