kboehringer

Thanks for the input Ron. We are having a lot of fun with the car. I also think that kids get into trouble and drugs because they "don't have anything to do" that's fun and available. My son can find something to do on this car for the next six months (Minimum).

I've had to catch up on some of the "Honey Do List" around the house for the past week. I'm heading out of the country (to Japan) for a work related trip and needed to put the Z28 on a "Partial" hold for a week or two. I assigned my son several projects and he's been doing pretty good with a few pointers here and there. He also enlisted the help of his little brother Karl and the dog (see attached photo) Although the dog only barks and drinks your soda if you're not looking...LOL LOL LOL. Derek will learn to put it on the roof next time LOL LOL LOL LOL.

In two weeks, when I'm back from Japan one of my employees is going to bring over a cherry picker from the plant and we're gonna get the motor and tranny out of the car. Until then, my son(s) get to remove the ground effects and tackle a few other projects.

I'd also like to thank 3rd Gen. This is a great place to get a little "parenting help"

We'll keep ya'll informed, Thanks again guys..........

P.S. Believe it or not I actually turned the A/C on in my car today. Spring is definately here in GEORGIA.....

Kurt & Derek Boehringer
Peachtree City, Georgia

Attached Images

c:\\documents and settings\\derek\\my documents\\my pictures\\z28\\z28_forinet.jpg (97.7 KB, 5078 views)

kboehringer

We did find some interesting stuff inside the driver's door. We pulled the inside panel off to replace the inside door handle and Dad found little baggies in bottom of the door. He rinsed it down the drive with the garden hose.

We don't have anything like build sheets. We diond't even have an owner's book untilwe found one for an 1983 in the junk yard. But my dad has a folder in the computer we put all the photos in and we've taken a lot. We also have a Spreadsheet where i have to log all the purchases from everything we buy. I place all the receipts in a clasped folder in case something needs to get returned. We want to keep track of how much we spend too. We're gonna try and make a budget for the whole car project.
I also have to enter all the numbers we find onto another spreadsheet. LIke the heads and their numbers and the rear axle, and etc.


Thank you,
Derek Boehringer

kboehringer

We'll definately be purchasing the proper parts from Spohn to complete the job properly. I don't know if the TH700 was offered in '83 with the Firebird, but that is "most likely" where the Engine came from based upon the engine ID number. The guy probably replaced both at the same time.

My son purchased a "History of Camaro" book and it stated that the '82 Camaro was a fantastic handler and received great accolades for it's handling. Motor Trend named it car of the year. In 1984 the suspension was "slightly revised" and the 1984 Z28 won Best-Handling from Car & Driver defeating the CORVETTE!

However, the same book also indicated that the stock transmission was a major dis-appointment. "Even the cheapest economy cars of the time offered more up-top-date transmission offerings than the 1982 Camaro".

Maybe this is THE ONE change the previous owner made for the better on this Z-28. Although, I think it needs to be rebuilt......

Thanks Again,
Kurt Boehringer

92heritageRS

Great job guys. You will have this thing a show stopper in no time.

sellmanb

red90bird

I agree this is a very good read, its great that you and your son are both doing this project. I can't wait until my son grows up and we can do basically the same thing (but that will be a while, he is only 2).

speedingpenguin

so? haha

red90bird

I tried telling my wife that, didn't work

BAD91CamaroRS

I too have been reading this post from the start. I'm currently a senior and have have the advantage to work on my Camaro with the help of my dad. I know for me its been a great experience, especially being that I get to spend time with my dad; my parents divorced when I was 4. I agree with the dads on here that it's never to early to start learning. Good job and keep us posted

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1bdbrd

something i cna add is this. if the car is still able to start i would suggest getting an aftermarket catback for it (something like a Hooker catback) it wont offer very much in the performance category, but it will be better flowing than the stocker and last longer. but more importantly he can learn to weld if he already hasnt and hell get to hear it when he starts it. that could be a nice little prize for a job well done. something to think about.

LT1guy

Hey guys, Redraif and I aren't too far from you (Jonesboro), and we'll be glad to help answer any questions you may have. I could probably help you out with some parts, and good (cheap) sources for nearly anything you'll need to rebuild your car. We both have a lot of experience with these cars and can help steer you in the right direction. We're both members of the ACFA (Atlanta Camaro-Firebird Assoc), which meets in Mcdonough
http://www.atlantacfa.com
Its a great group, with a growing # of third gen owners.
PM me if you have any questions, or we can help with anything!

