ZHeadV8

Not on the car because it is at shell stage but in the build plan : AP Racing six pot calipers, vented discs up front, four pot calipers vented discs at the back.

The link goes to a different site Mike, apparently http://www.fivespeeds.com is up for sale now as a domain name ?????? Was there when I looked a few days ago. Looks like I need a custom box to handle the power - back to your original advice of getting one put together to suit the engine and car. Would a T56 cope with a standard 405BHP LS6 engine without trashing the synchros ?

That's what I thought, I thought the Aston Martins used T56's as well to handle the power which is why I was surprised when the engine supplier said they were not up to it (he sells them new and used so could easily have made a sale if he wanted)

So maybe the guy is not so full of crap after all, maybe he really does know his stuff. He is suggesting a very powerful engine, whether a twin turbo or just a 500BHP LS6 is yet to be decided and is concerned about exactly what you say. Thanks for the feedback. Anyone else have a view ? I will be gutted if I spend 18months and $60K on a car that eats it's gearbox.

Hi Guys, I have searched and searched but not come up with what I am looking for so here goes : Thank you for your engine advice and help, I am now on course with an LS6 - gearbox advice from you guys (and Mike in particular, thanks) was either a T56 or preferably a G-Force custom ....BUT...... The engine supplier is telling me that the high BHP engines (over 450) will destroy a T56 and I should be looking at an auto box. The models given were GM400 and Hydromatic. Please forgive me, I do not know either of these boxes as they are not common here in the UK. The question is simple, is the guy talking crap ? He can supply 400 - 700BHP engines, the latter being twin turbo but will not warranty a T56 with them because he says the engine will literally "break" the box under full load on a drag strip. So how the hell do the Lingenfelter engines cope ? Does anyone have seriously high BHP and torque running through a manual T56 or G-Force box without trouble ?

Thanks Rufus - getting to the "suppose I'd better have carbon fibre overfenders" stage. Appreciate your help.

Thanks NZeder - they are actually pretty good ! I particularly wanted the overfender look but moulded in, however those flares look right somehow

Z31 You have balls - what you are doing is very brave and I wish you the best of luck. I have a sister and have talked about finding her for years but have never done it - I should. Closure is personal, what works for one does not work for another so only you know what is best for you. You have already said you stay off drink because of your behaviour, good for you, break the chain. Do not let it happen to your kids when they arrive. I have truly broken the chain of behaviour from my adoptive father, never physically abusive but mentally - I love my kids, they hug me, kiss me and say "I love you Daddy" all the time, something I did not have. Sometimes an apparent victim can turn out to be much much stronger than their abuser - your attitude points to you being one of those people. GOOD LUCK

Went away on holiday for the new year, came back today to find my division at work has been shut down as of December 31st and I have no job - BUMMER ! Forget the food and the mortgage, how the hell do I get an LS6 engine now ?????? Will find another soon I am sure - I refuse to lay down and dream (big words, lets see if I can sort it !)

Hi Mark - sorry for the week's delay, been out of the country. How cheap is cheap ? Please PM me - have looked on their site and have not found any pictures, requested a catalogue WEEKS AND WEEKS ago but have nothing in the post. Any chance you can send a pic please ? Many Thanks Andy

Thanks - a rebuild every 100K+ is nothing for a seriously powerful engine, try running an EVO VIII or a Subaru Impreza that have been tuned to 500BHP and see what they require ! Will join LS1.com and read up, thanks for the pointer Cheers Andy F

Does anyone make the ZG overfenders in steel that can be welded on then blended in ? Cannot find them anywhere and do not want the bolt on look associated with normal overfenders. Any other suggestions on great looking steel flares ? As a last resort I might need to have some made. Many Thanks Andy F

Anyone know where to get the DVD's ? Have heard great things from some and scathing reports from others.

Cool, so I put a 125BHP shot into the motor and what happens ? I know I get more HP but what about the torque ? What does it do to the engine ? I have heard scare stories of each shot takes x amount of miles off the life, you need to rebuild every x amount of miles. What is the truth here please ? If there is no damage to the engine it is a done deal - if it means a rebuild every 10K miles then I will have to think seriously. Thanks for such a prompt reply to the last question

Hi Magnum, Since the last question things have turned sharp left. I have had some great helpful advice from Mike and other forum members on whether to use the Edelbrock old school SBC or a newer computer controlled one and there was a resounding "don't be a muppet, get an LS6" so that is what I am going to do. As the LS6 puts out 400BHP ish that should be enough for everyday use, is an LS6 strong enough to cope with N2O without much internal work ?? Would only use it occasionally on track days or drag runs. HAPPY NEW YEAR Andy F

Thanks for the pointer - thought I had found my goal but the VIN has to be 1981 or newer. C**p, back to the drawing board

Owen, I love the bonnet in the film roll pics on your post. Are the vents custom or are they available to buy please ? I have looked on V8Zcar.com for details but cannot find any ..... in fact the car looks totally different. Many Thanks Andy F

Looks Great - car looks nice too, looks more ivory in the pictures than white, like a classic. Gives me motivation, thanks, my car is at the bare shell stage so have a lot of work to do.

