New Project! ZedSled 78 Z28
 

Well, I'm over at the dark side... switched from my JADED 66 Mustang Coupe to a worn out 78 Z28. The angle is budget pro-touring... nothing exotic, no hyper expensive mods, Junkyard LS power, leaf springs out back, and simple but effective mods. I'm really looking forward to this one! I had a buddy in High school that had this car with a 4 speed ( i'm staying with automatic) and it brings back some fun times!! I'll look forward to advice and input from the many folks that have done 2nd Gens here. Thanks in advance for advice, opinions, and the odd bashing. :)

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This is going to be a pretty cool project.I always liked this model year nose.

I'm an old school style set up guy myself so I'll look forward to seeing this one play out but your going to have to dump the auto.

Kevin Welcome to the LIGHT ( Chevy that is! ) Do us proud!!!!

Welcome Kevin, looks like an awesome project. My Dad and I just built an ls powered late second gen;

https://lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=26228

I'm looking forward to seeing your progress as this is the direction we are headed with ours as well.

Sweeeeeet
 

Kevin, Looks like a very nice starting point and rendering, subscribed to this thread for sure. :thumbsup: Will any of the Power Block Guys be doing any work/ mods on your car in any upcoming episodes? (if you can say?)
Thanks
Kieth

Looking forward to see what you do with this one Kevin. I had a couple of these back in the mid '90s. Sounds like a fun build!

This is going to be cool :thumbsup:

Plenty of suspension choices out there. Pro-touring f-body and Custom Works come to mind first. Bigger names like Speed Tech, Ride Tech, DSE, Hotchkiss, and Global West are there as well. Good luck!

Thanks guys!! I've had serious internal debates regarding the automatic trans.... Personally I love rowing through gears, but not every car is standard-shift. I think it can still be "pro-touring" with a slushbox.. especially one that's tweaked properly, but I'm on a serious budget with this one and 4l80's ( even rebuilt) are out there all day long under a grand.

Budget doesn't mean cheaply built to me, just carefully chosen dollars and not reaching for the highest level component without weighing the odds. I've driven leaf sprung cars that handle like slot cars, and am really looking forward to not only making a fun car even better, but seeing how much this platform can be improved without just throwing the checkbook at it.

The rendering is a Steve Longacre concept... he's who I reach for because he "sees" cars and design, and always helps with blending my ideas into a practical application of design. On top of that he's very reasonable. if anybody ever wants to get in touch with him PM me and I'll put you together.

Unfortunately, Powerblock does not support anything we do outside of their world. I had to lobby real hard to get my personal vehicles in the building, and working on them in the building or on the shows is a strict no-no. It's just the way it is... and we choose to either go along with the rules, or get out of Dodge and make our own. :)

I always appreciate the wealth of knowledge here... you guys are top shelf and I always learn from reading and watching... thanks!! We're on to metal replacement on the tub, followed by chassis upgrades very soon... I'll keep posting. Here's some proof of a rough history!! LOL! http://s858.photobucket.com/user/ktt...tml?sort=3&o=0

Are you planning to minitub? You could always show how to do it by simply cutting the old tub out, adding a 2 or 3 inch strip, and welding the tub back in. The DSE tubs are very nice but I don't think they really work when sticking with a budget approach. Just a thought

Like the new z28 style rims on there!

That rendering has me wanting to pick up another camaro...

In for the build...

Yeah, the rims are from a 1980 if Im not mistaken. They look good, but not gonna stay! :) Not enough rubber. As far as mini-tubs, for now I'm going to stick with stock wheelhouses in the rear... I spoke with Kyle T and he says that a 10.5 can fit with a low ride height, and for now, that'll get us up and running faster. I can always upgrade to a quadralink and tubs later if it's not enough, but I should be able to run a 315 and not rub with a 10/5 if I do some massaging. I've chatted with guys that run an 11 inch wheel out back on stock tubs, but I want this one low, at least lower than stock, and I don't think I want to flirt with rubbing.

