Beretta.net

I have been wanting to do a build thread since I bought my 94 Quad Z26 in 2009.. but with working crazy hours never had time.

Here is the car this thread is about..




Most people here have seen this car at Bfest 2011 and Bfest 2012. The Quad has always made this car a garage ornament and now that the Quad needs tore apart for the 3rd time in 2 years.. I decided its time to do something about it.. (along with a bunch of other stuff at the same time)

Sooo I bought this car.. 96 Z26 that was already 3500 swapped (still Automatic) and a few "progress pics"









The previous owner had a 97 venture 3400 upper intake and 3100 TB on it.. talk about a starved motor lol.

Then from a local yard.. picked up manual trans parts from a black 92 3.1 5 speed GT



Putting the Getrag on the 3500..



Here's a closer look at the motor (which only has 54k on it supposedly) and updating it with metal lower intake gaskets and '99 3400 timing set. IF you havent checked the timing chain on your 3500.. DO IT! Even with the low mileage of this motor the chain still had quite a bit of slack.

Heres a comparison of the stock 3500 chain and the much much better 3400 timing chain and gears..



Installed..



Here is how clean this motor is!

Now to get rid of the nasty spray paint!


75% re-assembled! It may look like alot of silver.. but the alternator bracket and the motor mount bracket will be black (they still need sandblasted) and am still waiting on the 3500 upper so I can install that with the 3.5 olds tb and adapter.

That is all the progress caught up, hopefully starting on "tearing down" the black Z this weekendNow to get rid of the nasty spray paint!







75% re-assembled! It may look like alot of silver.. but the alternator bracket and the motor mount bracket will be black (they still need sandblasted) and am still waiting on the 3500 upper so I can install that with the 3.5 olds tb and adapter.



That is all the progress caught up, hopefully starting on "tearing down" the black Z this weekend

Also while it is going from Quad 4 5 speed to 3500 5 speed...

Its also getting Neon rear disc swap, big brake upgrade with C6 Corvette calipers (first one to use C6 calipers!!) and the Enkei Shoguns I bought from Geoff.



Alex (Alpinestar10) is powdercoating the following for me..

-All the parts for the front big brake upgrade
-All neon rear disc parts
-Front FE3 swaybar and Addco rear swaybar
and the subframes-control arms etc

Tyler (Tylerlp) is helping me swap everything to the black Z. I work alot so the car is currently at his house about an hour from me. I am going to his house on the weekends to make progress

James (A local Beretta owner who has a 3400 5 speed 90 GT that doesnt post on here but does read) is also helping with everything.

At the moment still waiting on the 3500 upper intake, getting a custom side motor "T" piece machined out, and the monies for the Spec 2+ clutch I need.

Tyler and Alex might post updates to this thread also.

I will keep updating here! Thanks for reading! I cant wait for the Z to be running again!

Here is the car waiting to get all the work started on it!

I thought that was a 99 upper, and was going to ask if the owner ground off the numbers.
So the red car was a rust bucket or did you just want spare parts?

Money pit Beretta wrote:I thought that was a 99 upper, and was going to ask if the owner ground off the numbers.
So the red car was a rust bucket or did you just want spare parts?

The red one was a super rusted out beater that drove really well. For the price I paid for the whole car I couldnt beat it for all the OBD2 stuff and it already had a 97 ecm.

Stupid fast though!! lol



Pics of the rust..




It was missing half the interior when I bought it. It was the most rusted Beretta I have ever seen haha

Damn that red Beretta looks bad not even funny!!

You will love the swap! I cant stop grinning every time I drive mine!

Looks like it was worse than I thought. Damn it now I want a swap even more!

I need to see the wheels on it's new home!

Welcome to the party!

Good SHEET! Was wondering where the shoguns went! Puttin' em' to good use. You Know, I'm always a hater when it comes to swapping a rare bird like this, but I CAN understand it. I had a chance to buy a 100% rust free BRM 94 Q4 Z a couple years ago, but the quad was shot. Head was cracked and warped bad, almost 0 oil pressure at idle, bit it still kicked ass WOT. My test drive was most likely the last real drive that motor got (no it didn't knock, and still ran well.. considering. Car had like 143K on it. 100% original suspension, and it was still tight! No rack rot, nothing, simply amazing. Cleanest mid-life PA Beretta I have ever seen, untill I bought my 94 aqua Z. Anyway, was a shame. Dunno what happend to that car, dealer said a local mechanic bought it. It was probably the guy who I brought it to, to use the lift and look under it. He drooled a bit, and drove it too. I couldn't buy, due to the high cost of an un-reliable engine, and a swap wasn't even in the back of my mind at the time. 1 of 896, Nah gotta keep it a quad. Not any more, you guys have started it, who's next? Really, I only know of 1 other 94 Q4 Z now, and he's not here anymore. Anyway good luck, I've always enjoyed the look of your Z! It's A true beast now for sure!

88_GTU wrote:Welcome to the party!

I'm sorry, but that cover is bothering the hell out of me by being slanted like that!

Off Topic, (Somewhat)

My God Shawn have you ever come a long way from an obnoxious little PITA with a POS white rust bucket Beretta with stickers all over it, to a very well respected and knowledgeable member here.

Well done Sir! You have my respect and admiration as a representative of the younger generation taking up the challenge of these silly little cars we all love.

Cheers.

I agree with grumpy old man Brennan. Although I would have said it differently! haha It's cool to see a newb turn in to a legitimate gear head. Because we were all newbs at one point.