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Hey, thanks for viewing my ride. Please leave comments, good or bad, and suggestions in the guestbook. If you sign mine, I'll take a look at your page and do the same.
Alright, here's a little info on my Z28: I purchased the car in December of 2003 for $6,300 (what a steal!). The car had 82,700 miles on it with a close to perfect body and gorgeous leather interior. It was bone stock at the time, with the exceptions of the head unit and subwoofers. As of 11/24/2008, it has 149,850 miles on it since it is my daily driver. It drives great and gets good mileage too -- 21/26 MPG.
*Update - 05/04/09* My LT1 is no more. I'm not sure why, but I threw a rod while accelerating around 4k RPMs two weeks ago. Right now I'm driving a sweet 2000 Accord Coupe EX V6. It's red with tan leather and it makes me feel like a high school cheerleader. At least I have something to drive while I figure out what to do with my Z28. I'm looking at either picking up a 98-02 Z28 or throwing a 383 stroker engine into the Camaro. How's that for the first update in 2 years?
*Update - 05/05/07* So my stereo is a little different from what my pics show now. In the front door panels I have 6.5" Infinity Kappa 6022i's and Rockford Fosgate 6.5" in the rear. The Infinities have awesome mid to highs and the Fosgates have really great low to mids for 6.5" speakers. And of course I sold my subs and amp. I still have the box if anyone wants it. I also had to replace the plastic panel that goes around the lock/window switches since it cracked. Another $20 into plastic for my Camaro.
*Update - 03/03/07* A couple nights ago, OK GMP, an F-body group, had a track night at Thunder Valley Raceway. Needless to say I took my car and made a few passes -- 4 to be exact. While I didn't run quite what I wanted to, I did manage a 13.65 @ 103.90 MPH . With 2.73s though, there's not much I can do, at least not without a stall and some good tires. Also my transmission is starting to shift somewhat sloppy. Maybe I'll throw in a built one this summer along with a stall. Who knows?...
*Update - 09/21/06* It's been a while since I've updated -- been busy with school and everything. So a few days after my last update, 3 to be exact, my transmission decided to die. I ended up having to put a different transmission and torque convertor in before it would shift properly. There went another $600. Anyway, it's been running good for a while now. I just need some 3.42s for it.
*Update - 06/15/06* I finally got my car back from the shop. I ended up getting new plugs, wires, underdrive pulleys, and who knows what else. All the parts, including the HotCam kit, pushrods, and a DynaSpark added up to over $1700. It runs great though, I love it. Now, just to take it to the drags/dyno...
*Update - 06/03/06* I uploaded a pic of my cam package (in the performance section below). The car is going into the shop on 6/5 and should take about a week to get everything installed. It's been almost a month without driving my car much. Heartbreaking I tell you. Accepting donations... haha.
*Update - 05/14/06* Today, the annual 'wax my car' fest took place. It's freakin' shiny now. And no, I didn't use Mother's wax despite the fact that today is Mother's Day. It may look good, but it's still running like crap thanks to good ol' Mr. Optispark. I did receive my new DynaSpark Gen II in the mail, however, I am still waiting on my cam package to be delivered. A word of advice: never buy from gmpartsdirect.com if you want your stuff quickly... Anyway, check out some new pics I took today below.
*Update - 05/08/06* Last week, my optispark started going out again. For those who are unfamiliar of the best GM part ever made, the optispark is the distributor on the LT1 that is super-sensitive to moisture. Never hit large puddles in your LT1. Anyway, I ordered a DynaSpark, a $599 distributor that won't mess up again. I figured while I was at it, I'd do a cam and valvetrain package. I ordered the LT4 hotcam kit, along with a bunch of gaskets and some hardened pushrods. The total for all of that came to around $800. So yeah, I just spent $1400 on parts... someome buy my stereo, please? See below.
*Update - 04/29/06* Last week I finally re-did my audio setup. I bought some Rockford Fosgate T162Cs for the rear and took out my subs/amp. While it sounds good, it obviously isn't anything like it was. The subs are now sold and I'm still trying to get rid of the amp and box.
*Update - 04/09/06* After a quick wash and a couple bottles of octane booster, I was off to the drags once again. I made a couple runs, one for fun and the other for a time. Actually they were both fun as hell. The first run (not timed) I owned an 80's model Mustang 5.0. It was cammed and everything -- I was pretty set on losing. The second run I was lined up against a 2004+ model Lightning. It wasn't even a race. I ended up spanking him with a 13.68 @ 101MPH. Not too bad for a bolt-on LT1 with 127K miles and 2.73 gears (I only use 1st and 2nd for 95% of the quarter mile).
