hilljackofdenile

Hey all, this is the first time I've posted here, I got an '82 Z-28 Indy 500 Pace Car a few months ago and I love it. But I could use some help, the transmission is a 350 non-lock up (someone changed it before I got the car) but I want to know if I can put in a 4 or 5 speed manual transmission. I was also wondering what how fast the engine should be running when going say 65 mph, because when im doing 65 the tachometer reads about 3000 rpm, and my friend has a Pontiac Bonnaville and it only runs 2000 rpm when goin about 75 or 80 mph. I think this is causing overheating because the engine gets pretty hot after running it at that speed for about 20 min. If anyone knows why this is happening I would appreciate you letting me know whats going on. Also I was wondering how big of tires I can get on the stock Z-28 wheels. One more thing, when I'm doing right at about 55-60 mph constant, the car starts shuttering, but when I'm accelerating past this its fine. Any ideas?

Thanks for your time, I'm new to this so any help no matter what it is would be appreciated.

Drew

91z4me

I am not sure but I think you meant the turbo 350 tranny which means you have no overdrive and maybe just 3 gears, not sure but. But it depends on your rear end and stuff like that. About the shaking a lot of the early 80's cars and trucks shake at high speeds.

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91 z-28 305 700R4
3.73 gears out back
T-Tops and Black all over.

Xenodrgn

I'm not sure about the tranny swap.. I know people have swapped 700R4's to M5's, but I'm not sure about the TH350...

The RPM/overheating thing is irrelevant, cruising RPM at any given speed is affected by rear end gear ratio and tranny gear ratio... If it's starting to overheat on the highway, check and make sure the air-dam under the front of the car under the radiator is in place, curbs and speed-bumps like to wreak havok on these... if it's there, post another post stating exact symptoms, we'll most likly sort it out...

Tires? I believe 245's is the biggest, depends on what the shop you take them to says... Some guy here managed to fit 255's on his...

The shuttering is most likly your driveshaft... early ones (up to about 86, 87) weren't balanced very well and tend to cause this, if it's not that, look at tires, rims, and suspention components for a cause...

Hope that helps, and good luck with the awesome ride.

[EDIT] Gramatics...

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1985 Camaro SC - 2.8L, auto.

http://www.xenodrgn.f2s.com/Frontright.jpg

[This message has been edited by Xenodrgn (edited September 04, 2001).]

hilljackofdenile

Hey, thanks, i just checked the air damn, and its cracked down the middle so im assuming that when i drive it fast the air damn is just flipping back, and not letting enough air into the radiator. Im going to duct tape it so that it wont flip backwards (temperary fix) and take it for a spin, see how it does, thanks again, i would have never thought of that. Also about the tires, I dont know much about that, but im going to check the stuff written on the side to see what it says, im still not sure what all the stuff means, but maybe you can help me decpher it.

thanks again
drew

zupmanZ28

if you have stock size tires on the car now now, the numbers should read something like 215/60/R15. the 215 is the measurement for tread width. The 60 is the profile, or hieght of the sidewall on the tire. the R15 is the rim size. Now upgrading to something like a 245/50/R15 would give you a wider tread area. it will also give you a slightly lower profile (although it will most likely be about the same since your going to wider tire). And obviously, the rim size would stay the same. Hope this helps you out some. good luck, and welcome...again.

Eric

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My 1986 Z2814.59@95.6

GM350, T-5, 3.23's, lots of go fast goodies, 4th gen Firebird interior etc...
85 IROC w/ 1364 miles! no times yet, just got it to start.

You'll always find what you've lost in the last place you look

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Moderator at: www.generation-3.com

hilljackofdenile

Okay, well it was dark so i couldnt check my tire readings, but ill do it tomorrow, thanks for all your help, you people have been very helpfull.
drew

ps. sorry i cant answer anyone else questions yet, im still learing this stuff myself.

oh yes, and for the tires, I am wondering how large of a profile i have before it scrapes the underside of the wheel well, or something bad like that.

[This message has been edited by hilljackofdenile (edited September 04, 2001).]

West Coast GTA Man

Congrats on the car Drew, and welcome!

Mike

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Check out My Car Pics http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/Albu...667&a=13599419

Gran Turismo Americano "The Ultimate Firebird"
Smokin 1989 GTA- Bone stock except for exhaust. (no catalytic-stainless pipe into Flowmaster 2 chamber) & AC Delco Rapid Fire Plugs

hilljackofdenile

Okay i got the tire specs, they are: P225/70 R15 100S M+S. i understand the P225/70 and R15 but im not sure what the 100s or M+S is. And I belive that they are the stock Z-28 wheels.

so how big can i make these tires, keeping in mind that i would like to have a larger profile, so i can run the engine at a lower rpm. (cheap way rather than changing gear ratios)

thanks

[This message has been edited by hilljackofdenile (edited September 05, 2001).]

