IT LIVES! My Z/LE ZL1 + 1LE + 2SS = Z/LE ;o) LSA SC [COTW 2/09/15]

[hammdo]

NP! It's easy to get lost in my build ;o)

-Don

[hammdo]

Ok, got the coupler (70 ft lbs red loctite) and driveshaft (54 ft lbs blue loctite) installed:

Everything re-aligned:



Was simple -- just lowered the Hotchkis and removed the heat shield so I could lower the driveshaft -- everything fit perfect!

Next, I'll have to raise the car a bit higher so I can tackle the headers, motor mounts, front swaybar, and oil change. Once the mounts are on, I'll re-install the headers with new gaskets, and then get the exhaust and diffuser installed. At that point, I'll be able to take it out for a spin and see how the new trueTrac and the new diff bushings behave!

-Don

[hammdo]

Got the belly pan off -- found a very small oil leak around the drain plug -- needs a new gasket -- think I'll get quite a few and just replace them every other oil change. Cleaned the belly pan to be safe.

Rear tires are back on and torqued (110 ft lbs) -- now scoping out the motor mounts. I'll need to take off the strut brace, spark plug wires, headers (have new gaskets and arp bolts for those), may be able to just 'move' the headers out of the way without taking everything off -- will see what makes sense. While I'm doing the mounts, will do the front sway bar too...

-Don

[hammdo]

Strut bar and plug wires are off. Header bolts look easy to get to now. Checking to see if I can just loosen and move the headers so I don't have to disconnect the o2 sensors. Dipstick for sure needs to be removed on the passenger side. Will ck tomorrow... Header gaskets and ARP bolts will be here Thursday...

-Don

[hammdo]

Now the motor mounts. I went ahead and removed the upper and lower mounting nuts, and started scoping out the pedestal:

Passengers side:



Drivers side:





Looks like its possible to do without removing the headers -- may be a fools errand, but gonna see. Looks like I can get to all the bolts with extensions!

I'll do the harder one's first and if those go smoothly, I'll support the engine and do the rest quickly so I can move the pedestal and pop in the new mount.

-Don

[pancherj]

I did mine without removing the headers. It was a pain...but certainly possible. Good luck and keep up the good work!

[hammdo]

JPSS front sway bar is on! Since I was already going to do the motor mounts, I did this first. Factory sway bar mounts and JPSS sway bar in place. I'm going to leave off the sway bar links as I also have his radius bar upgrade.

Sway bar (looks good in black):



I'm just going to go ahead and move the headers -- it just looks so much easier if they are out of the way. Since I have new gaskets and bolts, why not...

That will be next...

-Don

[hammdo]

Well, now I have the front and rear BMR sway bars, mounts and bushings for sale along with the posi-mod rebuilt by GPI.

Pics coming um, 'SOON' ;o)

-Don

[hammdo]

Driver's side Z/28 motor mount is on! I removed the header and just hung it away to give me more room -- didn't have to drop it. With the motor in the air, I moved the pedestal and popped out the old mount and put in the new mount. I did have to work around the steering arm, but that just took a minute. Bolted the pedestal back up and lowered it down to verify fit:



Since I knew the mount was the same size as the BMR without the 1/4 bracket, I'm fairly certain these will be a bit lower. I measured the old ones and it appears that is the case! I can't be for certain until I try the strut bar, I'll bolt down the mount after I finish the passenger's side. I'm not going to install the headers just in case I need to remove the headers again.

Gaskets and ARP bolts came in today so I'm all set!

-Don

[olblue75]

Are the Z/28 mounts better/different than SS or ZL1???

[hammdo]

When the ZL1/1LE came out, they came with these mounts. The Z/28 uses the same mount as the 1LE/ZL1 -- I check the part numbers and they are the same as the Z/28. The 10/11 had the older version of the mount. 12 and up SS may have them (I know the 1LE has them).

So Z/28, ZL1, 1LE all have the same mount now -- newer SS may have them too already -- have to see the part number to be sure...

Here is a link...

http://www.chevypartscentral.com/p/C...wd=&origin=pla

Ck what fits...

-Don

[hammdo]

Radius Bushings are on their way from JPSS! I'll put those in once they arrive.

Will be doing the other motor mount and then the header gaskets/bolts. Once those are done, I'll install the swaybar links, exhaust, diffuser, change the oil, put the fronts on and take it for a spin!

Probably will take the next couple of days, but should have it back together this weekend -- just in time for a wash ;o)

-Don

[hammdo]

Passenger's side mount is on! I didn't have to remove the header (although I'll do the gasket/bolts anyway)...

Installed and bolted down (59 ft lbs top and bottom -- per ZL1 manual):







Swaybar links on -- full soft -- per JusticePete (closest to firewall is soft):



Next will be the header gaskets and bolts...

-Don

[hammdo]

Driver's header is on with new gasket, ARP bolts (small amount of anti-seize), torqued to 18 ft lbs (inside to outside):



Since I'm already in there, I'm going to install a new set of spark plugs -- I have 15k on these and 2 new sets sitting here, so, play it safe.

I'll do the passenger's side header tomorrow and get it updated. Then I'll have new header gaskets, ARP bolts, and spark plugs...

It's fun!

BTW, I did a trial fit of the strut bar, these mounts do not lower enough -- it's barely touching, but I'll still need the spacers -- that part sucks ;o(. Still an upgraded motor mount set...

-Don