*Update - 02/13/06* The waterpump had developed a leak around the area where it seals up to the engine during the past couple weeks. After much procrastination, waiting until it was leaking too bad to drive, my dad and I finally changed out the seals, along with putting the 160 thermostat back in since Spring is just around the corner. All is well, still running great. I even beat a 6-speed LS1 T/A a few weeks ago on the highway. It was close, but my LT1 with 2.73 gears pulled on it nonetheless. It still has a lot of life left in it, I think...
*Update - 10/23/05* Apparently I broke the transmission mount last week. I know exactly when I did it too. I was driving about half throttle and it shifted from 1st to 2nd at about 25-30 MPH when I heard this loud "CLU-UNK". I was thinking WTF WAS THAT?! I figured it out pretty quickly though. Every shift afterwards was pretty rough, and even shifting to reverse made it clunk. I got a lifetime warranty on the new transmission mount though, so between my 96 Camaro and a newer one that I'm going to get, I bet I'll get my money's worth.
*Update - 10/04/05* Today I took out the plastic piece in the shifting console to allow me to manually put it in 1st gear. This is normally disabled on cars with 2.73 gears to comply with federal emissions standards. Now I've got some more power to play with down low.
*Update - 09/09/05* I installed my new dashboard today. It went in easy and looks good. Definitely a rip off at $150 though. If anyone needs a 93-97 dashboard, my old one is still in pretty good shape aside from the crack in the bottom right corner of the passenger side. I'm sure it could be glued pretty easily and look fine. So if anyone wants a sweet deal on a dash, hit me up eck@aim.com or on AIM, screenname Eck.
*Update - 08/30/05* My dashboard cracked on the bottom right corner a few days ago, so that kinda sucks. My dad suggested gluing it back, but I don't know if I can handle that. I think I'll just order a new one from http://www.gmpartsdirect.com . There's another $150 sunk into the Camaro. These cars are great about that. Also gas is up to $2.95 for 91 today. Why, WHY?!
*Update - 08/12/05* Not much new going on with the ride. I think I've finally decided on keeping it for a little while longer and THEN selling it. What else is there to do? Besides that, gas prices SUCK. As of today, Premium is nearing $2.50. Also, QT stopped serving 93 octane, so that sucks. 91 just isn't the same...
*Update - 07/07/05* After 1.5 years of driving with a crack on the driver's side of my windshield, I got around to fixing it today. I had the windshield installed by Glass Masters. They did an excellent job; it looks perfect and they were the cheapest I could find -- $165 total. One step closer to perfection. So what's next? I'm seriously considering the LT4 Hot Cam Kit from Summit Racing. It's $530 and includes pretty much everything. There are a few other parts I'd get like hardened pushrods and a new timing chain, and probably the LT4 intake manifold while I'm at it. It's just that installation would be no fun. As soon as I get prices on installations and whatnot, and then the actual money, I'll probably do it.
*Update - 06/10/05* I finally got my new tires on today after a week of completely bald tires. The previous week or so went something like this: Monday, 5/30, I had a local shop order 4 Kumho ECSTA Supra 712s and they said they would be in Friday, 6/1. I didn't have time to get them until the following Monday. So that day, before going to the tire shop I had the genious idea of burning off my old tires. I did two gigantic burnouts -- it was ridiculous. My tires were completely shot, with the belt showing through. So I drive to the tireshop and they're not in. Great. Just great. So I ordered them on TireRack.com on Wednesday, 6/8, and got them today. I posted a couple pics of the tires sitting on my patio.
*Update - 04/26/05* Took some new pics of the car. They're not really much different than previous pics, but I was tired of seeing winter pictures and thought some spring pics would be nice. In other news, I need new tires. I'll be getting some Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 245/50/16s soon. There goes another $400. I also think I decided to keep my car. I am also considering buying a GM Hotcam kit. It's either that, or a Comp Cams 224/230, but if I go that route I'd have to buy everything else seperately, which means more $. Oh, and I also ordered a Hypertech 160 thermostat. That should help out a little.
*Update - 04/10/05* Today (12:00AM in the morning), some friends and I went to the midnight drags. I decided it was time to run my car. First run out I went 13.84 @ 105MPH. Yeah, my bald "Sumi-no-traction-o" tires were downright horrible. I'll get mid 13s if I ever get some decent tires.
