WarShrike's Project Thread - V6 Firebird

[milner351]

Great project, pictures, story. Sounds like your wife and mine are similar in thier view of projects - they are all for it if it makes $$ sense to THEM, sometimes the convincing of that takes more than one "sit down".

Cool to do something different.

What is the weight balance of the car now with the tubular K member up front?
I would think you'd be at a handling and braking advantage over a V8 car on a road course with your set up.

[WarShrike]

Great project, pictures, story. Sounds like your wife and mine are similar in thier view of projects - they are all for it if it makes $$ sense to THEM, sometimes the convincing of that takes more than one "sit down".

Cool to do something different.

What is the weight balance of the car now with the tubular K member up front?
I would think you'd be at a handling and braking advantage over a V8 car on a road course with your set up.

I've yet to get any cornerweight done, but the car has a better balance than the V8 straight from the factory. Only ~100lb difference between the LS1 F-body and the V6. The V6 sits so far back so as to utilize the same transmission position as the V8 cars, so that makes even better on the balance.

The car currently weighs something around 3200 lbs. I had it weighed once after the build, but can't find the receipt.

There is a guy that will switch out between his V8 cars and his base model V6 Camaro (stripper setup, hardtop all manual crank windows etc) and will outrun the big boys in that car on the auto-x. It's really entertaining to watch.

[Remy-Z]

Love the build. Only question I had...any options of force-induction? Last V6 I owned was a '01 Regal GS, and I loved that boosted little freak..

[WarShrike]

Love the build. Only question I had...any options of force-induction? Last V6 I owned was a '01 Regal GS, and I loved that boosted little freak..

There are options, but all require custom fabrication. Something I didn't have to tools or funding to perform. I initially wanted to just install the cam and do a JY build utilizing some rebuilt STI turbos. That changed after I saw how bad the engine was and so the focus went from doing a boosted car to a full rebuild. If I added boost, the engine might have lasted 6000 miles before letting go.

Engine is now at 10:1 compression compared to 9.3:1 stock. So I won't be running boost on this anytime soon.

If I could afford forged low compression pistons ($800 minimum in our market), I would have done it from the start.

After I finish school, I plan on going a different route, but keeping the car. LLT DI V6 swap from a camaro and then do a custom twin turbo setup. We'll see how that goes whenever I get to it.

[82z]

Cool build. I'm looking at a 98 camaro same motor but supposedly "knocks" . I think full refresh is in order. How big of a pain was it to pull the motor and cradle?

[Bamfster]

Excellent job documenting everything! I love the fact that you stuck with the V6.

Have you ran it at the strip yet?

[WarShrike]

Cool build. I'm looking at a 98 camaro same motor but supposedly "knocks" . I think full refresh is in order. How big of a pain was it to pull the motor and cradle?

Considering I did the removal and install all on my own, it was a pain. Up until the engine removal, I'd never done anything of the sort on a car. I took my time and pulled everything apart, labeling each sensor and piece on the wire harness. I also had a bunch of zip lock bags and labeled them after putting each group of bolts in there (I.E. Engine mount, Water Pump bolts, timing cover, etc. etc.).

It took me a few days in between school and work to do all this. I only had ramps, stands and an engine hoist to do it. If you have access to a lift, USE IT! Much safer, easier and faster.

I just pulled the engine and trans out the top, but put it all on the k-member for ease of install. Pulling it all out the bottom makes it a bit easier as you will have a portable, albeit heavy engine stand to work from.

A few things, the knock probably is from worn rod bearings, usually the oil filter bypass is the culprit. A lot of guys are spinning bearings as of late 100K miles+. My bearings were fine, even though the top end was coked up so bad.

Have the crankshaft, rods and pistons checked over by a machine shop, get the proper main bearings and rod bearings.

Then get an oil pump rebuild kit (Melling) and a new oil filter adaptor kit (It's the little spring and plunger piece). The oil filter bypass spring wears out and will stick open if there are any deposits in the oil, thus flooding the crank with unfiltered oil. BAD JUJU! You'll have a spun bearing in no time when it lets loose. Guys have done whole builds on their cars without addressing the old oil filter bypass. Destoyed new builds have happened as it is not exactly common knowledge.

If the 98 is a daily driver, get a secondary engine and build it so you're not too badly out of a car or flintstoning it to work.

Another thing, make sure that you get a 98 and earlier engine as it will have the angled intake that your car has. The 99+ have a straight intake, but you can swap intakes if you so desire when the day comes to put in the new motor.

Excellent job documenting everything! I love the fact that you stuck with the V6.

Have you ran it at the strip yet?

Thanks, even my dad loves the car and impressed with what I did essentially on my own on a first time project.

I'll run it at the strip after it is tuned, probably dynod as well. Our local 1/4 mile has been down for 2 years and might not make it back to full use. Another place that is an air strip has been 1/8 mile but might do 1/4 mile runs for small reservations.

Hoping for 13's.

[Brian Lohnes]

Curious....what's the local strip that has been dormant?

[WarShrike]

Curious....what's the local strip that has been dormant?

http://www.lubbockdragway.com/

It is in Idalou, about 20 minutes from Lubbock. They had a huge issue with a contractor that didn't put down the new surface correctly/smoothly and then refused to make good on the work. The shutdown area was wavy and cracked up, which was brand new for that season. It's been down ever since.

The old Town & Country Airport is now Canaan Raceway. Hopefully it'll keep things going and maybe get to go 1/4 mile this coming season. Gets us off the streets, that's for sure!

[88 Dippy]

every time i see your build i still think it is awsome


01GPGT from FTV6