02 Z28 Turbo Project...
02 Z28 Turbo Project... Started to rip the car apart last night. First steps are to remove the supercharger setup, all the garbage that I don't want to keep, and clean up under the hood. Once these items are squared away I'll start the parts list. Thinking something in the 74-76mm range right now with the typical truck manifold setup.
Last edited by Brad Campbell; Sep 26, 2012 at 10:08 AM.
Luckily I have never had to work on this outside of installing the kit. I did it for a friend a few years back. He put very little mile on the car and the setup... still managed to twist a rod in the stock engine which isn't too surprising as the can'd vortech tune felt horrible (perhaps something else was wrong). He had the engine rebuilt by Superior Auto Eng. in Anaheim and since that the car was driven from California to Virginia, then up to Connecticut. The supercharger setup is horribly matched to the engine at this point, and a turbo should wake this whole thing right up.
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Verdad Gallardo I guess I was just looking for whatever extra space I could get. I was going to move forward with the stock cradle, but this looked a little bit cleaner to me... the price was right too so why not. I have a manual rack on the way as well. I'm not a fan of clutter in my engine compartment so money spent to simplify is well worth it.
Removed the stock cradle and installed the new one. This will give me enough clearance to run a 3.5" downpipe on the street, which should satisfy my power goals on pump gas. I also fit up the truck manifolds to see what space I have to work with.
Last edited by Brad Campbell; Sep 26, 2012 at 10:12 AM.
I took a few more pictures last night of some more work. First some fun easy new part fitting, then some pia stud drilling on the truck manifolds... There isn't really anyplace to go from here other than cleaning up some odds and ends and ordering a turbo!
Last edited by Brad Campbell; Sep 26, 2012 at 10:13 AM.
Are you planning on doing some hard cornering? If not, you don't need the front sway bar so you can save weight and recoup some money since it's aftermarket! Good luck with the build!!
I don't really expect to drive the car hard at all with the exception of some straight line bursts. My goal is to leave the sway bar and build around it. Seems like there is enough room now... worst case build a spacer to get a little more.
Decided to screw the stock flanges... cut them off on the band saw and finished welding one side last night. I used the typical 2.5" stainless vband. Ordered my turbo yesterday too nice billet bullseye performance piece. More later.
Last edited by Brad Campbell; Sep 26, 2012 at 10:15 AM.
those exh. manifold welds look real good. Should come out looking nice if all welds end up that way. 
Where do you plan on placing the turbo? Are you keeping the fast mani?
Where do you plan on placing the turbo? Are you keeping the fast mani?