__________________
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1987 Trans Am w/455 (in progress)
1985 Trans Am (getting 500ci Caddy)
1997 Camaro SS #359 383 LT1
Co-Builder of RAIF (As seen on TLC's RIDES!)

seanof30306

hey kurt,

i've been reading your posts, and i have to say i'm both touched and jealous. I wish my dad had shown the interest in me, my interests, and most importantly, doing things with me to build a lasting relationship that you clearly have for your son. i promise you, 30 years from now, he's going to look back on this project as one of the best times of his life i hope he appreciates how lucky he is to have a dad like you.

a couple of things:

first, in the counties in georgia surrounding atlanta, cars must pass a yearly emissions test until they're 25 years old. while i agree that in your situation it would be much better and simpler to simply do away with the computer and use a carb, you'll have to pass emissions for two more years.

i wouldn't recommend crossfire injection, though. the computer-controlled quadrajet was also available in 82 and is, in my opinion, a better choice.

next, i'd recommend not putting any money at all into the 305, and i'd also recommend not building your own 350. you can get a NEW, complete, goodwrench 350 from scroggins-dickey for 1359.95. http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/130/...ate-Engine.htm

figure another 300 for shipping and core and you'd have 1700 in it. you can't rebuild your own engine for much less than that, and the one you rebuilt wouldn't have a warranty. if you want to save even more, there are a number of reliable engine remanufacturers which would put you with a complete engine for less than a grand.

the goodwrench 350 makes 245 horsepower .... more than enough for a kid getting his driver's license. as he matures, the two of you can continue your project super chevy got over 400 hp out of a goodwrench 350 .... go to their site and search on "goodwrench"

911rsq

Kurt and Derek,
I started reading this thread and just couldn't stop. It really reminds me of my father and myself 10 years ago. We have worked side by side on cars for years and it has been some of the best times of my life (sounds cheesy, but it's true). I think it is awesome to have a father/son combo working to make one of these cars great again. I will be keeping an eye out on this thread and will try to help out wherever I can. LT1Guy made you an offer and I want to make you one, too. If you need parts, don't hesitate to ask. I have 5 of these cars laying around and would be happy to help out in any way to keep this project going, just let me know. Let us all know what you need and keep up the great work...... I am gonna have my dad read your story tomorrow....he's gonna get a kick out of it

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chesterfield

If you're interested. all the crossfire stuff youneed for $300. intake, tbis, wiring harness, computer. everything but the air cleaner.

DAVECS1

If you need wiring help Just holler. I would be glad to answer any questions, remember a picture is worth a thousand words. I install fuel injection and various other electrical devices everyday, and if it counts for anything I am also an EE. At any rate you want to save the connector that enters the drivers side firewall. This hooks up to the lights and various gauges. If anyone has got a pinout laying around this would be helpful, otherwise I will dig one out.

I know you have recieved alot of advice, but I will throw my two cents in. If your shooting for reliability on a budget, I would stick with a conventional carb and distributor setup.

I would go with a clean rebuilt 350 running vortec or L98 heads, both can be had for reasonable prices online, or at the bone yard. Thunder racing has a nice inexpensive valvetrain for either head. Thunder racing probably has a good distributor for your car too.

For an intake I would run an Eldebrock dual plan RPM performer. If you have some extra cash I have had luck with the Air Gap version, and to make things simple I would find a 650 Eldebrock or carter carb. They are easy to tune and the jets, springs, and hangers are cheap.

I would remove all the computer harness wiring. Then I would make a list of the gauges you have and determine were their sending units are. I think most of them are analog and will be able to be wired up directly. If the lights work coreectly I would leave those alone. If the lights do not work they should be easy to fix. I would personally go buy three or four spools of different color 18 Ga wire and some heat shrink splices. I think it will go along way in getting things right.

Good luck!

Jim85IROC

Boy does this threaed bring back a flurry of fond memories. Whether or not your son realizes it yet, these are likely to be some of his most fond memories of his teenage years. There really is nothing better than boy and dad working on boy's car.

Anyway, I just wanted to provide some general (generic) advice that may or may not be of much use to you at this stage.

First the engine:

If I were to do a swap like you're facing, I would be looking for a 350 out of a 96 or newer Chevy truck or van. This is the "vortec" motor. It came with EFI, but that's of no concern to you. All you're interrested in is the long block. The advantage to this motor is that low milage examples are plentiful in junk yards, it's affordable, and it's a fantastic starting point. The beauty of this motor is that it's got the "vortec" heads, which are the latest and best GM heads for the small block chevy. I won't go into details here... you can do a "vortec" search on this site and find all you want to know. So... you wind up with an affordable 350 with fantastic heads. The cam that came in those motors was pretty mild, so until junior learns how to handle the power, it'll be perfectly good. Later on as his driving skills improve, substantial improvements can be made through different cam options.