I think the rubber nose WITHOUT the spoiler and flares throws back a little to the earlier cars, and it's unique to 78 so It's gonna stay like that, even though the rendering shows the flares.... I'll figure it out.

Thanks!!!
KT.

:ups:

Another great project.

My two cents on the mini tubs. Just do it, it's just a little bit of cutting and welding. Serious... 5 sawzall blades, a $15 strip of 18g, some seam sealer and an afternoon. Easy for a guy like you.
You can still run the smaller wheel and tire . I'm going to tell you that it will come up later and you will regret it. Usually after its painted and all pretty.

I like to say "regret is an expensive emotion but a money maker for me"

looking forward to seeing this one done.

Yup.....and 315's will be fine. Just move the inner tub in and fill the center. I went 1 9/16" in for mine leaving the leaf springs in the stock location and moving upper shock in board.
It can be done. :thumbsup:

Another thought if you are planning on a low ride.

It looks like you are going to be doing quarters. While you are in there, you can cut the outer wheel house, remove the inner hump and push it out closer to the quarter. I use the old section that I cut out and add filler to it. That will open up a ton of room for tire.

This is going to be a cool project, look foward to seeing more!

Thanks for showing that, Vince. I had in the back of my mind that some room to go lower could be obtained bu removing that portion of the inner tub but just hadn't looked into it. I might have to when I go to do quarters on my TA since I want to be low.

Vince, You're right... I know it. Even to have the room and not use it right away, and perhaps later just switch to the DSE offset shackles to add wheel & tire will be MUCH less hassle than tearing the car down to tub...Thanks for the nudge! :) Now that the body is on the rotisserie it'll be less work as well.... I'm just following a low-buck theme and I honestly didn't think about whittling them down, adding a filler strip, etc.... Typical, there's more rust in the floors than I had hoped, but the frame rails and braces are all OK enough not to have to replace.

As long as your frame rails are good you are golden!! The way I see it, bad floors = more room for exhaust.

The 2nd gens are easy to low buck tubs.
Trace 2 1/2" outside from your existing tub and make a nice cut.
On the body side, just cut along the vertical lip, clean up the tub. Remove the old floor from the tub.
Cut a 3" new filler section to mirror the body side of the tub you cut ,tack it on the tub and the outer edge gets welded to the outer wheel house horizontally. Quick and easy. Add a vertical filler to the frame side and your done.

Cool! Thank for the tips... the only thing missing are pictures for the instructions... :) I guess that's my job now.
I appreciate the though and help!

KT.

shoot me your email address, i'll send you a bunch.... :D

anytime, I enjoy sharing what I have learned over the years.

There is a little fly in your ointment......

If you tub, don't forget about shock relocation!

The tubs tend to start a bit of a snowball, didn't stop me though:superhack:

that should be cake for a truck guy. you know where they go.

Yup, get out the saw!

Looking forward to this! Post pics often.

Good luck with the project and congrat for the tv show. I watch your show even here in canada, it give me a bit of motivation when im feeling lazy.

Here's a way to follow the progress of this project as well. I will still continue to post pics, which will probably be ahead of the "show" but we're doing a web series to document the Z and other stuff.... check it out and help with the numbers by subscribing if you want. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFBJfKOyZbM


Next up is serious metal replacement... ,roof, quarter patch, trunk floor, and one rocker skin... rails and boxes are all good.... it's just been neglected.

Still trying to decide wether to go 6 speed or paddles shifted 4L80e.... thoughts?

KT.

full manual. Paddle shifting is great for racing but it gets old and boring just tooling around town and through nice mountain drivers.

go 6 speed!!


pretty cool you tube show.

Can't wait to see more!

updates
 

Hey KT, Any updates on this Hot Rod???? Also watched new episode of Trucks on PowerBlock and did not see you, only Ryan, also your pick is not on the intro, are you still with them on the shows ???

Hes got a new show on YouTube with Eastwood.

He left Powerblock a few months back.

Links or it never happened! Lol

Thanks
 

That would explain it then, Thanks BCrrusher

Here you go!