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Auto Detailing and AppearanceShare tips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something tasteful looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
Thanks so much for the nominations everyone. I love reading and voting in the COTM threads.
My car is an 85 that orginally came with an LG4, T5, and 3.23 rear gears. It's a Canadian car, so no computer. Made it a prime candidate for modifying. I bought it in 96 during my first year of college.
My plan for modifying it was to basically mimic the GM Performance Parts ZZ3 350 HO conversion that they offered, but to do it with the Canadian emissions equipment.
Car runs real hard, with a quickest mph of 117 mph in the quarter mile. I don't get to drive it as often as I used to, what with a new house and baby on the way, but when I do, I can't get the grin off my face.
List of parts on the car:
350 bored and stroked with hyper pistons
RHS pro action 200cc aluminum heads
Weiand action plus dual plan aluminum intake
Comp 286 magnum hydraulic roller cam
Crane silver roller rockers
Quadrajet rebuilt
L69 dual snorkel air cleaner with K&N air filter
Hedman shorty headers
Flowmaster Ypipe
Flowmaster American Thunder 80 series catback
T5 rebuilt
Energy Suspension mount
Pro 5.0 shifter
1LE aluminum driveshaft
10 bolt rebuilt
MAC girdle
Richmond 3.73 gears
Detroit TruTrac
QA1 sway bars
Lakewood rear lower control arms
Herb Adams panhard bar
TDS wonder bar
KYB AGX front struts and rears shocks
Suspension Techniques springs
UMI Torque arm
Alston subframe connectors
Founders rear control arm relocation brackets
C4HD 13" front brakes
LT1 11.5" rear brakes
17x8 front iroc wheels
17x9.5 rear iroc wheels
245/45/17 Yokohama Sdrive front tires
275/40/17 Yokohama Sdrive rear tires
84 Camaro HO gauge cluster
5500 redline tachometer
Z28 logo 140 mph speedometer
My upgrade list includes; Complete L69 emblem package, Aerohead Racing 58 cc prepared 601's with 1.94 intake valves bowls blended & gasket matched, GM Off Road Cam 214/224 .444 .465 112 lsa, roller tipped rockers, GMPP ZZ4 intake ported & gasket matched, Cliffs Performance CC Quadrajet, Cometics gaskets throughout (expect pan 1 piece Fel-Pro), SLP Y-Pipe, "Free Flowing Cat"��, 3" Cat Back, Summit 28 Spline Axles, 28 spline Yukon Limited Slip Diff, 4:10 gears. My performance goals......spin tires and have fun, but look 100% stock!!
In 1985 my wife and I were 22 years old soldiers stationed in Bremerhaven, FRG and while shopping at the PX I happened to buy the March 85 Super Chevy Magazine. The centerfold as a bright blue Z28 w/gray trim and one week later we bought that car equipped LG4/700R4/3:23 Posi. I immediately installed a Crane 272 cam, Weiand 8000 (egr) I literally spent at least 10 hours porting and gasket matching the intake, modded the air clean, Hyperchip, B&M Shift Kit and upshift module, trans and engine oil cooler, and 140 mph speedometer. Yes 22 in a new Z28 cruising the Autobaun at 120++mph with the cruise control on and Sammy Hager in the cassette player!!! Unforunately, we traded the Camaro for something more family oriented, but the magazine is pictured below.
Well upon our retirement in 2014, we began the search for another bright blue 1985 Z28 with gray accent stripes. It took 6 months, but we finally found the 100% original 5 speed 1 owner 56,600 miles that you see below and we're very happy. Just as in 85 was was no way that I would be happy with 155 hp, but I did my dead level best to think through each modification by resourcing the mountain of information found on the website. I would also like to thank NoEmissions84TA and others for sage advice and reaffirming a few choices.....Thank you Sirs! And thank you all in advance for your consideration to help us achieve July 2018 COTM.
Thank you Sleeper Z for the nomination it is an honor to be considered for COTM.
My story starts with me and my best friend of 50+ years. Back in 1993 he purchased a 1992 Z28.I have been jealous ever since. What a beautiful car! I always was partial to the 91-92 years with the F-1 spoiler, aero vent GFX, them damn blister scoops and yes the yellow lighted dash. I always said if you ever sell it better be to me, been trying for yrs to buy that thing from him and he wouldn't sell it A few yrs back at Easter dinner I made him one last offer to sell me the car... his car is Black. It was time for me to get my car so I started searching. I looked for over a month and found really a lot of nothing around here. I was not in a position to buy something sight unseen and have it shipped. I did not have the means or the time to do a resto, nor did I have the capital to buy a restored one. I expanded my search to 4 hr. drive distance and there she was. I almost didn't go look at this car as the Friday before a car dealer friend asked if I wanted a car fax. I said yes and it said that 7 PO's before me! I liked the look of the car so me and a buddy drove the 4rs, I bought the car and turned around and drove her home. Now it is really cool as me and my best friend enjoy working on our cars and going to car shows together.
The car had enough original parts missing that the cost to put those back on a was not the route for me I wanted something I could make mine. She is a numbers matching with some repaints and approx. 90k Not 100% mileage as the cluster has been swapped. Original grey cloth int, minus radio and a few other things. Original top.
I have put a lot of me into this car, I have detailed everywhere on this car, if I took something off it got cleaned and or painted including the bolts and screws. Bought brushes to clean all the nooks and crannies. I put a complete MSD ignition in the car, new plugs and a couple sensors. changed some vacuum lines and did the free mods. Next I worked on the suspension, in the rear I did Founders Performance trailing arms and panhard bar, KYB gas adjust and Energy Suspension bushings. In the front, KYB AGX gas adjustable shocks, ES bushings, TDS wonder bar, UMI strut brace, AC Delco strut mounts, AC Delco idler arm and center link and adjusted the slop out of the steering box. Connected it together with Alston SFC's welded. Cooper Zeon tires to finish it off. I replaced all the exterior lighting with upgraded LED socket bulbs, Halogens headlights and HID in the fog lamps. I removed the seats and did the carpet paint. on the out side I wrapped the scoops in carbon fiber vinyl, used black gloss vinyl and wrapped my headlight buckets. I had a detail customer of mine give me a lesson an wet sand and buffing. Took a month of Sundays but as you see it came out awesome.
