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Project V6 Firebird (lots of pics)


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Mod list: (Updated 1/9/12)

Exterior Modifications:

Speedline MIstral 6's 17" x 9.5"

Kumho Ecsta 275 x 40 x 17

8000K HID low beams.

8000K HID fog lights.

60LED Switchback DRL/Turn Signals.

Debadged, trim delete and rear filler panel is now devoid of the firebird name and logo.

Interior Modifications:

Corbeau CR1 race seats

PLX Wideband gauge in central AC vent

Weight Reduction

Performance:

Whisper Lid

Intense S1X NA Cam: 212º/216º .556"/.546" 113º LSA (With 1.7 ratio rockers)

Yella Terra 1.7 Platinum series roller rockers

PAC 130# springs

60°Inclusive ported heads and intake

10:1 Compression

LS6 Fuel Injectors w/ FAST spacers

Manton Pushrods

LS7 lifters

Fabricated Valve Covers

Force Fed Fabs Longtube Headers

3" Spun Metallic Cat

3" Electric cutout

3" dual out turbo muffler (Dynomax)

Suspension/Chassis:

Front:

BMR 32mm Solid swaybar + Poly endlinks/bushings

PARacing Tubular K-member RR

HAL QA1 12-way coilovers

Rear:

LS1 19mm swaybar + Poly endlinks/bushings

UMI Performance LCA's

UMI Performance Adjustable Torque Arm

HAL QA1 12-way shocks w/ WS6 rear springs

Drivetrain:

Aluminum Driveshaft

Yank Torque Arm Relocation Cross member

TCI Super Street Fighter 3800 stall w/ 2.1 str

4L60E built by Richard at Precision Transmissions in Amarillo, TX

Hayden 1405 trans cooler

Electronics:

HPTuners

PLX Wideband

CDT Door Speakers: CL-61CV.2

CDT Sail Panel Subwoofers: HD-6M DVC

To-Do List:

Install ram air hood, build air box.

Break into 13's NA.

Collect parts pile for T-56 build. *Clutch kit is all that remains*

Afterwards, build parts pile for boost build.

Original post:

Figured I'd post up what I've been working on over the past few months. I'm not wanting to get into the debate as to why I'm modding a V6 or why an LSx would be faster etc. etc. I prefer having a good discussion, but you don't have to beat me over the head with an LSx stick.

Not doing this to set records, just make the original engine a bit better and get some more life out of it before I move on to something else after I get my degree. I'm doing this to get my feet wet, and this engine is known to be able to take a beating. I've never torn apart an engine until this and I'm making sure it is done right.

2000 Pontiac Firebird

Torn down at 140K miles initially planning to replace a leaking intake gasket and install a cam.

Before the teardown the only performance mods the car had were:

Longtube headers

TSP Catback

Lid

Aluminum DS

Dyno'd 169hp & 184tq on a mustang dyno before I pulled it apart. Engine really was showing its age:

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As you can see, the oil sludge was pretty bad. I changed with synthetic oil almost religiously on this car, but I have a feeling that the original 60K miles in only 2 years from the previous owner didn't help much. I have a feeling they might have skimped on oil changes here and there. Heck I had to have the trans rebuilt a month after I bought it.

So I decided to have the whole assembly cleaned, had the rotating assembly and everything taken care of, and sent the intake and heads to be ported some (just to liven it up) clean it up, tap it for the new rockers and mill the guides to allow for higher lift.

Here's the mod list so far:

Aluminum driveshaft

Whisper lid & K&N (K&N is good for +100hp right? :lol: )

Force Fed Fabs stainless longtube headers

Texas Speed & Performance Rumbler catback

32mm front and 19mm rear swaybars

Intense Racing S1X NA Cam: 212º/216º .556"/.546" 113º LSA (Profile with 1.7 ratio rockers)

60*Inclusive hand ported heads and intake

Yella Terra 1.7 platinum roller rockers

TCI Super Street Fighter 3800 stall

UMI LCA's, PHB

PA Racing Tubular K-member

HPTuner suite

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Where it sits now, waiting on pushrods and valve covers:

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Step 1, assemble front k-member and suspension components:

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Step 2, begin mating dance and observe proper language to adhere to the ceremony and not take away from the moment:

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Step 3, bring mated pair to their new cradle and allow them to consummate their marriage:

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9:30 AM

Started clearing a path to the car, half the bay is filled with the old OEM parts.

