Bought an '83 Z28 last fall. Been my dream car since high school to own a stick shift V8 Camaro, I've owned 2 other V8/Auto Camaros, but this one will be a keeper. Plans are to the suspension up, a built rearend, new interior, new paint, T56 or TK0 swap, and either a supercharged 350 or a 5.3 swap

 

New cam installed and double roller timing set



1st time porting anything


more

 

Moog 5665's for the rear


Coming back together


Nitto 275/60/15's (more tire than the 305 knows what to do with)

 

Put a few go fast goodies into the LG4 over the winter just to help me be a little more content with it until the motor swap, and I only put a few hundred dollars into it. I mirrored a build that carcraft did a long time ago, and the engine should be sitting around 230hp-250hp I'd guess.

 

I love the look of 275's in the back (have them on my own '83Z). Also gives the car a nice rake with a 28" tire on the rear.

 

Well I threw the warmed over LG4 on Craigslist and had a bite on it. Guy came and put money down on it, so I pulled the motor today so I'm onto bigger and better things. Didn't even get 400 miles on the motor after the go fast goodies were put into it. I'm just happy to offload the boat anchor.

 

305 out!!



Need to ditch the exhaust manifolds and the true dual exhaust that's on the car, also delete a lot of the wiring.

 

Took the dash out to install new Infinity speakers, also going to put a new heater core in, just for good measure.




A bit cracked.

 

Got some more goodies in the mail yesterday for the rear suspension

 

Cut the manifolds and true dual exhaust off of the car and starting to sort thru the wiring.

 

 

Made some pretty good progress earlier this week. Replaced the heater core just for good measure, it was surprisingly easy. I ended up breaking the heater motor blower resistor, it was pretty brittle. I looked everywhere for one, Ekler's firebird sales was the only place I found that has one for a Non-AC car. I had to lie on the checkout about my model and year of "firebird"



Stripped all the interior out. It will be black


Ditching the rear seats and the harness


Prepping the firewall for paint

 

Got the wonder bar in the mail today. Hope to get some painting done tomorrow of the firewall and heater box/motor.

 

Getting it ripped apart, everything came apart fairly smooth. Still need to get the A-arm out to get new bushings pressed in.




Cut about a half coil out, had them in an ice bucket so they didn't heat up....a little over board maybe.



Both front springs were broken on the first coil

 

Got this in the mail today, my dog approves



Old K member came out surprisingly easy, the bolts turned fairly easy. I just took it out with hand tools and didn't even need a crazy long pipe on the breaker bar to get them loose. I was lucky

 

Looking good paulieet!

Where in WI. are you at?

 

Got the driver's side back together and that's when the issues started on the passenger side with the K-Member.....

 

This is a UMI K-Member

Here's the driver's side, no issues.


The passenger side either has to much metal left hanging from the "tab" or the bolt hole was drilled in the wrong spot. Haven't had the wheel on to figure out which on it is.






I ground material on both the K-member and a little on the A-arm



I emailed UMI today and am waiting reply. Every company can have issues with their product from time to time, but it pisses me off when you pay good money and issues come up. I'm sure they will make it right, but the only way to do that is for me to take it out and them send a different one... Frustrating when you want your car ready for an engine to go into it.

 

Been a while since I updated this.



Engine bay turned out pretty good

First time on the ground with the new K-member and suspension

This ugly thing will be finding a new home between the camaro's fenderwells



The 350 and T5 going in

 

nice!

 

Love this thread! Great job! Enjoy and thanks for the pics!