Who did you contact?

PM me with anything you may need and I promise to respond.

 

Picked up my 997 GT3 Porsche headlamps today, seems this car is becoming more german by the day

 

Any further splashes of cash New Year style? Pending updates? Missing this build thread John.

 

Yes I know guys long time between updates,

There has been a sh*t load happening with work, no excuse, but also had a major scare over the motor and box recently

I get to work early one morning and get a text msg on the cell phone, "John ring me urgently about your motor and box !"

Thinking the worst that someone had broken into John's shop and taken off with the lot I made the call, John answers and says that I better pick it up post haste, asking why he explains that the receivers are coming in as he has gone bust after a major deal in the States to supply kits for the current model Vette's he had spent a few $100 G's tooling up fell through.

It was a mad rush to get it out of there but as you see by the photo, mother and child have been re-united and are safe and sound.

So yes, soon I start on the chassis and motor, scouts !

John

 

Does that mean mother and child are currently homeless to workshop in?

 

Long time no post, and a few updates.

First, I was contacted by a Benz owner named Michael in NYC who enquired about the conversion kit, put him in contact with John here in Australia and believe that there is a manual conversion now taking shape on your side of the pond also, Michael if you read this put up your hand.

On my side, well the major hurdle no longer seems to be one after 2 days work.

The following is a series of pics starting with fabricating a rotiserie from the plans I drewup and pre cut pieces I ordered a month ago.

In order to get this chassis even half way set up correctly with the limited tools and technology we had on hand, this had to be done.

Afterwards you will see the genesis of the chassis as it developed, a friend of mine and fellow clubman Z owner and I finished the entire mock up squared and true on the car up to the rear section where it dives upward back to the rear hatch floor pan, that will have to wait for another Saturday as there are fair few redundent mounts etc plus a sectionisation required in two sections to accomodate the set up.

All in all, even though Lochlan was pretty reserved when we first started the new chassis, I think even he saw the versatility it will deliver in light of double the HP the new drive train will deliver..............I hope anyhow.

Cheers

John

 

A few more

 

Good to hear that your project is still alive. Can't wait to see the end results.

 

Is this still happening? Been trying to get a manual gearbox figured out for a m113k..

 

I just read through this entire thread...was hoping to see what happened!! Hopefully this project is still alive, very nice work.

You are a crazy man, but in the most positive way, I raise my glass to you

 

I just had to register so I could say THANK YOU! I have done a similar swap on my E39 Touring. It is close to M5 specs now. I just need some more "hobby" time.

I work with Mercedes and have been "looking" for the right one for me. Well, I enjoying the third pedal as well as the overall expierence that the manual trans offers. The previous reason is why I just haven't been able to "pull the plug" on getting an Auto Merc. I have been close but in the end I know I will be dissapointed.

Again, thank you for taking the leap doing this. I'll have to read about the ECU issue. I was fortunate enough my car was made in a Manual so I was able to use it's programming for my car, that is, after I bought a GT1/DIS/INPA setup.

Awesome work!!!

P.S., does this "kit" require a special Tremec? I know I had issues with them in the past when I was adapting one to a '67 camaro. Quite a few versions from Ford, Chevy, Viper floating around.

 

Hell folks I'm sorry

The past 18 months has been one of ups and downs and as a result the project went into moth ***** up until 2 weeks ago.

Good news is that its progressing again.

In the last episode, you all noted that I kicked off the new chassis build, well I will let the pic's do the talking, but to elaborate, before the motor can go any further to the point of being bench started, it needs to be trial fitted first, hence the need for the chassis which will carry the entire drive train and save the 40 year old body from tearing itself apart.

I hope to have the engine, box and differential all sitting in their position over the coming weeks. I know the fabrication looks industrial as its more or less heavy mig tacked together, but once all done it will be all TIG'd to create a seamless finish before media blasting and powder coating.

