Fireball

iTrader: (2)

I've just rejoined this board (had registered back in 2001) but haven't logged in so long that I can't remember the password and no longer have access to the registered email account...

I recently sold my turbo 1999 trans am race car chassis (427" RHS/LSx with a 106mm turbo) that went a best of 7.74 @ 189 after hurting the cylinder heads. Just got tired of owning a dedicated race car. This time around I decided to build something a bit more "tame" and street oriented

What I'm going to work on is my 1984 Camaro Sport Coupe (original 305/700R4) car that I've owned this car upwards to 20yrs now and the last 15 has been in my grandparents back yard

This is about as plain-jane as a camaro comes...manual doors, no spoiler, no ground effects, etc.

I swapped the 305 for a basic 400 engine with a T350 trans back in the day and had a setup that was probably closer to 275-300 hp (ran high 13s). Somewhere along the way, I blew up engine due to detonation and the car has sat since...

What I'm thinking right now:

A permutation of my RHS 427 engine with a pro flow intake...it would be killer if I can get that intake to fit under the OEM steel hood...figuring the original car was a carb + top mount air cleaner, I think it might just fit

This time will be twin turbos

Old parts from the racecar I will reuse:
BS3 engine management
Powerglide trans
AMS1000 boost control
220lb injectors
belt drive fuel system, etc.

All said and done, it should have 10x the power than the original 305 powerplant

I still need to dig it out and drag it home, but god knows what I'll find in terms of rust, but anything's possible right?

Hope to do that in the next 2 months (have other home projects I need to finish first). But just wanted to start laying down the foundation. I intend to document the entire process...so get ready for the ride

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Pic of my last project that I just sold. I'm currently planning on repainting the camaro this same color...

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Subscribed

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

I've pretty much nailed down the engine combo:

RHS LS block bored 4.125
Sonny Bryant Center Counterweight 4" billet crankshaft
Diamond Billet Pistons (10:1 compression)
Trickflow 245 heads
T&D rockers
solid roller cam
Pro Flo intake
will run on e-85

Scored a full rear suspension from a 4th gen...will have to narrow the rear at some time. Spohn LCAs and PHR, MADMAN outlaw torque arm, Fab 9 rear with aluminum center, spool, 3.00 gears and twin turbonetics HP76 turbos

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

spool for the street?

Drkhrse89

iTrader: (1)

That sounds like one radical "street" car. Good luck with the build, I will be following it closely.

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

um...yeah...I don't know of too many limited slip differentials that can handle 1500 hp

I intend to only run 20-30 psi in this setup...when it was in the racecar, I pushed 43psi

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

I have a very loose definition of a street car

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

I hear the Wavetrac can. Just something to consider I pushed 700whp thru a factory 10 bolt 7.625, so I'm sure a 9" rear can handle 1500 hp.

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

I used to run a detroit locker in my 4th gen when it was a head/cam/nitrous setup...maybe that will be an option...but this car isn't going to be a daily driver so spools don't scare me

but I'll look into the waveloc...thanks for the heads up

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Yeah I guess this car is more straight line, so street driving wont hurt to bad since you wont be carving corners. Just thought i'd mention the waveloc, I've heard good things about them.

fantastic build tho, it should be very stout!

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

I'm so ready to get started on this....

wow...waveloc is pretty pricey

still need to pick up a ls1 swap k-member so I can drop in my mock up block.

leaning toward the BMR piece. can pick that up from jegs for $460 thru my racer discount...

still debating what to do about steering...keep the stock steering box with power steering pump vs manual rack and pinion conversion.

dprest68

iTrader: (1)

Do you have any pics of the car you are going to be putting all of this stuff in?

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Not yet...but just imagine a dirty faded red 84 camaro sport coupe (hardtop) LOL

I'm in parts collection mode right now. Still need to yank the car to my house so I can get cracking on it. Will take some before pics then (its already kind of stripped down)

I know one of the fenders is painted an odd green color...I used it as practice sheetmetal when I was teaching myself to spray haha

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

yes they are 2 times the typical posi cost but for a build on a level like this, I didnt think it would be considered expensive to you haha.

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Believe it or not, I'm rolling on a budget for this build....buying anything second hand that I can. I'm fortunate to have alot of the majorly expensive parts already from my last build.

Only reason I'm using a fab9 rear is I got a SMOKING deal on all the parts!

Really helps that I'm pretty handy and can fab up most of the parts at home with my tig.

BLKIROCZ87

subscribed --- Nice!!!

1nasty86

iTrader: (5)

NEED MORE PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Wow...so much to learn and figure out...

I'm digging the dakota digital dash setup...also has expansion modules to display boost and fuel pressure in the driver information center. Pretty sweet

will be neat since I'm trying to keep the stock fuel tank with a sump welded on the bottom. Also includes adapters to put the sensors on LSx motors...

Since the car won't have OBD-II (aftermarket engine management)...this may be ideal.

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

YOu mentioned being on a budget but I have a friend who has a Nasty Performance fabricated fuel cell that fits stock location. They make 2 different models, one goes for 600-700 and one goes for 1200-1600 depending on what options. I'm not sure what he has but I'll ask. I'm buying a rear end off him this weekend. car is a 00 formula ws6 race car project that he's parting some things out. He thought it was the high end model and said he'd take 800 for the fuel cell. I gotta confirm. If its the base tank, he'll likely take 400-500 since its like new...i dont think it was ever ran. Sumped and ready for a big pump...and you know you'll need one

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

depends on how my stock tank looks. I'm running an external belt drive pump....supports 3000hp

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Ah ok. Thats probably the best bet if you already have it. This one is setup like a stock tank with wiring harness input for fuel level sender and has a big sump on it, and threaded connections for return lines. Its a nice piece. Let me know if your interested.