The 1st photo is a collage from the Craigslist ad, the last is me and my best friend and our cars...Enjoy!
These are all winning candidates, very worthy examples to represent 3rd gens out there.
I always enjoy the stories and history each person has too, really give a solid love of the cars. Great to see a car (any brand for that enthusiast) that brings people together.
I always wait till all the nominees post to make my decision. I also refuse to vote for someone if they do not post in here, even if I like their car the best.
That being said, these are all great cars. Hopefully Mike_c posts.
100% agree. I didn't even vote for my own nomination when they failed to show up.... and it was the kind of car that could have won COTY.
I was so excited to post my story and pics that I left a few things out! To me win or lose the fact I got to tell you guys about me and the car...it is a win!
And like John I love when you put picks of "you" it puts a "face" to the keyboard!
Think he was in the running in April and didn't bother with it then.. Well 3 other VERY nice cars to choose from. All these cars are winners in my book!
Awe man. He was my nomination. I almost always try to make sure that whoever I nominate hasnt already been nominated within the last year and are still somewhat active. I posted his car in the bait thread a few months ago and just grabbed him this month. I shouldve checked again.
spectacular car and great mods,i often drooled over that 350 conversion when it was first offered.now im on my 6th third gen and still haven't pulled the trigger,nice to see someone within an hours drive with such a beautiful car.i picked up my LB9 305 in Hamilton for $300(to replace my lg4 when or if it dies)
Awe man. He was my nomination. I almost always try to make sure that whoever I nominate hasnt already been nominated within the last year and are still somewhat active. I posted his car in the bait thread a few months ago and just grabbed him this month. I shouldve checked again.
I tried to nominate a guy who posted twice and had a nice formula.. tried to draw him out of the woodwork.. live and learn..
I really wanted to see what’s the deal with that GTA, especially since he’s been holding the lead.. Must have some cool stuff going on.. I am a sucker for a flame red GTA..
I really wanted to see what’s the deal with that GTA, especially since he’s been holding the lead.. Must have some cool stuff going on.. I am a sucker for a flame red GTA..
Oh, it's a nice car. Has a ZZ4 short block with AFR heads, Super Ram intake, long tube headers, and a T56 6-speed trans.
Could be disassembled, broken, wrecked, or otherwise ineligible for all we know. Needs to be eliminated from contest if he doesn't come around by end of voting.
Yes it would. Give them a certain number of days to do it, then open the voting. Not sure the software allows for that.
Same here.
He hasn't been online here since February. I sent him a PM, as I believe Linson does too, but that won't help if he doesn't stop by.
I agree also. Maybe there should be some acknowledgement of ones nomination in the nomination thread before they move on to the voting thread? This is Mike_c second nomination in the past couple months and would love to hear his story. Definitely a nice line up though.
Your car has been nominated for TGO's July 2018 Car of the month (COTM).
The **Voting Thread** is up and running in the Auto Detailing and Appearance forum. The Voting Thread is the place to state your case to be the COTM Winner by posting severalgood pics of your car (exterior, interior, engine, etc.) as well as technical & historical data about your Third Gen. You will be competing against three (3) other TGO members this month. The sooner the better on posting pics and info, thus making your case in the Voting Thread, as typically, much of the voting is done within the first few days. The voting poll will close on 6/30.
As a TGO Member, you get to vote in the contest and you CAN vote for your own car.
Good luck to you in the voting, and congratulations on being nominated.
I see why ja85z28 and ManicZ should be duking it out for first and second place, (I’ve wanted to nominate ja85z28 and was quick to second ManicZ’s nomination) but I threw my man vinny R a vote as a convertible brother and he really did a good job showing the car.. Looks like that car gets thoroughly enjoyed while being meticulously kept and I’m all for that.. It’s a super clean Vert..
I see why ja85z28 and ManicZ should be duking it out for first and second place, (I’ve wanted to nominate ja85z28 and was quick to second ManicZ’s nomination) but I threw my man vinny R a vote as a convertible brother and he really did a good job showing the car.. Looks like that car gets thoroughly enjoyed while being meticulously kept and I’m all for that.. It’s a super clean Vert..
Thanks for the compliment 88IROC, coming from a guy that does this(detailing) for a living, it means alot to me. You hit the nail on the head as it is a driver
that you could literally eat off anywhere on the car and it was not that way when I got it. Thanks for the vote also, This has been fun for me no matter where I finish in the voting.
BTW 88IROC your tag line in your sig holds sooo true to me and I am guilty every time!!
Thank you everyone for the compliments.
And thank you to the other nominees for making this an interesting COTM....it's coming down to the wire!
I remember being a teenager. My two older cousins had fox body mustangs that they raced. I wanted to be like them, and started looking for one when I turned 17. But, while looking, I saw a few IROC-Z's, and instantly fell in love with them.
Bought my own finally. My one cousin with the Mustang worked for GM, and his first words to me were:
"We can make this thing into a rocket".
He let me have his 93 GM Performance Parts catalogue, and that's when the ZZ3 conversion package was first offered. I loved it, and copied the idea. Bought my dual snorkel cleaner brand new from GM at the time with my cousin's discount. Got addicted to modifying it, and continue to buy parts to this day
06-20-2018, 07:26 PM