It's never a good idea to jump in with both feet, particularly when you are unsure of your technical footing like I am but I did a LOT of research on which box to use and noted on many occasions that people did not like Tremec (Don't blame me, I've never had one) because they were "notchy" and took a long time to settle in. One of the many sites I read upside down and inside out before I came across HybridZ was Pete Paraska's and one of the most useful sections for a newcomer like me was his "stupid moves" page, one of which was to try a Tremec. Thanks Pete - HUGE amount of useful info for a newbie. I have had the T56 recommended by a lot of people then further refined by the GForce recommendation based on weight and custom gearing. My mindset is now LS6 / GForce although I have no first hand experience to decry any other products. The WSC guys will not use junk - they will only use the top kit available. I need ask no further questions than that. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!

Indeed it did ! 4 cylinders, 3 carbs, 2 cams

Auxiliary - great response earlier, thought provoking to say the least ! Here in the UK we have LOADS of high powered Japanese cars but very few American style muscle cars (that term is used in the nicest sense of the word) and I think the whole choice thing comes down to how you like a car to drive. Getting crazy BHP from an Impreza turbo or a Mitsubishi EvoVIII is child's play , 5 - 6 - 700BHP no problem but they simply do not have the really low down grunty torque of a big V8. However - the engineering on the Japanese engines is superb and although they CHOOSE not to build an engine like the LS6 I am convinced they could do it with their eyes shut if they wanted to - they evidently don't want to for tax / marketing / image or some other reason. For my money I prefer the growl of a V8 and lots of torque but I guess that's the beauty of all this, we all like and want different things. Looking forward to smokin' some high BHP Japanese cars though

OK - pretty much got my head sorted now, thanks. ZROSSA - my inspiration for a hybrid was a TVR Cerbera but done properly in a Z chasssis. My friend has a 4.5 Cerbera which is horrifically fast but goes round corners like damp string. I have had three Zs and am convinced I can make it as fast or faster but handle really well too. Was shocked at the price of LS1 edit but then realised I was looking at the wrong bits - all I need is a PCM locked version @ $450 ish - cheap when you think of the ability to unlock power, much cheaper than bolt ons. Now all I need to find is the engine - is an LS6 an LS6 regardless ?. I ask this question as I have seen you use the Z06 tag as well. Are they one and the same ? Should I be looking at any particular variant of the LS6 ? Back to the same question about computers - is there a preferred PCM unit ? Cheers Andy.

Thanks Mike - I am feeling really comfortable with the computer controlled FI route now as opposed to the NA route I was going in before. Sounds like the LS6 will be plenty powerful enough and a lot cheaper than trying to source an LS7 when they arrive. I will probably run the engine stock to start with but with custom mapping, you can buy 400HP crate LS6's, I have already seen them advertised, then if I want a bit hairier I can look at a cam. Thinking about it, 400BHP in a car that will weigh about 1200KG is a MONSTER power to weight ratio, far more than the likes of a BMW M3 - by the time the custom mapping is sorted I guess you are talking 430 / 440 maybe without bolt ons. You mention a CAI....... ignorant newbie kind of question but WTF is a CAI please ? Will ANY aftermarket ECU be ok or are there specific ones that work really well with the LS6 ? I want one you can plug a laptop into and load different maps at will. Emissions are not much of a problem here - you have to be running a smoking old wreck to run into that problem. People just tune lean, get the certificate then tune back properly if they need to. Custom headers ........ I have checked out all the links I have been given and John's Cars offer "ramshorn headers", they do not look like they were designed for performance to me, more like something off a truck. Would they be appropriate ? For the NA smallblock JTR offer nice ceramic coated Sandersen headers - will check out if anywhere does them for an LS6. I pm'd MikeJTR to see whether he could help with the LS1/6 kit and unfortunately he couldn't so I am planning to buy the John's Cars kit. Keep it coming guys - I have just managed about two months of learning in a week thanks to your help.

Excellent write up DiZeased 240, thanks - have a nagging thought that a highly tuned, stroked engine whilst giving the same power will not be as well mannered as a factory supplied one with the same BHP, who knows, I have nothing to compare it to. Will check out LS6 prices online and see if I can get an LS7 price - cannot wait 10 months though !

Thanks again guys - this is seriously helpful stuff. The car will be totally bare shelled, totally stitch welded (yes EVEYWHERE, EVERY SINGLE JOINT) and have a firewall transplant to RHD by February. It will be painted in March, have suspension and brakes in it by April / May so I am looking for an engine supplied to the UK by June, sounds like the LS7 will not be available. These timescales are driven by funding, I am putting down about $5-6K per month, cant afford to go too much faster, the odd month I will be able to double up but not often. The brakes are about $5K as is the suspension, the paint is from House of Kolor and will be a b*tch to apply but it will be worth it. Going for a pearl. Yes I know I should trial fit the engine first but the job is being done by a guy that has done it this way for Team Toyota many many times. The floor pan will be painted inside after the mounts have been welded, the underside will be done black. Assume that the cost effective option is an LS6 with a few tweaks to make 500BHP (More important to me will be the torque) then which ECM do you recommend ? Presumably not standard GM but an aftermarket one ? Mike, you mentioned LS1 Edit - I presume this is a piece of software to edit the ECM / ECU parameters. Where do I get it from please and do you know if it will work with the LS6 ? Assume I manage to get my paws on an LS7, apart from more torque and more HP are there any other benefits ? Obviously there will be "posing" points but other than that ? The old style to the LS series has very obvious advantages now you have all explained but the 6 to the 7 ? Thanks Andy