Brought Home The Dream: '69 RS Z/28

[cruiserofland]

Here’s my current ride height. Measured today at the rockers based on the assembly manual for shipping heights (fuel tank was mostly empty) and it’s about 9 3/4” front and 9 1/4” rear, so slightly high in front and within spec in rear. I prefer more of a lower trans-am stance anyway, so I’ll have to check what front springs are in there but I expect Moog 6308s will be in my future

[cruiserofland]

Did some investigative work and pulled the rear seats to check for any chalk markings. Turns out it looks like the car was taken down to bare metal to be repainted so no X3 behind the seat, but was a good opportunity to remove the protective plastic around the new upholstery that had been left behind 10 years ago. According to the records the interior was done by Biel Upholstery in Chicago - anyone know them? The seats are in killer shape, all replaced 10 years ago.

There were more hooks than I was expecting so photos attached for future folks looking to pull their rear seats. I used the killer trick suggested on Team Camaro to put a plastic mallet between front seat and rear, then lean on the front seat to help pop the rear seat bottom back and up to release it from the hooks.

[NorCam]

Just caught up on this thread. Looks like you found a real nice little driver. Love the color and I really like the stance.

[enio45]

stance is right on IMO!

[x33rs]

"right on" do you mean as a day 2 mod??

I agree that always looks good, but I assume a restoration like this down to the correct tires the OP is looking for the correct stance for a Z.

Don't know if the moog spring will get you there. I've never had much luck going that direction. I've always used Coil Spring Specialties out of Kansas and they've done an excellent job nailing the stock ride heights on various cars I've done.

[cruiserofland]

Thanks, all! Since this will be a driver, I’m leaning more towards mild day-2, at least if it’s bolt-on. It’s already NOM and desmogged, and eventually I’ll go with radials and save the bias-plys for shows. Thinking about either reproduction rallys (to preserve the original YH wheels) or since I’m a big Donohue/Penske fan maybe minilites.

I’m more into road racing than drag racing so that may be why I prefer the lowered front look, but I agree that it looks pretty damn good right now too...

[cruiserofland]

Pulled the speedo cable today to try to figure out why the speedo and odometer don’t move. Turns out they move just fine with a drill spinning counter-clockwise on the trans end of the cable. The teeth on the driven gear in the bullet insert seem to be intact, so I am wondering if there is a problem with the drive gear inside the tail housing? Looks like the factory-style plastic gear, and maybe a purple color? The yellow driven gear just barely fits through the bore in the transmission so it seems that it can’t be a bigger diameter, so I don’t understand why the teeth aren’t engaging unless there’s a problem with that internal purple drive gear. Hmmmm....

[MarcDant]

Hi cruiser your speedo gear and clip on the main shaft seems like it was installed upside down ,that purple gear should be in line with the hole in the boss. The steel clip that secures the purple gear is offset roughly 3/16. Nice clean z28.

[rlw68]

Originally Posted by MarcDant

Hi cruiser your speedo gear and clip on the main shaft seems like it was installed upside down ,that purple gear should be in line with the hole in the boss. The steel clip that secures the purple gear is offset roughly 3/16. Nice clean z28.

Maybe the clip broke and the gear slipped on the shaft? That would be likely if the speedo was working before. Either way the tail housing needs to come off.

[rlw68]

Originally Posted by NorCam

Just caught up on this thread. Looks like you found a real nice little driver. Love the color and I really like the stance.

Graeme, did you catch the 02D build?