Paz8 Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 After driving around on back country roads for a week or so I finally have a street legal ZX SBC. To all you guys with projects in the works, let me tell you that it is worth all the time, money, and skinned knuckles. This car is FUN to drive, it puts a smile on your face. It is fast, handles curves flat, sounds good and did I mention FUN. So "getter done" you won't be disappointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 First of all, congratulations on a project completed, and here's wishing for many drag strip victories and many miles of happy cruising! That said - and I'd hate to be the curmudgeon again - but at least in my experience, after "getting her done" - that is, after the first drive upon completing the swap - come months of largely fruitless efforts at getting the engine tuned and at sorting out the "minor things" that have more do to with maintenance than with the swap. Just starting the engine is a hit-or-miss experience. Trying to figure out the causes of the various colors of tailpipe smoke has not been an innocent game of trivial pursuit. And rowing that truck transmission - the one with all those hi-po parts designed to be "bulletproof" - ruins all the fun of quick bursts of acceleration. After all these years of tinkering, I don't want an incessant project - I want a reliable vehicle that starts in the Ohio "autumn" cold, idles reliably, doesn't lose oil pressure when accelerating or fuel pressure when braking. My car fails in all of these regards, so it just sits in the garage. Here's hoping that you don't fall into this rut, that you sort out the nuisances of tuning, and enjoy the fruit of your labors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted November 5, 2006 Author Share Posted November 5, 2006 So far so good, already have carb dialed in jet wise and electric choke set up, been bumping up timing a little at a time, plugs look good. One small oil leak at of all places the block off plate for the mech. fuel pump. No fuel or coolant leaks, car runs at 170 deg. never higher, guess I'll have to wait till next summer to see how it cools in 90 degree weather. It's cold here in the AM also, been going down to 30F at night. I just came back from a ride, put about 60 miles on the Z, I feel like Dennis the Menence driving it, it's alot of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bschiltz Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 Congrats on the car I have to keep telling my self "It'll all be worth it in the end!":shock: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
typhoone Posted November 5, 2006 Share Posted November 5, 2006 conrats my friend. I am about to start my project. and you made me want to get started much soonerthan I am able to. I hope to begin my swap right after christmas so I won't have to worry about money. and on that note, I am just wondering, how much did your swap end up costing you and how long did it takeyou to complete. not trying to be nosy, but just trying to find out how long my wallet is going to be in a coma. once again, congratulations on your success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 It took me about 8 months of on again off again work, but I redid the entire car not just an engine trans swap, here is a partial list of work performed: New inner and outer tie rod ends New struts and frt springs New ball joints New control arm bushings New brake hoses (6) New urathane bushings front and rear Rebuilt brake calipers (4) painted New master cylinder Installed line lock frt brakes Rebuilt steering rack, painted Replaced floor pans and support rails Fabricated sub frame reinforcements front and rear New rear shocks and springs Inspected and painted rear diff. and half safts Mounted battery in spare tire well New fuel line tank to carb New fuel pump Fabricated radiator mounts Install trans cooler Entire interior removed, cleaned and painted Engine: 73' Vette block, high nickle, 4 bolt, 350 ci 67' fuelie heads double hump 2.02 valves 64CC Crane hyd street cam Edelbrock performer intake 750 Holley vac sec. Holley blue electric pump Chevy HEI dist vac adv JTR headers 700r4 trans: B&M shift kit B&M throttle valve plunger Single wire converter lockup All this work performed by me, myself and I, only things not done by myself were the exhaust system and driveshaft. I'm sure there are alot of things I left out but I have about $5,000 in the car, but many items I had before I started or had friends give to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
typhoone Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 dang, that sounds REALLY impressive. around how much of that $5000 is in the motor? what do you think the hp on it is? would you be able to post any pictures of it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 Can't say for sure I didn't keep close track on the money I put out but engine and trans ready to go about $2500, thats all the little stuff also, mini geared starter, alternator, headers, PS pump, all the drive pulleys, etc. I'm not a dyno kind of guy just an old gear head, the car pulls hard, with the 4 speed auto and 3.54 rear I can't nail it from a dead stop it will just lite up the tires until I leave off, if I pull out and then nail it , it puts down about 5 feet of rubber when it shifts to second gear. You got to remember this is a ZX which is heavy compared to a Z car, but I think also stronger frame/cross members up front, I'm going to have it weighed this week. I took alot of weight out of the front of the car, A/C gone, battery in rear, alum. intake, headers, geared starter, thats about 100 pounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deja Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 Very cool, sounds like you did your build right. Got any picts for us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted November 6, 2006 Author Share Posted November 6, 2006 Been meaning to start an album of pics but find something else to play with on the car, about out of work on the ZX for this winter so I guess I'll get around to postings some pics soon, thanks to all for the kind words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted November 6, 2006 Share Posted November 6, 2006 I know excactly how you feel. All the time, trouble, costs, setbacks, etc; are all worth it when you get to drive her down the road. I drove mine a little Friday night and I couldn't believe how much fun it was. I still have some issues, but I'm confident I'll work them out eventually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paz8 Posted November 7, 2006 Author Share Posted November 7, 2006 Bartman, your ride should really fly, much better traction with the LSD rear, should slam you back into the seat when your on it. I have been waiting to score a LSD r200 to throw into the car. My ZX is a Sunday driver for me, just a toy, if I had to start all over I would opt for a LT or LS injected engine, I like the high tech look under the hood. It sure feels good to make a great car even better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bartman Posted November 7, 2006 Share Posted November 7, 2006 Bartman, your ride should really fly, much better traction with the LSD rear, should slam you back into the seat when your on it. I have been waiting to score a LSD r200 to throw into the car. My ZX is a Sunday driver for me, just a toy, if I had to start all over I would opt for a LT or LS injected engine, I like the high tech look under the hood. It sure feels good to make a great car even better.It does pretty much fly, but I'm limited now by the size of my tires. The thing about going with an LT or LS injected engine is the additional time for the initial install...you really need to be good at wiring. The good thing is now I can just hookup my laptop to take data recordings and make changes to the program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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