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  1. #1
    LTX Member


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    Offline
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Name
    Sam
    Vehicle
    1994 Firebird Trans Am
    Posts
    4

    Default Hello from Maryland!

    Hello All!

    I've been working on finishing up building my engine. I've had my bird, a '94 Trans Am, for around 6 years and have always been working on upgrading it. This winter I rebuilt the T56 and have been working on building the stock 140k mile LT1 into a nicely mannered 383 that will take all the abuse I can throw at it (hopefully!). I just got recently got the heads and valve train installed as well as the oil pan on. I am currently working on painting the intake and valve covers and also priming the oil to check that everything works well and gets good pressure.

    What else... oh, I also just learned how to install helicoils - I did one on the accessory bracket for the belt tensioner and four on the intake for the fuel rail bolts. They were pretty easy and fun to do. The intake was a used LE ported intake and for some reason the fuel rail bolts looked like someone tightened the bolts with an impact and stripped them. Since I am using the TPIS happy hooker plate for pulling/intalling the engine and transmission, I figured I needed good threads.

    I hope to have the engine finished and buttoned up soon so that I can put it back in the car and start breaking it in.
    '94 Trans Am LE2 HCI, 383 11.24:1 forged Eagle crank 6" H-beam rods, Mahle pistons, ATI damper, Moroso 7qt pan, 36lb/hr injectors, Pacesetter LT headers, 3" x-pipe + dumps, SLP CAI, EWP, Strange 12 Bolt posi 4.11, Stage 2 T56, McLeod StreetPro

  2. #2
    Xtreme Member


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    Offline
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Name
    Chris
    Vehicle
    1994 Trans Am
    Location
    PA, USA
    Posts
    2,438

    Default

    Hello and welcome!

    1994 Trans Am Under the knife - but it's alive!!! (5.3 LM7/CPT 60e/QP 9") BUILD THREAD
    2009 G8 GXP M6, full exhaust, catch can, cai, stereo
    1975 Olds 98 455 burnout machine/panty dropper | 1985 C10 new project

  3. #3
    LTX Regular


    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Name
    Brandon++S
    Vehicle
    1997 camaro z28
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    198

    Default

    Welcome!

    Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    Xtreme Member


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    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Name
    Shaun
    Vehicle
    1994 Formula
    Location
    Phillipsburg NJ
    Posts
    7,249
    Supporting Member

    Default

    welcome, please post pics!
    2021 Charger Scat 392
    1994 Firebird Formula 381 stroker - Carrying the torch! - 9.90 @ 134.3mph on a 200 shot

    The wrench/driver for LTConvert's 94 Z28- Ellwein 383/LE Trickflows/ D1SC / CPT Ultra Pro Race 4L60E
    10.78 @ 125mph. Shooting for 9.99 for Frank Cahall!

  5. #5
    VIP Member


    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Name
    Mark
    Vehicle
    1993 Camaro Z28, 2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Crew cab dually, 2005 GMC Yukon Denali
    Location
    Altoona, PA
    Posts
    809

    Default

    Welcome! You’ll find some great information here and very knowledgeable members.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Stock bottom end, Impala head gaskets, Stock heads w/stage 2 port polish Comp beehive springs, Crane 1.6 RR's, Thunder Racing cam, Cloyes Billet True Roller TC, Long tubes, custom true dual 3" w/X-pipe, Ported intake with 58mm TB, 36lb injectors, PCMforless chip, Tick Performance stage 3 M6, Strange S60 4:10's True Trac 35 spline axles, MSD complete Ignition system, Summit electric water pump and a ton of other upgrades.

  6. #6
    LTX Member


    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Name
    Sam
    Vehicle
    1994 Firebird Trans Am
    Posts
    4

    Default






    '94 Trans Am LE2 HCI, 383 11.24:1 forged Eagle crank 6" H-beam rods, Mahle pistons, ATI damper, Moroso 7qt pan, 36lb/hr injectors, Pacesetter LT headers, 3" x-pipe + dumps, SLP CAI, EWP, Strange 12 Bolt posi 4.11, Stage 2 T56, McLeod StreetPro

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to StockAndSlow For This Post:


  8. #7
    LTX Member


    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Name
    Sam
    Vehicle
    1994 Firebird Trans Am
    Posts
    4

    Default

    I’ve got the engine running and the car drives great! The engine had trouble idling (would die sometimes when you pushed in the clutch when driving) but that has smoothed out and it hasn’t died recently. I did check for vacuum leaks with starter fluid - didn’t find any.