The one "drawback" to the vortec heads is that a unique vortec-style intake manifold is required, but these are becoming very common and are available from Edelbrock, Holley, GM, and plenty of other sources for just a little more than a conventional intake. You can set the quadrajet on there, or spend a couple hundred bucks on a decent holley. You can reuse your vacuum advance HEI distributer. Wiring the engine will be basic and should not be terribly complicated. With the vortec intake, you won't have an EGR system, but if Georgia is like most other states, nobody does a visual emissions inspection, and it should still pass the sniffer just fine.

The result should be an inexpensive, uncomplicated engine that's only a cam swap away from being a hell of a performer.

Fuel:
The ceasefire injection had an electric fuel pump in the tank. I think it delivered somewhere between 9-14 pounds of pressure. A carb needs considerably less, so you'll need to get a fuel pressure regulator, or swap to a lower pressure pump. There should be ample information about this on the tbi board.

Transmission:
A stock crossmember and torque arm from any v6 or v8 thirdgen with the T5 or 700R4 will work. These are plentiful in junk yards. The only issue might be whether or not the subframe in that older car has the proper holes for the cross member. If not, it's nothing that a drill & tap can't fix.

Paint:
Black matches gold better than yellow and doesn't draw unnecessary attention to stock brake drums.

Anyway, regardless of what you choose, enjoy this. I know that I cherish the memories from the time that my father and I spent on my IROC.

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sellmanb

This thread hasnt had any responses in a while, how is the progress coming along Kurt and Derek?

kboehringer

I'm FINALLY BACK!

I spent almost three weeks in Japan. Upon my return I was required to take medication for two weeks to counter a "BUG" I had apparently caught while there.

I've been in "Less-than-perfect" condition until recently. This past weekend has been the first time we were able to lift the hood on the Z-28 (together) in about a month.

While I was in Japan one of my employees came to the house and showed Derek how to work with fiberglass and resin. He also showed him how to properly prep the car for paint. Derek had to "MEND TOGETHER" pieces we found at the J.Yard to repair the fiberglass ground effects under the doors. He did a GREAT job. They are all hand sanded, primed, wet sanded, and ready for a finish coat. I can't say the same for the car however.

My tryping speed is about back to normal and this weekend is FULL BLAST Z-28. The cherry picker is ready and the "NEW" 350 is sitting in my trailer waiting to be dismantled for the Machine shop.

We have not pulled the engine because of my illness and another reason I'll mention in another reply post.

Thanks for all the responses. I think we'll get that "Flaming Bow-Tie" back on this thread very quickly!

Arigato-goziamasu
(Thank you very much)

Sincerely,
Kurt

kboehringer

WOW are you ever right. We live in Fayette County and I still don't have the Darn thing registered. In Georgia there are no titles for vehicles over 20 years and I didn't get one with the car.

You can't register the vehicle without an emissions test and besides the fact that it won't pass (absolutely no doubt), I'm afraid to drive it the 3 miles to the closest inspection station.

We've had to fill out several forms and even have a police officer come to the house and sign a VIN number verification statement. I've had to order certified copies of court documents, etc. etc. In addition, the car was NEVER legally registered in Georgia that created more problems as there is no record of the VIN to "attach" digital information to .

(For those of you not in GEORGIA: It's not uncommon here in Georgia for folks to make their own cardboard plate "Tag Applied For" and drive for months or even YEARS with it. Or they'll slap any old tag on the car and drive, drive, drive!)

However....... We have a plan and that is why the 305 is still in the car. HERE'S the plan....

1.) I milk this SLUG over to the inspection station on Saturday morning.... My buddy follows with a F-150 and a tow chain...
2.) The slug fails the inspection and we get the failure certificate.
3.) Milk it back to the house and tear-out the engine and tranny Sunday Morning once the engine is cool.
4.) Rebuild the 350 and save every receipt.
5.) Leave the CAT in the exhaust and take it back for re-inspection with the new properly tuned (maybe a little lean) and maybe she'll pass. (They do not look at anything in Georgia)
6.) If she passes all is well, otherwise we'll claim an exemption as we will have spend well over the $600 repair limit to "Try to get the car to pass"
7.) In just over 1 year the Z-28 will be considered an antique and be entirely exempt in Georgia.

I have done my share of engine rebuilding in years past (although it's been a while) and if this were MY car we'd do exactly that. Buy one drop it in and turn the key.....

However, Derek is REALLY going to need to know HOW the thing works. I want to go through the Plasti-Gauge routine, I want to have him put the rings on the pistons (properly orienting the gaps). I want him to use the ring compressor sleeve and attach the connecting rods to the crank. I want him to pack the pump and I want him to turn the Key for the first time.

I think THAT may make him think a LITTLE when "SHOW-OFF" time comes! Also, when the thing causes him trouble he needs to REALLY understand Intake, Compression, Power, Exhaust and the three requirements for any car to run.....Fuel, Fire, Compression.

