This is our 1971 Z-28.

It is not a numbers matching car, so we decided to just make it how we wanted it. Here is a picture of the wheels & tires on the car when we bought it.

I didn't like how the tires looked, they weren't wide enough for the 10" Crager SS wheels, and the wheels were too wide for the fenders, so I ditched the Cragers and got 8" rallies. The rear tires became the fornts, and 275/60R15 BF Goodrich's went on the rear. Even though the trim rings aren't on in this picture, it still looks better to me.

The Goodmark cowl induction hood was on the car when we bought it, and I definately liked it, so We kept it on the car. As things turned out, we needed the extra hood clearance also. The car was in pretty good shape when we got it, but I still only drove it one time before beginning a total re-do. The undercarriage was pretty clean to begin with, very little rust. Someone had done a nice job of undercoating. Basically, I just repainted the sheet metal underneath. I installed Competition Engineering subframe connectors, and energy suspension urethane bushings everywhere. New KYB gas shocks were also installed. The car had traction bars when we got it, and I couldn't stand how they looked, so I found an original sway bar and got the lower shock plates needed to reinstall the sway bar.

That is not a new gas tank, just removed & cleaned & painted the original with dull aluminum paint. New chrome differential cover hides a 3.08 posi rearend. Of course we installed all new brake hardware & shoes & pads. The engine bay before and after resto:

The master cylinder was leaking a bit, so I replaced that also, along with the rotors. Transmission is a Muncie M-20, which some people don't like, but with the 3.08 gears, the wide ratio will be a bit better than the close ratio M-22. Wheels are 15 x 8" Rallyes, and tires are 245/60R15 front and 275/60R15 rear. Interior was gutted out completely.

Everything from the headliner down was replaced. A side note-I don't like doing headliners. The seat were a breeze to do, as was the carpet. There was no console when we bought the car, but I found one at a junkyard,and refurbed it as best I could. It came out pretty good, but just as we finished the car, repros became available. That would have been a lot easier, and only slightly more expensive. Still, though, I can say I did this.

The engine is a .030" over 350. Domed forged pistons, GM Steel crank, 3970010 4 bolt block, comp cams XE-268H cam, .477" intake, .480" exhaust. Heads are production 1.94" valve 336x heads. Installed screw in studs, Crane Gold Roller rockers, Manley Race flow undercut valves and CompCams 981-16 springs. The heads are 76cc chambers, so the domes dont cause any problems with today's gas. Sidenote is that I really wanted to run vortecs, and I was really disappointed when I pulled the heads off this motor to find domed pistons, but now after doing the top end, I'm happy. I just re-used the rotating assembly that was in the car, as the motor only had about 4-5000 miles on it. I pulled a few caps off to inspect, all was great. Anyway, the rest of the details about the motor are; edelbrock Performer RPM Air Gap, Edelbrock 600 CFM #1406 re-jetted to match #1405 jetting. Proform HEI distributor with MSD 6A box. Accel 300+ wires, Dynomax ceramacoated headers, and flowmaster American thunder with transverse 80 series muffler. I was worried about the exhaust, wasn't sure about the single muffler, but I love it now. It is louder than I thought it would be, and you just don't see it under the car, it's great to have some ground clearance. The last thing is a Performer Nitrous setup. Haven't fired it yet, I don't even have the car inspected yet. I will be nervous for a while, probably will just cruise for a month or so, until I get a feel for the car. I have already driven it enough to know that it flies, even with the 3.08 gears. I had the motor dynoed before it went in, as much to check for leaks as to find out "what she's got. Well, she's got 390 horsepower at 5000 RPM, and 426 ft/lbs at 4200 RPM. The horsepower was still climbing at 5000 RPM, kind of wish we had run it to 6000RPM, but Seacoast Dyno was already doing me a favor, didn't want to be a pain. Anyway, add to the 390 another 100 for the nitrous, and it should be pretty fun. Let me know what you think. Thanks, J.R.