I finally got the car together and just need exhaust installed before I get the tuning completed. Overall it sounds good but it is way rich due to tune or open exhaust and O2's freaking out. Disconnected the O2's and that helped. I can't really do ANYTHING until the exhaust is done though.

It is a 97 T/A with elec seats, windows, T tops, 12 disc CD changer, etc, etc and this car is HEAVY so I would not expect any track records from it LOL.

I bought a used RPM 383 and I am using some LE2 heads that I bought from the for sale section since I do not have any free time to do a set for myself. I used a cam with LESS overall duration than the CC 306 to work with this heavy car, 2800 stall and 3.42 gears.

I KNOW how to make a car fast (light) and I am not willing to strip A/C, heater, elec windows, seats, spare tire, bumper supports, etc, etc from the car or run more gear, 3 speed trans, more stall, remove sway bars, etc. This is NOT what I am after and the track times will suffer because of this.

I'll have to weigh the car when it goes to the track but this thing is HEAVY. Hopefully the slight rust on the brakes are making the car hard to push because if not, this thing will be lucky to get out of the 12's on a 200 shot. It took 3 of us to push this car on level ground and I am not joking.

Hopefully end up with 410-420 RWHP and 390 RWTQ with a locked converter. I'll have dyno #'s in a week or two. Hopefully be able to run a high 11 if the car can get a 1.70 60 ft as I refuse to remove any weight since this is a nice cruising car with only 80K. This car is niocer than my wifes 2000 Ram Air.

I did get an EWP, KOOKS 1 3/4 to 1 7/8 stepped headers and 3" true duals, 58 MM TB and ported intake so I might see a few more HP. As long as the TQ curve is nice and flat, the HP #'s are just along for the ride. They are still fun to talk about though, LOL.

Only driving experience was right after install with LOTS of black smoke from exhaust and a stap of the throttle from a 40 MPH roll that resulted in lots of tire smoke also. Can't wait for exhaust and tune.

Lloyd Elliott

 

NOw that's great.. Buying a set of heads you have previously done.. Def. Classic... Good luck w/it.. Combo should be good for easy 11's.. what brand converter? That choice sometime's makes and break's people...

 

Pics!

And agreed on the converter... we did a converter swap on a member's car recently and it picked up 4 mph from the converter swap alone. That's how bad the other brand was. Went from a pro-torque to a Vigilante, both 3200's.

 

Good luck with it. And having to buy the heads is definitely classic! Work always gets in the way of fun.

 

OK....I dont understand some of the things you said.
You said the car is extremely heavy? Define extremely heavy. It shouldnt weigh any more than a typical loaded LT1 Trans Am (roughly 3600 pounds). My car ran 12.80's with no nitrous or forced induction, in emissions legal form on Nitto drag radials with 3.23 gears and I know other people that have gone MUCH faster with not much more than what I have on my car. I also dont understand why you are only hoping for a little over 400 rwhp out of a 383. My 142k mile 350 put 352 hp down at the wheels with a little over 355 ft lbs of torque...thru the cat. I would think a 383 should EASILY put down 400 in bad tune..especially with the cam you have.

 

It is a Yank converter so I think a 1.70 60 ft is still doable with 3.42's, stock sway bars, etc.

I did not mind spending $$$ (KOOKS headers, powder coating, custom exhaust, ASM TB, etc) but wanted a mild street car. As I mentioned, I could have made more power with my newer LE2 heads (or LE3), more cam, etc and could be faster in a lighter car, more gear, more stall, better 60 ft, etc, but I am in my late 30's and just because you KNOW HOW to make a car fast or make more power doesn't mean that is the car you wanna drive all the time.

Hell, these cars are such a ***** to work on, I paid a freind/customer to do the install. I adjusted rockers, degreed cam, checked PR length, etc, but had him install everything, wire up EWP, instal Walbro PNP, etc.

I am just swamped in the shop and have no time for personal stuff. That is what lead me to but the heads and cam from the for sale section. Got heads, cam and intake for $1400. That is a good savings after you figure in intake/head cores and NOT having to do the work

It should still be a fun ride. It will probably put down a lil better #'s than the average customer with the same heads and small cam (if they have stock intake, Pacesetters, cat back, mail order tune) but I do not mind paying the extra $$$ for that extra HP and have the same drivability.

 

Now that's dedication.

 

Ram,

I am hoping the car was hard to push because rust on rotors. If not, this is a PIG. I'll know more when I get to some scales and/or get brakes redone. It is my first F body and they might all be heavy like this but I was surprised when pushing it.

Most people remove "something:" when going to track and some just remove lots of stuff anyway. My comment was really towards the car is gonna be a lil slower than usual due to EVERYTHING (spare tire, jack, etc) still on the car. It will only see the track a few times and more or less, just so I know what the car is capable of. If this car ends up weighing only 3600 lbs (w/o driver), it will be a mid 11 second car on a 1.7 60 ft.

As far as HP #'s, the 383, 355, 350 thing has been discussed alot and the 383 will not dyno any better peak #'s than a 355 and sometimes the extra cubes will hinder peak HP. The heads just can't feed it like it can a 355. The 383 does make more area under the curve and the extra TQ is what I am after. Shift at 6100 RPM and live for ever as opposed to a 355 shifting at 6600 RPM with the same HP.

I am hoping for more power but I am a realist also and as anyone will tell you, I like to be on the conservative side of things. You are dissapointed far less when looking at things this way.

There are alot of people with 383's and bigger cams cams that do not hit the 400 RWHP mark. I feel very confident I will but only time will tell. I'll post #'s when I get them. Maybe my tuner can squeeze more out of it.

Lloyd Elliott

 

No new pics but will have some soon.

Lloyd

 

Good Luck w/ it!!!

 

I know exactly what you mean. I went all out on my car. Full custom fabricated suspension in the front, QA1 shocks, true duals, every bolt on, etc.

But its a pain to use a 500+hp LT1 as a daily driver. Especially when it sets off car alarms at 7am idling down the street.

I'm tempted to go buy an LS1 as a daily driver and keep the LE2 H/C LT1 car as a weekend bruiser.

 

I know everyone's definition of streetability is different, but I have no desire to drive mine everyday either. Good luck with this, Lloyd, and let us know what it does weigh...I'm curious if it weighs as much as my fully loaded Z28. We joke that it is the heaviest Camaro in town, and I have had to recruit others to push it around during the build too.

 

Sounds nice Lloyd, good luck with it and looking forward to seeing some pics and hearing some times!

 

Nice! Who is doing the tune? Lmk when you plan to go to the track would like to see that heavy beast in action.

 

About time Lloyd. LOL Get it going and lets see what she runs. Later Clint