This is a 1989 Firebird Formula 350 with an LQ9 engine swap, it has a comp cam XER281HR 113+3 LSA.

I had the dynomax 89009 true dual kit adapted to fit edelbrock shorty LSX headers, and then modified the rear to have a tip out of each side. The reason for the kit was that I thought it would follow the stock routing fairly well, allowing me to only modify the header connections.

It turned out that the kit was no where near a good fit, which in turn lead to all the modifications to make it work.

It is now:

Edelbrock Shorty LS1 headers
High flow dynomax cats
True dual 2 1/4" pipes
Cherry bomb mufflers

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoOUsDtNpQk

It is a bit hard to hear, the cam will not pick up the sound well as it is too loud. I will post another vid when i can get some one further away from the car to record it. This at least gives you a view of the true duals though.

All in all, much better to pay and have a custom dual setup made.

 

Picked up the bird pretty well . . .

Cherry Bombs, eh? As in glass packs? I assume that's them at the tailpipes. Pretty mean sounding, probably the best I've ever heard CB's (including my own).

Would be nice to see some more detail photos from underneath.

 

I can surely get some for you this evening.

 

I'd love to hear more about how you handled the LQ9/4L60E PCM wiring to the stock gauges......You've already done what I want to do.

It looked like you have a Formula hood & its closed. How did you handle the LQ9 intake to hood clearance issue? LS1 intake?

What about all the drive accessories? LS1 stuff on there?

 

I need to come out and show you guys, I live in austin and i visit the austin third gen board as elementaltoad. Any meet planned for the weekend?

The engine is a LQ9 with 317 heads
- LS6 intake
-Truck coils (they barely clear the AC housing)
-LS1 edelbrock shorty headers
-Stock dash
-'99 LS1 PCM
-Painless 97-01 wiring harness
-LS1 f-body accessories
-Stock radiator and fans
-Short TB mounted CAI
-Corvette FR covers
-Converted 1 wire alt.
-XER281HR cam
-Comp R lifters
-Comp 921 springs
-Titanium Retainers
-Stock rotating assembly
-4L60E
-Beast sunshell
-Red Z pack clutches and steels
-Aluminum pressure accumulator
-Yank 2800 stall
-Stock steel driveshaft (3rd Gen)
-Stock 10 bolt with 3.73's
And that is about it as far as parts really

To wire up the cluster is REALLY easy, people say it cannot be done sometimes only because they refuse to tinker. I love the stock dash, and the sleeper look that it adds. I would be more than willing to show what has been done and create a walkthrough for this particular car if anyone is interested!

 

You do need to come show that thing off!

There's always the ATGO b'fast or lunch (it varies) on the first Sunday of every month.

Beyond that, there are various CFDs (Car Fix Days), car shows (one tomorrow, IIRC) etc.

Stock K-member? Stock truck or LS1oil pan?

 

In fact I put together a small story and overview for the car here: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2383047

It has been through a lot, and I had a local shop do the swap. It was not fun trying to keep the car from going down hill in a blaze, but I learned a lot and fixed some things "professionals" told me couldn't be fixed.

Here are some recent pics:



The shop used one LS1 and one LQ9 manifold...


Huge leak, the manifold was welded to the collector, they told me they couldn't find the leak - they created it.


Shop used an early LQ9 flywheel, forcing it to mount to the 4L60E by wallowing out the holes - this crushed the stator shaft, destroyed the converter, and caused clunking/grinding when starting or putting the car in gear.


Just a few examples of stuff they didn't do right, forcing me to do it over...

 

It is a stock K member currently, haven't heard solid reviews on any of the tubular K members and I want AC and reliability. It also uses the LS1 oil pan.

 

Not like I usually trust shops to touch my cars anyways.....But what shop did your car?

 

A place in houston, that had built a few other LS1 swap cars. They even had a 9 second 455 LSX 4th gen formula. Figured I could trust them...

 

Who? Hoping it's not where my car's at...

 

BTW - I think that's the first time I've seen somebody use 4th gen headers like that (shortys, but still). I may be hitting you up when I get my car back...I suspect I'm going to have some non-working gauges still (tach and voltmeter spec.). Nice work!

 

Lemme guess... MTI??

 

Was actually ARD, needless to say I do what work I can myself now...

 

That's who was mine! ...here's hoping they finish up mine well. Arg.

 

From behind

From the side

Under front

Rear over axle

 

 

nice ride.

just curious what you did for the fuel system?

i bought a (previously) fi v6 hardtop 89 firebird. i am thinking i can simply put an ls1 pump in the tank, a vette fuel filter in line, use the existing steel line going to the engine and use a piece of braided hose to go from the line to the fuel rail.

 

I used the stock everything, and a walboro 255 pump in stock position, then just fed the pump voltage off of the painless harness when the key is in the on position.

 

could you pleaseee tell me how you hooked all the guages up in detail im looking to do the same exact thing this weekend.

 

replied to your PM, I will have to get the harness manual out after I move, and make a write up for the 1989 to Painless LS1 harness. I hope what i gave you helps. Most of the gauges are a direct hook up.

 

Double post.