I don't buy parts often as my next round on the monte is still a little ways off with the garage build going on now.

But I saw ZZP released some new items specific to the 3800, so I figured I'd pick them up now in case they end up only selling them for a limited time as they're the only ones making them.

Got their newly released lifter trays and timing chain tensioner (which supposedly works with double rollers). Also picked up their header flanges as once I start into the rwd conversion, the plan is to custom make headers to fit.

 

Once you start into the what now? Is this the first youve mentioned it here?

Man I cant wait to follow that project, what with how well youve documented the garage build so far.

 

Yeah been working towards a RWD conversion for awhile now. The hope is to do a f body floor pan conversion like the old John Moss 5th gen monte, but using my existing whippled 3800 instead of a LT1. I'd actually bought a running / driving 3800 Fbody for the swap probably 5 years ago now, but ended up having to get rid of it when my GP got totalled as I couldn't park either outside due to HOA rules (and didn't want to have to park my "nice" cars outside to bake in the sun while the junk sat in the garage).


The reason is really twofold:
-I'm tired of the lack of FWD traction on street tires. The engine makes really good power, but it hits so hard when the bypass closes that it needs to be at highway speed to put any kind of power to the ground. Having been down a similar path with the vette, I know DRs (or maybe some of these new extreme performance 100tw street tires) would help immensely. I've thought about it many times, but:

-I'm REALLY worried the transmission won't last long if it can actually hook up. It is modified, but has zero GMR parts, and I have zero interest in dumping thousands more into getting it there due to the problem above. Swapping it to RWD, I get the weight transfer advantage plus a much wider tire and bolt in transmissions that'll hold the power all day with hard use. I'd just like to be able to take it out and rip on it (without blowing the tires off) and actually enjoy it / not be worried about it.


So I've been slowly collecting parts here and there towards that goal once I've finally got some space to do it.

I did post pics of the AUS T56 adapter in this thread:
https://montecarloforum.com/forum/en...-awhile-61998/

I've also got front brakes (14" rotors with ctsv 6 piston calipers), a few minor t56 parts, and set of c6 starter wheels, and some Midwest chassis f body parts. Once I get this garage buttoned up, I'll start searching for another fbody donor again as that's really the key to getting this going.


Just picking up a few engine goodies in the meantime as I plan to do a few minor things while it's out next time. Custom cam and aftermarket lifters are the primary goal there as the rest of the setup is pretty solid.

 

Talking about that made me check out car listings again for another donor f body. Happened to find a 99 3800 5 speed for cheap literally 3 blocks away. Messaged the person to try to come take a look this weekend.

 

Wow talk about good luck!

 

Nice idea to grab those while they are available! We see some parts ZZP still has in their catalog but rarely produce and sell! Have them now and not wish you bought them later.

 

Not holding my breath until I get a response. Only means of contact on the ad was the standard email via CL and I haven't heard anything back about going to look at it. It had only been posted for a day before I responded, maybe someone snagged it first.

Oh well there always seems to be some kind of fbody roller for sale, this one just fits my hopes the most (running + driving so it's easy to move until I cut it up and so I've got all of the misc parts) and 3800+manual.

Frankly a LS1 T56 parts car wouldnt be awful etiher, but they always ask a premium with a working LS Id have to resell as I have no use for it.

Agreed. Some stuff I could reproduce on my own, but stuff like those lifter guides would be almost impossible to make as a one off.

I'm really glad to see ZZP putting more money into the platform, but I dont know how long it's going to last. Fortunately it seems like there's still a good following of folks buying parts and modding these so that should at least keep the lights on for a few more years.

 

It really makes me wonder if I should consider snagging some of these, but now is not the time for me. I will need to keep my eye on them and hope they remain on the active product line (as many things have fallen off OR are "sold out" for a long time, almost indefinitely).

Since ZZP has branched into other platforms, I expect they will continue to be around and hope they keep life support for the beloved 3800 alive!

 

As much as I hate to see loss of competition, it's probably better for this platform that pretty much all of the other major 3800 shops have closed up at this point. I think that'll help keep ZZP in the 3800 game longer than if they were still splitting this shrinking pie between several different companies.

 

That is a valid point. Less people to dilute such a limited market. If we have at least one vendor pushing good stuff, that is valuable in itself.