73 Z 7k miles

[Big Block Bill]

Originally Posted by 1967 4K

I like the 73 Z because you could get them with automatic transmission and AC. Nice cruising car.

But Man were they slow. I friend of mine ordered a 1973 Red 4 Speed Z-28 new and it was a Slug. 3,000 miles into owning it we went to Nickey Chevrolet and bought a complete 1970 LT-1 Crate engine and installed that in the car. We changed the rear gears to 4:10 and the rest was history. Bill

[TimG]

Where's that car today, Bill? I bet it was fun. My roommate in college had a 1973 RS Z28 and I thought it was a rocket ship, but it may have become faster in my memory over the past 45 years.

[BCreekDave]

You could wake them up pretty good just by rejetting the Qjet. The factory jetted them pretty lean trying to get a grip on emissions. With headers and a good tune they were pretty good. Not an LT-1, but really just an L-46 with 2 points less compression.

[McCune]

The 73 Z28 engine had most of the same parts as the earlier Z28 engines. It is a pretty neat engine. It is considered a high rpm small block.

[copo69]

Sorry didn't mean to confuse anyone one. The interior picture is my 73 Z28 that I am restoring, I was curious what shift knob is in the OPs 7K mile 73.

Sorry for jumping the gun. Looking forward to pictures and info about this car. Nice car. I have a 16k mile ‘73 RS Z.

[Big Block Bill]

Originally Posted by TimG

Where's that car today, Bill? I bet it was fun. My roommate in college had a 1973 RS Z28 and I thought it was a rocket ship, but it may have become faster in my memory over the past 45 years.

His was an RS car as well. He sold a 1969 Forest Green Z-28 that had an L-88 in it that was lettered "Bit of Gold" on the quarters to buy the 1973 Z-28. I was going to buy it, but was afraid the car was going to crack in half due to the 2" perpendicular cracks below the sail panels on the quarters from not having the frames connected. Old "Bit of Gold" was a low 12 second car back in the day, but not too street able.

I posted about this car way back on this site trying to find it and to see if anyone remembered "Bit of Gold" but had no replies. Bill

[Bill Pritchard]

Bill, if your friend was used to driving a 69 with an L88 I'm sure the 73 did feel like a slug! I traded in a 70 Z on a new 73 Z and didn't feel there was too much difference between the two in normal street performance.

[70 copo]

Boy I did. When I was a kid I had them both at the same time. Both cars were hot runners. My description of the street feel below and as a comparison and I am tossing out the soft Vega seats that gave you that G force feel as you sank into them when you got on it.

0-60 The 1970 just pulled way harder then the 73.

60-80 MPH both pulled about the same.

80 and up -- all LT-1 and its not even close.

1973 was boy racer loud with the open element air cleaner though.

1973 had superior handling with the Wide 60 Ovals.

[SPEEDYB]

A 73 Z with a good Dyno tune and a little Dist work and headers
will take out just about anything!
that engine is super strong.