Looking for thoughts and opinions regarding my JL8

[Steve Shauger]

I know of one owner of a 69Z Kerry S.,who has been running a crossram setup for a couple of years. He puts on about 4k miles a year and after much tweaking has it running perfectly. He is the exception however, as most owners I've spoken to running the crossram find them difficult to start, and the cars run rather poorly. I quess if dialed in properly they should run fine. BTW he is also running the 140 cam and has it idling around 1100 rpms.

[NEW]

I had the crossram on my car, had problems to get it run well. Reinstalled the orig. intake and carb. Didn¨t start using the car that much more anyway, so i will mount it back on this winter. The problems you get with using the XRam is possible to live with, your car will probably be so nice, that it wont be driven even every weekend, so the plug changes, and high gas consumption is just a bonus. The looks of that intake together with your headers, wheels and the JL8 package will be awesome...

NEW

[Jeff H]

The car will not be driven much when finished. NJ roads and traffic are too dangerous.

[427TJ]

Jeff, sell the boat and the '68 and finish the JL8 car the way you originally planned it. Take your time and be as patient as you can and one of these days you'll look back and realize you did the right thing by sticking with your plan for the '69.

Here's another way to look at it. You don't want to be on your death bed someday wishing you'd done the '69 with the crossram. That's kinda' harsh but it helps me put things in perspective when I'm in similar situations.

Or: The boat and the '68 can be easily replaced once the Z is done.

Good luck and post pictures of the Z. Lots of them.

[nuch_ss396]

[ QUOTE ]
--------Chris brings up a good point. Not that you are doing this for monetary reward (perish the thought), but we all saw what a well turned out, made up, JL8/crossram car did at Barrett/Jackson. Its possible that you should think forward to what the cars ultimate value is going to be to figure out which way to go on this!............Bill S

[/ QUOTE ]

Bill,
Good point! Now, if we can only find that "yellow jacketed
dude" @ BJ, Jeff's "In like Flint" !

I know it's so, but I still don't understand it!

No X-ram setup came installed from the factory but yet
buyers ( and eBay bidders ) put forth piles of cash just so
they can say that their car has a cross-ram setup! What
ever happened to originality? Don't get me wrong Jeff, I
still say keep the X-ram and install it. It's cool to look
at. As far as buyers spending ton's of $$ to buy one - I
still don't get it!

Steve

[Charley Lillard]

The yellow jacketed dude is supposed to be bringing that yellow Z28 and several others to Barrett Jackson to sell. He is going to focus on his Corvettes.

[BillD]

Jeff. It seems the consensus here is to keep the cross ram. However, I suspect your financial situation may not be the same as many of the other members here. Only you know that. 2 carbs and an intake that are worth $25000 by themselves is alot to think about. A single 4 barrel carb 69z with documented JL8 is not such a bad thing. Also, I think your plan for the trans am parts is appealing but I don't know how popular that is especially when you have a documented car with the brakes. Just my 2cents.

[DaJudge]

I agree with BillD. I would keep the X-ram and install it if I could and restore the rest of car to original specs. If the market (God forbid) slips cars that are restored to original specs are the ones that hold their value the best even when the market falls. JMHO.

[Steve Shauger]

Also Jeff if you are planning on showing the car at the Camaro Nationals, the modifications would place your car in the modified category. Eliminating you from the concours class. Just a thought...

[Jeff H]

I never planned on showing the car in any original or concourse class so that wasn't a concern. I always wanted a Camaro that was unique and the JL8 is definitely that. Add some of the GM over the counter parts and you have a cool car that could have been ordered as such but the HD parts you would to have installed yourself.