When I first got the Z I didn't plan to do much to it at all.
But after the first couple bolt-ons there was no stopping the addiction.
Thousands of dollars later I figure it's about time to start up one of these build threads.
Build objectives:
- 375 to 400 whp
- Redone interior
- Get out all the dings and mismatched lines on the body.
Because I've done so much to it already I'm gonna start this off by backtracking and posting up pictures I took of mods I did in the past.
So, when I first got the Z she had ~125k on her but it was one of the first TT Zs that I had seen on the local classifieds in a while so I jumped on it.
She came mostly stock but with a JWT Pop Charger and some BOVs as well as a three gauge pod with Autometer Boost, A/F and Water Temp gauges, none of which were hooked up.
These were mods done by the original owner and the gentleman I bought it from didn't do any modifications to it but did all the maintenance year to year.
The first thing I noticed was I was hearing a lot of turbo surge.
So I went and checked these supposed BOVs which were completely sealed shut with rust. To humor myself I took a sledgehammer to the diaphragm and it still wouldn't budge.
It ran awesome for a while after I replaced those but on New Years Eve last year I got in the car and whenever she wanted to shift out of first it would go into neutral.
After posting about it here I learned it was probably my torque converter that went. So after a demoralizing tow home I decided I was just going to do a 5 speed swap.
After collecting all the parts for it work started that winter.
I don't have pictures of the whole process but here's ones I did take:
Just pretend you're walking through this process with me
What started it all
SZ Flywheel came in.
Figured I may as well do some DPs while I'm down there. Megan 2.5s
Also did the rear main while I was down there.
This is about where I hit the first major roadblock. The auto pilot bushing.
The details of that escapade are outline here:
removal-of-the-automatic-pilot-bushing- ... 73852.html
Went with a stock clutch because I ran out of money and was not very good at driving manual at the time.
Short throw shifter, bronze bushings and looking pretty good.
At this time, I really wish I had pictures of this but I ended up drilling a hole in the cap and the side of a bottle of Redline MT90, running two silicone tubes out of said holes.
Hooking one of the tubes to my bicycle pump and lying under the car with the other tube in the fill hole as I made a fool of myself pumping that stuff in with the bike pump between my legs.
It was ridiculous but I saved like 8 whole dollars not buying a pump! Woo!
After all that was said and done I was happy.
Well.. I should say after a week of stalling it due to my lack of ability to drive stick, I was happy.
