Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
07-02-2011, 05:05 PM
#501
Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Uh the rockers have nothing to do with the rod length or the stroke in most cases except Piston to valve clearancing. JMO if you're asking about that stick to putting a mild cam in it and a decent intake like a Performer RPM. Maybe some 305 heads or something.
07-04-2011, 11:17 PM
#503
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
updates?
seems like a challenge project.
im going at my 9sec goal with a 4.8, but its not a sbc
seems like a challenge project.
im going at my 9sec goal with a 4.8, but its not a sbc
08-08-2011, 10:39 AM
#506
Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
waiting for BBS is like the weiand street warrior intake for the LS1. Lots of talk, and only talk. Best case scenario, I bet you wont see BBS headers intil 2012 or later
you have so much space in that engine bay, go get some pipe and welding wire, and have at it. You could make 2 or 3 hot sides for the price your gonna pay BBS so if you mess up the first time oh well try again.
you have so much space in that engine bay, go get some pipe and welding wire, and have at it. You could make 2 or 3 hot sides for the price your gonna pay BBS so if you mess up the first time oh well try again.
08-08-2011, 11:55 AM
#507
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
You really want to put faith in getting BBS header? Even when he was in business building them it would take people months to get their order. You would be better off seeing if you could have one made by another member or just build it yourself. Besides, looking at the BBS Design there is no way you will reach 9's with a 305ci and that header.
I just wouldn't wait around for it. The build is over a year old now and do you really want to wait another year to have the turbos on it?
Are you planning a single or twin? What size?
What is your target HP to reach 9's?
I just wouldn't wait around for it. The build is over a year old now and do you really want to wait another year to have the turbos on it?
Are you planning a single or twin? What size?
What is your target HP to reach 9's?
08-08-2011, 01:26 PM
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Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
rob i have 8 extra weld els 40 bucks + 5 shipping and there urs
then buy a set of flanges from summit for 35 bucks and get some 2 or 2.5 inch tubbing and u have a set of logs u could hang 60 pound turbos off of
then buy a set of flanges from summit for 35 bucks and get some 2 or 2.5 inch tubbing and u have a set of logs u could hang 60 pound turbos off of
08-08-2011, 01:59 PM
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Junk, are you serious about BBS taking that long? So despite Ed's announcement last month, and with me being the first order on his list, it would literally still take him a year to complete? If that is the case then that simply isn't going to fly, I had no idea it would take that long. I honestly figured a few weeks after his website was finally up and running, tops. That is a real shocker. Target horsepower is over 700 to the wheels at close to 30-psi w/Precision T88 turbo, vehicle weight has been lightened a tad, but not that substantially, just where it counts....
I would just put the knock off on it. Then if the real BBS header shows up then replace it. The knock off will actually flow more because the ID of all pipes are bigger (thinner wall).
I think the knock off will flow about 700 at the crank. I would definitely put a pressure gauge port in the exhaust for that kind of HP with that header. Watch exh valve and piston temps.
08-08-2011, 02:02 PM
#514
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Have you put the T88 on there with the knock off header? Will it clear the hood? If not then you are going to have a problem with the BBS header and you may end up shipping it back to have it modified. That would double the time.
08-08-2011, 02:10 PM
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
if you want a "guestamated" time frame of when you'll get your headers Rob search through my threads. You know I was one of a handful of guys that opted for the "going out of business group purchase." You'll see he kept delaying the finished product BUT in the end he did come through! Now... if you or anyone else would be interested in buying my twin turbo headers from me send me a PM. Just to be clear Id really have to sell them for what I paid for them which is a lot! Starting to lose hope in my firebird so... might throw in the towel completely. 
08-08-2011, 02:19 PM
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Car: 89 RS 89 iroc 87 firebird
Engine: 3.1 Turbo/ 355 twin turbo
Transmission: a4 w/ 4500 stall/ a4 / t5
Axle/Gears: strange s60 /w 3:42's
Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Why not just replicate what you already did and sell me a pair Dave, I'll send you whatever you need to get the job done, and you know that I'm a stand up guy when it comes to taking care of everybody for the work that they do. I don't mind going twins 
I just don't have the time right now at the moment like I did a few months back when I was still working on the engine to weld up a set of headers....
