Well...my mom said my dad and I need a new playtoy. So she made him set out to look for a pre-emissions Chevy. Our DREAM car is the 69 SS bone stock, but we decided to compromise a little and settle with a really nice looking 71 z28 Blue Zebra. Great pick up for the $9500 we paid. Damn straight body and very good looking paint. Has a 355 355hp crate motor (15k miles on it) (waiting for specs) and a TH350.

We already have plans to drop the tranny for a manual. Can anyone point us in a direction? I'd like to find something that'll hold 400-450hp for moderate street. This won't be driven too much so some moderate performance is anticipated.

My dad told me it needs a tune up (I go to school 5hrs north of home). Going to switch out the entire top end...and perhaps check on the cam/heads while we're at it for something PERHAPS a little more aggressive. Also going to pull the exhaust for Flow 40's.

I've been looking into the Boyd Coddington and AR 200S rims paired with some Nittos or equivalent...can anyone recommend any other nice setups/places to shop, deals to consider? This is a whole new ball game as far as where/what to shop for as opposed to my last 91 L98

 

If you want to study up on 2nd gen F-bodies, this is where to go...


2nd Gen site

That being said, I chose to go with a T56 6-speed I got a good deal on. You might look into some of the aftermarket 5-speeds, they would be an easier swap for an existing 4-speed.

 

all of your plans sound good, i had a 73 ss so i am partical to those years, the only problem you run into with changing an automatic to a manual is the clutch peddal. if ther wasn't one there to begin with it is hard to find room, but it can be done. a muncy 4 speed, or a modern 6 speed would be my suggestions... good luck with it, sounds like a nice car...

 

I just found out the motor is a GM ZZ4....which means I already want to change the cam...HOT cam?...or equivalent?

Who is selling the Muncy's?

 

I have the ZZ4 to which I added the HOT cam and 1.6 roller rockers. The engine is supposed to make 430hp, which sounds about right considering the times I run.

 

That's a big gain in performance....almost too big...

Can I ask what your setup is overall? Tranny, heads, rear end...

 

Fastburn 385 crate engine with the HOT cam and 1.6rr's (fastburn aluminum heads)
TCI built TH350 (supposed to handle 500hp/tq) and a 2000rpm torque converter (need to change that one)
Stock rear end with auburn posi, and newer stock axels. 3.42 gears.
Edlebrock 750 carb (too big really, but the price was right - I've a friend with a 650, 300lbs lighter and runs 3/10 faster)

 

go here http://www.keislerauto.com/gm/transm...maro_70-81.asp youll find complete T5 kits that will hold up to 600 HP

 

Some more specs on the car:

New Holley 750 on it already
Replacing the stock zz4 manifold with a dual plane Performer RPM
Flowmaster 80 series YUCK!! (very soon to be replaced with 40's)
Hedman Longtubes

Looking at upgrading to the Lt4 Hot Cam
MSD 6 ignition
New distributor/cap/rotor assembly
4spd Tremec or Muncie will come SOON....but that's a BIG project...

Can anyone tell me what distributor is going on these things? Supposedly there is a huge hesitation and maybe related to vacuum.

 

The distributor, if it's the one that came on the ZZ4, is a large-cap, integral coil GM Performance Parts HEI. I'm running one in the 396, the guy I got it from used the crate engine under a tricked-out TPI setup, so he didn't need the distributor (ZZ3 and ZZ4 were the same in that respect). If you plan on doing any drag racing, get the MSD Digital 6 with the adjustable two-step rev limiter.

I've also got the intake on the Camaro, since he didn't need it, either. If you go with an RPM, at least get the Air Gap style. Otherwise, no particular improvement.

I agree with the T-56 recommendation. Get rid of the vacuum secondary carb and get a double pumper.

 

The air gap would be the way to go....but with the heads already on the zz4 engine....I think we are limited to very few manifolds...

 

Also...if heads were in the budget....what kind of cc's am I restricted to in order to stick around that 10:1 ratio....I would like to pick a intake manifold that'll match a nice set of heads a couple months down the road. I was lookin at the E-Tech 200cc, and MAYBE the AFR 195cc

 

There aren't any particular restrictions on intake choice with the ZZ4 heads. However, the E-tec heads require a Vortec-style manifold.

For aluminum heads, 58cc chambers is what gets you to 10:1. However, if you somehow end up with cast iron heads, you'll want to use a larger chamber, 64cc, to maintain the same effective CR.