Dudeboy

Thanks Mike, The vette is great, but the Z is my baby. I looked at your website (very nice wheels and powdercoating on the 350 Z)and I have an idea for a billet wheel on the Z and I want to get your feedback as far as powdercoating. I will PM you once I get so more change in my pocket:), oh by the way nice Z also.

Well guys I have to postpone my SBC/TKO 500 swap... After reading all the LS1 info on the Chevy board and going back and forth from considering LS1 swap or SBC swap the wife gave permission to splurge a liitle bit...Mikelly you sold me on Corvette, LS1/LS2 and modern technology I went out and bought a 2004 Corvette Coupe with 14,409 miles. OH MY GOD, now I understand the horsepower/torque and how the speed and power just comes on. I will post photos tomorrow. I will have to change my line Bowtie is here, just not in the Z, hopefully in the Z by late spring 2006. Later, Glenn

Pop N Wood, I to have watch F-parts over the last year if I went the LT1 or LS1 direction. Do you notice that F-parts sometimes offer 90 day warranties and sometimes 6 months warranties? The LS1 with the automatic has a 6 month warranty. Another place to look at is tennesseeauto.com ? You can get a drivetrain only or a complete car (wrecked- they have the picture of the damaged car on their website) so you get an idea of what you getting.

If I can not locate that device.Thanks for the link, article on my printer.

About three weeks ago, I was watching HorsepowerTV on the Spike Channel. They had a tool with measuring gauges that attached to the tire, and then you attached it to your hub. They were able to slide the tire inward and outboard towards the fender like a slide rule to determine the exact backspace/offset. I emailed the show and requested information and have not received a response, and I have been searching the net for this tool, but by chance have anyone here seen the show and/or know who makes this tool.

Oldestzguy, That is to bad, I also hope you reconsider, but i am well aware of how family plans and life direct projects such as this. Please stay in touch, I am going to have some bodywork you may want to see !!!!

It is not a Z, however this engine bay is very tidy !! http://www.tennesseeauto.com/19caowbymatu.html

DaleMX, you are being modest, I have been reading your posts as well as others and you have SKILLS !!!!. TheHappyHeathen, My neighbor has built WS6 Trans AM (LS1) and I can here him come through the neighborhood - and I can visualize his drivetrain in a Z. On the other hand my buddy Troy has a 383 Stroker carbureted Z and nitrous and boy is it a fun car !!!!I will be happy with either at this point.

Yes, when you compare a new G.M. crate SBC motor with a new TKO 500 or 600 tranny set-up versus a used LS1/T56 combos the final costs for a running car are close. Hopefully, you may run into a killer deal on a LS1/T56 combo with low miles and in good shape that would be perfect. I am leaning towards a SBC/TKO combo, however I am in envy of Phantom, DaleMX and several others who took the LS1 leap and have been successful with the swap.

This is an ironic thread !!!! I am from San Diego Ca- and I know Live In Hiram Georgia. My wife keeps asking me when will I get started on the motor swap, and I am procrastinating (spelling). I have looked at every small block combination and vendor I could find, and looked at the LS1 and LT1 combos on ebay and here in the southeast. From the spreadsheets I have created the cost for example a new 350 deluxe or zz4 fastburn with a TKO 500 transmission and JTR kit - compared to a used LS1/T56 including Johns cars mounting kit, going to Speartech to modify computer including misc stuff-headers,exhaust, cooling fan, fuel pump..........run pretty close in cost. I making my choice best on my skill and limitations and long term on what and how I want to enjoy my car.

Longstone tyres have the tire size 270/45-15, 295/40-15 and 335/35-15.

ON3GO, I found some wide 15 inch tires They are called Michelin TB5 and TB15. There may be a vintage tire dealer here in the states that sell these Michelins, but I know you can get them in the UK. Check out http://www.longstonetyres.com are enter Michelin TB15 in your search window. There is a pound to dollar conversion, and a tire size conversion on the site. They are not cheap !!! Pirelli also sells a 345/35-15 (The Lambhorghini Countach and Group 4 Pantera rear tires) P-zero Giallo Asimetrico, kind of costly also, But i have some ideas floating around in my head about these tires.

I am pretty sure he means Z-Car Atlanta off of Buford Highway in Norcross. A friend needed oxygen sensors replaced on his 300Z TT, they replaced them with used and charged him for new. I know other z and ZX owners who bad experiences with that shop.I got greased for an air flow meter and some datsun lug nuts. On a different note, Eddie Radatz in Kennesaw does great work, he can get busy at times. Give Balance Performance Motosports a call (in Sugar Hill, GA), they may can help you and or point you in the right direction.

