1998 Catfish z28 build

[Hallowed_point]

Figured I'd kick off a build thread for my '98 z28. Nothing crazy planned as far as forced induction. Planning on keeping it all motor, although possibly adding a 100 shot wet kit down the road.



- Bought the car Oct 2011 bone stock down to the paper air box filter from the second owner in Red Deer with 113 kms. -

-Loaded with t - top roof, m6 transmission, leather, high tech 90's stereo etc.

First picture is the day I got it, with the wimpy "beefy by 90's standards" 235 16's all around.

[03ozwhip]

i dont know why i thought what i did, but when i opened this up, i thought it was a z24 and wondering, when did a z24 get an M6? lol looking forward to seeing this!

[Hallowed_point]

First on the list besides routine used car maintenance (changing oil, diff fluid etc) was adding an SLP skip shift eliminator. For those that don't know, stock you are forced to shift from 1st - 4th at low speed acceleration. Seriously annoying!

[Hallowed_point]

Next up , I got rid of the big rig style trucker shifter and replaced it with an f-body specific "Lou's short stick"The name of the game with this build is: "trailer park budget" so keeping with that theme, this shifter reuses the stock knob etc.

[Hallowed_point]

Then I decided to see Ravi and the boys at Minute Muffler in the N.E. I had them weld in a Magnaflow muffler. Stock exhaust is 2.75" so I didn't see much point vs cost in adding in a 3.00" catback. Sounds a little throatier now!!

[spikerS]

Originally posted by 03ozwhip
i dont know why i thought what i did, but when i opened this up, i thought it was a z24 and wondering, when did a z24 get an M6? lol looking forward to seeing this!

Don't ask, but I thought the same thing, with how did the M6 get into a cavilier?

[Hallowed_point]

Now to address some unibody flex with some UMI 2 point subframe connectors. Hard to see , but you may be able to spot them at the very bottom if you look closely.

Body is feeling MUCH stiffer now, especially over speed bumps, uneven surfaces. Less creaking which is especially important with the t tops.

[Hallowed_point]

Next was an SLP air lid and K&N filter. Induction sounds a little nastier now..freed up maybe ~10 hp.

Last addition before winter mode (3 M bra applied, undercoated and studded 225 tires from Urban X.)

[Hallowed_point]

May 2012


-Did the dreaded spark plug change. Installed my Pacesetter coated long tube headers with 3" Texas Speed ORY. What a difference in sound, really throaty and snarly sounding now . Took me and 2 friends ~8 hours to do this. The Fbody LS1 engine bay does not like to be tinkered with to say the least..

[Hallowed_point]

June 2012 -Figured it was time for a baseline/safe A/F check after the exhaust mods with Toma K @ Dynomotive.

Decent numbers for simple bolt on's.

304.6 rwhp & 322.1 rwtq or ~ 358 hp crank and 377 tq crank. With a healthy ,flat torque curve!! Keep in mind that this is a dyno dynamics , not a dynojet which would show about 0.09-0.013 % higher numbers.



July-2012

Added a Mike Norris LSx specific catch can for the PCV system. Stock it sprays oil directly into the intake manifold..synthetic oil ain't too combustible! Very well designed catch can with media inside etc to trap oil vapor.

[Hallowed_point]

Nov 2012


FINALLY some decent summer wheels and tires. Not my first choice of wheels, but the price was right. 1997 C5 Corvette OEM GM Chrome Wagon wheels.

Tires are 295/35/18's out back & 245/40/17's out front. Gives it a little more of a muscle car stance..putting these on in March

[Hallowed_point]

Well that's it for now folks. Long term she's gonna see a 224 ish cam with full valve train, diff cover and maybe that 100 shot kit. I'd REALLY like to take down my buddies 03 Cobra, but that's going to take some $$$

The car has been rock solid as my DD and has seen quite a few trips to Vancouver Island, Oakanagan as well as some beyond.ca cruises. Not too bad for a ~14 year old domestic.

[Chantastic]

Your youtube vid is set to private.

I am curious to see it with the C5 wheels on! Keep us updated

[Hallowed_point]

Originally posted by Chantastic
Your youtube vid is set to private.

I am curious to see it with the C5 wheels on! Keep us updated

Thanks..should be public now. I'm mainly looking forward to the extra 60 mm of tire out back..she gets a little squirly right now with traction control off with a 2nd to 3rd redline shift

Should look something like this, although I think the torch red on my car will set them off much more. Debating a mild lowering spring kit as well, although I'm not going for the flush look. My y-pipe is already only about 4.5" off the ground at stock 4x4 height.

[Hallowed_point]

In an attempt to make this project more popular/powerful, I have decided to abandon the archaic push-rod 2V V8 LS1 currently installed.

I will instead be going with a Honda K20 A swap.

Stay tuned.

[Disoblige]

Originally posted by Hallowed_point

I will instead be going with a Honda K20 A swap.

Stay tuned.

LOL.

[Hallowed_point]

After that, my focus will be on purely cosmetic mods such as:

- pink WORKS wheels.
- a tow hook.

And a stuffed character of sorts to stuff into my passenger seat..possibly Captain America?

[StreetRacerX]

hahaha nice build thread man! When you mentioned swapping the LS1 out I immediately thought you would drop something monstrous in until I read the last of your post. If you are considering dropping her with springs, might I also recommend coilovers, I did a quick google search out of curiosity and noticed that the Megan Racing Street Series are available to the f body platform, they are a good bang for your buck and don't track too bad either from what I've heard, I've had mine installed for a bit over a year on my car, no complaints so far and only ran me $950-1000 shipped.

Glad to see you got your hands on a nice set of rims with some meaty rubber, hope to see to see your ride with those treads next spring/summer.

[Hallowed_point]

Haha thanks. Nah, I'm just trying to have a little fun with that part! Although; when the mileage/wear gets up there I would love to get my hands on an LS3/LS7 But in reality, I will likely just get the LS1 rebuilt and souped up while it is out!

Thanks for the recommendation, I will check it out!

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

I think my favorite part of this car is the exhaust, last cruise we were on it sounded mean!