We built the red car for my son a couple of years ago, and I decided to build another one for myself. The car is solid and rust free but needs lots of work. The 9-bolt was shot and due for an overhaul. The 305 smokes on start-up and the brakes are horrible. Interior is a 4 out of 10. The previous owner installed an Intellitronix cluster and none of the gauges worked, plus I just hate that cluster. The stupid looking chrome grill is also being replaced; I'm going back to the stock Z28 grill.

I've already started some of the upgrades. The old Borg-Warner 9-bolt has been replaced with a Strange Engineering 12-bolt with 3.73 gears. While the differential was out, I went ahead and dropped the tank and installed a Walbro pump along with a new sending unit to replace the faulty unit that was in the car when purchased. The front-end has been completely rebuilt. New UMI 1" drop springs were installed all the way around with new KYB AGX struts & shocks. UMI also supplied the new transmission crossmember w/driveshaft loop, adjustable torque arm, rear LCA's, panhard bar and panhard bar relocation kit. Instrument cluster has been replaced with a Dakota Digital VHX unit.

Brakes are being upgraded to 98-02 F-body brakes. I've powder coated the rears but don't have them installed yet. I noticed the rear rotors weren't centered properly, so I'll have to drill them for the correct bolt pattern and stud diameter. They were drilled for 1/2" studs and I'm running the stock 12mm size. I'll get the fronts powder coated as soon as the rest of my powder comes in.

The aluminum block 5.3 LC9 is on the stand getting a few performance upgrades. LS6 intake, 60# Siemens-Deka injectors and a new cam 222/232 .550"/.550". The 799 heads are going to Texas Speed for a CNC port job and getting shaved .030" to bump the compression up to 10.2:1. Transmission will be a Tremec TKX 5-speed from American Powertrain.

Hawks supplied the 17x9 silver Z28 style wheels and they have been wrapped with 275/40ZR17 BF Goodrich G-Force Comp 2 A/S tires.

Here are a few pics. I'll post more as I make more progress.


Blue '91 & Red '92

New Strange 12-bolt & UMI Torque Arm

12-Bolt in its new home

Hawks 17x9 wheels & BFG 275/40ZR17

BFG 275/40ZR17

Calipers fresh out of the oven.

 

I decided to give the stock front brakes a shot before upgrading to the LS1 setup. Everything has been powder coated and assembled and the new wheels and tires are installed.

 

I'm bouncing around between projects on the car and working on what I can, when I can. The new VHX dash is installed with the control box near the fuse panel. The previous owner(s) really did a number on the wiring behind the instrument cluster when they installed an Intellitronix cluster. I cut out butt splice connectors for days.

Here is a small sample of the mess I found behind the cluster.


Sample of the dash wiring

The new VHX cluster looks much better than the Intellitronix unit.



Control box mounted and terminated. I still need to clean up a lot of the wiring and add some more wire loom.


VHX control box

 

I'm also swapping in a 4th Gen booster and master cylinder with a Wilwood proportioning valve. Booster is in, hopefully I'll get the master and brake lines completed this weekend and be able to drive the car a little while I finish the 5.3 build.

 

I decided to chase down some issue with the 305. I'm trying not to spend much on it since it's coming out soon, but some things had to be fixed.

Issue #1- Radiator fan operates continuously with key on. Checked the relay and it was missing, so I started tracing wiring out. Previous owner soldered a wire to the back of the fuse box and ran it around the engine compartment to the fan connector. I bought a fan relay, repaired the factory fan wiring and thought I had it, I was wrong. My fluke meter confirmed I wasn't getting a ground signal from the temp switch at any temperature, but the fan was working with AC on. I crawled under the car and found half of a temp switch in the cylinder head and a melted wiring connector. Ordered replacements, installed and all is well.

Issue #2- Engine missing. Judging from the overall condition of the engine I doubt it has seen new plugs and wires in a while, so I figured I'd start there. Pulled the wires from the distributor cap and I noticed rusty terminals on the cap, so add a cap to the list. Pulled the cap and everything under the cap is covered in rust, new distributor and coil added to the list. Got everything installed, set timing to factory specs and seems to be running great.

This is why a hood to cowl seal is important, the car currently doesn't have one, and it lived outside prior to my purchase. All the rain just ran down the windshield directly on the distributor and coil. After a few years of that, this is what you get.

 

aweseom!!

what did the intellitronix gauges look liike?

 

This is the style that was originally in the car when I purchased it. Mine had about 20% of the LED's burned out.

 

do you still have it?
want to sell if you do?

 

I think I still have a couple of them, one for 91-92 and one for 82-90. I'll take a look tomorrow morning and see if they are still around. If they are you can have them for whatever shipping costs.

 

..how'd this turn out?

 

I still have the '91 cluster. If you want it PM me your shipping info and I'll see what the cost will be.

 

thanks...

and for anyone watching this thread, i bought the cluster, good quick fast shipping, and no hassles.