Wow now you got a confusing car. You say its and 81. Your name is 78 junker. The car has all years late second gen stuff on it. I had to think whae I saw your dash. They were only in cars to 78. BUT tops werent available until 79. Then the bezel on the dash is from an early car. Then there's the master cylinder. I'm pretty sure all '81's had a aluminum master with plastic lid.

The car will swallow a BB no problem but the cruise control on the fender and the AC box will suck to work around.

 

The name came from my primer gray 78 that I had bought when I first joined this forum and I didn't know how to go about changing it. I now have this 81 and I have my 72 that I am doing a complete restoration on. The car confused me when I looked at it. He had it listed as an 81 z28 t-top car. When I got there it didn't have any of the lovers or ground affects for a z, that didn't bother me. Then when I got in it had the older dash in it. When I asked him about it he said the guy before him swapped the dashes over cause they didn't like the newer dash. That is what sold me on the car, I don't like the newer dash and the dash was already swapped. I didn't know that the master cylinders were different. And I wasn't sure when the t-tops started. So I have come to the conclusion that my car is a mutt.

 

Mine is a '80 shell with my '78 as a parts car. Then the suspension is all aftermarket. The dash I thought about swapping because I too like the older ones and I had one. But I had to sell the parts car before getting the shell stripped. To top it off the decals will be the '79 model year. I like those best. The trans is from a 79 T/A. the rear is is the only part original to the shell. The interior is red but I think it came from another car. I got two sets of seats with the car. The fenders are '78. The doors actually could be either. Both sets are nice and I will be changing door handles on the '78 doors to a flush mount. The only factory parts besides the body is the block. The rest is aftermarket. So yeah I got a full grown mutt.

 

Yeah that sounds like my car, but I don't know all the history of the car. My motor is a 1972 block, the trans I'm not sure we pulled it from my brothers v8 s-10 he had at one time. I have the aftermarket hood. I will be going to some swap meets this year to try and fine more parts. I want to get it running and driving, then I will start replacing things that need it.

 

I havent ever driven mine. Someday!

 

Might be getting the horse before the cart by putting the new carpet in so early in the build! By the time you get mechanical and bodywork done the carpet could easily be a mess. I'd have waited until the rest was done and put it in just before interior was finished.

 

Yeah, I thought about that but there was no carpet at all in the car at all. If there was just some junk carpet in there I would not have done the carpet right away. I got a chance to get a set of sub frame connectors for $60 is that a good deal or should I keep looking around?

 

Sounds like a good price, but what are they? Bolt in or weld in, and what brand? Some are a pain to install, some need a welder, and others can bolt or weld.
I'd probably have tossed some cheap carpet pieces on the floors and put the new carpet away until later.

 

By the pictures they look like bolt in ones. The guy don't know anything about them excepts that they are for a late 2nd gen. I have a welder so that's not a real problem, just thought they would be a good idea with the big block and being a t-top car. I hope to go look at them tomorrow.

 

Buy them and weld the rears. Then bolt the front side. That way you can access the sub frame mounts later. Which should be on your list after SFC.