1996 Camaro Z28 LT1 Project

[alone_and_insane]

yeah, the more I research this the more I'm kind of realizing that I can't do it myself. Paying for a shop to do it is rather expensive, and gears are a bit farther down my priority list right now.

[alone_and_insane]

DO WANT
Posi Camaro rear end

The reason I said gears weren't in the cards for me this summer is because I wasn't gonna pay a shop a few hundred bucks to install them. I can handle swapping the whole rear end.

[sman]

Your car probably has 3.23s. Does your shifter go PRND32 or PRND321? Take a picture of your door tag so we can see the RPO codes.

[alone_and_insane]

It goes PRND321. I'm not in the same state as my car right now, so I can't check for the GU5 code. I just assumed that it probably had 2.73s. I was under the impression that not many Z28s had the 3.23s, mostly automatic SS and WS6 cars did.

[sman]

Actually more 3.23 cars were made then 2.73 cars(I dont think many at all came with 2.73s actually). One of the signs of a 2.73 car was the PRND32, they never went to 1. You probably have 3.23s.

[alone_and_insane]

huh. didn't know that. Thanks for the info. I wasn't going to go and buy new gears until I was positive which gears I had anyway. If I already have 3.23s, bumping up to 3.42 wouldn't really make much sense.

[alone_and_insane]

So in a surprise twist, my parents showed up at the MSU Car Show today driving my car! I was totally shocked. Definitely made my week.


Also, I checked my RPO codes, and among them was GU5. 3.23s for me

My exhaust also blasted 100 db in the loudest exhaust competition too

[alone_and_insane]

Well I finally got home yesterday, meaning I finally got a chance to do a little work. Unfortunately pretty much nothing went as smoothly as I would've hoped (for details, see this thread: http://www.mifbody.com/vbulletin/sho...326#post674326). I was able to accomplish a couple of little things though. First, I installed the new 8-inch antenna:



Also, I got a sticker for the shifter gate. Before:



after:

[meissen]

Loving the little updates - that 8" antenna makes a huge difference.

[alone_and_insane]

Got some good stuff done today. The biggest thing was that I successfully replaced the driver's side window motor. I got SUPER lucky with that one. It had been replaced before, so I didn't have to drill out any rivets.

I got everything mocked up under the hood:



I also got to work tinting my turn signals.

At first:


then successive coats:








To show the contrast:


I've since applied two coats of clear coat. I'm not entirely pleased of how it looks so far. I feel like it should be smoother...


Anyway, tomorrow I will be doing the other one, then I'm going to get cranking on the suspension stuff. Which leads me to a question: is there a good way to remove the clothes hanger hooks in back? I always have a heck of a time getting the middle part out. Am I just doing it wrong, or is it a PITA no matter what?

[Lucky SOB]

A little wet-sanding on that nightshades will do wonders

[alone_and_insane]

other than all the stupid niteshade stuff, I got a little bit done today. I finally got that nut in the mail, so I could install the throttle body airfoil:



I also installed the new intake elbow and CAI:



I also got the interior pretty much ripped apart enough to get at the top bolts for the rear shocks.

[s8bayer]

Got some parts in the mail today:

How have you guys liked these parts? I figured I would go with them instead of some of the other better known brands due to the price. THey sure seem solid and they make them with a lot of different options. I might order a set if a few weeks for a 3rd gen that is lowered 2".

[alone_and_insane]

I'll let you know once I get a few miles in with them...they aren't installed yet

[alone_and_insane]

Got a lot done the last couple of days. First, I got the TB plate gasket in the mail, so I finally got it installed:



Then I got to serious work on the rear suspension. I got my SLP Bilsteins:



It was rather annoying that I had to tear the interior apart to get at the upper bolts, but I've done this before.



Fortunately my dad was out in the garage helping me this afternoon, so we got a lot done in not too much time. We installed the Bilsteins, Summit lowering springs, adjustable Panhard, LCAs, and relocation brackets:







I also finished up one of the turn signals. I'm much more pleased with how it turned out this time around:



Kind of a crappy picture, but this is how it sits now, with stock front suspension and lowered in the back:



This week I need to finish the other turn signal (I applied the tint and clear today, I'll be in Chicago tomorrow so it will be finished on Tuesday or Wednesday). We will be taking the car to a local shop to install the front shocks and springs and give the car a 4-wheel alignment.