ZHeadV8

SImply because (hanging head in shame) I know rat sh*t about Chevy engines and we have no junk yard pullouts here - corvettes are very few and far between. The exchange rate makes buying stateside very cost effective for us right now and I will have a glass blasted, totally rebuilt and strengthened, freshly painted 1971 shell with total new floor and chassis and brand new : suspension control arms brakes wheels tyres seats lights trim wiring loom (yes...brand new custom made) clocks etc etc Just thought if I had a new engine and box I would have a car that would last me years, I have no intention of ever selling this one. If I could find a complete LS6 and T56 used for very little money I would go for it but they simply do not exist here. Unless someone can point me to one ...............

Indeed Great plan Still leaves me not really knowing what to buy...... Scoggin Dickey have an LS6 longblock @ $7,295, clutch and flywheel @ $349 and T56 close ratio box @ $6,4xx as opposed to half that much for a standard T56 so for $14K I could get engine, clutch and box, just have to add shipping and duty. UK quote for the same added up to c$20K cannot see shipping and duty costing $6K and it would be brand new.

Thanks Tim, WHatever I buy from the US will have shipping then 6% import duty then 17.5% tax added. Even so, I reckon you are right, I can still get stuff sent over for the same or less money than I can buy here for.

Not completed yet but this has mounted up and will now be close to a $60K build without the engine, suspension is Ohlins, brakes AP Racing, adjustable control arms, Work wheels from Japan, heated screen, full leather trim, NISMO R200 diff, carbon fibre, centre fuel tank, cage, etc etc THis is not a drag car, I want a very very fast, tractable, road car. I understand all of this except anything to do with Chevy V8s so am glad of the help and guidance. What I really need is someone to say "here you are, complete engine, box with all ancilliaries" to give 400BHP+, lots of torque delivered low down the rev range, crisp response, fairly high revving (6-7,500) mated with a decent 6 speed box (T-56 looking the choice). Any more ideas please ??? Many Thanks Andy

Thanks guys, Pointers much appreciated. I am looking for 4 -450BHP and the same ft lbs of torque, I do not want a car so powerful that it is intractable - I want it to behave well at low speeds and in traffic and go like stink when driven hard. The price thing is an issue, they are at a premium here because they are so few and far between but you are right, I checked Scoggin Dickey and can buy new for very little difference in money. Will check out the other sites mentioned. One thing I have been told (forgive my ignorance) is that the LS^ will not run with anything other than the standard ECU......is that right ? DO I need an aftermarket one ? I have been sold the idea that Motec and DTA are the best because they allow you to adjust and tune each cylinder individually. Is that necessary ? Would a "standard" Corvette ECU work well ? Cannot see why it wouldn't. I know these are basic questions but please forgive me, there is sweet bugger all to go on over here other than what you read on the web. Very few people really know what they are talking about when it comes to Chevy V8s over here. Many Thanks Andy F

Hi Guys, My car is coming on really well and now is the time to put an engine in. The choice has always been LS6 as advised by many but ....... I have come across a 2002 LS1 engine with everything, new pumps, new belts etc etc that has done less than 5000 miles that I can have for $6-7K. The guy selling it builds high spec engines and has never run this - he says he was told before it came out it had a little "cold slap" which obviously goes away when warm. He has agreed that if I am not totally happy with it he will refund the money against a custom engine which will be built from the ground up using LS1 / LS6 components and will cost $14k. The reason for the question is that I have precious little Chevy V8 experience, there are very very few in the UK so I have nothing to go on : Is the 2002 LS1 a decent engine ? Is a custom built engine using LS1 / LS6 components going to be as good as a standard LS6 ? I think I am a little bit hooked up on having "the latest" and am prepared to be corrected. He claims the reason he custom builds is because for the same money as a stock motor he can put in uprated main bearings, springs etc etc but the big thing is that an LS6 triggers differently and cannot use aftermarket ECU's in the same way. He is suggesting Motec or DTA ECU for launch and traction control with sensors on the wheels. Is this right ? I am going tomorrow morning so would be very grateful for any prompt responses with pointers etc. Many Thanks Andy F

911 seats should drop straight in - I am just buying a pair of black leather seats from a porsche 996 turbo.

I can just picture the deer talking to his mates saying " Some scmuck ran into me, man you wanna see the bruise on my *** !!!" Glad you were not hurt, glad the car is not too badly damaged, always a shame to hit an animal, much better killed cleanly with a single shot like wheelman said.

I bought the sample books and they are excellent. Pretty much anything you can imagine is in there, candys, flips, pearls the lot. If you buy the paint they deduct the cost of the colour charts (well here in the UK anyway)

I have a photo of this car from two angles - it is stunning and I have always wanted to know how it was done, thank you for sharing the details !!! Would be happy to post but cannot work out how (DOH I know..... pooter illiterate)

I have a .223 and a .300 Winmag - the Winmag is excellent for long distance - hitting things so they know they've been hit but the .223 can put 10 rounds virtually through the same hole at 100 yards. Even taking into account the gung ho throw lots of lead approach they simply could not miss !!!!!

Welcome back Tomahawk ! As a relatively new member I have done searches and read stuff from the past you had input to, thanks for the shared knowledge. In the UK we have fucked up gun laws too - I had all of my hand guns made illegal (no one here can have them anymore) and had to hand them in. I can no longer have a .22 hand gun but I have a .300 Winmag sniper rifle and am licenced for a .50 cal !!!! Can you believe that ? Cannot have a handgun useless past 100 yards but can have a sniper rifle accurate to a mile and a half ?????? Anyway, the upshot is you're back, they didn't break you and I look forward to caustic sarcastic wit. Sounds like you will still be Tomahawk........ am sure the administrators can give you your id, status and post count back.

Awesome movie - don't forget we stand shoulder to shoulder over there, there are a lot of very brave brits doing the exact same things.

Magnum.. CONGRATULATIONS ! On having a beautiful wife, a storming car and a take no s**t attitude. This thread has really cheered me up

Vinny ....... pictures please prices ..... your CF is gonna cause me hardship, I can just see it coming

In too Vince

Me too - what a muppet

Awesome link

All of the manual boxes over here in the UK were 5 speed as far as I know, maybe a few four speeds got through in the very very early days but I have never seen or heard of them. A lot of Californian Zs are imported here to be converted and we have to throw away the four speed boxes or even the automatics (why ? why ? why ?)

Hi, I have a friend who has very strong japanese connections and is exceptionally well versed on all things Z - I will email him a link to this thread and if he can help I am sure he will contact you. GOOD LUCK Andy F

Excellent links guys - this is an area I had not really thought about but one that is fascinating, and the time to look at improvements is at the bare shell stage of a project. THANKS !!

Here : http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/645045/1 Would love to do it as the result is stunning but it is WAY too much work for me. Will just have to sit and drool.

Thanks Dan - will get the mag ordered and check out the links. Cheers Andy F

Is it legal over there to do that to an engine ???? Imagine if it got stuck, how the hell would you explain THAT down at the hospital

Absolutely great pic that didn't make it Dan ! Are the flares front and back from Reaction Research ? I am looking at body shapes now for my project and would appreciate some pointers. Also, where did the front spoiler come from please ? I was planning on having one pipe each side, removing the tank and installing a fuel cell - what was necessary to have the pipes coming out of the centre like that ? Very dribblesome sexy looking car indeed. Well done on the article, if you can send me a link to their web site I will order a copy to be sent here to the UK so I can read it. Many Thanks Andy F