85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
06-17-2011, 10:40 PM
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Car: 85 Z28
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85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
So now that my build is to a point where the car is running and driving I decided to share the fun with you guys. I seriously would have had some major trouble building this car without the help of friends, family and some of you on this site, so I'd like to thank you for posting your problems and solutions for my reading pleasure.
My project starts off with a bone stock 1985 Camaro Z28 that had only 20,000 miles I bought about 10 years ago back when I was in high school. My plan was to just let the car sit and keep it for shows as an all original car, I changed my mind and decided to have some fun with it instead of let it sit and do nothing.
And so it began...
Let the header building begin
Hot side done! Now the real work begins!
My project starts off with a bone stock 1985 Camaro Z28 that had only 20,000 miles I bought about 10 years ago back when I was in high school. My plan was to just let the car sit and keep it for shows as an all original car, I changed my mind and decided to have some fun with it instead of let it sit and do nothing.
And so it began...
Let the header building begin
Hot side done! Now the real work begins!
06-17-2011, 10:43 PM
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06-17-2011, 10:49 PM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Keep it coming, or should we give it a break??
Last edited by coolmarocrzy; 06-17-2011 at 11:01 PM.
06-17-2011, 11:25 PM
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Car: 85 Z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Wheels and tires are:
Fronts: 15x4 prostars with 26" MT S/R radials
Backs: 15x8 prostars 4.5 bs with 275/60's 28" tall MT ET street radials
06-17-2011, 11:43 PM
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Car: 85 Z28
Engine: LS
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 9inch/3.50 gears
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
No fun rev up or anything crazy. This was start up day and just let her run for a bit.
06-18-2011, 12:24 AM
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Car: 1987 Trans Am
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
wow, your engine bay looks amazing. great job on the exhaust. i think i need to clean up the drool on my desk now......
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06-18-2011, 12:29 AM
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06-18-2011, 02:25 AM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Thanks guys, Yeah I broke down and got prostars. It doesn't get the looks i want when its just cruisen around on the stockers. People were like why is this stupid thirdgen with an exhaust leak tryin to race me. hahaha
06-18-2011, 02:50 AM
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Car: 85 Z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Got it out in the sun finally... Guess its not all perfect. She likes to warm up pretty good. Think it needs better fans and and bigger radiator
06-18-2011, 10:02 AM
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Car: 1990 iroc z
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Axle/Gears: 12 bolt 3.42
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Very nice ride! I like the turbo setup. How much power you think you are making on it?
06-18-2011, 01:20 PM
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Car: 85 Z28
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Axle/Gears: 9inch/3.50 gears
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Chassis dyno date is the last week of July at Speed Inc in Schaumburg Illinois. Car has a base tune from them right now. I'd like to see 675+ after the tune.
A local guy has a similar project in a 73 Nova and he made like 515 rwhp on 8lbs of boost with the master power T70 and a stock ls1. He upgraded to a Turbonetics tc78, bumped up the boost some and made 673rwhp! Here is a link to his thread on our local forums.
http://qcaautoforums.proboards.com/i...y&thread=10460
Another video of the car running and driving. This was the first week it ran.
A local guy has a similar project in a 73 Nova and he made like 515 rwhp on 8lbs of boost with the master power T70 and a stock ls1. He upgraded to a Turbonetics tc78, bumped up the boost some and made 673rwhp! Here is a link to his thread on our local forums.
http://qcaautoforums.proboards.com/i...y&thread=10460
Another video of the car running and driving. This was the first week it ran.
Last edited by coolmarocrzy; 06-18-2011 at 02:27 PM.
06-18-2011, 06:09 PM
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Car: '89 GTA
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Very clean car, nice work! Man I love turbos, no one knows what you got until it goes woooosh!
TC78 is my turbo of choice once I get to that point.
TC78 is my turbo of choice once I get to that point.
08-06-2011, 04:03 PM
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Car: 85 Z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
So the dyno day came and went. I'd say I'm impressed with the numbers the old coolmaro put down for me.
Boosted Ls motors are amazing.Got the TC78 Turbonetics
turbo on and we started on some 93 at 11psi.
Put some 110 in and kept upping boost until the fuel system couldn't handle any more.
Max 703 rwhp and 734 torque at 18psi. What a good day. Thats as close as they let us get to the dyno..
Kind of a bummer
Boosted Ls motors are amazing.Got the TC78 Turbonetics
turbo on and we started on some 93 at 11psi.
Put some 110 in and kept upping boost until the fuel system couldn't handle any more.
Max 703 rwhp and 734 torque at 18psi. What a good day. Thats as close as they let us get to the dyno..
Kind of a bummer
08-11-2011, 10:07 PM
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Car: 92 25th anv z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Sweet build. How the T56 feel with the turbo? Is it built? Who coated your hot pipes? Looks good!