10:00 AM

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10:15 AM

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10:45 AM

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11:00 AM Fighting a heavy engine and trans with a jack up front that keeps slipping down the smooth tubular K-member proves to be very challenging to line up.

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2:00 PM Time to shower up and head to work.

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Heater hose mod, front needs alignment so nose is still a little up in the air.

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In the Duke's Pit of Despair!

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Coil bracket mounted to firewall, had to move it an inch over towards the intake as the prong on the coil pack was on the brake booster.

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Looking like a car again!

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8 months in the making. As of 9:00 am, the car finally breathes again.

9298.jpgView Video on FQuick

Still need to check the pushrod preload after it idled for a few minutes, neighbors have some contractors doing some work from their garage and they were both looking outside down the street like

Sounds like I have a freaking pro stock car in my garage

I also need to install new pads/rotors and bleed them and get it ready to take it to get it aligned. Gotta hook up HPT as well.

Mods:

Whisper Lid

60*Inclusive ported Heads and Intake

Intense S1X NA Cam

Yella Terra 1.7 platinum roller rockers

Manton pushrods

FFF Longtube headers

TSP Rumbler Catback (not hooked up in vid)

TCI 3800 stall

Aluminum driveshaft

Trans cooler

BMR 32mm front, LS1 19mm rear

UMI LCA's & Adj. PHB

PA Racing Tubular K-member

B4C power steering Cooler

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Man, the inside of that motor was haggard when you started.

I've done my LIM gasket, but I've never taken the heads of my motor, hope it's not that bad when I rebuild it. Awesome to see it's up and running.

Can't wait for dyno and 1/4 #'s!

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Thanks, no boost on this motor. Milled the heads and running thinner head gaskets to get 10:1 compression, up from the 9.3:1.

I'm going to start saving for an LLT swap and maybe give it a snail or two for good measure.

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Thanks, no boost on this motor. Milled the heads and running thinner head gaskets to get 10:1 compression, up from the 9.3:1.

I'm going to start saving for an LLT swap and maybe give it a snail or two for good measure.

nice! N/A high compression. Should help you really well with your acceleration. is this strictly a 1/4mile car? just wondering. :D

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Probably in a few years, this was just to keep me happy for awhile.

It'll give the market time to catch up to the LLT engine and maybe whatever comes out after that. Doing pharmacy school this next year so that gets financial priority.

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nice! N/A high compression. Should help you really well with your acceleration. is this strictly a 1/4mile car? just wondering. :D

Actually it is a daily driver, wanted to run a little more compression to help make a cleaner burn of the fuel, more power on tap and just get it a little more up to date.

It will see some 1/4 mile time, but it is a street/strip car.

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with the new cam what are you going ot use to tune?

do you have a wideband? wonder what your AF is now that you have a hot cam in that thing.

HPTuners and PLX Wideband

Car had a TSP generic tune before which helped some with idle and such, but just driving it around easy it was pulling timing. That'll be remedied soon.

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what state are you in? sorry if you have said that.

Also how long have you been using HP Tuners? or are you paying a shop?

I would really like to know how to use that software. the best i ever did was use an APEXI SAFC II to hold myself in a certan AF

do you have any videos of it running? bet it has a sweed lope to it.

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what state are you in? sorry if you have said that.

Also how long have you been using HP Tuners? or are you paying a shop?

I would really like to know how to use that software. the best i ever did was use an APEXI SAFC II to hold myself in a certan AF

do you have any videos of it running? bet it has a sweed lope to it.

Texas

Just got HPTuners hooked up, doing it myself.

No other videos with the current setup, but I have a dyno vid from before, just an intake longtubes and catback. Vid is loud.

8137.jpgView Video on FQuick

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