ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Thread Starter
Supreme Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 7
From: Panama City FL
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: Turbocharged 5.7 Pro-Fl-XT
Transmission: 700R4 for moment
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9 inch
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
More like 1300-1400 miles on it now. I have been reading a number of posts on various forums saying these rings could take a few thousand miles to seat properly. Other posts mention idle smoke/blowby because of the seal being so good ?? Oh well. I am not going to pull it apart for another month or two, so perhaps it will settle down with some more use.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,895
Likes: 429
From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
I would think/expect by that many miles and some WOT useage, that it would be pretty well broken in by now.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 7
From: Panama City FL
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: Turbocharged 5.7 Pro-Fl-XT
Transmission: 700R4 for moment
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9 inch
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Hey guys,
I bought a bigger boat and have been totally side-tracked by that project for the past month. Drac0nic, wiring to the MSD is not wimpy.. can't remember the gauge but it's the same thing my friend uses on all the turbo cars he builds and it came from him. All connections soldered and goes straight the the battery.
After checking the timing on this boat, which has mercruiser Thunderbolt ignition, I was shocked to see the timing dead locked on to the correct timing. Every time I check my timing on the Iroc it's all over the place by 3-5 degrees. I think this has much to do with my problems.
I'm going to eliminate the Megasquirt this year. I got my hands on a sequential FAST box (but it's older) and then found out the sequential version doesn't have enough outputs to handle fans and the fuel pump. Found a guy who wants the Fast box so I'm going to sell that and the Megasquirt and probably go with a Big Stuff 3. Then I'll have the option of CPS and sequential which won't hurt mileage and might help power a bit.
Today I went to the drag strip to see what 'all this new power' would do. I didn't expect much and the car delivered my expectations. About 1 to 1.5 mph and some improvement on the ET. I have more tire spin in the 60 foot so my best 60 was around 1.96. Taking my previous best 60 of 1.78, the 7.74 I ran today works out to 7.56. With sticky tires and a good 1.55 60 foot it should run 7.3's, so I'm still 4/10ths slower than I should be. That missing 100 rwhp would be very helpful right about now. Car went 7.71 on a 1.6 so I guess it picked up about 1/10th.
Not so impressive for 10 degrees more timing. Torque converter is going back to get re-stalled to a much lower speed. Time will tell.
I bought a bigger boat and have been totally side-tracked by that project for the past month. Drac0nic, wiring to the MSD is not wimpy.. can't remember the gauge but it's the same thing my friend uses on all the turbo cars he builds and it came from him. All connections soldered and goes straight the the battery.
After checking the timing on this boat, which has mercruiser Thunderbolt ignition, I was shocked to see the timing dead locked on to the correct timing. Every time I check my timing on the Iroc it's all over the place by 3-5 degrees. I think this has much to do with my problems.
I'm going to eliminate the Megasquirt this year. I got my hands on a sequential FAST box (but it's older) and then found out the sequential version doesn't have enough outputs to handle fans and the fuel pump. Found a guy who wants the Fast box so I'm going to sell that and the Megasquirt and probably go with a Big Stuff 3. Then I'll have the option of CPS and sequential which won't hurt mileage and might help power a bit.
Today I went to the drag strip to see what 'all this new power' would do. I didn't expect much and the car delivered my expectations. About 1 to 1.5 mph and some improvement on the ET. I have more tire spin in the 60 foot so my best 60 was around 1.96. Taking my previous best 60 of 1.78, the 7.74 I ran today works out to 7.56. With sticky tires and a good 1.55 60 foot it should run 7.3's, so I'm still 4/10ths slower than I should be. That missing 100 rwhp would be very helpful right about now. Car went 7.71 on a 1.6 so I guess it picked up about 1/10th.
Not so impressive for 10 degrees more timing. Torque converter is going back to get re-stalled to a much lower speed. Time will tell.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 5
From: Utah
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: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
how much u asking for the megasquirt?
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Hey guys,
I bought a bigger boat and have been totally side-tracked by that project for the past month. Drac0nic, wiring to the MSD is not wimpy.. can't remember the gauge but it's the same thing my friend uses on all the turbo cars he builds and it came from him. All connections soldered and goes straight the the battery.
After checking the timing on this boat, which has mercruiser Thunderbolt ignition, I was shocked to see the timing dead locked on to the correct timing. Every time I check my timing on the Iroc it's all over the place by 3-5 degrees. I think this has much to do with my problems.
I'm going to eliminate the Megasquirt this year. I got my hands on a sequential FAST box (but it's older) and then found out the sequential version doesn't have enough outputs to handle fans and the fuel pump. Found a guy who wants the Fast box so I'm going to sell that and the Megasquirt and probably go with a Big Stuff 3. Then I'll have the option of CPS and sequential which won't hurt mileage and might help power a bit.
Today I went to the drag strip to see what 'all this new power' would do. I didn't expect much and the car delivered my expectations. About 1 to 1.5 mph and some improvement on the ET. I have more tire spin in the 60 foot so my best 60 was around 1.96. Taking my previous best 60 of 1.78, the 7.74 I ran today works out to 7.56. With sticky tires and a good 1.55 60 foot it should run 7.3's, so I'm still 4/10ths slower than I should be. That missing 100 rwhp would be very helpful right about now. Car went 7.71 on a 1.6 so I guess it picked up about 1/10th.
Not so impressive for 10 degrees more timing. Torque converter is going back to get re-stalled to a much lower speed. Time will tell.
I bought a bigger boat and have been totally side-tracked by that project for the past month. Drac0nic, wiring to the MSD is not wimpy.. can't remember the gauge but it's the same thing my friend uses on all the turbo cars he builds and it came from him. All connections soldered and goes straight the the battery.