*Update - 03/17/05* I took my Z to Tulsa Dyno today where it was put on the DynoJet. It put down 281 HP and 326 TQ, which calculates out to 352 HP and 408 TQ at the flywheel. It ran flawlessly, the engine seems to be in great shape. The A/F ratio was a steady 14, so I do need to get that fixed. You can see a pic of the dyno graph below.
*Update - 03/12/05* I installed the SLP strut bar a couple days ago. It's nice - really helps reduce body roll during and coming out of sharp turns and gradual curves at high speed. Yesterday I did the throttle body bypass. The LS1 aluminum driveshaft went in today, all is good. Next up is the sound system. I need to do something different. While the Pioneer 4 ways are nice, I'm considering getting something different for the rear, something with more bass, and purchasing a 4 channel amp for the speakers. Then I would do away with the subs. Another possibility is to get a stealthbox with a JL Audio sub. If you have a similar setup, tell me about it in my guestbook.
*Update - 02/25/05* Finally got around to giving my car some much needed attention. I started out with a quick wash at the carwash, took it home for a handwash, and then used Step 1 Meguiars cleaner to get all the crap off of it. After that I used Meguiars Gold paste wax. That stuff is just great, I highly recommend it. Total, I spent around 5 hours on my car. It was well worth it though. I took some new pics afterward - it looks so fine!
*Update - 02/23/05* Got my car back from the body shop where I had the front end repainted. It looks great, one step closer to perfection.
*Update - 02/14/05* Uploaded a few more group pics.
*Update - 02/10/05* I received my PCM from MadZ28.com . It gave a nice improvement as well as disabling the engine codes.
New pics taken on May 14, 2006:
Pics taken on April 26th, 2005:
Performance Mods
▪▪ GM HotCam Kit - 218/228 Duration, .525/.525 Lift
▪▪ 1.6 Rocker Rollers, Springs, Hardened Pushrods
▪▪ Pacesetter Armorcoated Long Tube Race Headers
▪▪ MadZ28 PCM Tuning
▪▪ Lingenfelter Cold Air Intake w/ Giant K&N Conical Air Filter
▪▪ March Underdrive Pulleys
▪▪ Flowmaster 80 Series Exhaust
▪▪ LS1 Aluminum Driveshaft
▪▪ SLP Strut Bar
▪▪ LT4 Knock Module
▪▪ TPI Air Foil
▪▪ Removed AIR, EGR
▪▪ Removed CAT
▪▪ Descreened MAF
▪▪ Throttle Body Bypass
▪▪ Hypertech 160 Thermostat
▪▪ Enabled Manual 1st Gear Selection
Misc. Mods
▪▪ Kumho ECSTA Supra 712 Tires
▪▪ Wagner Performance Brake Pads
▪▪ Kleen Wheels Brake Dust Covers
▪▪ 15% Tint
▪▪ Front End Paint Job
Maintenance
▪▪ New Starter
▪▪ New Optispark, New DynaSpark
▪▪ New Plugs/Wires X2
▪▪ New Waterpump
▪▪ New Windshield
▪▪ New Dashboard
▪▪ New Window Motors
▪▪ New Transmission Mount
▪▪ New Transmission
▪▪ New Switch Panel
Total spent on performance mods: $2,430
Total spent on misc. mods: $900
Total spent on maintenance: $1,925
Speed
147mph in 3rd gear, gotta love those 2.73s. It turns out my speedometer is off at high speeds, a semi-common problem in 93-97 Z28s. Calculating RPMs in with my gear ratio, I was actually doing 160 MPH. I made another high speed run, but didn't take a picture this time. It finally shifted into 4th gear, was doing 4K RPMs @ 160 MPH -- not too shabby. Too bad it can't pull in overdrive.
Dyno
Dyno graph from 3/17/05 showing 281 RWHP and 326 RWTQ , which calculates out to 352 HP and 408 TQ at the flywheel, using 20% drivetrain power loss estimate. This is before the cam package and underdrive pulleys.
Cam
GM LT4 Hotcam Kit - 218/228 duration, .525/.525 lift, 1.6 rocker rollers, springs, hardened pushrods, and LT4 timing chain on 6/3/2006.
Headers
The headers right before install:
And after:
Pulleys
March underdrive pulleys and corresponding Gates belt:
Tires
New Kumho ECSTA Supra 712 245/50/16ZR tires sitting on my patio on 6/10/05:
Mobile Electronics
▪▪ Pioneer DEH-1600 Head Unit
▪▪ Four 4-Way Pioneer 6.5" Speakers
▪▪ Two 1,000 Watt 12" Rockford Fosgate Punch Level 3 Subwoofers
▪▪ Memphis PR300 Amp
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