He needs to know that the fuel system... Tank, Lines, Pump, Carb.
He needs to understand the spark system... Battery Power, Dist., Coil, Wires, Plugs, Piston Position....

If we buy major components "pre-assembled" he'll never learn what he needs to know to own and operate one of these cars.


Sincerely,
Kurt

kboehringer

Chesterfield.

Thanks for the response and sorry for the delay in responding.

We've completely given up on the idea of returning to the crossfire. If the car's engine and wiring harness had not been so heavilly modified we would have preferred to get back to ORIGINAL. But returning to cross-fire would cost more and give less in return than a relatively stock 350.

We've purchased a 350 for $50 and we'll do the following:
Stock 350 short block and heads (New Bearings, Rings, and Pistons if necessary bore over 10k +/- whatever..)
Stock or VERY mild cam.
Edelbrock performer Intake (non-RPM).
Holley or Similar Carb (Engine Mounted Fuel Pump & Electric Choke)
MSD Ignition System (Complete)
Headers (Whatever will fit)
A little chrome to add some "BLING" (not sure if that's Derek's proper term)

My electricians at work (all three) are convinced they can wire the entire car including dash guages, A/C, Cruise Control etc. in a day including all soldered connections and proper wire looms when we are ready for them. We won't let them do it but they will get a chance to help a little and provide some advice.

I don't know what the H.P. will be but it's got to be better than cross-fire which I think was about 180? It'll also be really EASY to troubleshoot and repair.

Thanks for the offer. It's just gonna be too much work to return to cross-fire and have so little return.

Thanks again,
Kurt

kboehringer

350's are harder to find than I thought they would be.... and the cost is higher than I thought. The 350 we purchased ($50) is from a mid-80's Chevy Truck. We have not run the numbers on it yet. Hopefully it will be......I think (Hope) our 350 will pass the test if we keep the CAT and tune her up real well..... Maybe? Otherwise we probably have a work-around. Georgia is like may other states they just want a sniff they don't look or touch anything!

I believe the previous owner must have removed (or disabled) the tank fuel pump as the 305 currently installed has a mechanical pump on the block. We're gonna pull the tank and look inside but I would prefer to stick with a mechanical if that will work with or current game plan? Will a mechanical work with a Holley (Probably a 650+)?

This is great news.... We'll be looking for this on the weekend. THANK YOU for this info!!!!! We should be able to get the PROPER mount for only a couple bucks at the you-pull-it yard.

I think once Derek sees the finished car with a good high gloss finish....... he'll see the error of his color choice and we'll be pulling the drums off for a coat of black paint!

Sincerely,
Kurt

kboehringer

911rsq,

Thanks for the reply. I hope you and your dad got a chance to set the timing, change the oil or something together on one of these past weekends. I hope Derek & I will be able to find things to do together with this car for many years.

Hopefully, it will be in the family for many years provided we can avoid some of Georgia's "Wonderful Drivers" and avoid wrapping the thing around a tree or tele-pole.

We've had some problems finding a new nose. Our nose piece is warped in several locations (probably from Georgia Heat) and there are cracks around the plate mounting area where it meets the bottom of the nose next to the grill areas. It also has about a million coats of paint on it that are impossible to remove or smooth out.

The '82 is very unique. None of the other years are exactly the same. When we do find one in the you-pull-it-yard some "Knuckle-Head" has destroyed it getting to some other part or it was damaged before it was junked. We've found several Berlinetta's but they have three extra holes in the face and the never year Z-28's are entirely different and would require new signals etc. Derek and I prefer the '82's look over many of the others.

We're gonna check out a yard we have never been to before this Saturday (after we fail the emissions test... please see other post). Hopefully we'll find one. Got a nose for an '82? We may need one.

P.S. I hope our Z-28 looks as nice as your car when we are done!
Looks GREAT!

Sincerely,
Kurt

kboehringer

LT1 Guy & Redraif,

What are the meeting days & times for the club. Derek and I would like to attend the next meeting. I work less than a mile from where I think you guys meet (although we live 33 miles away). The Chevy Dealer next to I-85 just off of GA Highway 155?? We'll check the web-site tonight........

We can't get the car over to the meet but we can bring some photos.

Maybe we can get someone from the club with a little more experience to come on over an take a good look at the Z-28. I've also exhausted my knowledge of the local J.Yards. The guys at the Roberts Road Pull-A-Part in Fayetteville, and the Pull-A-Part off of 1-285 and Moreland Ave. should know me and Derek by our first name by now!

We're gonna try a yard in Griffin, GA this Saturday we've never been to before. Johnson's Auto Salvage. Know anything about them? Worth the trip from Peachtree City?