RS Chris

By any chance did you sell your old car to a guy in Oklahoma? Nice build BTW.

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

yup

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Few more pics of parts I'm reusing...

short block


225lb/hr billet injectors


ATI superglide transmission with 1.80 first gear, billet front pump, etc

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

I love that block in that it has windows cut out for the lifters so you can get them out without taking heads off. LSX block is like that too. Looks good!

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

the windows are really a necessity when you run linkbar solid roller lifters....otherwise the heads would have to come off

doesn't hurt that its aluminum either

The $4500 pricetag hurts a bit though

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Pic of the engine's valvetrain...well over .700" lift...will probably back that down this time around though

this pic was taken when it was sporting a 4-bolt LS2 block...which has since been converted to 6-bolts

RaverRacerX

the waveloc has a lifetime warrantee

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Woohoo...got my original login back, so my user name has changed (Thanks JT)

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

I'm almost ashamed to show this...but this is how the new project is sitting right now

Quick survey shows minor rust in front of the passenger tire (about a 2-3" area) and rust along the bottom of the driver door. Not sure what else I'll find but it appears manageable right now...

Will be a while before I drag it out...need to pick up those suspension parts I bought and get them on so I can have it rollbacked to my garage at home. It doesn't have any LCAs or PHR on it at the moment since I ripped them off when I parked it to sell them lol. Never intended to have it sit there that long

Scored a set of stock LS1 heads that I borrowed for mockup today too

TPI TERR

iTrader: (9)

Sweet . I believe I've seen your trans am on ls1tech. Beautiful color .
Will keep an eye on this thread

yaj15

iTrader: (3)

That is going to be a very cool sleeper! As you go a long can you post some videos with the engine running. I would love to hear how that setup sounds

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

absolutely....this is how the motor sounded in my T/A....will most likely be a bit tamer idle since I'm going to back down on the cam...no need to stay .700+ lift LOL

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/427_startup.wmv

Grifter757

iTrader: (5)

So since we live relativly close to one another and my car will one day make it down buds creek we will have to do a photoshoot when there both done...

Oh and **** you for one uping my turbo LSX thirdgen camaro... LOL

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Ahh you are the same fireball on ls1tech that had the old car tuned at virginia speed. Just realized that.

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Yup...same one. I originally started this thread under a different username since I hadn't logged in under this account in years. Va Speed (Shawn) builds my motors...though the tuneups were a collaborative effort

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

I don't go down to the creek too often since I live up in northern MD near Cecil County Raceway...

I'm just throwing together some parts I've acquired over the years

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

yeah i've heard some things about that...glad it finally was done right and worked out

brandoz28

iTrader: (1)

Tuning in for this!

NufNuffZ28

iTrader: (10)

Nice build. I've seen you over on tech a lot...

fenton06

What sort of cage is going in this thing Fireball?

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Just an 8.50 cage...don't.want a funnycar cage in street car.

RaverRacerX

youll be back at it. youll go to the track, run, then think to yourself: "self, i need to go faster...hmmm" and then youll be back to square 1 selling a race car for a street car. just look at phil.. his mustang was SUPPOSED to be a street car.. lol

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Fortunately, I've been there, done that and have spent stupid amounts of money to know better. I know exactly what I want to build this time...don't get me wrong...this will be borderline racecar, but having a dedicated race car isn't what I want anymore.

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

Darnit...just found out that the intake I want will not clear the stock hood. Not sure what I should do at this point...reconsider the intake (go to carb style with some form of elbow) or stay with the proflo and get a SMALL cowl hood. The hood kinda takes away from the "sleeper" look though

Grifter757

iTrader: (5)

Yea the Pro-Flo BARELY fits under my SS hood but shouldnt have a problem under a 2" cowl. I'd go that route. It is still just a SC camaro... How fast can it be...

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

Yeah that one pic on tech looked to be ok for rear height but that intake needs to slope forward and down towards the nose...it stays straight level and would hit the hood near the TB connection area just like the stealth ram intakes do on sbc's. Curious how big of a cowl would be needed to clear it. 2-2.5" cowls are pretty subtle. I was thinkin about doing something smaller than my 4" for a more street/sleeper look.

But the singleplane EFI with elbow wouldnt hurt to bad either.

Can you rig up a custom k member with lower engine mounts?

Fireball

iTrader: (2)

guess I'll have to wait and see when I start mockup here in a few weeks. I'm probably going to get the BMR LSx kmember and drop my ls2 mockup block in to see what kind of room I have.

I could also get a kmember w/o mounts and tig weld my own on them, but it really depends on oil pan clearance. I will not be running a stock oil pan. I'm keeping my Moroso pan that I currently have. It has much improved oiling characteristics. Bearings looked brand new on my 2400hp setup after 50 passes...

Then again, I'm lazy and dont' feel like squaring up the motor in the car to fab up mounts

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

I hear you on that! I'd just change intake or get a small cowl or SS hood. Gives some appearance without saying "hey look at me, i'm a race car" if you know what I mean.