Ok I've been a member here for a few years so I figure I'll start my build thread. I am currently on deployment in Iraq however I am going home in 4 days so right now I only have a couple of pics to try and put up.

Background on the car. Ok it's an 82 Z-28 it came with the LG4 305 which is long gone and still has the Super T-10 4 speed which will be gone shortly after I get back. I got the car in May of 08 with the intention of doing a resto mod. But I did the irresponsable thing and just drove her and had fun. I had numerous mechanical clutch linkage failures, a throw out bearing that looked like Godzilla used it as a jaw breaker, and a clutch fork that could almost be used as a boomerang. During the deployment I ended up snagging up parts mainly for my DD a 2001 2500HD Duramax/Allison. But since I've been done with work here I ended up angry with myself because I showed no love to the Z. So I have bought a set of Founders Performance Adjustable Rear Control Arms, A matching Adjustable Panhard Rod, a UMI Wonder Bar, A Holley Contender Intake, and a Holley HP series 750 DP carb. The engine is a 350 .40 over, with Forged internals, a .490" cam, single hump heads(planning on swapping to aluminum) with 1.60/2.02 valves and came with an Edelbrock Performer Intake. And now I really have to thank all of you who have put up build threads and given me the motivation to do whats right by my beloved 82 Z and start going throught it. So without further adue heres a couple pics.

Here she is during a winter garage clean up you can see my black projector headlights soon to be HID


Here a little video/sound clip after I got her running properly. She has no muffler here it's all straight
http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MOV00433.flv

Heres an old engine shot taken shortly after I got her



Here she is next to my buddies 89 Trans Am


Thats all I have for now. Feel free to shoot me idea's, I'm also planning to swap my hood out for a Goodmark Pro Touring hood

 

Oh yes and I almost forgot. A special thank you to Bruce and Steve at Hawks Third Gen Parts, the Aluminum Race Radiator works beautifully and the new washer and coolant bottles make a huge appearance improvment over the old 27 year old ones thanks guys

 

I am planning to add a "ZL1" hood by Hawks, 17 or 18" wheels have no idea yet, and a whole slew of suspension upgrades. Anybody know what seats fit in our cars with little to no fuss? I looked at Corbeau's but I dont really like many of those. Also the weekend I get back the old carpet is comming out, I wonder what treasures await. Anything I should be on the lookout for? Her belly is pretty clean and solid. Also any recommendations on a good paint gun? I'm planning on doing the whole build on my own, well with the help of your guys and some other friends

 

Today I started stripping the interior out, and got as far as the console, seats, and headliner out. I found the "pleather" headliner was held in by some type of hard yellow thick adhesive, I'm gonna guess it's that "good stuff" that comes in a big can. If ignorance is bliss this guy must have been reeeeeeal happy, will post pics later on tonight

 

Keep the updates coming!

 

Ok heres my progress











This is an old pic from last year, it's my favorite shot of her

 

Any body have any tricks to getting the T-Top weather stripping out? Because it's fighting me tooth and nail as it the T-Top track in the center

 

Today is a sad day for me. As I stripped the old T-top weather stripping off I discovered a 2" hole rotted through the rear roof section behind the weather stripping. Upon closer inspection the roof line is rotted away and was cleaverly disguised with bondo. So project Lunatic has now officially been abandoned.

 

Ok I havent given up yet I have everything out of the interior minus 1 seat and the belt retractors. So heres a few pics of my progress and challenges. Also a pic of the original jack, space saver spare and inflator. Enjoy

 

I wouldnt let a little rust discourage you. If it was compleltey rusted out that would be different. I can tell you though that if you are going to build the car from the ground up, buy yourself a little MIG welder and get the gas bottle for it. You will thank yourself everytime you need to make a little patch panel for rust holes, or make a bracket you cant find or dont feel like paying for. There is no way I could have built my car without one.

Looks good though. Just remember that you have a daily driver so this is just a project. Use it to learn. I had never built a car or really done much to a car before my Camaro but now I consider myself decent at it.

 

Thanks man, I am slowly picking away at her. So far I have hit the bad spots with rust convertor so it's stopped dead in it's tracks, and I scored a set of black Corbeau A4's on the cheap so I have 1 of those in so I can still move her around. On another note I do have a wish list that tops $8K my wife loves me lol

 

Sorry for the lack of updates I got tied up on a couple other projects for people. I am getting ready to fire back up on her, so more is comming down the line

 

hey u got the same rust spot in the t-top area as i do. i would give up just yet, i thought about the same thing to to give up on my camaro but i couldnt just give up on her yet, what did u for a rust stopper, i was planing to use por 15 in my t-top area where the weather stripping covers and also i have this panle bond glue that ill be use to fill my rust holes on the same area as u do in the t-top area. look forward to seeing more updates.

 

I used Rustoleum Rust Convertor, this weekend I got my new carb on and she rumbles like crazy now, I love it. This weekend I'm going to be tackling the T-top area so I can get her all sealed up

 

Here she is up and running again, I need to adjust my mixture a bit and get some new plugs but she's alive and well again.

New Video

http://s427.photobucket.com/albums/p...=VIDEO0012.mp4

 

God I hate winter I so want to work on my Z

 

i know exactly how you feel i got one im going to take parts out of and one im going to put in

 

I've just revived her, not much to update but there will be soon

 

Good to hear!