Project: PBR-Built Z/28

[Boost Addict]

When are the Pabst decals going on?

[JoeliusZ28]

When are the Pabst decals going on?

Should i try for a SEMA sponsorship?

[JoeliusZ28]

What the hell is this? A modded LT1 with no warning lights on the dash? Gotta be photoshopped...

[Fox Slaughter]

My ABS and Brake lights are on.

[Boost Addict]

Soooo where are the zoomies coming out of the hood?

[93formulalt1]

What the hell is this? A modded LT1 with no warning lights on the dash? Gotta be photoshopped...

Impossible. You MUST have pulled the bulbs. haha

[JoeliusZ28]

I did NOT do that

[JoeliusZ28]

Well since i have been driving and enjoying the car for a while now, I thought i'd post a review of whats been done and what ive learned. I still have several things on my to do list for the car, but i can honestly say i hit all the major concerns this winter. I am happy with the car just the way it sits. I think the only things on my radar prior to fall is wire up the gauge pod which i never did, and modify my passenger side belt loop design a bit. Anyway, i have fallen in love with my car all over again after contemplating selling it, so on to whats been done...

Fuel system: i am 100% happy with my racetronix / [MENTION=4187]EAA Engineering[/MENTION] combo. Prior to this project, i had an intermittent starting issue i could never figure out, and eventually a toasted fuel pump i had to pound with a hammer to get me home, which prompted the project. I have considerably more peace of mind in the car than i ever did before. The starting issue has disappeared entirely and the car lights right off with a healthy bark everytime (rarely happened before). I guess i never even realized how much of a problem my stock fuel pump was until it died. I also have no concerns about leaks whatsoever, and the fact my lines are a safe distance from the exhaust is also a wonderful thing. Highly recommend LT1 guys go the full length braided line route, and EAA makes a great kit. The only thing i was NOT happy with in the whole process was the install method of the racetronix kit. Its fine if you get lucky like me and find a sending unit in good shape, and really take your time on the install. If you are in any kind of a hurry, or have a sending unit thats been apart multiple times like mine had already... Good freaking luck. I really hope racetronix gets their s*** together and starts making complete sending units. These cars arent getting any younger and there is just no reason to penny pinch recycling old components, they are meant to be replaced instead of continually coaxed into an extended service.

Suspension: to anyone that enjoys taking turns at all, save your pennies and just do it. I am happy to say i acheived both the exact look and feel i was hoping for. It rode punishingly stiff when new, but a thousand miles later i didnt even think twice about driving it all the way to the upper peninsula. Everything is snug and tight but not punishing. Handling response is not even in the same league as it used to be, and the limit of what its capable of still always seems to be more than i expect. The bilstein shocks are a great choice for someone that wants to upgrade and not have to tinker with settings. I am lowered 1.25/.75 with longtubes and duals and still havent scraped a single thing despite a good handful of situations i swore the car was going to dryhump the asphalt. The one lesson learned (aka issue i will probably address in the future) has to do with my mismatched springs, which i had used intentionally to get my desired ride height. Its an issue that i knew going into it might happen, but i gambled anyway. the average person probably wouldnt even notice, but being i am going to track this car i want it to respond accurately and predictably. When i hit a large dip at speed or something that compresses the entire suspension evenly, the springs, which are both progressive designs, progress at different rates. The front springs seem to ramp a little quicker than the rears do, which gives the effect of the rear of the car having a delayed reaction to a bump in comparison to the front. In other words, the front will already be rebounding while the rear is still on a down stroke. I only notice it at highway speeds 70+ or when pushing the car hard into a corner. For the street it is fine, and could also be for someone just trying to achieve the right look on a street cruiser. Im a perfectionist however, so im probably going to look into BMR rear springs and half inch spacers (hopefully they make them) this winter. Also i used founders double heim joint LCAs which i think were the perfect application for my intentions as well as bolt in reloc brackets. It all works flawlessly and i havent heard as much of a peep from that area of the car despite some people's experience with those parts. Sway bars are absolutely worth it, even on stock suspension and so is a torque arm. When upgrading sway bars use greasable mounts and pre-lube them or youll get lots of ugly noises. The torque arm made the driveline feel infinitely more solid. Almost like i installed a 9" ....almost

I think that covers about everything, thanks for reading!

[Iroc'nthe87]

Saw it down on WW friday, real clean and sounded very healthy!

[JoeliusZ28]

Well, turns out my already-well-exceeded-lifespan spec 3 clutch didnt enjoy my exuberant driving style as much as I did last night. Time to do some homework on what to replace it with, going to be looking primarily at competition clutches.

Here is a tribute to its good service:

[meissen]

As I said last year, I've never seen someone thrash their clutch like that before and the clutch seemed to giggle as you did it.

[JoeliusZ28]

Hey thats exactly the kind of thing that clutch is designed to do. Quick engagement, ceramic pads, the worst thing for it is slipping it with a ginger left foot. This one went 20% beyond its advertised life expectancy.

I just ordered a Competition Stage 3. Tons of positive reviews on these things and only $260! Should be a milder clutch than I had, and drive a lot smoother while still holding the power. Seems to be plenty of guys running them with over 400rwhp.

[bri2203]

Well at least you have a month to get it replaced before the autocross at the silverdome! Let me know if you need a hand. Maybe after you can give me a tour of Ray

[landstuhltaylor]

I just ordered a Competition Stage 3. Tons of positive reviews on these things and only $260! Should be a milder clutch than I had, and drive a lot smoother while still holding the power. Seems to be plenty of guys running them with over 400rwhp.

I have heard nothing but good things about them and their prices are incredibly cheap. I really want to run one of these along with an aluminum flywheel.

[Dummybait]

As I said last year, I've never seen someone thrash their clutch like that before and the clutch seemed to giggle as you did it.

That was me giggling like a school girl in the back seat...