So my Father passed when I was 13 due to leukemia. He left me his beloved 90 firebird. I have kept it ever since (2003) with the hopes of one day finishing his project and keeping it for myself.

Now that I'm of age (26) and have the means to start restoring it, I'm looking at taking it a different direction. I want to make it into a drag car and honor him on the strip.

That being said. I'm lost. I have no idea where to start as this is my first build EVER. I have no idea where to start.

I want to start dropping in money little by little but don't want to be buying and selling parts because I bought the wrong thing. So any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome to the board & great way to honor your father!

My first step would be to get the car (if it isn't already) into good running condition with safe rubber, new fluids & cleaned up and get to a local track to run it in a street class. If you have never raced before, you will find you either like it or don't - there doesn't seem to be an in-between. For those who have raced on the street stop-light to stop-light, it is nothing like that - there is a lot going on in a very short span of time!

Once you've decided you want to go in that direction - lay out a plan on where you want to end up. Do you want a 9 second car with a cage, nitros, trans brake? Do you want a fast street class car with a big motor or turbo on it? Or would you want something close to stock that although not the fastest car on the track is completely predictable and would make for a great bracket car - that's all up to you.

I've found that the most fun in this sport isn't what we do on the track it's the time spent in the pits with your friends. I've had some really great weekends racing - times I wouldn't of had if I hadn't gotten into the sport.

Best of luck with the car and keep us posted on what you decide to do!

 

Hey man. That kind you so much for the lengthy respoms3 and time it took to respond. Very appreciative.

Now as for the car. To start. A little about myself. 26 years old. 6'5 210. Army infantry vet who is a commercial diver now. I spend most of my time underwater. When I was younger, my family was always at the track doing a number of things. Racing from a 70 el Camino with a 502, to a 67 Cheverly (can't remember for sure) also had a cousin that raced actual dragsters. So I've been around it my whole life. Just wasn't old enough to actually have the knowledge of what was going on.

As for my driving, I've done alot of light to light. Have also been getting my license back for the last 5 years. Had it suspended and revoked for years due to speeding, reckless driving, excess8ve speed, racing, etc. I know it's different but it's something I really want to get into and race for my father.

That being said, I want a super fast track car but I also want to eat able to drive it to and from shows, the track, meets etc. Don't really want to do the whole roll cage thing. But still want a fast loud, show car. Lol I know that's a little complicated lol

Again thanks for the time and response

 

For a big power street(ish) car, I would go with a LSX and not look back. It is a little more expensive than swapping in a stockish SBC, but it's not much more than paying for all the machining, replacement parts, etc. Stock 5.3 motors with a turbo are turning out quite respectable numbers.

The best deals are usually where you find a smashed up 2wd pickup\SUV, and can get the engine, transmission, and the ECM for low cost. After that, get yourself some LSX swap motor mounts, headers, oil pan, and transmission crossmember. You may spruce up some other things while you're at it. Most of the time you can find decent heads (I'm unfamiliar with which ones are the good ones, but I know for sure you don't want the stock 5.3 Castech heads) on Craigslist for a decent price, along with an upper intake if the truck one doesn't fit under the hood.

 

So with an LSX what does it put out to start with and do I need to replace everything from the motor back? Or are there things I can get away with for the time being etc?

Again thanks for the help. Just remember this will be my first ever build so it's going to take ALOT of learning and asking questions.

 

Here are the stock power levels for a 5.3 truck motor from what I can find via Wiki.

1999 270 hp (201 kW) @ 5200 RPM 315 lb·ft (427 N·m) @ 4000 RPM
2000–2003 285 hp (213 kW) @ 5200 RPM 325 lb·ft (441 N·m) @ 4000 RPM
2004–2007 295 hp (220 kW) @ 5200 RPM 335 lb·ft (454 N·m) @ 4000 RPM
2005-2007 310 hp (231 kW) @ 5200 RPM 335 lb-ft (454 N-m) @ 4000 RPM

I have not performed the swap myself, but I'm sure others can chime in. There is also a lot of information on the boards concerning the LSX swap. As far as I am aware, it's easiest to swap the motor, transmission, and ECM all as one unit. You can reuse your rear, although the driveshaft may need modification (I'm guessing maybe a new yoke\U-Joint).

Once you have that running and you're happy with it, you can always slap a turbo or supercharger on if you're wanting some more power on tap. Or there's always nitrous.

 

So can you direct me in the best place to purchase one or where to look?

 

Before you start buying stuff, I'd research the swap thoroughly. In the link below, you'll find a multitude of LS swap threads with lots of pictures, things people ran into, etc. There's a ton of information on these boards. Before you start any sort of project, you should research it thoroughly to ensure you don't get in over your head or make costly mistakes.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ltx-swaps.html

That being said, many people find their engines, transmissions, etc, on Craigslist.

 

Absolutely, thanks man. I'm still a ways out from buying anything for the simple fact that I'm offshore for the next month and I still have to drive from tx back to California to get the car from my uncle who's been storing it for me. I'll have a bunch of time for research, just wanted some info on where t9 atleast start. In sure it'll run fine once I di don't small repairs from it sitting for so long, just need to get home and get under the hood.

 

Thank you for your service - good friend of mine did 20+ years in demolition & wreck recovery for the Navy. He spent most of his time underwater too & if you're anything like him, methodical about what you do, you'll do fine with an LSX swap!

Keep us posted & put up a pick of the car when you have a chance.

 

Absolutely man. I did 3 years active infantry in the army and now I'm a commercial diver (basically what your friend did).

I'm hoping everything will go fine, just worried since it's my first project as wella my dad's car.

How do I upload a pic on here?