I have started acquiring parts for my build i am going to be starting this winter. The car is a 1999 z28 M6 89,000 miles. Goals are for a street/autocross/strip car, most street and autocross. It is my DD currently. Power goals are 400 RWHP/400 ft.lbs.TQ.

Currently the car is just free mods, headers, ORY, !EGR, !AIR, lid, bellows, 160* thermostat, tr-6 plugs, msd wires, MQW shifter, new alternator, new belts and pulleys, all requires maintenance, and a tune. For suspension i already had new shocks and springs on the car when i got it so i am going to hold off on those. (they are 3 yrs old)

Current suspension: (all umi except mounts)
prothane motor mounts
prothane transmission mount
shock tower brace

Planned suspension:
front 32mm sway bar
rear 22mm sway bar
poly/rod adjustable panhard rod
poly/rod adjustable control arms
3 point sub frame connectors

I have done all the work myself so far in my garage and thats the plan for this as well (except the tune).


The plans are as follows:
ENGINE
TSP stage 2.5 5.3L combo
TSP 228R 113/114 LSA
new ls1timing set
new oil pump
new water pump (current one has a small leak not going electric)
used ls6 intake manifold
Port and Polish stock throttle body
42# injectors
walbro 270lph fuel pump
LS7 lifters
TSP rocker arms
comp 7.425" pushrods (not entirely sure on these)
Hooker 3" exhaust with qtp cutout


The rear end has been fine so far and still has the stock gears i was thinking of just doing a TA cover and that for now until it goes out and the go to a 9in and either 3.73s or 4.10s; ill pick those when the time comes i guess.

Tell me what you think and if you have an suggestions, comments, concerns, other ideas, or bashings let me know.

(TUNE was from Mike Norris Motorsports in Indy area very nice guy and did great work on my car)

 

*bump* for opinions

 

I just did a build. you are going on the right direction with the intake, long-tubes, and fuel delivery. I would not short change yourself with polishing your old throttle body, I would look into getting a bigger one to let more air in. for your push-rod length, you should get an adjustable one and set up your valve train to find out the length that your engine requires. If you are going to spend the money on a new timing chain I would recommend the upgraded ls2 chain. Recommendation for the cam, I would go to a speed shop that KNOWS ls engines and let them know your expectations for your ride. then have them do a custom grind specific for your needs. If there is no speed shop available then try to find a good tech on this sight to help you out. 400/400 is a good goal.

things to consider...
upgrading valve springs
Putting in a new clutch set


Are you removing the engine out of the car?
if so, you may want to consider:
putting new bearings in
studding the heads / main caps
replacing the rear main seal

 

thanks for the reply.

if i can get my buddy to let me use the lift in his garage. ill drop the motor out and take car of that stuff but i wasnt really planning on it. Does it have to be done now/soon?

as for the clutch i was looking into what i was going to use. i was thinking something like doing the ls7 clutch swap or going with a spec stage 2+/3 depending.

the head kit comes with the valve spring and all that.
there arent really any local speed shops around me but ill call farther away and get an idea of what they suggest.

 

you don't have to take the engine out, it would make things easier for what you are going to do also, you don’t have to do the internals, I only recommend them if you are going to have the engine out considering that it is all accessible at that time.

The spec 2+/3 clutch will hold the power, but they will have more clutch jitter than stock.

 

so i have not updated this in a long time because of school and everything but here is where i am.

Basically i am just buying the parts as i can afford them and installing them in steps as.

i finished up my planned suspension section by getting my sub frame connectors, lower control arms, and pan hard rod installed. my go the difference these things made the car feel much more solid and planted. the sway bar set made steering and body roll feel a lot better its like a new car.

i got the new water pump and installed it because the one i had went out so thats done as well. im deciding to go with an ls2 roller chain instead of the ls1 based off of suggestions i have gotten.

i going to be getting the exhaust in the next couple months and then will go go asap.

as for the rest of the stuff it will have to happen when the funds come in being college puts a damper on plans like this but i work so as it happens i will try and keep updating this.

 

i also got my umi drive shaft safety loop installed. i have for sure lost some ground clearance which makes me concerned about going with new shocks and springs. has anyone else had a problem like this?

 

just another update.

I got my hooker 3" cat back put on this weekend, and all i can say is wow. I was running with pacesetter long tube headers and ORY through the stock cat back and it used to have rasp at the shifts and had some weird drone to it throughout the rpm range. Now, with the hooker it's amazing. The hooker gives the the nice muscle car rumble at idle but when you get on it it just sounds awesome not too obnoxious but still loud. I haven't taken it on the highway yet but so far there is no drone or rasp which i love. i recommend this for sure for people who want a nice sound without all the rasp and drone some exhausts seem to have.

as for the project, this semester of college is wrapping up and with an internship i got i am going to be getting this project fully underway. Im going to be getting pretty much everything first and then installing it all at once.

If anyone has any suggestions or comments keep them coming, otherwise ill keep updating this as stuff happens

 

this plan has been put on hold for the most part because of school but i want to just post on here anyway.

as stated before, i have all the suspension stuff listed above done, and i have to say...the car feels amazing its weird to think its a 13 year old car and feels so good.

the drive shaft loop hangs a little low and its nerve racking when i go near speed bumps or high curbs. this is also keeping me from lowering springs and new shocks for now.

AS for the engine build nothing new there except that i have a new oil pump, water pump, and power steering pump because they all needed replacing.

as winter comes i hope to be further along with at least getting all my parts