I just don't have the time right now at the moment like I did a few months back when I was still working on the engine to weld up a set of headers....
08-08-2011, 02:29 PM
#520
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
Transmission: 4L60E & 4L80E
Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
The turbo actually clears that Trans Am hood, but I hesitate with that set because I'm concerned the turbo will topple over once EGT's reach close to 1800 degrees, and the weather has been brutal over here. I also heard stories about the inner diameter of the wastegate tube being too small where it connects to the header, so boost creep immediately becomes a concern,so it would need to be cut, opened up, then migged back together. The crossover is as thin as a potato chip so that would definitely need to be replaced, as it would crack the very first run. I guess I can have one fabbed up using the stock crossover. I see what your saying about BBS....
I think you are better off using the knock off and having it modified or having Dave fab you a set. BBS does nice work but I don't think the wait is worth it.
08-08-2011, 02:36 PM
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
Transmission: 4L60E & 4L80E
Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Buying the BBS setup and going with something like the GT35 Dave used would get you there. That is another route but probably the most expensive depending on how much you have in the 88mm turbo.
08-13-2011, 03:48 PM
#523
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Agreed. I'm going to use the knock off set, so I'll have updates to this build posted up shortly. I just can't wait around for a set of headers anymore. The only possible difference to this build is that the engine and tranny might be pulled and placed into the GTA to run the numbers, and I will document that swap if I decide to go that route. Either way, time to get this freaking build done already....
The header is some kind of stainless steel. For your purposes you could use regular MIG wire and weld it that way for the mods. If you plan on running it forever than I would get some argon and stainless steel 308 wire. I used 308 and 309 depending on the materials.
Last edited by junkcltr; 10-27-2011 at 03:19 PM.
08-14-2011, 04:23 PM
#525
Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
have you considered just going with a big centri supercharger kit? you said 9 second 305, it doesn't have to be turbo'd. If just getting the turbo hot-side sorted out is presenting you this much of a challenge, your going to have a bunch more obstacles later on
08-14-2011, 09:57 PM
#526
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Car: 1989 Turbo Trans Am gta
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Attached is a PDF file containing info and 6 pictures that you may find helpful for your build using the ebay single turbo header setup. One picture is of the turbo brace. I will leave the PDF attachment up for a few days and then remove it.'
The header is some kind of stainless steel. For your purposes you could use regular MIG wire and weld it that way for the mods. If you plan on running it forever than I would get some argon and stainless steel 308 wire. I used 308 and 309 depending on the materials.
The header is some kind of stainless steel. For your purposes you could use regular MIG wire and weld it that way for the mods. If you plan on running it forever than I would get some argon and stainless steel 308 wire. I used 308 and 309 depending on the materials.
08-14-2011, 10:38 PM
#527
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
I made the low mount alternator bracket but was never really thrilled with it because it will draw in air from the exh manifold area. I was going to re-clock it so the alternator intake port was at the lowest point and getting the coolest air. I kept the alternator on the passenger side so that I could still fit a hyd plow pump or weldernator on the driver's side.
08-14-2011, 10:43 PM
#528
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
i dont want to start an argument or anything but when i got my chinese headers, they def. did not look like that, all the holes and everything pictured in yours was fine on mine like number 2 cylinder and 7. i ended up not using this kit because 1 the turbo at the time was too big for it 2 crossover pipe needed to be remade 3 number 7 tube hit spark plug even with short ones, 4 wastegate flange was only 35mm and i even think the header flange was wrapped when i got it. if i have the number 7 tube where it went into the crossover pipe i will try and take a pic as well as number 2 cyl. i ended up not even using it, i just used the hugger header on the driver side but i cut the 3 bolt flange off and welded a vband flange on
I moved the wastegate because I think it is a huge flaw in the design. In order to dump exhaust it must compete with cyl #2 and that means that cyl with see high back pressure and all that goes with it for destroying valves and pistons.
