PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

It's been a long running gag that the West Coasters who based themselves around Wrens Zilla Motorsports pretty much had the Bonneville market cornered to themselves are far as hi-pop mods go, and for a bit it was true. Then Don and I thought *Well, hell...we do the same thing really with junkyard parts and Dustbusters* so we formed ZME (unofficially, we're more of a skunkworks around here). During our time we've given...

1) 1993 SSEi (Fondly known as Jinx...her stories fit true to her name): Old junkyard engine, first attempt at operating a Series 1 engine under OBDII...engine ops successful, transmission ops could have been better we think. Overall driveability improved tremendously, boost came on quick. Est. HP/TQ was 235/315(ish), engine developed slight rod knock and all testing ceased. Project scrapped.

2) 1995 Pontiac TranSport (Dons Hentai van). Formerly Mariks. Needed an engine, Don researched and thought the S2 architecture would work...and it did. Originally the PCM could not run it well enough so since I had the protosystem from Jinx (based off of 1997 PCM) we rigged that up. Ran very well after that. Currently still operable aside from an ICM glitch I'm going to trace for him.

3) 1995 Bonneville SE (John Wayne Toilet Paper...you should see the paint on this thing). First car of his, he loves it, he'll drive himself and or me off one of the intercoastal bridges in it. It being a '95 it has the S2 architecture but brains of the S1...well, had. It got Version 1.5 of my OBD2 refit once the...4th?...pcm crapped out on him? Not for performance *snicker snicker* but rather for longevity. There maybe upgrade plans in the future for this one, but for the past 4 years it's been rock solid.

4)1997 SSE (My old one)...I won't speak much. It's well doc'd around here.

Since leaving to Oklahoma ZME has kinda just pettered down. I did my own things out there (again, doc'd) but nothing really skunky although I did succeed in going returnless fuel rail on S2 engine architecture (not that hard really, just more aesthetics really). But now...the brains are back in Florida.

Well, at least most of them.

Number 5 is in the garage right now...the '00 SSEi. Thats the one that came from Oklahoma that sat in a red field for almost 4 years with a blown motor and was used as parts for another one of his cars. New motor got built with upgrades (cam, head port and polish, S3 fuel rail, custom tube intake system) interior cleaned and rehashed...GXP suspension starts this week. Then on to HP Tuning.

Which brings me to Number 6. Care to guess who's coming of age soon?



He's a *dang* good kid. Respectful, intelligent, and has been through so much a kid shouldn't. He has no mom to speak of, looking up to Karen to fill that role basically since I cornered the woman into a trap and used Brandon as her GOOJCF before I filed anything. Since then Don sees him as a little brother, his mom her grandson, and just a part of another dysfunctional family. I figure a 2 year build for us would be a good way for us to show our appreciation for him.

Project 6: 1994 SSE, project Axel. Don is providing the main body sans engine and trans. I will be sourcing an L26 and two 4T65e transmissions....the first is the newest I can find, the second will be nothing more than a case suited to the H-body. Not decided on DBW setup yet, probably not since I know a good power combo for the L26 (though is will be a teen car, so I have to keep my eye on power production). Full body redo according to Brandon...paint, body, rust repair. The works. He's in shock really and has offered to help Don and his mom out during the upcoming summer around his home for cleanup, mowing, trimming, whatever.

Official start won't happen for a few months. Logistics and stuff have to happen. Also gotta wait to see how Brandon carries this out in his head. So far he is fully on board because, hey, it's a car.

So, local Florida peeps...anyone up for some teardown??

Awesome that you two are getting back together on some stuff Brad!! You and Don's projects have always been crazy and fun from what I've followed on them. I wish I was closer to FL and I would help. I can't wait to see what unfolds.

There's a name I haven't seen on this board in awhile! I agree, it is awesome you guys are getting back together to work on projects! Unfortunately, I think the only one of those projects I remember is Don's van. It will be interesting to see what you guys come up with next!

I'm glad this is coming back. Wish I could be down there to have more Bonne adventures with you guys!

Maybe I'll have to make a trip out to Don's next year.

WOW!! So glad you are up to "new" old things! Wish I was close by to "enjoy" your work in person, maybe even be "under foot" - lol. - BC

Not sure what Direction my cars are going in yet... But they are begging and seeking more attention..

The Van has issues I can't track down, we are thinking ICM Harness problems... If we can get it to run right I will leave the cam in it and continue to drive it... I put close to 20k on it the first year after Brad did the harness mods with the 97 PCM... so in total it has seen roughly 35-40k and its been the last couple of thousand that its started to have issues... If this doesn't get figured out, a new plan will be laid out..

The 95... The harness came from an Olds iirc, the car was in the yard and in good shape( remember Brad, Me you and Tim were shocked that it was in the yard, I still have not forgotten the Trans Crack Joke!! ) First we took the harness, then I noticed it had a brand new SRTA 4T60E... For $120 out the door I had to go back and get it... That car had a ton of new parts... Down the road we figured out the reason... No one could figure out why the car had so many gremlin, as the gremlins had become part of my car... we then started to dissect the harness, found some 5v reference issues and other issues with the harness.. At that point I said screw it... I tinkered with the TPS and the tune to a small degree... It still starts, still runs...( starts funny sometimes due to a bad range switch )... But it tools along and is somewhat of a test bed, Its running an odd ball TCC apply strategy, Its said that the springs in the converter are not set up for the apply I am using, but I was more concerned with the clutch material, and found it to be a carbon clutch and they rarely is ever burn up.. as well I set the apply to 100% as opposed to the stock 96% to keep slip to a minimum... Here it is almost a few years later, and the car is at 202,000 and counting... Averaging 25-26 Mpg in town... I still love my old beater...

Brad, Brandon is like a Nephew... and you are the Bother I never had.. You all are part of my family..


I do plan on building my garage... Need to get that going very soon...