WarShrike's Project Thread - V6 Firebird

[WarShrike]

Mating...foreplay!


Thought that would get your attention ;)

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



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



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





Installed headers and just started test fitting things with the new valve covers. Some bending of parts required...like the dipstick tube!





Time to take a quick break, get some fluids and go for another toss in the back seat!

[WarShrike]

Mating...hard, hot and heavy!

9:30 AM
Started clearing a path to the car, half the bay is filled with the old OEM parts.

10:00 AM


10:15 AM



10:45 AM



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.





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



Wash, rinse, repeat.

[WarShrike]

Fine adjustments, remembering where thingie A goes into slot B...

Pushed the car into the garage, neighbors probably though it had been towed finally after sitting in my drive way from June 2009 to January 2010.

In the Duke's Pit of Despair!


Looking like a car again!



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.



Still working...

[WarShrike]

First Start

First started the car with the new build on January 26 2010 at 9:00 am. My neighbors had contractors doing work in their garage, and they came out looking down the street wondering where the speedboat noise was coming from...

View Video on FQuick

And so the long road to recovery begins. After over six months of a slumber, it is time to do some physical therapy on the car. Little bits here and there needed tweaking, adjustment, and even replacement due to failure and lack of experience by the builder.

[WarShrike]

Teething problems and terrible twos...

First issue:

Shortly after starting up the car and driving it only a short amount of time, the Cometic MLS head gaskets I had installed had begun to leak. I pulled the valve covers and retorqued the heads, but to no avail.

I ordered a new set of gaskets, and used the steps of MLS head gasket preparation outlined by FlinGTP (link). I forgot to do this the first time around. These things are very dirty, I was amazed at how many paper towels I had to go through while prepping them for copper gasket spray:


I used the metal Fel-pro problem solver intake gaskets the second time around (Part # MS 98014 T). These can be seen here:



Second Issue:

The transmission finally gave up the ghost, after being rebuild shortly after buying the car in '02. I am led to believe it started going out while it was on the dyno last time before tearing the car down. It finally crapped out when I put it on a dyno again, it only made 106hp and 134ft/lbs as the trans couldn't put the power down.

I trailered it to Amarillo to Precision Transmissions and had the knowing hands of Richard build the trans. This guy has built many amazing 4L60's for F-body customers. This setup should be good for around 600hp and at $1300, that's one heck of a deal.

Third Issue:

I figured out that the valve springs were not going to cut it. With discussion between members here, John at 60?Inclusive and John at SDPC, I went with bigger springs. I went from COMP 105# springs to PAC 130# springs.

PACS on left, Comps on right:



Up next, lessons learned.

[WarShrike]

Lessons learned

I'm down to only tuning the car, getting the WOT tune lined up, hit the local track to see my times and run it on the dyno again to get some numbers.

After over a year since the project started, I've learned a lot of things and looking back on it, I would have done a few things differently.

1. Buy another engine and build it so I'm not without a daily driver. I rode my bicycle almost full time, racking up over 1000 miles from teardown. This would have allowed me to do the whole build without being without my car and also could have done a fully focused build without trying to get the car done asap.

2. I would not have bought the Yella Terra rockers (YT6333). If I could have found a set of roller rockers that worked under the stock valve covers, I would have used them instead, even if they were $100-$200 more than the YT's as the taller valve covers alone were around $300.

3. I would have had the rotating assembly fully balanced. Had I known how long it would take me to get the build completed, I would have had it taken care of by the local machine shop for that added insurance and just a little more efficient operation.

But I am enjoying the car entirely right now. I have to have fun with it, or else it isn't worth it.

Video of it idling open headers and with full exhaust installed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyVjFEK_70c

Also had a new plate done to clarify things for those who don't know

[67pete300]

Awesome thread, thanks for sharing. From someone who understands your motivation (notaV and pain (why the hell didn't I just get a V8?)

This is classic:

"No matter how beautiful they are, somebody, somewhere is tired of dealing with their crap."

Just as effectively applied to a car!

[WarShrike]

And so far this is how it sits and what is currently installed at the moment:

Exterior Modifications:

8000K HID's
Debadged, trim delete and rear filler panel is now devoid of the firebird name and logo.

Performance:

Whisper Lid
Intense S1X NA Cam
Yella Terra 1.7 Platinum series roller rockers
PAC 130# springs
60?Inclusive ported heads and intake
Manton Pushrods
LS7 lifters
Fabricated Valve Covers
Force Fed Fabs Longtube Headers
3" Spun Metallic Cat
TSP Rumbler
Whisper Lid w/ K&N Filter

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



8000K HID's for lowbeams and fogs.


Waiting on these to come back from the powdercoaters. I've yet to find anybody else that has these in 17 x 9.5" size.

Speedline Mistrals


The Euro versions were like 7" wide setup as seen on this Vauxhall ST200:



And for the days I need traction at the strip, Formula twist spokes with a nice set of drag radials:




That's about it so far, I'll keep posting in here as new developments take place. Feel free to post away, ask questions, etc. etc.

[nesabo]

great story.

[WarShrike]

This thread rules.

Thanks

Awesome thread, thanks for sharing. From someone who understands your motivation (notaV and pain (why the hell didn't I just get a V8?)

This is classic:

"No matter how beautiful they are, somebody, somewhere is tired of dealing with their crap."

Just as effectively applied to a car!

Greatly appreciate it. Hopefully this will get another 80K miles use for me. I love the car, even if it can be temperamental sometimes. Wife insists that I just sell it and get a new car, but when I sit her down and let her look at the $$ perspective, she decides to let me play in the garage instead