My 1978 Z28 Camaro (I Know Not A Firebird)

70formula · Dec 2, 2024

Old timing set - still the nylon? plastic? still was holding time, but had quite a bit of deflection. Out with the old, in with an all metal Cloyes Timing Set.

Leo guarding some of the new bling bling

70formula · Dec 2, 2024

Prime and Paint. I'll be changing out the valve covers, oil pan, and timing cover, so didn't waste the paint on them. Just used them to keep important bits from being painted.

I went with a basic red engine paint, as someday I plan to either go black with Red Z28 stipes / lettering painted on, or red with black stripes, so wanted the motor to somewhat match with that paint. looks more orange then it is in real life on the devices for some reason.

Knightrider189 · Dec 2, 2024

70formula said:
Old timing set - still the nylon? plastic? still was holding time, but had quite a bit of deflection. Out with the old, in with an all metal Cloyes Timing Set.
View attachment 3629

View attachment 3628

Leo guarding some of the new bling bling

View attachment 3627

Never could understand the concept of using nylon teeth.
You sir are doing a fantastic job on this rebuild!

1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird, 5.7, all OEM

70formula · Dec 2, 2024

Pulled the trigger on a Muncie. Had a credit on paypal and on ebay so took the gamble.

Its a 10 spline input, claimed to be rebuilt, but the price was right, so even If I needed to rebuild it, wouldnt be the end of the world. Pics looked good, but wont know till I see it for sure.

I have a crossmember and drive line that came original to the 78 with its 4 speed which I believe was a super t10. Dont know if Ill be able to reuse as I think the output shafts are different st10 to muncie?

Screenshot_2-12-2024_191855_www.ebay.com.jpeg

70formula · Dec 2, 2024

Knightrider189 said:
Never could understand the concept of using nylon teeth.
You sir are doing a fantastic job on this rebuild!

1989 Pontiac Formula Firebird, 5.7, all OEM

thanks! Yea...seems a pretty important job to leave to nylon imo

70formula · Dec 3, 2024

good times with part deliveries.

70formula · Dec 6, 2024

Well, another day farting around working on the big block chevy and getting the Camaro ready for the new heart transplant.

Motor mounts went in, (thank again GM engineers for not making the driver side have access to get a backing wrench on)

And the new steering shaft went in as well. I am going to test fit the motor next dry day we get and see if the stock 454 oil pan will clear. The new pan that was listed as a 402 chevy pan seems very close to the same size as the truck pan, so I'm hoping I can get away with not having to deal with measuring out the new pickup into the new pan. I've heard it both ways....some have told me the stock truck pan will clear without issues, and some have said it wouldn't. Wont know till I try...so wish me luck lol.

The motor itself got some work done today to. I got the new water pump installed, and the heater core lines into it installed, got a new thermostat and housing installed, found top dead center on compression stroke for the distributor to go in, and got the new spark plugs in. Fuel pump pushrod and fuel pump installed. And I got the lift plate on as well.

I also Got the brackets and pulley setup wire wheeled up nice, primed, and chrome paint applied.

70formula · Dec 7, 2024

So I was talking on a camaro facebook group and a guy mentioned how he had to change the heater box over as the SBC heater cores exit in the middle of the engine bay/ Far right side of the heater box while the BBC chevy cars exited more towards the fender mid heater box. Since I live somewhere where defrost / defog is needed a lot of the year, I went ahead and ordered a chrome BBC style heater box setup.
Price was really similar to a plain one, so figured merry christmas to myself. Definitely going a bit crazy with parts right now, but works been slammed so taking advantage while it lasts

70formula · Dec 7, 2024

disregard above post, was cancelled due to being incorrect information

70formula · Dec 8, 2024

Got some more done today on the Camaro. I pulled off the old steering setup, which was mostly installed to make moving the car around the garage and driveway easier and got the new stuff setup. I aimed to make the lengths pretty close, but since the Camaro came all the way apart, subframe off, and control arms off and back on with new bushings, the car will need a full alignment either way. just tried to roughly get it similar to get it close hopefully.

I also got the stock pan test fitted, and it seems like its going to clear without issues, and have extra room, so I went ahead and got the pan cleaned, wire wheeled, cleaned again, degreased, primed, painted, and then installed with new gaskets and bolts. I also got the new oil filter housing on which eliminated the oil cooler lines and got a new oil filter on.

once the pilot bearing, clutch, and pressure plate arrive, Ill get those bolted on, and should be just about ready to drop the motor into the car!

70formula · Dec 9, 2024

Another day of progress...

Got the nice valve covers installed with new gaskets. Debated painting the black sections red to match, but decided I liked the look as is.

Headers installed.....so glad I did them on the stand, as if I had assumed they would fit outta the box (as they were advertised) I would have been beating my face trying to figure out what was going wrong in the car. Flanges had to be ground down a good quarter inch around the lowest 4 head bolts, and one motor mount had to have a corner ground off as well.

Spark Plugs wires installed in proper firing order, and plenty of slack so that once installed in the car, Will be able to arrange the cords all nice and neat.

Pulley installed on the balancer as well.

70formula · Dec 12, 2024

pretty chill day waiting for the ups man to bring me my muncie. Looks like tomorrow.

got some work done on the pedal assembly...before and after.

70formula · Dec 12, 2024

intake came off, and went back on with new gaskets.... alt is on now as well. one bite of the elephant at a time

70formula · Dec 13, 2024

70formula · Dec 13, 2024

Just unboxed my muncie that I picked up from ebay. I run an online business and had some paypal credit just sitting...I took a chance expecting to have to rebuild it, but it looks like I actually bought something that was already rebuilt (unlike the liars with the 454) Now just need to get linkages, shifter, and change my driveshaft yoke over...

70formula · Dec 16, 2024

70formula · Friday at 11:04 PM

Well, another solid day of progress. I spent my day on back with a wire wheel under the trunk, and got the area where the tank will install cleaned up and anti-rust paint sprayed up there. While the paint dried, I went in the garage and got the sway bar wire wheeled and primed that as well. Then I went back under the car, and swapped the old crusty differential cover out for the nice new chrome one. Once the trunk paint was dry, I popped up the gas tank and got it strapped in, and got the rubber connections to hard line replaced.

70formula · 2024-12-22T21:11:52-0500

The Camaro is being stored outside right now while my father-in-Law builds his motor and his hot rod, and it currently doesn't have a windshield. Without a windshield it's been getting moist and letting some water in, which was pooling in the low spots on the floor, even with a car cover on it. Oregon rain. While I would have liked to wait till spring, I decided something needed to happen, so my floor doesn't rust over winter. So, I spent the day today inside the car, under the car cover to keep the rain out while I worked, with a wire brush and wire wheel a vacuum, and simple green and I got the floor dried, then cleaned up, then heavily wire wheeled, then cleaned again, and then doused the floor with correseal rust converter/primer. I have so much of it already from the firebird build leftover, so figured that would be a good use. I added a tarp as well on top of the car cover, so hopefully now between the floor being clean and sealed, and not standing water anymore, it won't degrade. I like having a mostly rust-free car and want to keep it that way. It started really pouring towards the end, so didnt pull my phone out for pictures...but next time Im over working Ill grab some after shots.

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My 1978 Z28 Camaro (I Know Not A Firebird)

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