I just got a 97 Z that was going to be a bolt on fun car. Then a buddy was talking about doing a web page/article/pix of different mods and progress and keeping up with DA/track times/etc.

Does this interest anyone? Not looking for sponsors unless they want to help out that would be great we just want to take a stock 126k mile car and see how low we can go. We all remember the LT1 shootout where Russ went 12.3s and then one of the other contestants later went 11s N/A with bolt ons in LA.

My actual goal is to have this car go as fast as my 94 did but not go into the motor and be more wife friendly.

Does this type of stuff interest the public any more? or is it all H/C/Turbo/N20/etc or LS1 stuff?

 

Lots people all have the same old ?'s over and over again.. Basically the gist is.. Take weight out.. Headers,cai,wp and some sticky tires will be able to move any LTx car into the 12's w/ ease.. Russ showed exponentially that day on how much weight will affect ET's.. w/a 6 speed none the less.. Auto Car's are really easy to get 12's.. Just people go for HP figures' rather than that magical 60 feet.. you could put a big fat sticky at the top for a proven recipe for 12's in a bolt on LT1 and people would still have the same old ?'s .. But me personally i'm doing another bolt on car w/ a buddy.. its a 93.. we'll see how far we can push this one into the 12's more so focused on the basic suspension of my 95 along w/ lil more weigh redux and 130K mile long block... I find it more fun for some odd reason.. BTW Shon if you need anything lemme know.. I have ton's of pic's of stuff from when i did my car and stuff..

 

I agree, this will be a light weight car for sure and those things I learned in my other car I can put here. I know the car will go deep 12s easy just didnt know if there was a Bolt On crowd out there any more.

And I also agree that this is more fun, heck, knowing now what I do, 10s will be 'easy' if this motor gets rebuilt....

I probably will contact you about a few things. First order of biz is getting baseline information and doing a OBDI conversion. Next is putting a real rear end under it to take the 5k+ dumps on sticky tires!

Are you guys putting light weight parts everywhere? PM me if it is top secret.

 

I still find it very interesting too see how far people can take a bolt on LT1. Probably because It was my goal for a while to reach the 12's with bolt on's only, I had a lot of fun getting there. Now my goal is 11's with cam only, still working on that one.

Just curious why you got rid of your 94 for a 97, was it because like you said it wasnt 'wife friendly' anymore?

 

it will always be appreciated by the new LT1 owners and some of us who just like to see stuff like that. i always like to see how far a particular setup will go.

 

ditto.

 

I got rid of the 94 with intentions of getting a more family friendly ride but then our Honda MiniVan was about to need some work that I was not thrilled about so we traded it in and blew all my ideas for the next 2 years SO this 97 is more friendly to her and the family and the gas mileage is much better than the 94 was. She likes this car so far and actually has ridden in it more than the 94.

I kick my self alot for getting rid of the 94, I could have tried to make it more friendly but for some reason decided to go a different route.

This will be fun again, it became a hassle to drive the 94 anywhere, would it start, would it be OK, would the cops pull me over....dont need that now....

 

what are your race weights and usual DAs you run in? The car needs to be in the 3400 area if not lower to really pull the car to the 11s with just a cam. But alot of you guys are pulling dyno numbers as I did with stock heads so you have got to be close. It is just a perfect day and a perfect launch and a perfect shift away!!

 

Yeah with two overdrive gears in the M6 I'm sure it gets a lot better mileage than the TH350 ever did. I know what you mean about all the mods not being wife friendly. My wife would still occassionaly drive my car up until recently. Then I added the 9" with a locker and the Spec 4 this year and now shes afraid to drive in it anymore let alone drive it. That locker disengaging on turns and the sounds it makes scared her, thats not such a bad thing though Luckily my wife has her own car and I've got a daily driver, because I know I couldnt drive the Z every day anymore especially since our son was born.

 

That's funny as i have a "junk" 355 rebuild stock part's w/ a 847 cam, custom LT's, Gen VII DFI and all the goodies from my bolt on motor that i'm throwing in before the 396 in order to get the bug's worked out.. My car is a good 3-400 lbs lighter easy (10pt Cage Added More ) But i'm looking to have a good time w/ it.. STill 6 speed as well.. I'd like to see a 11 outta it..

 

I would be waaaay interested in a buildup like that! I dont know what the first reponse dood was thinking but my previous car was a 1961 bug i wanted to get into the 12's and now i got a camaro and I have to learn a new car all over again. Personally i have a goal for a 12 sec ET for my car so i could learn alot. go for it!!!

 

I was stating the fact that if you look around the same ?'s about goin 12's are asked over and over again.. I think this writeup/build up will be a great idea..

 

If weather holds we will see what a stock LT1 car starts out at here in south carolina. I hope it will run low 14s on SS wheels and the only other mods are areochamber muffler in the stock location, no cats, jack/spare removed, front bumper support removed. I will have Weights and DA for each run. We'll see....
What stinks is that this is probably the last outing for racing till Feb/March here in the south unless Shady Side stays open all year, 1/8th mile track on the SC/NC border.

 

One of your bolt-ons shipped this morning

Jason

 

Thanks! Did you have any charging problems with the stock pulley on the alt?