Beretta.net

It's been a long road, but the Beretta GTZ is now running once again. Here is a small list of some of what I have done:
- engine with 100k from donor GTZ swapped (added tranny from my original GTZ)
- new battery + terminals + wiring installed
- new radiator hoses installed + replaced radiator with one from donor GTZ
- new muffler installed (baffles rusted out of old one)
- donor car GTZ rims painted black and installed
- oil + filter change
- new fluids throughout
- vacuum hose repaired
- new rear brake line (old one popped while test driving it)

Dibs on the wheels if youll sell

Who can forget the long hunt for an engine.

Yeah, the search was long. I had just about given up finding a cost effective way to restore my GTZ, but hadn't found any real good opportunities until yesterday when I stumbled across this deal. The engine is running a bit rough ATM, wants to conk out when you try to give it gas. Moves though and runs, a way better block to work with than the one currently in my original GTZ.

congrats man!

berettaboi wrote:congrats man!

Thanks good sir! How is yours treating ya?

Well, it tries to commit suicide every couple months, but I somehow get a bit more life out of it... hope to make it to spring with little more than oil changes and some new brake pads... we'll see what she has planned though.

berettaboi wrote:Well, it tries to commit suicide every couple months, but I somehow get a bit more life out of it... hope to make it to spring with little more than oil changes and some new brake pads... we'll see what she has planned though.

Wow! Seems like that black car has kept you on your toes.. isn't that the same one that you drove ALL THE WAY to my place in MA? It seemed pretty reliable then..

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I checked the donor car over today, it's a dang shame there had to be so much rot on the backside of the rear end.. The Beretta lover inside of me is screaming to rescue it, but it's really beyond saving at this point.. I'm just glad my chassis is still in good shape, needs a bath though lol. I am a baby at motors and I am in the learning phase, I figured i'd keep the engine in it (the donor car) for now until I have it running right, then transfer it over to the nice GTZ once I am confident the engine will be reliable. does that make sense?

Pictured below, my GTZ before it went kaput. (still looks this nice, but needs a good shine since it's been sitting)

Yes, same car i drove to visit you. waterpump impeller sheared off the shaft a day before that trip... drivers steering rack mounting point rusted off the firewall recently. I welded it and added in more metal bracketry to get me through... till next time she says. that's what you get for a $600 car, have to get creative if you're not rich!

I HEAR YA

also,,

*UPDATE* I pulled the engine w/my buddy at his garage from the donor car yesterday. I will post some pics of the action, it was a b**ch getting the transmission off because one of the bolt heads was stuck hard enough to break 2 snap on extensions. Since I am keeping my clutch, tranny, etc from my orig. GTZ, we had to cut the head off that bolt in order to separate it from the donor engine. Engine will be getting cleaned up nicely! I hope the pics here will hold you over until then! (oh also, I detailed my original GTZ, paint is still as nice as ever!!)

Yeah, that bolt in the aluminum bellhousing can be a bear. I remember fighting it removing my bone-stock 3100 from the trans. Antiseize the new one going in.

woody90gtz wrote:Yeah, that bolt in the aluminum bellhousing can be a bear. I remember fighting it removing my bone-stock 3100 from the trans. Antiseize the new one going in.

Sound advice from a veteran of the game! Great to hear from you again! Yeah I plan on anti-seizing a few bolts that have given me trouble. I just have to be gentler with the original GTZ's transmission when I am trying to remove it (removing it after pulling it if it gives me any trouble).

*** UPDATE ***

small update, I cleaned off the freshly pulled motor from the donor car, I have decided on just cleaning it and painting the top cover instead of spending too much time painting the block. It cleaned up pretty nice though (no pics to show yet). I am debating going in the garage 9am-11am tomorrow for some quick work before my trip to my buddy's house in CT.

Where in CT?

He lives in Brooklyn, CT.. although we were blown off from today's plans last night at 11:45pm, so yeah.. lol

Um yeah that's on my way to work... LOL and the next town up from mine.

I work in Pomfret and live in Plainfield.