mtflyboy

Hey Guys I am finally getting to start my Z28's restoration. So here goes the start of many hours and most likely thousands of dollars from my already empty wallet.

Well this summer i bought my Camaro off a guy here in Colorado Springs. It is a 1991 Z28 with the 305 and automatic transmission. I don't know which transmission that is, but from what I've heard it is the 700R4. Here are the pictures from when I first picked her up.

mtflyboy

A few more a snapped later that day.. Sorry for the differences in size I am still trying to figure out how to make them the same...

mtflyboy

The car had about 168,000 miles on it when I got it, but it runs really good. So for now I am keeping the ol' 305 in it at least until it, or the transmission dies. The only things wrong with it are it doesn't have headliner, the power rear hatch doesn't work, neither do the power mirrors, or power locks. I haven't had much time to look into it, but I will in a few days which I am very excited about. So far ive bought some glow gauges for it, a new grill, and a grant challenger steering wheel. Ill be putting them all on it when Im home on the 24th. The car was trailered back to MT after I got it by my Dad, so I am looking forward to seeing it again!

Tobias05

looks like a solid car to start with! any body damage or rust that you are aware of?

how much did you get her for if you don't mind?

great z!

mtflyboy

Thanks! I have wanted a third gen camaro since I started liking cars at about age 12. Finally bought one for myself. I got her for $1600. Its really clean, just minor scratches and a few small dings that you really have to look for to see. Well and the problems I listed above. I checked as much as I could for rust, even put it up on a lift and didn't see anything underneath either. No bubbling paint where you can tell its rusting or anything. I felt really good about the buy and my Dad was really impressed with the shape it was in.

mtflyboy

Oh it had a Flowmaster 40 Series Exhaust with a cat delete and came with an extra set of t-tops in the leather bags.

Tobias05

glad to hear, that rust thing can really rear its ugly head...

Carlos773

iTrader: (3)

Nice Car! I am interested in some pictures on how the steering wheel looks installed, I need to replace my 92 airbag wheel

mtflyboy

ill post some pictures of it when I put it in this week. yeah I'm replacing mine... it is all peeling and doesn't look good at all.

mtflyboy

Well so far I have put my new grill on, that was easy. I swapped the stereo deck out with the one that was in my brothers car since he is selling it. That wasn't too bad either. it was a very tight fit though going in since the new stereo was a bit longer than the previous. I had to clean up all of the junk left by the previous owner. This was stuff like home theater wire used in the rear speaker wells.. Like 6 feet more than necessary. I also found out that the drivers seat bracket in the front was broken, so out came the seat and we welded it back together. I also started on pulling my old peeling nasty steering wheel, I got the airbag off then couldn't figure out why it wouldn't just come off. so apparently i need a wheel puller or something. i will go to checker for that soon. next project is to get the glow gauges in... ill post pictures of the work soon.

mtflyboy

Pictures of New Deck Installed... It is a Panasonic 700U, very nice out of my brothers CRX.


I ran the wires for a normal headphone jack input, and also full ipod control to the center console..


Now I had to figure out a small mess under the dash. This is what it looks like now that i fixed it.. The PO had cut into several different things and had them wired together differently and the yellow plug unplugged. Well I finally figured out that the guy had made a little system to bypass the security system in the car that will make it not start. I decided I wanted that to work, so I wired everything back up and wallah the car started again...

mtflyboy

I like the look of the new guages...





Sorry about the nasty old wheel it still isnt out yet...

mtflyboy

Here are some more pictures I snapped just before leaving... Oh yeah the new grill was cake to put on, and the fog lights are still there hiding behind it..

mtflyboy

Few more with the barn in the background..

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

Congrats on pickin up your Z!! Looks in good shape, always a nice place to start... A few things I wanted to point out though: is your area really strict when it comes to inspecting your car?? I ask because if you're going to remove the airbag equipped steering wheel (without removing the whole system) it'll throw a code and not be able to pass inspection... I ran into a similiar problem myself not to long ago... Second, with your mirrors and door-locks, check the fuses underneath the dash... I had the same problem when I first picked up my 91, all it turned out to be was a blown fuse...

Good Luck on all your future projects!!

mtflyboy

I didnt like the wheels at first but they are growing on me... These are in really good condition... I should try polishing them...

mtflyboy

Thanks for the advice!!

I got the locks, mirrors, and rear hatch release working. It was just the fuse, which blew several more times until i removed some excess wires on the hatch release, then it stopped blowing the fuses. The po welded the power hatch pull down to its bracket so the whole thing was just a mess. I shaved some excess off, and moved the whole thing up so that it will now latch.

