Bstrang6

This all started about 9-10 months ago. I have a 2002M6Formula, simple car, but had a lot of car friends and we go cruising a lot. My Fiancé also loves cars and started expressing interest in having her own car to drive. Long story short she fell in love with a friends third gen that wasn't for sale. After a month or two we got a call that it was and went and picked up this gem for 750 bucks.
















While looking rough from outside it actually was a solid car, no rust underneath, everything worked, including cruise, windows, hatch and hood struts, t tops didnt leak, and it ran terrible and had no reverse. Reports say that my buddy who owned it for 3-4 months was the 4th owner, and owners 2-3 have the same last name. Story goes that second owner died and third owner were parents who parked the car next to their barn where my buddy found it for years, until he bought it and got it on the road. Last registered miles were in the 201x's at 4x,xxx miles but odometer is broke. Regardless the car was somewhat mechanically sound and majorly rust free. I became the 5th owner.

We started in on the original plan of getting it running with the 305, making it sound good, and look decent. That plan failed quickly so we went a different direction. I scored a deal, 6 hours away for a 5.3L with a junk cam and possibly lifters, built 4l60E, wiring harness, and PCM, from a guy parting out a 98 Trans am, that had been 5.3 swapped, for 900 bucks. We drove down to grab it and came back, only to learn it was a 4.8 after pulling the heads. Previous owners had added an after market comp cam with stock springs and it made quick work of a couple of lobes and a few lifters. A free early ls1 cam and a few spare laying around lifters and we slapped it back together with new HG and ARP Rod Bolts. We ripped the 305/700r4 out and stabbed her into place with the help of Hawks mounts and crossmember. The mounts worked perfectly, however we did have a hell of a time getting the trans crossmember to work, requiring a cutting torch and grinder. With the help of a friend the 98 harness was repinned for a 99+pcm and converted to a stand alone. We used the stock TPI fuel pump and added a vette regulator, and a nice AN line to the rail.














In the back ground you can see my buddies 86 iroc with a turbo 6.0, over 800 at the tire






We dawned our ****** wigs and took her on her first cruise to a buddies shop with a lift to fab up a y pipe!




After that and a little tuning, the misses and I really enjoyed the car. The cat back was deal quiet, it was un assuming, and just great all around for driving around town. In the mean time we swapped in a 4th gen fuel tank I had, and a 3.73 posi disk brake 4th gen rear end, noticing a nice fuel pump access hole in the process. It really woke the car up, and if the thing didnt already look like a turd we probably would have been happy. But you cant be ugly and slow...

Bstrang6

So we made plans after plans that fell through for access to a place to paint the car and even scored a set of OEM c5 wheels with new front tires for 50 bucks ( deal of a life time ). After the plans to make it look good kept falling through, I started ordering turbo parts. Then a friend came through and helped us out on the appearance department...

















We spent 16 hours total in one day prepping and painting the car, with a 5&5 goal in mind, 5 MPH and 5 Feet away. Spending less than 500 bucks on supplies we were thrilled with the results, both me and the boss share an affinity for white vehicles, and the Nason Fulthane Arctic White laid down great.

Turbo build was pretty straight forward. A few great friends helped me and we ended up with two flipped driver side truck manifolds, and custom everything else into a SLP Loud Mouth I bought used for 75 bucks. Used on3 76mm Turbo, VS racing 50MM WG, and a RFL BOF. 60LB injectors and we utilized that fuel pump access hole for a Walbro 450 intank. Running just off the waste gates 6 lb spring this things been a riot. A few more tweeks and she may be ready for some more boost.

Bstrang6

Bstrang6

Within 7 months our 750 dollar purchase ended up costing us around $6,260.00.. I tried to record every purchase even random 20 dollar auto zone runs, and parts bought that didnt end up working.

Billgluckman

Can’t believe this got zero attention. Is this car on the road now?

dixiebandit69

Very strange, to be sure. I think it's probably because 1) he didn't post this while the thread was in progress, adding a little more every day/ week/ etc. 2) He posted it all in one day, at almost 2AM.
Then it just slowly went to the bottom, then to page two, then forgotten. It probably got overshadowed by other flashier builds; I think as you and I have both seen, 4.8 builds don't get the most attention.

Look at how long QwkTrip's build has been on page one. Even when he's not actively working on it, he's updating his thread with his plans, parts, etc.

Billgluckman

Yep 4.8s don’t get love but I get it. 4.8 with a turbo though, those make power. Qwktrips thread deserves to be at the top, he has the funds to build it like he wants and the knowledge/will to get his hands dirty. Definitely one of the best threads on here.

If I had the funds I would’ve went a different direction but I’m cool with my 4.8. I saw this earlier today and was a little surprised by the time. Stock 4.8/auto in an 84 firebird.