wingsfan

Not really. There's a list of nagging little details that need to be addressed, but it's hard to fix something when it's not broken. The motivation just isnt there.

As for trying them out at an autocross, there are a few running in Norcal that you might be able to "twist their arm" into running and taking you along.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

I remember not putting my foot all the way in it most of the time.

ARD T2

iTrader: (22)

I'm planning to put an LS1 in my Tripoint widebody FC for time attack. It's the only way to go and be reliable. Probably make it thru a whole season of club events. hehe. At least that's the hope.

Awesome guys. Can't wait to see how it affects my macpherson chasis.

gnx7

iTrader: (10)

Rishie is even converted now ?!?!

Nice job Wingsfan..... your car is pretty sick.. hope mine turns out as nice.

Mine is getting closer to completion... don't have an engine yet... but got all the upgrades BBK, coilovers, '99 RZ rear brakes, Ntech ducts, JimLab bushings, 18" 57Pros, Koyo rad. Local guy making the Kmember/LT headers and other associated parts.... supposed to be ready very very soon. I get the ones after the prototypes...

Just sold $3500 in Buick GN parts... got funds now!

-GNX7

redrotorR1

You should come out to A&M on the 7th. I want to drive it.

I'll trade ya even stevens for runs in the Z06.

-Don

wingsfan

I'd love to, but I don't think I'll have it back together in time.

I took it apart to put in the Cobra IRS and to build some long tube headers to tide me over before I build my turbo kit.

When's the next event after that? If there's an event in early December I can probably make that no problem.

redrotorR1

December is off season for most central Texas auto-x clubs. Last two November events (at Austin area ones worth going to ...) are the 7th with A&M, and the 14th with Spokes. Both are events not be missed. A&M has an enormous lot of grippy concrete that make street tires seem sticky and the last Spokes event will be at SA Raceway ... which has a huge lot with all sorts of room. I remember running an event there and fast times being in the 90 second range.

I'm telling ya, that turbo kit is going to be too much powah!

wingsfan

Can I just "walk up" to either event? I copld probably slap everything back together given the proper motivation. I'd hate to commit to something and bump someone out of a spot if their restricted fields.

KevinK2

I'd go internal for more hp, and maintain all the na advantages.

Wankelguy

Isn't this the blue RX7 that I beat in my Fiesta?

Whizbang

i have a jetta!

Wankelguy

Got a toothpick?

Whizbang

Acually, i do! The good flavored ones!

Wankelguy

Oh it's not for me, it's to get the chunks of Jetta detritus out of my Fiesta's grille.

redrotorR1

Yup.

wingsfan

We'll see what the wife thinks. If she doesn't mind I'll see about finishing the headers, or just slapping it back together with the parts I have on hand.

I'll let you know.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

My vote is no turbo. The great thing about the LS1 installation is that in some ways it actually appears to have MORE space around the motor than the stock engine has.

Going with a turbo kinda makes it a all show, no go car. Packaging will be tight, heat will be difficult to deal with and I can't imagine using all the HP it could make.

BigIslandSevens

iTrader: (4)

Not to mention that you can build a very High hp n/a ls1. and as you have said to me before Drew, you are upon the 1 year *troublefree of any kind* with the FD. If you add the turbo the gains you got by going here are somewhat lost. As per Jeff's comments, the heat is going to be outragous. and that is why you left in the first place right? Or at least 1 of the reasons

I say just stroke it to 383 like you planned before and if anything put some gas to it. the ls1 responds nicely to it. But with a 383 stroker.....i doubt you'll ever need it

Didn't know you were going with the IRS. should be nice!

redrotorR1

Drew, if the goal is to make the car fast both in a straightline and the around turns, then the turbo kit, IMO, is not a good idea. The car as is need some fairly extensive work to get big meats on the back .... and believe me, you'll be spending a good chunk of change on tires once that car is capable of putting down power. Once you get hooked on sticky tires, you'll never want to race on street tires again. The money spent on a turbo setup will be worth its weight in gold for suspension goodies and sticky rubber.

For auto-x purposes, you're fast approaching the limit of useable HP. Even the 383 might be too much. The Z06 already makes enough power to pretty much break the tires loose wherever you want on course (it's all a matter of your right foot). Making more power is probably not going to help any ... if nothing, I might think about changing gears to better suit the car's strengths. If the car will see some track duty, then you might want to think about making some more top end power ... so long tubes, a custom cam (okay, maybe the 383 for this case), springs, maybe some higher lift rocker arms, and lots of dyno tuning. I'd recommend reinforcing the internals for long periods of track abuse ... kinda one of those "while I'm in here might as well" deals. But also consider that you'll have to start considering a big boy radiator, oil coolers, and a tranny cooler. Of course, those would be WAAYY down the line.

DamonB

I bet wingsfan already realizes all of this and is more interested in the fun factor of the project...

redrotorR1

Okay smartass.

Actually, I've been in some hopped up F-bodies with giant lobbed cams that felt like turbos on the high end. Might be just the trick for Drew. He'd have the best of both worlds .... still a bunch of low end grunt and the butt-pucker effect on the high end. Dammit ... now I want to do this project!

Whizbang

Magnacharger makes a really good screw supercharger setup for the LS1. It replaces the intake manifold and is not much bigger than the manifold either. It woul dbe the route i would go.

wingsfan

Yeah, I realize all that. We had this discussion the first time I brought the car over as to where I would stick a turbo.

Remember, I didn't set out to build the best autocross car I could. I just enjoy the fabrication angle really. That, and I missed the pull of my turbos. Getting the car tuned seemed to fix that though, as the car pulls hard all the way to ~6000 rpm. A set of ported heads would get me breathing well to 7000+ RPM, so who knows

I've come close to ditching the turbo idea several times now (usually right after I autoX ). I have so many parts that I still need.

I put my name on a list for an LS2 block already, and I'd guess that a high compression 402 would give me more power than I could ever truly need, so I'm going to have to think about it.

wingsfan

Well, I never built the car with the intention of making it an autocross warrior. I built it to hop into it and enjoy driving it.

We'll just have to see. A high compression storker with some ported heads and a lumpy cam might be the prudent way to go. Wouldn't add any weight, and would get me upwards of 500+ rwhp (which is ridiculous )

Plus, I've made two trips to DFW now with no AC, which really sucks. With an NA storker I could get the AC working again.

turbojeff

iTrader: (30)

Step 1 list requirements and/or goals.

Done, you want a fun street car, see quote above.


Step 2 evaluate where your going.

Turbo'd V8 stuffed in a little car.

Re-read step 1.

Are the external dimensions of the LS2 the same? There was a guy in my local club that spent about $5k pumping up his new C5, after a couple of months he said he liked it stock better. More low end power, smoother idle, etc...