The door locks work when I hit the button, meaning they make noise and move the locks, but not far enough. They dont actually unlock or lock the doors|?!@?! I havent figured that one out yet.

The car is in MT and I do not believe we even have inspections.. I just got the car registered and got my new title. The plates will say 91 Z 28

mtflyboy

Here are some of the problems visually that the car still has..



I need a new plate... Anyone know where to get one?


I need to finish putting in the steering wheel and get some actual floor mats. This is the only one haha. It also needs headliner, sun visors, and new sail panels...



I am thinking of taking off this strip on the other side, and I need new badging all around. This side doesnt even have any...

mtflyboy

So here are the speakers in the car. I am thinking about going full Kicker Comps all around with a kicker 4 channel amp for the 6x9s and the 2 10 inch subs.

UNCLE TOM

iTrader: (1)

good start cadet , get rid of the round fog lights , rectangular ones are better. a Z28/IROC grill is the best looking , not the bar/billet one . good luck on your project . just a little thought from a crusty old A.F. M/sgt. ret. who is on his 4th. 3rd. gen. . say hello to K.RICHTER for me , i knew him . Sierra Hotel , good/best of luck .

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

You should pic up a set of emblems simliar to mine... Comes with eveything you need - front nose, ground effects, rear bumper, and even one for the interior... My set is made of Black Ionized Steel, which is great because they will never peel or crack... There's pics in my profile if you wanna check emm out...

mtflyboy

Do you have any close up pictures of the emblems? Preferably all of them if you could, and where did you get them? They sound sweet and not as ricerish as the carbon fiber ones I was looking at.

Also your guages rock! How hard were they to install? I like the color and clean look they give. They are much better than my glows, but I still like my glows over stock.

flu_by_u

Looks good man. I am doing the same to my 92. See my progress here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=782bcb743b

mtflyboy

Ouch looks like she got hit HARD! I am glad you are fixin her up!

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

I picked them up off of ebay actually... They're def. not ***** haha, they have a nice clean look to emm'... I'll get some close up pics for ya tommorow...


They wern't to bad to install... I had to dremel the hell out of a stock bezel to make them sit flush... Besides that it was pretty simple, just match the wires and go... Well worth the appearence over stock IMO... Plus they recall 1\4 mile time, 0-60, and top speed all at the flick of a switch...

mtflyboy

Sweet I am looking forward to some good pictures of them. Yeah I looked up the digital gauges, and they are pretty expensive. Worth the money for you though? Those little features almost alone would make me think it was worth it...

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

Well worth the money IMHO... Besides what I already told you, they also have one step speedo recalibration for when\if you ever switch up the wheels or tire size...

mtflyboy

wow these sound better with every post

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

Here's the pics I promised ya... Sorry about the glare, my car is FILTHY (horrible weather)... I tried wiping some of it off with a wet paper towel, but yea didnt work so well... haha

Front Emblem:



GFX Emblem:



Rear Emblem:



Interior Emblem:



These cell phone pics dont do them justice, but they do give you some-what of an idea...

mtflyboy

hmmm cant see them.. ill try to look on my black berry

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

can't see the pics at all?? hmm... they're showing up for me... delete your cookies and refresh the page, see if that helps...

mtflyboy

Ok I saw them on my blackberry. Now I want a set haha they look perfect and even better clean I'm guessing haha. Yeah the site you are hosting on is blocked on our network here. Don't know why.
But thanks for showin me I'm sendin them to my email from my phone now

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

Smartass haha, but yes they do look great clean... I picked them up off of a member from here that has an e-bay store... Search camaro emblems in e-bay search, somthing should pop up...

mtflyboy

Okay now I need to find this guy...

mtflyboy

Well here are the emblems I have found so far..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-80...Q5fAccessories

Will these fit on my 91?


with these nose emblem choices...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MIRRO...Q5fAccessories



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-19...Q5fAccessories



Or should I just go with a regular silver and black set..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy...item45efb5c31b

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

I would hold out on all of those and wait to find a nicer set of metal ones... The ones up top look cheap, the flamed front emblem looks all right, and the ones at the bottom are gonna break when you try to remove them for paint... Someone on this board was selling a really nice (thick) set of black and chrome metal ones not to long ago... Check the classified ads on here and see if they're still available...

mtflyboy

yeah I have been looking for some.. I really like the metal nose emblem its fricken sweet haha... keep an eye out for some better ones for me.

red/white04

Check the relay in the drivers side kick panel, if its not grounded properly the power locks will not work..or not work 100% i had the same issue with my 88

mtflyboy

UPDATE!!!!!!!!

