Ok now I know Im going to buy this 92 firebird, it needs a new windshield, tires and a passanger window switch. I need to know a good cheap place to get the windshield replaced and some ideas on what z rated tires to get Ive been looking at some kohomas (sp) and I need to know how much you guys think it will cost me to get a TPI system and swap that on.

 

Tires: i just got the Kuhmo Supra 712's ZR rated, 255/50/16 for the rears and 245/50/16 for the front. I bought them online from TireRack.com and including shipping I paid $393.90 to my door. Installation was $5 per tire and $2 per tires for new valve-stems. The are awsome tires, good tread wear and AWSOME grip, launching AND cornering. I HIGHLY recommend them over the other stuff in their catagory ie: Falken ZIEX-502 (had em' hated em'!) Kelly Tire, Yokohama Avid V-4, Yokohama Intermediate, Falken ZIEX-512 (new, dont know much about them, sightly more than the ZIEX-502). You can always pay 700-1000 per set of tire in the catagory of Goodyear Eagles, Yokohama AVS ES-100, Yolohama AVS sport, Michelin Pilots, or Bridgestone Potenza RE-730s. If you want to pay 1000-1500 per set go with the Bridgstone Potenza S-02 Pole Positions, Michelin Pilot Sports, and tires of a such...hope that helps...

TPI swap: When you go from TBI to TPI you need, Throttle body, Plenum, Runners, Intake Manifold, Fuel Rails, Fuel Pressure Regulator (adjustable) Wiring harness, ECM and various sensors for the TPI ie: Idle Air Control (IAC) Manifold Air Temprature (MAT, on Speed density only) Throttle position sensor (TPS) EGR, MAF (Mass Air Flow sensor, non Speed density only) and a few other things i may have forgotten...expect to pay around 500-750 for the parts and i have no idea on labor... its a lot of labor!

If you were smart and were going to go through all of that and cant find a car that is ALREADY TPI, get everything ported before you put it on. Once you get it all on and hear about TPI porting, you'll want to do it. Might as well do it before the swap. Another thing you should do once the TBI is off, do a cam swap. You still have to tear down the Radiator, AC condensor, water pump, and Timing chain cover, but since the Intake is off already, do it then, will be much easier than tearing down the TPI to do it later. Put a ported TPI and LT1 cam in and youll have a solid mid 14sec 305. Mate a 5speed with that and youll have a low 14sec to high 13s depending on your launch.

Im writing all of this because I have learned this stuff the hard way. If I had known about any of this when my Z28 was rebuilt, id be a much happier (and faster) guy. Since i didnt, and the stuff is all back together (2.5 yrs ago) i look back and see how easy it would have been when everything was apart. You dont have to take my advice, but this is from experience... have fun no matter what you do. And do as much as you can yourself. There are always people here to help.

 

Thanks, Lucky thing about this car is it has a 5 speed already! Thats why I want to buy it so badly, oh and of course the t tops I love t's!