Drakar

Ok 225 is width 70 is height and R15 is rim diameter in Inches. you can go with a 245/50/R15 on those rims with no problems. Also if you have a TH350, then you have only a 1:1 3rd gear and on OD, so that is why your RPM is higher on the highway then your friends

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1989 Trans Am GTA, 5.7L TPI, TH700-R4, T-Tops, dual cats, 9-bolt rear, 3.27, Dynomax muffler, K&N
1992 Camaro RS, 5.0L TBI, T-5, T-Tops, 3.08, L69 Dual Snorkel, K&N - Sold

Honda engines ROCK, I have one on my lawn mower but I still have to push it.

z28onTweenkies

this isnt exactly related to the topic, but on my two back wheels i have 275 60 15's and they fit fine.

86NiteRider

iTrader: (10)

Check to see if your wheels have been PROPERLY balanced. If they have not this will cause your car to shake, rattle and roll at high speeds.

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86 Camaro Black SS Coupe, T Tops, ASCD Daytona Twin Turbo hood, Flowmaster, Custom Paint, Dunlop Road Kings S/R tires, Wheel Country Directional Chrome Wheels,new charcoal & gray interior including seats and door panels, new carpet and headliner, complete front end suspension rebuild, new Valve seals, and more mods to come
'91 RS 5.0 TBI = Waiting to be modded, but has all of the toys inside.

http://www.angelfire.com/sports/niterider/86camaro.html
Morgan_Andre@hotmail.com

hilljackofdenile

well, I had the front wheels balanced by Tire Barn when I got them replaced, shortly after buying the car, and then got the back ones balanced shortly after that. However I have no idea how old the back ones are, but the tred is going. This is why I want to know how big of tires I can put on because Im going to need to replace those anyway.

Oh, and what does TPI mean?

Oh and one other question, When i get new tires of differnt diameter, will they re adjust my speedometer and odometer? i ask this because i noticed that my speedometer is off by about 5 mph when doing 35-40 mph (i drove behind a friend doing exactly 40 and saw my speedometer said 35). I think the last guy to own this car, put on bigger tires but never had the speedometer recalibrated.
Drew

P.S. all of you have been an awsome help, thanks.


[This message has been edited by hilljackofdenile (edited September 06, 2001).]

Ed Maher

I would have to advise against the 245/50 15 idea. Yes it will physicall fit w/ no problems but it is a VERY short tire, 24.6" tall. Unless you lower your car to the ground they look extremely ******* on a thirdgen. Also, the shorter tire will give you a higher effective gear ratio, which means MORE RPMs cruising down the highway, which is what you are also trying to fix.

IMO, no size tire fits a 15" thirdgen rim better than a 235/60 15, both in terms of performance and looks (its a 26" tire). I've seen 245 and 255 60s on thirdgens and they look a little more muscle car as they are taller. These will help bring down your highway RPMs. 275/60 is pretty extreme, it's a 28" tire and you'll definitely feel it accelerate slower, but your highway rpms would be way down.
If you're trying to get a really fat tire in there, both 265/50 and 275/50 will *kinda* fit on the 7" wide stock rims, but they wear out badly b/c of cupping of the tread, and also can handle funny too for the same reason. 265/50 is 25.5" and 275/50 is 26".


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Ed Maher - Moderator @ The TPI & Carb Boards
92 Z28 Convertible - Quasar blue / Tan top
LB9 A4 2.73 - 14.8 @ 93.1
Stock except ported plenum and dual cats
-=ICON Motorsports=-

- Definitely prototypes, high powered mutants of some kind. Too weird to live, too cool to die

82camaro

I agree with Ed. 235/60's work great on a 15x7 wheel. That rpm sounds like you have 3.73's. That is if your tach and speedo are accurate. If the tranny has been replaced they might not have installed the correct speedo gears. Mine used to run 3000 at 60mph, but I had shorter tires and 3.73's. The 700r4 I installed made the cruise rpm about 2100 in overdrive. 3000 rpm at 60 won't cause an overheat problem.


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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

Mark A Shields

TPI= Tuned Port Injected. Not exactly sure how it works but stock for stock it's better than TBI.

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'86 IROC
T-TOPS, TINTED WINDOWS, BRAKE LIGHT BLACKOUTS
GM GOODWRENCH 350
EDELBROCK TES HEADERS
3" Hooker CatBack w/Aero Chamber muffler
EDELBROCK 600CFM CARB.
KN AIRFILTER
ACCEL HEI DISTRIBUTOR
160* Stat
3:73 Posi
Rebuilt 700R4
B&M Megashifter, 5" Autometer Tach w/shift lite