Well this isnt all about my car...So I am not in the same state as my z but i got a call from my dad that told me that my brothers CRX.. mildly modified and huge subs and stuff had had the back window busted out and his subs and amp stolen... they worst part is that they were hidden too, well covered up! So I was pretty nervous because both my z and his crx were sitting at my grandmas house... He was trying to sell his.. And luckily the only thing that they did to my z was draw a **** on it on the new windshield! Luckily it was with window paint... I am so pissed off though! No one even really knows that its mine! Probably some young punks that drive mustangs... Well right now my brother and Dad are checking pawn shops to try and find the subs and stuff.. God that pisses me off though!

C-Titan

iTrader: (2)

Dude... That's f$^&ed up... I hate dousche-bags that don't respect other peoples property... Hope they find the d-bags and give'em somewhere to shove thier new tampons...

mtflyboy

Thanks.. Yeah I am still pissed about it.. I cant wait to search some shops, and the trailer park across from my gmas house!!!!!

Stratocaster25

Nice car and nice work. Can't wait to see the end result!

mtflyboy

Thanks I will be doing some more work over christmas! I am excited.. Only 4 finals left to go!

mtflyboy

Well I am back home and am working on the car some more! The first thing I noticed when I got home was that the plates were in.. YAaaayy.. So I put those on.. I hope the front one stays on, it is bolted through wire which is wrapped around the back of the grill.. Looks stable enough...


Its really cold so I used this thing to keep me warm... Then I painted the Grant Steering wheel and adapter hub.. I think it looks alright.. I am not sure how to make it smoother though..




This is the other project in the garage keeping my Z company.. Its the frame of a 1972 442 W-30.. The body is hanging in the barn haha... Still needs some work.. Engine is a 455.. We cant wait to get this baby started... T-400 transmission on it too..


The car was also running a little weird. It just didn't sound perfect, and was possibly a little retarded, so I took the distributor cap off, and am going to get a new one as well as the unit that sits inside it since they both look kind of warn.. Well thats all for today.. We will see if my Dad gets the parts back, then we can crank it and see if it runs better.. If thats not it, I was told that my cam may be worn.. Apparently the 305s were infamous for that... I never heard that until my uncle told me and I trust him with car stuff seeing as he is the number 3 guy at the Ford dealership and in charge of all the work that goes on in the shop and on all cars...

mtflyboy

Here is what I used to paint the hub and wheel.... Oh and I sanded it down before painting...

mtflyboy

Well since the engine was running kind of retarded we checked the distributor and it was pretty discolored so I bought a new cap and the unit that sits inside it, along with new air filters, and I got some new front tires as an early Christmas present.


You can easily see the carbon build up.. It has new brake pads on the front which made us happy, and the engine sounded a whole lot smoother with the new unit, distributor cap, and air filters... I will be putting the wheels back on, and then hopefully the snow melts so I can take it for a spin!

3rd gen Will

iTrader: (8)

The cam doesnt' really get worn down per say, but at that mileage the timing chain could easily be toast and would cause it to run crappy.

InfernalVortex

iTrader: (4)

Clean taht thing up and it'll turn heads! I love the 91-92 Z's, they're so rare. Not extremely so, but enough that you dont see them all that often.

Also, polish those parking lights. It takes all of 30 minutes. I used a $15 3M kit that had some drill attachments. Should be at the parts store. Just make sure you remove the lights from the car to do it. Amazingly easy and made a huge difference in the looks of the car.

This is what mine looked like before:



And after:

mtflyboy

Here are the new speakers... The window is dirty sorry... They are kicker DS406's... I have wiped everything down since.. So yeah it isnt so dirty anymore. I had to since I was already in there.

mtflyboy

I also finished the steering wheel, and bought a center cap for it. I was planning on painting it gloss black like the wheel, but when I put it in I decided it looks sweet like it is.

Old:

New:



Also got some new tires on the front since hers were worn out. We also figured out why. The PO had had the car running the front tires out, then switched it to in, so both the sides of the tire were worn really bad, but the middle wasnt too bad. We did out best and I think we got the wheels pretty close to zero using some wooden dowel holders, and a tape measure. Aligning the car took forever though haha.
Here are the new tires on the front. P235/55R16 they are Hanooks I believe....