My next project...

[85maro]

Got a short block 2.8 from the junkyard today now I'm drooling over ideas.

1) High-rpm, high compression n/a screamer (I'm thinking 8k redline, 300-350hp region)
2) Intercooled/twin turbos (400hp)
3) mild compression built for nitrous (~250hp n/a, 400 on the bottle).

I'll fabricate my own intake & headers whatever the case. Forged pistons (exc. n/a), nitrided internals and all that good crap. What sounds like the most fun?

[sharkey]

cool ideas. some tips:
1) use a gen 3 top end and post the hell out of it. gen 1 or 2 heads just wont flow efficiently at that high rpm. id look for a 3500 top end. shorter tube headers will help with power up high, and you may want to consider an individual throttle body setup, or build your own intake with short runners.

2)twin would be cool, but it has been proven that the right sized single turbo will outperform a twin turbo setup. again, id go with 3400 or 3500 top end.

3)im not a fan of moters that are alright without the bottle, and real fast with it. actualy, im just not much of a nitrous fan.

[85maro]

I was planning on using '98 3400 heads I have and making a custom intake for it. I preffer the older 3400 over the newer for the higher exhaust flow. I thought about going with a single turbo setup to save some $ but twins would look so sweet. Which brings up another idea I'm debating, sequental twins or matched turbos? Thanks for the input.

[rickykline]

i got a set of stock 3400 heads for sale if you like??? lol ill let them go CHEAP... little port work and they would be NICE

[Guest]

If you want to build a high rpm N/A screamer I have the parts. Heads, ITB intake and new shortblock. pm me

[85maro]

Thanks but I already have most of the long block minus the valvetrain and forged pistons (if I choose to go that route). I'll pm you on the parts though.

[Ortie666]

I got Ideas too, Dont build an intake unless ur a crazy good aluminum welder.. LOL JussKidding, its really tough tho.. but if ur going to make like a steel upper plennum that fits a couple of boost ready webers then givver hell!!. and if ur thinkin' on makin juice at 8G's I suggest bigtube headers.. kuss exhast restriction is ur enemy at high RPMs

[85maro]

Yea, welding aluminum's pretty tricky. If you don't use billet or super clean aluminum you end up with a puddle. I don't have acess to a tig either. I checked out buying one, cheapest I could find was $2000! I'll stick with steel.

[Ortie666]

ya, the aluminum they use in these manafolds is juss the ronchyest shit.. I can get a perfect bead that looks nice and penatrates well, but there is soo much porosity under the weld.. the imputitys create tinny tinny little bubbles, enough to give a leak.. so there is alot of jb weld used after to seal it up, lol BTW I used a mig for mine.. it was easyer than trying to get a TIG with a filler rod beside the intake box and the side of the manafold.. I did use the TIG abit, but in wide open spots

[85maro]

Heh, good 'ol jb weld. The mig you used was probably partially responsible for the bubbles too. Not enough heat control. It would be cool to make a cross ram out of a 3400 lower manifold but like you said the aluminum in these manifolds is pretty lousy. GM's notorious for using the cheapest aluminum they can get.