Need Opinions, Please :)
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Need Opinions, Please :) 
I need some input on 3 possible modifications I'm thinking about doing. The car is question is an automatic, 1997 Z28.
I already have a 2800 torque converter in the car, and although I can feel a difference, it has gotten to be a little mushy and I want more now.
My scenario is this: I have about $1200 saved up right now, and am trying to sell a PSP, Escort Detector, and some ZR1 wheels on eBay, which if all sell, I will hopefully have around $2000.
#1:
I talked with Andre at Edge Converters today, and he said that my 2.73's are holding me back in a big way, but that I would still feel a "night and day difference" between my Fuddle converter and one of his. I could go ahead and spend some money on the converter (An Edge) and try to sell my Fuddle to someone who wants a smaller stall.
#2:
I have a 2 series carrier in the car that came stock, and I am wanting to switch to either 3.42 or 3.73 gears. Everywhere I have tried has been out of stock on BOTH 2 series 3.42s and 3.73s, and no store has told me when they expect any in. Realizing this, I have looked on eBay and read a little and saw that I could possibly use a spacer with a 3 series gear to make it fit in a 2 series.
I would swap out the entire carrier, but I have traction control which makes it a bit of a pain to switch out the whole thing from what I hear.
#3:
See if I can get around $2000 and purchase a new or used 12 bolt. I think gears would be included with this, and I wouldn't have to worry about it breaking
Help me out guys! I'm lost about where to divert the funds!
What other mods do you have? With that kind of money you could do other mods and make good power. But as far as the gears and the 12 bolt. a 12 bolt will cost more than $2000 since you have traction control and ABS. Just throwing around some ideas.
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Ah, I could always delete the ABS and Traction I guess (Would save some weight and get that ugly box off my driver's side VC) 
It has a K&N FIPK, Pacesetter LT's with ORY, Blowmaster Muffler with a manual cutout right before the rear axle, and a PCMFORLESS tune.
It has a K&N FIPK, Pacesetter LT's with ORY, Blowmaster Muffler with a manual cutout right before the rear axle, and a PCMFORLESS tune.
Your right about taking the ABS and TC off, save you around $200. I had good luck with a EWP and TB coolant bypass. If you wanted to go into the valve covers, some 1.6 RR would help out too.
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Are the 1.6 easy to do? Just pop off the VC and take the bolts off and pop them back in?
Today at work my boss took the VC off some early 90's chevy and I watched him take off the RR and it didn't look too bad. I don't need to have the motor at TDC or use air to keep the valves up, do I?
And I've heard I need to replace my springs whenever I replace to RRs.
Today at work my boss took the VC off some early 90's chevy and I watched him take off the RR and it didn't look too bad. I don't need to have the motor at TDC or use air to keep the valves up, do I?
And I've heard I need to replace my springs whenever I replace to RRs.
Its a good idea to do valve springs if you have alot of miles on the motor. You need to have the motor at TDC to do valve adjustment. SHBOX.com has a good wright up on how to do it. the valves wont go anywhere so there is no need for compressed air (only if you are changing valve springs out do you need air). But over all its not that bad. I have done many of rocker swaps on my cars and friends.
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What else besides springs/RR's would you suggest? For the price of those I could get my new converter which might make a bigger SOTP difference. I should probably get some newer tires, have crappy Falkens out back.
Would getting some nice 245/55-50/16s all around be a good path to follow?
Would getting some nice 245/55-50/16s all around be a good path to follow?
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The stall and some good tires would be a good place to start. 245-50-16 you can get for a good price just about anywhere now adays($200-260)plus shipping. A friend of mine had a set of fuzion ZRi on his car and had good traction and life out of them. But they will run around $360 before shipping. But good tires cost little more.
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I can mount/balance the tires myself, and through my shop I might be able to find a pretty good deal on tires.
The Fuzion ZRi's look pretty good, but are the T/A KDW good, too?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....nSpeedRating=T
I've never had tires on here that I could rotate (always bigger in the rear). But it seems like that would be a very nice thing to have.
Do the T/A KDW run wider than other 245? I know their 315s run larger
The Fuzion ZRi's look pretty good, but are the T/A KDW good, too?
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....nSpeedRating=T
I've never had tires on here that I could rotate (always bigger in the rear). But it seems like that would be a very nice thing to have.
Do the T/A KDW run wider than other 245? I know their 315s run larger
Originally Posted by earen
Will LS1 gears will for our rear ends, too? I don't think there is a difference, but I just wanna make sure.
Originally Posted by earen
Gear install is kind of expensive, ouch!
I was quoted $925 for: the gears, a complete install kit, all fluids, a long warranty, and all labor out the door.
This is for 3.73's, too.
I was quoted $925 for: the gears, a complete install kit, all fluids, a long warranty, and all labor out the door.
This is for 3.73's, too.
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Yeah..
I got to thinking, and ultimately I decided, why spend that much on a 10 bolt? It might last, but if the gears mess up again, thats about another ~$900 I'm down. If it breaks, then I'll have spent ~$1800-$1900 on a rear end. Might as well just get a 12 bolt or 9" for that much.
So I guess I'm back to square one.
I got to thinking, and ultimately I decided, why spend that much on a 10 bolt? It might last, but if the gears mess up again, thats about another ~$900 I'm down. If it breaks, then I'll have spent ~$1800-$1900 on a rear end. Might as well just get a 12 bolt or 9" for that much.
So I guess I'm back to square one.
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From: Pekin IL
Originally Posted by infinitebird
900 is too much for a gear install, keep looking. A few places around me do it for 300-400, and they don't do cheap/incompetent work either.
Originally Posted by earen
Gear install is kind of expensive, ouch!
I was quoted $925 for: the gears, a complete install kit, all fluids, a long warranty, and all labor out the door.
This is for 3.73's, too.
I was quoted $925 for: the gears, a complete install kit, all fluids, a long warranty, and all labor out the door.
This is for 3.73's, too.
But $925!?
Does that include a 4-Night reservation at 'The Marriot' with free breakfest and limo?
