My ProjectZ started..Introduction of sorts..long post

[blkcav_fire]

After sitting in storage for the past year, a revamping of my '89 Z24 convertible has finally started. A little history....

My son, jimmyz89, bought this rust free car from a friend that lives up the street after he totaled his 20K mile 89 base model Cavalier. The car had originally been bought by his neighbor across the street with a bad motor. His neighbor had a good 4 cyl and tranny in another Cav with a very bad body, so he took the 2.8 out and dropped in the good 2.0L
My sons' friend bought the car and drove it for a couple years till the motor went bad. Perfect timing, my son had a good low milage motor still in his wreck, and his friend did'nt want to fix the 'vert, so he sold it cheap. The first picture is of the car the day it was delivered. The car then went into storage, afterall it was Nov. '05 and a vert in this kind of shape should'nt see Ohio's roads in the winter.

In August '06, my son wrecked his '96 Cav that we had put together. So to make a long story short, I bought this convertible from my son, to help protect it from meeting a bad demise like his last 2 Cavaliers. Afterall, I had just scrapped my '94 Sunbird Convertible because it needed a new motor and I had found more rust than I wanted to contend with. And I really wanted another Jbody convertible.

For the past couple of months i've had this car sitting in one bay of the garage while I finished the motor in my Sunfire. Now that the Sunfire is back on the road for daily duty, Work has started on the Z 'vert as of last weekend. Am I going to take the easy way out and just change the motor and replace it with the good 2.0 left from my sons wreck? No, defenitely not.
Maybe I could use the 2.8 that is sitting in my garage from a Z24 parts car my son had? No, I think not.

I'll be useing the 3400 that I had originally intended on using on my Sunbird convertible. The second picture is after I got the car in the other garage bay and got the hood off last weekend. Currently, the tired old 2.0L motor is out...

Will update more as it progresses......
Jim C.

[burntricer]

looking like a sweet project

what are your plans for it?

3400?

[red91z24]

I'll be useing the 3400 that I had originally intended on using on my Sunbird convertible. The second picture is after I got the car in the other garage bay and got the hood off last weekend. Currently, the tired old 2.0L motor is out...


im assuming so

[Aphytex]

[burntricer]

[blkcav_fire]

Yes, my plans are to install the 3400 that came from a 99 GrandAm. As for the tranny, i've got 3 automatics laying around I can choose from, ranging from 24K miles to 120K miles. The car originally came with an auto which it has now. But, I've got access to a Cavalier RS with a complete 5 speed setup in it. Because I would have to drag the car home, put it in the garage and strip it, then haul off what is left, I'm unsure if I want to take the time and trouble to go through all the work and hassle. I'm still contemplating that idea.

When my son first got the car, he asked on here for someone to PS the car with his plans. The first picture is the outcome of one members graciousness. I like the Sonic Blue, which is what my sons' first Cavalier was painted. I'm thinking about changing the color, we'll see.

[burntricer]

its gunna be sweet, i would def recommend the 5spd, it will free up a tonn of horse

[dart]

correct me if I am wrong but is that not a 2.2, not a 2.0.

[seanski]