After checking the timing on this boat, which has mercruiser Thunderbolt ignition, I was shocked to see the timing dead locked on to the correct timing. Every time I check my timing on the Iroc it's all over the place by 3-5 degrees. I think this has much to do with my problems.
I'm going to eliminate the Megasquirt this year. I got my hands on a sequential FAST box (but it's older) and then found out the sequential version doesn't have enough outputs to handle fans and the fuel pump. Found a guy who wants the Fast box so I'm going to sell that and the Megasquirt and probably go with a Big Stuff 3. Then I'll have the option of CPS and sequential which won't hurt mileage and might help power a bit.
Today I went to the drag strip to see what 'all this new power' would do. I didn't expect much and the car delivered my expectations. About 1 to 1.5 mph and some improvement on the ET. I have more tire spin in the 60 foot so my best 60 was around 1.96. Taking my previous best 60 of 1.78, the 7.74 I ran today works out to 7.56. With sticky tires and a good 1.55 60 foot it should run 7.3's, so I'm still 4/10ths slower than I should be. That missing 100 rwhp would be very helpful right about now. Car went 7.71 on a 1.6 so I guess it picked up about 1/10th.
Not so impressive for 10 degrees more timing. Torque converter is going back to get re-stalled to a much lower speed. Time will tell.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 7
From: Panama City FL
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: Turbocharged 5.7 Pro-Fl-XT
Transmission: 700R4 for moment
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9 inch
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
I can check the spark accuracy without the 6AL but as far as driving it, it blows out the spark around 8 psi on straight HEI.
Not sure on a price for the MS yet but I'd like to sell the wiring harness with it. Will probably be a while before I make a move though.
Not sure on a price for the MS yet but I'd like to sell the wiring harness with it. Will probably be a while before I make a move though.
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,401
Likes: 5
From: Utah
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: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
im not in a rush so justshoot me a price when ur ready to sell it
Thread Starter
Supreme Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 7
From: Panama City FL
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: Turbocharged 5.7 Pro-Fl-XT
Transmission: 700R4 for moment
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9 inch
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
ok Project89 will do.
I put up a video of the best pass. I'm not all that disappointed in the numbers right now. The sixty foot was crappy at 1.96 and the car has gone 1.78 these tires (Firestone Wide Oval) so I feel like the car will run high 7.30's on drag radials now assuming a high 1.5x sixty. The mph supports this as well. It's a lot of fun at this horsepower level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4EkrAG2-UU
I'll keep working on it. Didn't notice any smoke at all but it is burning some oil as I had to add a bit.
I put up a video of the best pass. I'm not all that disappointed in the numbers right now. The sixty foot was crappy at 1.96 and the car has gone 1.78 these tires (Firestone Wide Oval) so I feel like the car will run high 7.30's on drag radials now assuming a high 1.5x sixty. The mph supports this as well. It's a lot of fun at this horsepower level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4EkrAG2-UU
I'll keep working on it. Didn't notice any smoke at all but it is burning some oil as I had to add a bit.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 7
From: Panama City FL
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: Turbocharged 5.7 Pro-Fl-XT
Transmission: 700R4 for moment
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9 inch
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Small update. Haven't done much with the Iroc lately but I do drive it a few times here and there. Oil consumption has dropped considerably. Could be seating with all these trips to out of town cruise-ins.
I made a couple of new vids so I figured I'd add them to this thread.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okq7qK7RRaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URssBNoPLdo
I made a couple of new vids so I figured I'd add them to this thread.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okq7qK7RRaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URssBNoPLdo
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 10,524
Likes: 204
From: NYC / Jersey
Car: 1990 Trans Am GTA
Engine: Turbo 305 w/MS2
Transmission: 700R4
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Steve, sorry to hear about your loss buddy, that is very very rough to get through...
Thread Starter
Supreme Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 7
From: Panama City FL
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: Turbocharged 5.7 Pro-Fl-XT
Transmission: 700R4 for moment
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9 inch
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Thanks Street Lethal.. it was not a fun couple of weeks, that is for sure. Will be a long while before I can talk myself into another dog.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 752
Likes: 19
From: Westminster, MD USA
Car: 91 Firebird 'vert, 91 Formula
Engine: 5.7, 5.0
Transmission: T56, T5
Axle/Gears: Auburn w/ 3.73's, 3.42
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Just read through this thread, any new updates? I found your webiste on the original turbo install and plan to duplicate your intercooler mounting/hood latch mods.
Thread Starter
Supreme Member

Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,773
Likes: 7
From: Panama City FL
Car: 87 Iroc
Engine: Turbocharged 5.7 Pro-Fl-XT
Transmission: 700R4 for moment
Axle/Gears: 3.25 9 inch
Re: ZZ3 Engine build up for my Turbo Iroc
Haven't done very much lately other than drive to several cruise-ins in the past couple of months that were around 150-200 mile round trips. The car has been super reliable at least. I haven't wanted to put any more money into it lately but right now it really needs tires, subframes, get the converter restalled, a driveshaft loop and new u-joints. All of that is in addition to the new headers and ECM I want to do. Also it was burning some oil so I have to do leakdown testing to see if I have to spend even more money.
I bought a boat in January and that's got my financial attention for now. Otherwise I'd already have this stuff started on the Iroc. Anyway I'm planning to start with the headers. The plans are to start pulling it apart by late June.
Let me know if you need any other pics on the hood latch.
I bought a boat in January and that's got my financial attention for now. Otherwise I'd already have this stuff started on the Iroc. Anyway I'm planning to start with the headers. The plans are to start pulling it apart by late June.
Let me know if you need any other pics on the hood latch.
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