Just bought this 87 low option ttop 5spd gta. It has a sticker from slp showing various things done at time it was new though i think only headers and runners survived. Question is besides the slp runners and i believe slp headers and the world products dart heads... What the heck is the plenum and air intake???

 

Were the acorns free?

The air inlet is not familiar. Other than the lack of an air box around the filter, there is good chance it is better flowing than the stock assembly.

As for the plenum, that's pretty unique to the package. That doesn't look like just a trim piece mounted on the plenum, but a raised roof.

 

The plenum looks like a combination of two stock plenums. Looks like someone cut the top of one and than welded it to the top of another one, making it "taller" with the idea that more air inside the plenum would make more power.

The headers dont appear to be SLP considering the rust on them but its hard to tell from the picture on my phone.

The air intact looks pieced together. The aluminum 90 degree elbow coming of the TB resembles one from a supercharger kit. The rest of it is most likely a combination of pats from another vehicle of parts from supercharger kit.


And, SLP did not install those parts or that sticker on that car considering its a 1987 model year. It was done by a previous owner.

 

Ya i was searching the slp stuff, they existed in 1987 and some say that dealerships installed there parts but the only definitive answer i found was that slp didn't install the packages themselves till 91.

I figured the air intake might be a few brands together but the plenum definitely has me stumped. Possible they mighta made it but couldn't see any signs of it. As for the headers im really not sure either way they are not so much rusty as they are surface rust. Im in Ontario Canada and if it is dealer installed slp headers they'd be 30 plus years old.

Really appreciate the input and you guys are most likely right. I'll get more close up pics when it gets home and i start digging into it. In the meantime any insight is welcome.

 

 

That's exactly what it is - if you flip it over it likely says Paxton on it. The Paxton supercharger would have been installed on the driver side of the car so the elbow would have been flipped over.

 

Two factory intakes welded to make one. And blower elbow.

Crude and ugly. But does it help/work?

 

As said above, just a moded plenum for more air volume to draw from? It almost looks like it was put on with epoxy/putty.

Def SLP headers and runners. If we had better pix I could tell if they were newer or older.

 

Wouldn't the straight vertical AIR pipes make them the 4-into-1 headers? Seems all the Tri-Y's have the air fittings pointed to match the later cars.

 

Looks like someone changed a tpi maf to speed density too.
Weird looking plenum .

 

The MAF is between the first two clamps.

 

Then I wonder why there is a map laying on the passenger side valve cover.
Must be a special kind of unicorn lol
And why is the fuel line pinched off, bad pump maybe.

 

Poor man's AFPR? You never know...

 

Looks adjustable lol

 

It may not be an original engine. I thought in 87 GM went to center bolt valve covers. These look like the old side bolt models.

 

Early vs late and accessory drive specific. Some details are crazy through the years..

 

Dart heads

 

I never imagined this to spark so much interest. I worked on it today after getting it home. Better pics tomorrow. But definitely thinking two plenums made into one. Bad body work all over plenum. I hope it is slp headers and i know the runners are slp. Haven't found any writing on polished part of intake to indicate Paxton pieces but it sounds likely. It does have a maf right before air filter and yes there is a map sensor over passenger valve cover. Told it has world product/dart heads and definitely outside bolt design dart 2 valve covers. Thinking high compression, it's hard to start and has a race starter. Also found hypertech chip in ecu today. He mentioned something about it having a gear drive but i didn't follow what that meant. Im excited to show you guys more, this is the first ive really ever posted except for a car i listed on here a few months ago and sold locally. Keep the knowledge coming. Much appreciated.

 

In stead of a timing chain there are gears. This noise can cause timing retard false knock.

 

Also yes the vise grips were a temp fix to get car home. Restricted return line because fuel regulator is messed up. Here's the rest of the pics from the day I bought it. Prob start a build thread or continue on here if you guys are interested

 

So gear drive is not ideal?

 

Geardrive is fine it just doesn’t play well with the knock sensor.
Once it’s running good or if it runs fine now you might want to try to unplug the knock sensor and drive it to see if it’s picked up any power.