08-12-2011, 08:17 AM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Really nice numbers you put down!
What did you make your gauge panel out of? You did a really nice job on it.
What did you make your gauge panel out of? You did a really nice job on it.
09-03-2011, 01:39 PM
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Car: 85 Z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Sorry guys, haven't been on here in a while. The T56 is the most amazing part of the whole driving experience in this car. I wanted it streetable just for the fun of cruising around and shifting. There is nothing cooler than some dude looking over at you like what the hell is that as you shift and the blow off valve makes a nice pshhhhhh. The pipes were ceramic coated by a very good company called QC coatings in Michigan. About $400 for everything, but well worth it to me.
Drkhrse89: Thank ya! The gauge panel was purchased from jimmy-jams website. Its just a steel plate painted with all the holes drilled and ready to go. He sells after market stuff like that for thirdgens. I tried making my own and couldn't get it right, so I broke down and bought his for only $55 and it fit great.
Thanks again guys! I'm driving the car at least 3 times a week and its running great. I hit 15.6 psi just playin around the other day and I about sharted in my pants!
09-03-2011, 08:27 PM
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09-03-2011, 09:12 PM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
^^^ Hahaahaa! Good call! I think a few of my buddies have done sharted themselves based on their facial expression after I get into it.
09-03-2011, 10:13 PM
#24
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Amazing car.... I'd love to do something similar myself one day. Im in love with the idea of a turbo smallblock that's daily drivable.
I also think you should put the stock wheels back on. You could surprise the hell out of people with them. I normally hate those 15s, but on your car with THAT motor I woudlnt want anything else. Maybe some IROCs... But with the stock 15's your car, THATS the package!
The wheels on it look nice but you kill the sleeper part of it. And you REALLY need to drop the rear suspension a little.
I also think you should put the stock wheels back on. You could surprise the hell out of people with them. I normally hate those 15s, but on your car with THAT motor I woudlnt want anything else. Maybe some IROCs... But with the stock 15's your car, THATS the package!
The wheels on it look nice but you kill the sleeper part of it. And you REALLY need to drop the rear suspension a little.
Last edited by InfernalVortex; 09-03-2011 at 10:17 PM.
09-04-2011, 09:39 AM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Sweet build! You have any pics how you mounted the intercooler? I notched my bumper and boxed it, then drilled a series of 2" holes in it..for looks and airflow.
09-04-2011, 09:57 AM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
nice build
what altenator bracket is that
what altenator bracket is that
09-04-2011, 04:56 PM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Oh and coolmaro are you going to give us any specifics on the motor or is that on an "if I told you I would have to kill you" basis?
Last edited by White'89; 09-04-2011 at 05:02 PM.
09-05-2011, 09:47 PM
#28
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
It's not about being a lowrider. Every good looking drag car is lowered.
I suggest you pull out the rear spring isolator and replace it with some heater hose around the first coil of the spring. Only a half inch drop, but it makes a difference, it's cheap, it's easy, and it wont affect your spring rates or your pinion angle much at all. Just a very subtle drop that doesnt tweak the rest of the setup too much.
I suggest you pull out the rear spring isolator and replace it with some heater hose around the first coil of the spring. Only a half inch drop, but it makes a difference, it's cheap, it's easy, and it wont affect your spring rates or your pinion angle much at all. Just a very subtle drop that doesnt tweak the rest of the setup too much.
09-06-2011, 08:39 AM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Drkhrse89: Thank ya! The gauge panel was purchased from jimmy-jams website. Its just a steel plate painted with all the holes drilled and ready to go. He sells after market stuff like that for thirdgens. I tried making my own and couldn't get it right, so I broke down and bought his for only $55 and it fit great.
09-06-2011, 11:58 AM
#30
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
no it's not
the car looks great coolmarocrzy! im glad you chose to do something with the car. i also like that you didn't do anything permanent, so you can go back easily if you so chose to.
the car looks great coolmarocrzy! im glad you chose to do something with the car. i also like that you didn't do anything permanent, so you can go back easily if you so chose to.
Last edited by mw66nova; 09-06-2011 at 12:23 PM.
10-01-2011, 01:04 AM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Thanks guys! I do agree about the back end.. its a little high for my taste, but I was just pushing to get it running and tuned so I could drive it this summer. I have some major plans for the winter down time. Like some new brakes!! I hit 120 just havin fun the other day and it felt like I wasn't ever going to slow down. They are manual brakes and its not terrible... but they could do better. Its just the stock calipers and rotors at this point. I still have my stock wheels I plan to throw back on it for ***** and giggles some time.. They will need some good tires though.. Otherwise they'll just burn off. haha
The alternator and bracket is a stock setup from an ls1 f-body. She fits juuuuust right.
