This is my 86' IROC-Z Project Car. After reading several threads here I decided to go with the LS 376/480 - L470E Cruise & Connect Package from Chevrolet Performance. I'm hoping to drop the new engine in next week and give this Old Girl a new Heartbeat......

 

Old engine out - New Heartbeat awaits.....

 

Purchased a new K-member from UMI so oil pan, windage tray, & pickup tube had to be changed.

 

Preparing engine bay by removing as much of the old wiring harness as possible....Does any one know if the relays on the drivers side firewall are needed? The second pic is of the relay below the first pic. It appears to be connected to the ignition???

 

Nice build, you gonna keep air conditioning?

 

Absolutely - I live in Florida!!! Wife wants to make it her DD.

 

Cool, I've got mine in progress but am attending to the engine bay details clean up, rust removal and prep for repaint under the hood. This is a long process if you do it right. My A/C will be a high mount in the original position using a Sanden compressor and custom lines to the evap. and condenser. It's hot here in GA too so A/C is a must.

 

I'm currently working on engine bay as well. No rust to speak of but getting rid of the old wiring harness as been a PITA!!!

 

Only area I have rust is beneath the battery box, be sure to check from top and bottom there.

 

Forgot about that - Yes mine is rusted pretty bad. Probably going to have the body shop weld in a new battery tray before painting the car.

 

Yeah I'm going to soda blast mine and see how bad it really is, if the sheet metal is still intact and strong I'll just blast it and then coat it good and paint it.

 

Ill be following this one! The new UMI K-member's are so nice, I wish they offered more clearance though. (turbo stuff)

Jay

 

Well I took this week off to hopefully get the new power plant installed. Unfortunately, every time I removed a bolt I found something extra that I wanted to do. However, I did make a lot of progress in preparing the engine bay. Removed a lot of the old wiring harness and installed the new UMI K-Member.

 

A few more Pics.....

 

Sub'd

 

I noticed with that K-member you have the option to install it with coil springs or leave out the upper spring perch and run coil overs. Which are you planning to run? I am thinking about coil overs but am concerned about the stress on the shock towers. I spoke to Steve Spohn who said he runs them on race cars with big blocks and wheel stand launches but I do not believe that is as stressful as 150,000 miles on Americas roads. Any informed rebuttal.

 

I'm going with a new pair of A/C Delco coil springs for an IROC. I'm not planning on tracking the car so Bruce Hawkins recommended coil springs in lieu of coil overs.

 

I'm not planning track use for the most part but will not rule out the occasional track or drag strip. I want the adjustability and am looking at either coil overs or Ground Control weight jack coil kit.

 

I'm planning on lowering it once I see how it sits with stock springs. But mine will be more of a DD.

 

Oh mine will definitely be a daily driver.

 

I had a friend come up form Daytona Beach and with the help of my son we got the engine installed ---

 

More Pics ---

 

Looking real good, should be a fun ride.

 

Thanks! I can't wait to drive it again!

 

Tried to drop the fuel tank out so that I can rebuild the fuel pump with a high volume pump. I lacked about 1/2 inch of getting the filler neck out no matter which way I twisted the tank. Looks like I'm going to have to drop the rear-end to get enough clearance ---

 

Which ECU are you planning on running? E38 with a BCM (to run your AC?)

 

I'm not sure yet - Still working on getting the engine running!

 

Any updates?

 

WOW - I didn't realize that it's been a year and a half since I posted progress on my build. One of the things that kept me from working on my IROC was my boat. I have a 3 car garage but had to pull the boat out every time that I wanted to work on the IROC. Sold the boat so fast forward to today and this is where I am............