Here comes MadMike - my 1980Z

MadMike · 05-01-2008, 08:02:47 AM

My 80Z - is close to being fired up. I'm gathering up all the associated items to complete the engine to be run on an engine cradle. The engine will be broke in and set up on that, then deposited in my 80Z. Since I'm at this point, I gotta get my car set up to take the redone engine (ZZ430).

I'm redoing my rear end, swaping stock axle shafts for dutchman axles, and am redoing the brakes, replacing the backing plates, and putting in the parking brake cables - and have to put the steering shaft in, then swap in my new front springs.

I tore out 50 pounds of cables... undoing the trunk mounted battery and putting it where it's supposed to be. I'm also replacing the fuel lines and I have to install the new tank & sending unit.

Hopefully, each day I'll be able to knock some of the above items out. I was worried about removing the carrier pin, expecting it to finally be broken and making it difficult to pull the axles, but it came out.

BTTB71SS · 05-01-2008, 08:19:11 AM

Hey Mike glad your making progress...

But we want pic's

John Wright · 05-01-2008, 08:48:52 AM

<---smilie stolen from Scottie.

MadMike · 05-01-2008, 09:44:22 AM

here's some pics
http://www.nastyz28.com/~madmike/1980z28.html

I'll take pictures of what I'm doing. I've found in the past that I spent more time screwing around on here and tarting up my webpages about my car(s) that I wasn't working on the cars.

So, I'll snap some quick photos of where I'm at.

protour73 · 05-01-2008, 09:56:41 AM

Mike, Mike, Mike............where are the damn pics?

you know the drill.............

(stole this from John

)

BTTB71SS · 05-01-2008, 10:07:42 AM

Mike you have done a lot already... Looks good from the link you posted....

Keizer · 05-01-2008, 10:07:53 AM

Bunch of thieves in here.

RICARDO1969 · 05-01-2008, 11:17:06 AM

this ttiwwop pic is better

i have been following your project nice work allot of history in that car

MR71RS · 05-03-2008, 11:41:54 AM

Its coming along great"

MadMike · 05-03-2008, 01:01:37 PM

5/3 - bitchwork
(finding) and cleaning a box of previously blasted items... and painting them. Suspension, body, exhaust, brake, engine brackets and stuff... for both the 80Z and the 73Z.

I found my stock non-AC PS brackets for my 80. I found my pitman arm for the 73Z.

I gotta go out in the garage and unzap the backing plate bolts on the rear end (they'll round off I'm sure) and then wire brush the underside of the 73Z... so I can paint it and reattach all the new goodies (fuel lines, brake lines, above mentioned brackets, etc...)

laura's upstairs. I'm playing it cool. The day is still young and she's gotta work tonight. Plus my kids are away at camp.

I'm batching up all this work. I'll snap some photos for your enjoyment (?).

BonzoHansen · 05-03-2008, 01:23:17 PM

Is the car the N90s are for?

MadMike · 05-03-2008, 02:00:30 PM

Yes.

Pictures:

HA HA!
What I got going on is posted here:

http://www.nastyz28.com/temp7

The stuff about my yard is my other "project" which takes/took priority over the cars... last years drought made it impossible to plant my yard... so it washed out. I have to unwash it out and plant grass. I'm using a shovel (not a bobcat) to do this. 105 yards of dirt required. I've put in 40 so far (the hard way).
The other funny pictures of the cars in the driveway - getting rained on. The crap (according to laura) is tucked inside - including the cavaliers.

I got to work on the 80Z's mechanicals, and the back end of the 73Z (appearance).

My friend at work is a machinist and he surprised me with the ZZ4. "it's ready". He has my other engine too - the blown up 350 out of my 80Z from the 80's... that's next and is getting deposited into the 73Z. The 12 bolt depicted is for my 73Z, as noticed by it being the car without a rearend. The springs are for my 80Z, and the springs in the car at the moment (which slammed it on the ground) will be swapped to the 73Z. Hopefully since it's lighter - the car will not be sitting on the bump stops.

Wow - it's 1PM. I feel like I haven't done a dang thing yet.

thedude327 · 05-03-2008, 02:32:45 PM

Screw the yard.............work on the 'maros..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lookin like someone's gonna be busy for awhile at your place...............

MadMike · 05-03-2008, 03:14:07 PM

Right on schedule - backing plates are off. Snapped 3 bolts and removed 5. Had to drive the remenents of the snapped ones out of the tubes with an air hammer.

Rounded off a brake line, and wound up snapping the tab on the rear axle that holds the hose. Can't remove the other end of the hose from the main front/rear brake line. need an 11mm. only have 10 and 12 and 7/16'th. I'll round that off if I'm not careful and then have to replace the front/rear line. But the subframe connectors will make reinstalling that hard (or impossible unless I remove them too, which I ain't going to). So I'll wait till I get the correct wrench.

Since my car was from Canada - it spent the 1st 4 years of its life rusting underneath. Not bad - just everything under there was pitted and corroded. I've replaced most everything... and today the backing plates are gone. The front/rear brake line may be too. We'll see. I had to cut the parking brake cables several years ago to get the brakes out. That's getting fixed too.

Anyway... I'm chugging along. more pictures later.

woody80z28 · 05-03-2008, 03:28:16 PM

Each step is one step closer...