The "Z" cross member was a waste of time as I am now running a BMW rack out of a E46 as you will see in the pic's, The new cross member is a permanent key feature of the new chassis now, I am about to start on the rear diff cradle assy and then graft in a series of "X" sections along the floor pan section of the chassis.

The last cross member in the series shows the exhaust portals being started, from the cross member the final diff cradle will extend to the rear of the car.

With the symmetry of the new chassis, I will be able to aluminum flat sheet the bottom if I choose which will improve some of the aerodynamics of the car.

Cheers

John

 

The box came out of a GM 2006 > (Australian Commodore) which was exported to the USA as the Chev Lumina, same motors and trans but left hand drive.

Cheers

John

 

Petar,

I raise my glass of Rakija to you also, it takes a Mulac to know a Mulac LMAO

John

 

Almost forgot

After a SH*T load of negotiation, my engine is no longer an orphan

Thank you "Timo Brill"

 

Awesome John. I was thinking about your Z the other day. Very happy that you are posting the progress.

 

LOL

Every day above grounds a good one and I intend and have many left to finish this *******isation. ;-)

 

LOLOLOL, cheers buddy! Glad to see this is still ongoing.

Zivijo

 

It's so weird. I was just thinking about this project the other day. Cheers on not letting it die

 

Well then, this is so cool. Glad it popped back up and is progressing along.

Any idea if the manual kits ever came to fruition?

 

Chevy Luminas were FWD, so maybe the GTO, which was the Holden Commodore, IIRC?

 

Correct, the 2 door GTO hit U.S. shores, while the 4 door sedan version (Gen 3 and 4 ) was exported to the middle east, my bad

The later post 2008 update commodore was exported to the U.S. as the Pontiac G8

Cheers

John

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Lumina

 

Kits never went into production but are ready to be manufactured. PM me for contact details and I can hook you up

Cheers

John

 

Well got stuck into the rear end geometry over the weekend and working around small factory tolerances when the sheet metal and rear mustache bar mounts were welded in place.

Going with a solid rear means that the play in items such as the hangers and rear lower LCA support's that allowed everything to bolt up and line up with a bit of manipulation just isn't there and things get pretty tight with bolt points etc when you are working with substantially larger chunks or metal.

Anyhow, the picture series below tell the story, the original hanger plates pictured for the last time will now be consigned to the parts bin, in their place 5mm walled RHS beam utilising the hanger bolt points and the 2 mustache mounts, this should give a good foundation for the suspension set up and mounting the diff off.

The forward member that the LCA's will eventually be grafted to utilise the 4 bolt mounts from the old LCA forward cross member.

YES, crush tubes will be added to all these bolt points shortly.

From there 205mm hangers from the same material currently held in place by some plates and clamps. and off of these 42mm OD pipe with a 4mm wall thickness. These are welded to the hangers and will act as the pivot rods for Arizona Z type LCA's, all that will need to be done is to weld on 4 brackets on each so that the Rose Joints/ Rod Ends can bolt up to. These will have 3-4 bolts points on each to allow for the joints to be bolted higher or lower to help with adjustment should it be needed when the suspension is lowered etc etc etc.

So that was all for today, new "D" size gas bottle is great, no problems running out of gas, but of course I ran out of mig wire this time.

Stay tuned getting closer to fitting the motor, box and diff into the new chassis.

Cheers

John

 

OK, so slowly slowly but its all coming together slowly

Finished the dual exhaust port mock up's in the rearward member and have now started positioning the differential.

The original diff outriggers on either side of the front of the diff were unusable as they came off a FG Ford XR8 sedan and the Z hasnt got the rook to accomodate them in any way, do I fabricated some 10mm mount plates and using poly bushes managed to mount the first one in place.

The rear of the diff will need some rework in that I will have to laser scan the hat so as to have a plate laser cut from which I will create a new hat with dual mounts incorporated similar in concept to the one pictured last below, this is a $1,000 aftermarket item available here in Oz for the same diff in the sedan

Unfortunately the placement of these mounts would interfere with my spare wheel well so that renders it useless as an alternative.

Cheers

John