I will post a few pics of the intercooler mock up. I had it right infront of the radiator at first and that really killed my cooling, so I moved it forward.
The motor specs are nothing real special. Turbos just love boost! haha 5.3 bored to ls1 specs with diamond pistons, 8.5:1 compression, cometic head gaskets with ARP head studs, comp cams turbo cam, and an ls6 intake and tb. Fuel pump is the bosch 044 and I'm already thinkin about upgrading to bigger. This motor still has more.. It was leaning out on that last pass so he quit a little early.
mw66nova: That car looks great man. I love the stance.
The alternator and bracket is a stock setup from an ls1 f-body. She fits juuuuust right.
I will post a few pics of the intercooler mock up. I had it right infront of the radiator at first and that really killed my cooling, so I moved it forward.
The motor specs are nothing real special. Turbos just love boost! haha 5.3 bored to ls1 specs with diamond pistons, 8.5:1 compression, cometic head gaskets with ARP head studs, comp cams turbo cam, and an ls6 intake and tb. Fuel pump is the bosch 044 and I'm already thinkin about upgrading to bigger. This motor still has more.. It was leaning out on that last pass so he quit a little early.
mw66nova: That car looks great man. I love the stance.
Last edited by coolmarocrzy; 10-01-2011 at 01:14 AM.
10-03-2011, 07:45 PM
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Not sure how i missed this thread until now but this is a badass car and even better in person 
. I saw your car at the track sunday but never did see you.
. I saw your car at the track sunday but never did see you.
10-11-2011, 09:20 PM
#33
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Sorry Tyler.. I was just hangin around. Never ran the car.. Didn't feel like gettin kicked out on such a nice day.
11-01-2011, 03:10 AM
#35
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Nice build. Definitely a sleeper though. I need a set of those headers for sure so I can build mine.
01-25-2012, 10:15 AM
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Car: 91 Z28, 87 SC, 90 IROC, 92 RS
Engine: LS1, 305 TPI, L98, NADA
Transmission: T56, 700r4's, and NADA
Axle/Gears: 3.89, 3.42, 3.23, NADA
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Such a clean build. Did you fab your own turbo piping? I might have overlooked that.
Very impressed with the overall clean original look of the car. The numbers are very impressive, and make me wanna get a new credit card LOL!
Very impressed with the overall clean original look of the car. The numbers are very impressive, and make me wanna get a new credit card LOL!
01-25-2012, 01:15 PM
#40
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Car: 1991 Z28 convertible built 3/1/1990
Engine: Cammed 6.0L LSX
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: custom Ford 8.8", 4.10 gears
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
You should market your turbo piping
01-25-2012, 02:22 PM
#42
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Car: '91 TA vert
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Maybe I missed it, and I apologize if I did, but are there any shots of the crossover? How much clearance do you have down there?
01-26-2012, 08:09 AM
#43
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Car: 1986 IROC-Z
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
That is one of the nicest low mileage 85 Z's I have ever seen. Very nice job!! Man do I ever want to go turbo.....
02-24-2012, 12:20 PM
#44
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Car: 89 IROC
Engine: LSX 6.0 370, TU2 Cam, Fast intake
Transmission: T56 w/ lots of goodies
Axle/Gears: 8.8, Posi, 4.10, 31 Spline
Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Awsome build man im looking into collecting all the parts over the summer to build one over the winter. Where did you get all the tubung and so on to build it. Thanks
02-24-2012, 04:39 PM
#45
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Car: 85 Z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
Thanks man, I have a buddy who owns a local shop called Yates EFI. He does ls swaps in anything and everything. (meanyellowz is his name on here) He sent me in the direction of a site caled Mandrel-bends.com He said he orders most of his tubing from there. Great place and pretty reasonable prices.
02-24-2012, 04:50 PM
#46
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Car: 1984 Z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
so when you starting on mine? I wanna go fast too 
02-24-2012, 04:51 PM
#47
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Car: 1986 IROC-Z
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
I'll say it again, and again, and again!!!! I just love looking at this car! Nothing like a stock looking Z to shock the hell out of all the ricers who want to go. This car is just clean.
02-24-2012, 07:03 PM
#48
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
We can start on yours whenever your ready! I'd love to do another turbo build. Only this time on someone else's wallet!
Thanks coptzer! I spy a nice little project your getting started with too! Can't wait to see it come together.
Last edited by coolmarocrzy; 02-24-2012 at 07:05 PM. Reason: added some words
02-24-2012, 07:28 PM
#49
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Car: 1984 Z28
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Re: 85 Z28 Turbo ls1/T56 build
seems pretty cheap Would save me from building new big tube headers this year as well.
Would save me from building new big tube headers this year as well.