Bought a small 2 be 1 bath house with a finished basement and 2-car attached garage. I can't wait for the final closing so I can move in!

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Went to NC to grab a rust-free 94 Z71. Loaded 350/auto. Should be a good 4WD to serve winter duty and be able to haul anything when I need it to. It will look a lot better once it's blacked out.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Bought a rust-free 91 Beretta project car. It's in a bunch of pieces with a ton of work to do, but it's a chance to go through everything once and do it up right. I'll be cutting up and robbing parts from my rotted, leaky 95 to build this one. It is a much better solution than trying to fix the body on the 95, and the end result will be worth the effort.

Major upgrades (in addition to everything from the 95) will be the tuned computer, 5spd with limited slip, headers, active front swaybar, all poly suspension bushings, custom reupholstered Z04 interior and a thorough paint job.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

So after fighting wheel spin and crappy 60's at the drag strip for a while I went to a different track. They do more traction prep and I dropped a little more pressure in my drag radials. I finally got it to hook hard for a strong launch and BOOM! The launch was stronger than the welds on the rear end housing. It twisted the center section on the axle tubes and poked a big hole in the back seat.

I called up a friend with a trailer and got it towed home... Now I'm in the market for a new (stronger) rear end housing!

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

I went to the track to get my suspension adjusted and the engine tuned just right to see what it will do. Due to rain and a guy grenading his engine I only got two runs in all day and neither were very good.

First run: No wheelspin. Quick burnout, 1.5/1 turns preload on the traction bars. Launched at 2000 rpm and it hooked hard... bogged down the engine down and then recovered halfway through first gear.

60ft............2.075
330ft..........5.805
1/8mi.........8.873
1/8mph......80.96
1000ft........11.503
1/4mi.........13.724
1/4mph......100.95

2nd run: Too much wheelspin. Quick burnout 1.5/1 preload. Launched at 3000 and didnt stop spinning until it got a little sideways and I lifted to get it back straight. Better top end MPH though.

60ft............2.942
330ft..........6.896
1/8mi.........10.006
1/8mph......80.19
1000ft........12.637
1/4mi.........14.867
1/4mph......101.61

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Another good meet with the fellow Beretta dorks. We went to an auto museum and Six Flags Great Escape on Friday and hit the drag strip Saturday. I took home the fastest trap speed MPH and Best Custom Exterior and Best Custom Interior. I was tied for Best of Berettafest with Jon's base, but I was easily defeated at the beer pong tiebreaker Saturday night. It was sad... haha

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Everything is all done and functional. The 6spd, the suspension, the exhaust... It survived the 500 mile Carlisle trip and all is well. Last year's Carlisle trip I got 12.5mpg with my 4spd and 3.08s, this year I got 18.7 with the 6spd and 4.10s.

This year's event had 604 Camaros, a bunch were from Nasty Z28. We had a campground site set up with barbecues, lounging and miscellaneous hell raising. It was all a good time and I'll be back again next year.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

I decided to rebuild the front suspension while I had the car torn apart. As of tonight though, I think I'm finally to the point where I can start reassembly.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Adios automatic. This should put me in the low 14s with a limited slip. Plus the fact I hate not shifting my own gears. The 3.61 gearing is a lot better for performance than the 2.93 in the stock granny tranny auto. I'll lose some gas mileage, but it will be worth it. It should be able to lay the smack down on quite a few stock V8 Mustangs and Camaros.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

I pulled the 4spd last night, along with the driveshaft, exhaust, headers, e-brake. The slipping clutch comes off next and then I'll take out the 355. I need to replace the engine mounts by the looks, so I'll upgrade to poly and make the whole car shake even more at idle! I installed the subframe connectors last week and I also bought a battery relocation kit for the trunk, because I want to lift the front wheels this spring!

Edit: Engine is now out. Thanks to JohnnyBy68 for the extra hand tonight.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Well, in Photoshop anyway. I finished up modifying the beast how I want it so I have a good idea of the finished project, even though I'm probably ~$8000 away from it right now. Actually getting my vision down on paper (well, digitally) and actually seeing it has me psyched. I can't wait to actually get this thing done.



And here is the pic I started with:

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Can you say 4.10s AND better gas mileage? I'm ditching the 3.08s in now and the stupid slipping clutch. New u-joints, driveshaft, ring & pinion, and axles are on the list from moser, and probably a centerforce LT4 clutch.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

I installed the line lock and tested it out. Holy crap is that fun. I love having a RWD. All the smoke you could ever need... Check out the videos.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Picked up some Vortec heads on ebay already clearanced to .500" lift to bump up compression and improve flow. I went with an RPM airgap intake manifold to take advantage of the big hairy cam. There were a couple issues making the new style heads fit the old block like fabbing a throttle bracket and some grinding on the alt bracket for the intake.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Got-r-done!!!

3100 out. Speed parts installed. 3400 in. 3400 running. Downpipe fabbed.

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

I got my 2.5" cutout installed and ready for the track. Screw that 2" catco and intermediate pipe choking off power. No flow restrictions now!

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

Had another meet at Lebanon Valley Dragway. Me and two local guys met up with some Beretta buddies for some racing and after dark shenanigans.

I got the 14-second time slip I was looking for finally, and Lisa and Pat both had new bests as well. Jon had trouble bouncing off his rev limiter on the 1-2 shift thanks to his new converter with a higher stall. John finally got his S10 to the track and I whipped him and his 350!

We may need to have another meet or two over the winter, just minus the drag racing...

Permanent Link to this Blog Post:

I gave the rolling chassis away after I stripped it of all the parts I wanted and saw it this weekend. Just as beautiful as ever. I added a couple pics.

I still have parts for sale. Get em before they're gone!

Permanent Link to this Blog Post: