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View Full Version : Long Road Ahead project 73 z28 build thread



maroon88iroc
08-19-2009, 04:59 PM
I always like to do a build thread when I do a car and take lots of pics along the way so others can follow and when Im done I have a step by step process and its cool to go back and look at how the car changes. Im just a broke college student workin on cars at the house by myself so if you wanna look at the high dollar cars you might want to move on to the next thread LOL

Ive had this car since last november. It has been sitting out in front of my garage waiting to be worked on. Now that I have a little time off work and some extra cash I figured id get the project going.
I started out today by pulling the front clip off, removing all of the front suspension and steering linkage as well as the brake booster and master cylinder. I am debating on whether I want to go ahead and pull the frame out, my gramps has a portable sandblaster and Id like to blast it and paint it all up nice. I am going to be powdercoating all of the small parts like the control arms, spindles, calipers, etc. I will also be dressing up the firewall while I have everything off. I will be replacing everything on the front including new ball joints, tie rod ends, centerlink, steering gear box, booster and master cylinder, brakes, bearings, shocks, and lowering springs.

I have a LT1 and t56 6-speed setup ready to go in. I have basically everything ready to go I just have to pick up a clutch and clutch hydraulic setup and some clutch pedals for a second gen. I still havent decided on a fuel system yet but I am wanting to go with a external inline electric fuel pump. I have an awesome standalone wiring harness from fuel injection specialties in texas, it is a painless style harness. The motor I am using is a 93 and the harness is for a 95 so Im going to be converting the engine over to a 95. To do that I will have to change the timing cover, opti, intake, throttle body, and ecm. I have everything on order and a buddy of mine has a ecm he is also going to help me out with the tuning.

heres some pics like I said ill update as the progress goes along
this is the car right where I bought it. sat here for almost 20 years.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/100_3163-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/100_3176-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/100_3165-1.jpg
finished product will look alot basically identical to this except with maybe some different wheels and I am keeping the z28 front end and adding split bumpers I will not to be swapping a RS front end on.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/1744201263_9b179a2157-1.jpg
here is the progress I made today stripping everything off the frame, all I have left is the brake lines and such. I should have the frame out from under it tonight.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0263-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0262-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0261-1.jpg

Tucks69
08-19-2009, 06:13 PM
Looks like a great project!

dropit69
08-19-2009, 06:27 PM
car looks super clean..keep up the great updates..

OLDFLM
08-19-2009, 07:57 PM
Looks great Mike!! But you know I love early second gens!!
Let me know if you ever need any help!
V/R,
Ty

icebird84
08-19-2009, 08:19 PM
nice project keep us posted

Motown 454
08-19-2009, 09:26 PM
Nice project . I had a 73 RS Z28 so I'll be watching yours go together.

maroon88iroc
08-20-2009, 11:21 AM
pulled the frame today..
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0264-1.jpg
set the frame outside by the front clip, I will be sandblasting the frame tomorrow morning.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0266-1.jpg
I dont like moving the car like this at all but I had to push it to the back of the shop by myself so...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0267-1.jpg

Draginutz
08-20-2009, 11:54 AM
no messin around!!!

maroon88iroc
08-25-2009, 10:30 AM
got some progress I didnt work on it this weekend but messed around with it some last night.
I know this doesnt look like much at all but any of you that have done this before know how big of a pain in the ass it is. I got both the upper control arms stripped, had to drill out the four rivets on each of the ball joints and I also had to get the control arm bushings out. I used a air hammer on the bushings which works pretty well imo. ive got abour 3 hours worth of work just doing these upper control arms, I still have to do the lower control arm bushings...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0275-1.jpg
Decided to buy a sandblasting cabinent, I wanted to blast all the front suspension stuff and im powdercoating everything so I figured Id pick this up. It came unassembled of course... It took me 4-5 hours to put this guy together. I am hoping to use it some tonight.
this is what it looked like out of the box
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0270-1.jpg
they give you a huge bag of bolts nuts and washers... REDICULOUS! there were about 3-4 different thread size bolts and different lengths as well. I had to sit there and sort them into nuts, bolts, and washers then guess the sizes I needed for each section of the cabinet. this picture was taken after I assembled the cabinet section originally there were about twice this much hardware...
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0272-1.jpg
picture of the cabinet section assembled.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0271-1.jpg
here it is finished
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0273-1.jpg
the inside..
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/08/DSCF0274-1.jpg

dropit69
08-25-2009, 11:07 AM
cool..let me know how that cabinet works i almost bought one like it at harbor freight for small items..but wasnt sure how good itd work..i see you are posting on nastyz with it too awesome sight for the second gen stuff..

maroon88iroc
08-25-2009, 01:20 PM
cool..let me know how that cabinet works i almost bought one like it at harbor freight for small items..but wasnt sure how good itd work..i see you are posting on nastyz with it too awesome sight for the second gen stuff..

If I had it to do over again I would have built my own cabinent but hopefully this one will work out ok for me, Ill let you know how it does. I do know that harbor freights was like 300 or more and summits was 210.. I think the one at harbor freight came with some material and stuff as well though. I bought 20 pounds of glass bead for $35.. So I think it would be cheaper going with summit but like I said you'll need to look at what all comes with the one at harbor freight.

Satatic
08-26-2009, 04:50 AM
Oh wow a vinyl top... not really excited just wow i guess

maroon88iroc
08-26-2009, 10:08 AM
Oh wow a vinyl top... not really excited just wow i guess

ya it wont be a vinyl top for long, I dont like vinyl tops very much at all. The funny thing is I cant remember ever seeing a 70-73 with a vinyl top.. it might not be original though, I dont know if you noticed but the car has t-tops no camaro of this style had t-tops custom concepts up in atlanta did the conversion and they did a great job but when I start the paint job on the car I will be putting a new roof skin on the car and doing away with the t-tops

David Sloan
08-26-2009, 10:55 AM
Cool project
keep us posted!

dropit69
08-26-2009, 11:16 AM
my buddy has one for sale right now with a vinyl top ..not many of them but there out there..

Chevrolaine
08-26-2009, 05:30 PM
Have fun blastin, I've been doing small parts off and on for weeks!