Hey Guys & Gals,

Project Storm Trooper is not doubt the best 3rd gen we have ever built. Well we have decided to push the boundaries again, push it to the limit in fact!

We are doing a another shop car, this time a 1989 Firebird Formula 350 convertible, it will have a 408ci LSX iron block with twin Precision turbos, custom cage/light bar, raised tranny tunnel, custom wheels, paint, etc...

I will update you guys as time goes on with pictures and updates. Let us know your comments and any ideas about the car.

Pictures below are mock up of the turbos and engine...

Enjoy!!!

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Aww sweet. Im planning a 5.3 with twin 62s. Subd for results.

 

More pics of the turbo fabrication...

 

Finished mock up of the turbo kit...

 

Moved this to the LTX and LSX subforum.

 

That will be a monster! What's the story behind the double rolbar hoops? Extra stiffness? I like the look so far, keep it up!

 

looks like it will be bad ***!

 

Subbed.. Sweeet build !!

 

This is awesome, love the fan work especially the light inter grated roll cage...sweet and simple.

 

Bada$$ ... works the story on the red IROC-Z :-)

 

awesome. subscribed. gonna bring it to the gathering next year?

 

Pretty much yes, we just wanted something different. Like the look of a cage but also a light bar so we figured lets have our cake and eat it to lol...

 

Hopefully, we are trying to get it done before Christmas.

 

Mock up of the suspension & brakes. The wheels are for mock up, we will do a forged BOZE or Forgeline wheel, haven't decided yet. It will have 335 or 345 tires on the back though for sure, thoughts on the stance?

 

Wow, what a great build...wish I could work on 3rd gen stuff like this all the time. Im keeping my eye on this one....also, thanks for the great customer service you gave me last week. thumps up!

 

Disassembled, body and interior blasted and off to the body shop to smooth the engine bay, inner fenders, and body.

 

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Here it is with all the body work done and smoothed engine bay and wheel wells. Just has a coat a primer on it at this stage...

 

GAWD!!! This is sick. What rear end is that? What coil over kit are you using and do you have more pics of the fab work on the rear tub area to stuff those 345's?

Thanks for sharing these here with us.

 

No problem, the rear end is a narrowed Dana 44 with modified Detroit Speed brackets and a custom set-up on the coil overs but they are Koni's.

 

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that looks awesome!

 

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I'm drooling, can't wait to see it finished.

 

bruce, looks great, how much boost are you going to try and run and what base ECM are you going to use for your controls?

 

hell if you're using a Dana44 for THIS build I guess I shouldn't worry about mine with my build lol

 

Damn this thing looks sexy!!! Its got me rethinking twins now...

 

LOL, I understand your thoughts Justin, We actually done the rear suspension BEFORE the twins came into the picture, if the car was gonna have slicks or a STICKY tire I would really worry and would probably go to one of the built 8.8s we are doing now or maybe a 9in, so when you see we are doing the Dana don't think I think my Dana is better than yours LOL! our plans just changed on the project!
Your project is looking AWESOME and I hope all is coming along exactly like you want! Maybe we can all get together and get some cool group pics sometime . Thanks again
TTYS! Bruce

 

Cool looking build.

 

Bruce,
Really neat project, formulas are under-appreciated I think, can't be a better way to bring one to light than a badass drop top LSx swap car.

Any info on the "built 8.8"? Just a one-off at the shop or is this a possible venture for retail? Any information on a 8.8 housing would be awesome, especially in regards to the center section being cast iron, or cast steel, for purposes of safe torque arm attachment. Bolt in 8.8 housings would be awesome. Had a line for one to possibly be built, but never heard back(real cool guy, just appears super busy).

 

Slick!

 

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Subscribed for this SICK build!

 

We actually have done 3 of the 8.8's so far (all in 4th gen's), price is roughly $2,200 if you get a spool and around $2,500 if you get a trutrac posi. We weld custom steel plates to the housing to mount the torque arm to.

 

Back from paint, what do you guys think about the color? Also try not to judge Storm Trooper in the back ground. I know she hasn't been driven in awhile but we will get around to it soon enough...

 

Good color.... Will look great with Formula decals or related back on.

 

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me too

 

Bruce how will that short panhard bar effect road handling? I was always under the impression that it should be as long as possible.

 

Wow what a transformation... That thing looks great!

Can you divulge what method was used to smooth out the strut tower area? I want that smoothed engine bay in my car. Looks so nice.

J.

 

Bruce, how hard was it to load and unload the body on your trailer? I've been wanting to send mine to the body shop to get painted the same way you did. But I haven't found a way to load and unload the body without tearing something up. I have the same kind of trailer too... Sick build though!

 

Looks like you went with a tubular K-member...who did you go with?

Dumb question, but what about AC, or are you just going to drop the top?

 

Beautiful paint.

And not to hijack this thread, but Ghetto, please finish getting the 6.0 running instead of smoothing out your strut towers. I have been waiting on that to live again since it died forever ago.

 

It is a custom BMR tubular k-member as we had to raise the complete drive line up as the rear suspension was so far up in the body so we raised the engine and trans as well as the tunnel to make sure all of the driveline is where it needs to be , that way it has that slammed look while still having good suspension travel and it will not have A/C as top will always be down . The good thing about using a tubular k-member is we were able to place the motor where we wanted it and you do not have to notch the k-member to get the compressor to fit. Plus it reduces weight and the f-body LS1 oil pan will clear without any beating of the k-member as well.

 

Just a little teaser pic of the ceramic coating of the hot side... thoughts? The picture doesn't do them justice they are more of a satin military green color, lighter than like an olive drab though.

 

I vote for KEEP THE DOUGHNUTS on it

Looks amazing Bruce....single color for the whole car? I guess silver with a black top would look awesome

 

I like em. What brand? Is this something you sell or will be selling.

 

HI,
Hopefully the panhard rod will work right most of the suspension brackets in rear are modified DSE pieces so we will see but I think we are good!
Thanks,Bruce

 

Hi,
We started with stainless works bends and built the complete headers and turbo system hot and cold side in house, I have thought about making a similar kit for production but with Turbo stuff there are SO MANY variables, we can always do one off build here if the customer wants it .
Thanks,Bruce