Rich92Z28Conv

I've posted some pics on my 92 Z28 Convertible restoration that is still going on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26485782@N07/

I was looking to do some restoration work on my 3rd gen and one thing led to another and I ended up doing a significant restoration for more money than I planned on spending, but it's starting to feel better and better as it comes together.

Engine was originally a 305 but decided to upgrade to a 350 TPI after seeing an engine rebuilder in Arizona, decided to order one from him. He turned out to be a scammer named Dana Lynn Fraley in Peoria Arizona. He shipped me a $1700 350 light truck crate engine with a polished TPI, instead of the performance TPI engine he advertised. He gave me the fake name of Dane Fraley, which didn't show up in my research on criminal history, so I paid $4200 for an engine worth $2000. Stay away from anybody named Fraley in Arizona.

I then started working with a local former 1st and 2nd gen Camaro drag racer (35 NHRA national records - won 3 national events) Dennis Ferrara and his son Greg, who has a street racing third gen Firebird, we located a 92 firebird TPI engine, which was torn down and prepped by Dennis and a local performance machine shop to 60 over, ZZ9 roller cam, Edelbrock heads, Edelbrock intake, Holley throttle body, MSD distributor, TPiS chip upgrade.

Pics of the engine rebuild at http://www.ferrarafabrication.com/Pr...roRestore.html

Check out his web-site and the 3rd gen Firebird street racer that Greg built.
(I asked Greg 'How do you know when your convertible frame is stiff enough to handle the increased horsepower?'... His answer: 'When you stop cracking your windshield when you get on it....'

The car is now back on the road and they also will be doing the front suspension/brakes/springs/struts upgrade next (BMR K member and A arms, Koni shocks, Eibach springs).

Next will be the interior work and finally the rear suspension/shocks/rear-end upgrades which are still being finalized.

As the project continues to progress, I'll post more pics.

I hope to finish everything by the fall, which will be almost 2 years in the process.

This web-site has been very helpful to me and I thought that some of you would like to see how the project progressed....

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

Looks really good. Are you going to paint the headlight buckets black like they're supposed to be?

The engine is really nice looking, just wondering what's up with the blue radiator hoses.

Rich92Z28Conv

Thanks....

At this point, I'm going to leave the headlight buckets red, but I don't have the vision to see the end product in my head, so I have to make changes incrementally, and that could change in the future.

The blue hoses are Goodyear High-Miler hoses lined with nomex, which are the hoses I like best, but they don't look right in a red/black/shiny situation, so I'll probably do some engine hose dress-up in the future.

I guess I'll keep looking at it and changing it until I like it.

I liked the way the engine came out also and thanks for the compliment.

1fas92

iTrader: (1)

Hello,
I would love to take my vert all the way down like that to prep it for paint!!!!!


Great job man..........
Looks good to me!!!!!

Smoothjr91z28

Great pics, i have a 91 z28 vert, now i really get to see what it looks like from start to finish. i can't wait to start on my 91, cool pics.

BlackBandit007

Fantastic pictures...very nice job. Thank You for sharing!!

Da Spudro

as others have said. great pics. gives me an idea of just how my vert is built and as others have said, i'd like to take mine all the way down like that... perhaps one day. good luck. looks good.

86-Transam

Looking good. wish my vert was in as good of shape

tipshep

Regarding your woes with Dane Fraley, you may want to contact Bill Preston billpreston@embarqmail.com, he is spearheading a group of us that were ripped off by this guy. Doubt we'll see any $$, just want to send him to prison, where he belongs. Strength in numbers, the more of us that respond, the more likely the AG is to do something. Please think about it. Thanks.

Rich92Z28Conv

Thanks for bringing it up, but I'm already a part of the group. I don't expect to get any money back, but I'm all for helping Fraley see the error of his ways...

mikesz1984

awesome pics,, i have mine ripped apart right now, and i am using your pics as an assembly guide to help get it all back together, lol

ROCFATHER

That engine looks great! Looking forward to seeing her ripping and roaring again.

BADNBLK

iTrader: (11)

Have you updated with new pics?

c10freak87

looks great i agree the part around headlights needs to be black but other than that i love it

M G Brewer

Everytime the headlight buckets on a IROC or Z/28 don't get painted black, George Bush eats a kitten!

BlueZee28

iTrader: (30)

^^^ this haha

FiVe KiLLZ