Summit also carries the JTR Z swap manual.

I have to agree with Brad-manQ45, if you can avoid Z-car Atlanta on Buford Highway do avoid unless it is one of those small misc parts you can not find and you can not get the part from Z-barn, MSA or Victoria British. The manager/owner is rude and snotty and he charge outlandish prices for parts. If you do go to Z-Atlanta try catch one of the young guys who are cleaning parts in the salvage yard. From time to time Eddie Radatz Motorsports may have some salvage or parts cars at his shop. His shop is up in Kennesaw.

Oldestzguy, No your not crazy, you have a vision of what your Z will look like and its performance. Neither you or I will ever be considered a "PURIST". But, I have scaled back my search for vendors or fabricators of flares and bodykits due to time constraints. I am leaning towards the Porsche Turbo flares for the rear, and the MSA street flares for the front and I have all the tools and materials to do it myself with some direction from my buddy Troy. I will get the drivetrain swap and brake upgrade done in the following months, and by the end of November I will commit to a choice of bodywork. Between now and then I will keep asking around as time permits.

Ronin, I hope this is not a virus going around !!! Guys losing interest in their projects. But, I have been there as well due to business issues, extended family issues. However, tinkering here and there with the Z was my escape, plus I am twice your age, done with college and career stuff. If you are sure about your decision I am interested in the wheel and tires. I will PM you. But, if you sleep on it and change your mind that is fine.

Davyz, Yes it can work, but it will take a bit a work and trimming. The box flares for 924/944 have the same flow and attachment lines as the old Kaminari z kit. The Porsche 944/924 fit will be rounder in some areas, but it can be done.

That is a interesting photo. That looks like the method utilize for small boat molding and framing. I have been looking for auto fabricators for flares, maybe I should search for a boat fiberglass repair shop.:)That photo is giving me some more ideas.

WOW !!! I drive my car about once month on a weekend and this previous Saturday I had the same problem !!!! My car has been in my garage at home with a car cover over it. I did not know what the hell it was at first, and my wife knew what it was. I took a mold and mildew bathroom cleaner sprayed on damp towel and cleaned the entire interior of the car, I followed that with armor all and some carpet cleaner for the hatch area, seats and floor. Run the heater and defroster on high heat and let the heat blow through all the vents (windows open and don't get in the car). I pull the car out of the garage and let it sit in the sun with the windows open all day. Also, vacuum out the car. The only cause I can think of this happening to my car 1) Maybe I left some rags in the hatch and they may have been damp. 2) Hosing down the garage, maybe moisture and humidity built up in the garage because it remained damp? I leaning towards #2, I have been cleaning up the garage and hosing it down this summer, and I have had the car for 2 years without this problem until I started hosing down the garage.

There was a mopar Z on Ebay several months ago and a buddy of mine e-mailed the seller to get some information about the car and set up. I do not know if he received any information back from the seller, but it has been done and I will see if he received any info. I have been watching what products Street & Performance have been producing for the Hemi. But, I have flip-flop back and fourth from SBC/carb to LT1 to LS1. Check this out: http://www.hotrodlane.cc/ Look at the HEMI stuff and projetcs. All of my family stuff and business stuff away is out of the way, in the next few weeks I will make my choice. A HEMI-Z would be nice If you get any information please post, by the way I was reading somewhere Tremec and Mcleod had a TK0 500 and TK0 600 set up for the HEMI :)I will do some more reading on this. Information at the bottom of the page in references the 5 speed overdrive transmission

In race compound (wets) Goodyear eagle, Pirelli you can find 15 inch tires in wide tires (not good for everyday street driving, plus illegal) good for show. The Michelins are nice size tire but expensive, and with 15 inch rims your brake selection is limited. If you go to 17 inch tire, prices and choices are un-limited, finding rims /wheels is the hard part. But, I tell you those Michelins on a set of Watanabe Type R's 15 x12 and 15 x 8 would be nice:)

Locally, Pep boys, Napa-- Also I have found some auto widgets, grommets at Lowes. Mcmaster -Carr sell parts to all the automakers, they should have them as well.

It will cost a bit cash $$$ Across the pond Michelin is selling a 15 inch tire called the TB5 and TB15 ( I think TB5 is for road tarmac warmer conditions?) The tire sizes are as close as you can get to nostalgic wide 15 inch tires like Pirelli P7, Yokohama AVS sport and Avon. Do a search on the web- I have e-mailed Longstyres in the UK and they have a website with a pound to dollar conversion and size conversion like 295/40-15 as well as what the shipping costs to the US will be.