Central Texas Z28

**Not Dave** · 01-05-2015, 03:18 PM

Howdy Guys and Gals,

I purchased my first muscle car last September, a 97 Z28 Z4C (anniversary model). It has t-tops, M6 tranny and was left completely stock by the previous owners. Even came with optional chrome wheels instead of the white wheels. I'm a 45 year old married youngster. My wife likes riding in the car too.

Back in 98 and 99 I lived in my native Southern California and Hot Rod magazine was putting on the Power Tours. I didn't have a hot rod or muscle car, just a 91 GMC Sierra truck. Didn't matter, I went! In 99 I was a long hauler, hooking up with another guy from Long Beach that had a nice 37 Chevy Deuce. He was a friend of my dad's friend so we split the motel bills which helped a lot. After that I moved to Texas the following year and had to rebuild my life.

Well in 2015 I hope (really hope) to be able to go to some national events, either the Power Tour, Road Tour or many other things like the Street Machine Nationals in Springfield, MO. No telling if I can do any of those though.

I'm on several other Camaro forums with the same name but figured this would be the best place of concentrated LT1 owners and another avenue to learn more about my car.

I've been a telephone guy (Pacific Bell/SBC/AT&T), cable guy, corrections officer and now a peace officer (what I like to call social worker). I still remember my first job at Jack In The Box when I was in high school. I treat others the way I want to be treated and like to be happy most of the time.

My brother and I grew up with my dad into hot rods, he had a 56 Crown Vic when he was young and used to drag race. Now he's had a 73 Nova for a couple of decades which puts down somewhere around 425HP to the wheels through a supercharged small block. He also has a 65 Mustang with a newer model 5.0 punched out to 331 cubes (I think) and it wins awards all the time at car shows in SoCal. My parents like to go every weekend, they're retired so they can.

The LTx Shootout is quite a distance for me. My wife doesn't like road trips so I'd have to schedule anything I do through her. She's pretty understanding though. She also rides on the back of the motorcycle with me and wants to get her own bike in the next year or so.

I look forward to being a part of the LT1 community and the LTx forum here.

Dave

***SSlowBoat*** · 01-05-2015, 03:22 PM

Welcome! Post up pics so us on the east coast can see your ride!

***popo8*** · 01-05-2015, 03:30 PM

Wonderful introduction, welcome to the forum. You will see this community is more like a large FAMILY of some of the best people you would ever meet... in person or on the web.

When you say Peace Officer, is that the equiv of a Police Officer, if so, I have been a Police Officer for 13 years, and we have several other Law enforcement, corrections, dispatch, fire, etc members as well.

Please do post pics of your ride, and how far of a ride is it to the Shootout for you... its really something to consider. My NOW wife and I have done 4 of the past 5 years (740 miles one way) and wouldn't miss another one (we got married at the same time as this past one, so we missed that one).

Anyways, welcome again.

**Not Dave** · 01-05-2015, 09:03 PM

Thanks, guys. I uploaded two pics to my album. 908 miles from "here" to "there". That is a long days drive, I've done 900 before 15 years ago. The shootout might be really cool being a bunch of cars like mine instead of seeing car shows with brand new Mustangs, Corvettes, Challengers with LED lights all pretty and Christmas-ey...

I chose a 97 over a newer LS1 powered 4th gen because I'm nostalgic, wanted the last year the old 350 small block was made. Granted it's an LT1 Gen II motor but it's the last hurrah.

I drove it today for a little bit. I broke my leg on Nov 12 so am happy to be driving and walking again. I go back to work light duty (desk job) in two weeks.

I took this pic at my house after cleaning it up. It is in remarkable shape considering. No wrecks.

I've been thinking of getting 17 or 18 inch wheels. Maybe the SS wheels from the 00-02 Camaro or some chrome Z06 wheels. Then again the 16's ride decent but having 275's in the rear is tempting. I may decide to do the SLP spring and shock (Bilstein) drop or go through Strano and use his springs. Don't want to go much further down than 1". I'm more of the road guy instead of the drag race guy so prefer better handling.

This last Labor Day weekend I went with a group of friends and rode motorcycles in the Ozark National Forest. Absolutely beautiful! And the roads are really nice. I thought it'd be fun to take a long weekend up there with the wife and the Z28. We based out of Clarksville, AR. Mount Magazine is a really cool place, enjoyed it immensely.

***popo8*** · 01-08-2015, 07:02 PM

That is a long drive... i should see some of the other long haulers.

Car looks great btw.

**Not Dave** · 04-22-2015, 05:47 PM

Sorry Popo... in Texas everyone is a Peace Officer licensed by the state, you are commissioned by whatever agency you work for. In my instance I work for a Sheriff which makes me a Deputy Sheriff. Been on patrol since 2010. Before that I worked corrections. Hired on in 2004 and became a peace officer in 2006. I did work in prisoner transportation which meant we also did extraditions, some of those were pretty fun. Before doing all that I was a cable guy and before that worked for the phone company in CA. I'm more customer service oriented instead of a type-A personality that most cops are but I have learned to switch modes when needed. I didn't start this career until I was 34.

BTW I registered for the Hot Rod Power Tour so will be doing the long haul this year. Had to wait until tax time to see if we were going to pay or not and see if we had enough funds for me to go with gas, food and lodging. I do.

This is a late response (several months) and now have a pic of my car in my sig. Here's another with bluebonnets taken a couple of weeks ago.