08-15-2011, 07:30 AM
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
The stuff from China in general has random quality control problems but has gotten better over the years. The pictures of a header built in 2008 or early. So they could be much better now, but I wanted to show the ports and show that it is worth taking a look at them. The worst was cyl #8 which you can't see how bad it is until you cut some of the crossover pipe off the log.
I moved the wastegate because I think it is a huge flaw in the design. In order to dump exhaust it must compete with cyl #2 and that means that cyl with see high back pressure and all that goes with it for destroying valves and pistons.
I moved the wastegate because I think it is a huge flaw in the design. In order to dump exhaust it must compete with cyl #2 and that means that cyl with see high back pressure and all that goes with it for destroying valves and pistons.
08-15-2011, 08:59 AM
#532
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
I would like to see pics of the ports in your ebay log header if you have them.
I had build a 3" log header for the same vehicle months before buying the China header. I will post pics of that too. Maybe he can get some ideas from it because it does mount a T6 large frame turbo.
08-15-2011, 09:03 AM
#533
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
The support brace is purposely built so that it is not completely rigid. I wanted to allow for some flex because it is made out of mild steel and the header is stainless. I didn't want the brace causing the header to crack prematurely. The brace is intended to hold the turbo in place if the header was to completely fail. I don't really see that happening but sometimes I over design. I will post a pic of another log header tonight and show you what I mean about over designing.
The main reason I had to modify the crossover pipe was because it was hitting the starter. I could get it to all fit if I assembled everything loose and then tightened both headers but it made the crossover jam up against the starter. I knew it would overheat the starter and damage it and make for hard starting.
I think moving the WG is worth it even with the BBS header. I think that is a design flaw and just waiting to chew up an exhaust valve on a decent HP engine. All the work I did was over a weeks span doing it a couple hours a night here and there. I think it could all be done in an 8 hour day.
The main reason I had to modify the crossover pipe was because it was hitting the starter. I could get it to all fit if I assembled everything loose and then tightened both headers but it made the crossover jam up against the starter. I knew it would overheat the starter and damage it and make for hard starting.
I think moving the WG is worth it even with the BBS header. I think that is a design flaw and just waiting to chew up an exhaust valve on a decent HP engine. All the work I did was over a weeks span doing it a couple hours a night here and there. I think it could all be done in an 8 hour day.
Last edited by junkcltr; 08-15-2011 at 09:15 AM.
08-21-2011, 11:33 PM
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Some more pics of sbc headers for ideas if you need them.
Last edited by junkcltr; 10-27-2011 at 03:19 PM.
08-24-2011, 07:39 AM
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Car: 88 V6 'bird/89TBI bird/85 T/A
Engine: 2.8/TBI/TPI
Transmission: V8 T-5/700R4 x2
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open/2.73 open/ 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Nice.
I can't really explain it, but I really like the way those look on your car. I am NOT a fan of big wheels, and I don't own any larger than 16", but those look good against the ground effects "squaring off" the lower section of the car.
I'm not sure they would look right to me with one of my base models and the rubber "bumperettes" on the front and rear, but YOUR car holds them well.
Are they 17"?
I can't really explain it, but I really like the way those look on your car. I am NOT a fan of big wheels, and I don't own any larger than 16", but those look good against the ground effects "squaring off" the lower section of the car.
I'm not sure they would look right to me with one of my base models and the rubber "bumperettes" on the front and rear, but YOUR car holds them well.
Are they 17"?
12-05-2011, 11:54 PM
#546
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Engine: 3xx ci tubo
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
Went back into the 416 heads and opened them up some more. Scrapped the 1.94" valve idea, and I'm going to stick with the stock 1.84" valve size. Below was after about an hour of porting, but I still need to clean it up some more in certain areas, then polish of course. First picture was how they looked when I first took them off, second was after I cleaned them up the first time during the build, and the third is how they look now...
12-06-2011, 11:18 PM
#550
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Car: 1986 Trans Am
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Re: Chronicles of a 9 Second 305 Trans Am, Can It Be Done....
I have to say, very impressive work. I will be looking to port my lower manifold over the winter as well.
What kind of setup are you using and advice for a novice?
What kind of setup are you using and advice for a novice?