    I’ve got 67 miles on the engine and transmission now. I already seated the rings and dropped a quart of oil (down from 8 to 7) since I was getting pressure drops under hard acceleration from aeration. Now the car has great oil pressure! 70 when cold and 30 when warm at idle. 40 at 1k rpm and 60-70 when accelerating.

    Now I just need to get some more miles put on the car and get enough traction to use more throttle. The car has already seen 6k at about 75% throttle. The power and torque is there for sure!

    I initially burned three plug wires on the first start up. Those have been replaced and everything was rerouted. No leaks - thank goodness! I also made sure to check my driveline angles and got +1 deg overall driveline angle.

    The transmission works great, it is very nice to have 2nd gear work. My stock shifter totally sucks though. The centering springs do not have enough force to recenter the shifter in either direction even after I cleaned and lubricated the internals. I’ll probably upgrade to an MGW eventually. The transmission does seem a little sticky to come out of gears (clutch pedal pushed in, pushing or pulling on the shifter). I’m sure after some more miles and a fluid change this should ease up.

    I do realize that this extra power and torque will necessitated an upgraded driveshaft and safety loop before I go launching or racing... currently I’m still running the stock steel 2-3/4” driveshaft but with an upgraded rear yoke and 1350 u joint. The front u joint is definitely the weak link (new but stock size).
    '94 Trans Am LE2 HCI, 383 11.24:1 forged Eagle crank 6" H-beam rods, Mahle pistons, ATI damper, Moroso 7qt pan, 36lb/hr injectors, Pacesetter LT headers, 3" x-pipe + dumps, SLP CAI, EWP, Strange 12 Bolt posi 4.11, Stage 2 T56, McLeod StreetPro

  9. #8
    VIP Member


    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Name
    Mark
    Vehicle
    1993 Camaro Z28, 2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Crew cab dually, 2005 GMC Yukon Denali
    Location
    Altoona, PA
    Posts
    809

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by StockAndSlow View Post
    I’ve got the engine running and the car drives great! The engine had trouble idling (would die sometimes when you pushed in the clutch when driving) but that has smoothed out and it hasn’t died recently. I did check for vacuum leaks with starter fluid - didn’t find any.

    I’ve got 67 miles on the engine and transmission now. I already seated the rings and dropped a quart of oil (down from 8 to 7) since I was getting pressure drops under hard acceleration from aeration. Now the car has great oil pressure! 70 when cold and 30 when warm at idle. 40 at 1k rpm and 60-70 when accelerating.

    Now I just need to get some more miles put on the car and get enough traction to use more throttle. The car has already seen 6k at about 75% throttle. The power and torque is there for sure!

    I initially burned three plug wires on the first start up. Those have been replaced and everything was rerouted. No leaks - thank goodness! I also made sure to check my driveline angles and got +1 deg overall driveline angle.

    The transmission works great, it is very nice to have 2nd gear work. My stock shifter totally sucks though. The centering springs do not have enough force to recenter the shifter in either direction even after I cleaned and lubricated the internals. I’ll probably upgrade to an MGW eventually. The transmission does seem a little sticky to come out of gears (clutch pedal pushed in, pushing or pulling on the shifter). I’m sure after some more miles and a fluid change this should ease up.

    I do realize that this extra power and torque will necessitated an upgraded driveshaft and safety loop before I go launching or racing... currently I’m still running the stock steel 2-3/4” driveshaft but with an upgraded rear yoke and 1350 u joint. The front u joint is definitely the weak link (new but stock size).
    Nicely done!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Stock bottom end, Impala head gaskets, Stock heads w/stage 2 port polish Comp beehive springs, Crane 1.6 RR's, Thunder Racing cam, Cloyes Billet True Roller TC, Long tubes, custom true dual 3" w/X-pipe, Ported intake with 58mm TB, 36lb injectors, PCMforless chip, Tick Performance stage 3 M6, Strange S60 4:10's True Trac 35 spline axles, MSD complete Ignition system, Summit electric water pump and a ton of other upgrades.

  10. #9
    Xtreme Member


    Status
    Offline
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Name
    Chris
    Vehicle
    1994 Trans Am
    Location
    PA, USA
    Posts
    2,438

    Default

    Well done!

    1994 Trans Am Under the knife - but it's alive!!! (5.3 LM7/CPT 60e/QP 9") BUILD THREAD
    2009 G8 GXP M6, full exhaust, catch can, cai, stereo
    1975 Olds 98 455 burnout machine/panty dropper | 1985 C10 new project

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