New project/direction... looking for imput

[19Cutlass94]

Now that my car has a tunable PCM, and I will be datalogging pretty soon, my plans for the car have change... slightly.

I would like to get some opinions on this one though... see what you guys think?!

First i need to get it tuned as it currently sits.

Then I would LOVE to swap in a 5spd. If I can find a donor car, at a decent price, and somewhat close ( i.e. not in california lol )

Then comes engine work... I need to get another 65mmTB, as for heads, they are currently stock. I was looking at getting the race/boost heads for the car. As for camshaft, itll probably be something custom, something pretty big though. Ill be keeping the bottom end stock, for now. Only time Ill touch it, is if something happens with it, so that could be a long time from now. Headers... there a must. Ill gain MUCH more power over then shitty log manifold on it right now.

I think if I can achieve 300bhp from a 3400 or even close to it, Ill be a happy camper. I thought about going turbo, but thats more work than I would like to get into, I dont know much about it, and more custom work than id like to get into, not to mention my wallet is surely not fat enough for a turbo set-up. But still even if I was close to 300bhp, i think the car would still move pretty good through a 5spd set-up.

Does this sound plasuable? I know i need to do a little more research on the topic, but any suggestions or ideas that would be better?

Thanks,
-Jason

[GrandAmGTTT]

Now that my car has a tunable PCM, and I will be datalogging pretty soon, my plans for the car have change... slightly.

I would like to get some opinions on this one though... see what you guys think?!

First i need to get it tuned as it currently sits.

Then I would LOVE to swap in a 5spd. If I can find a donor car, at a decent price, and somewhat close ( i.e. not in california lol )

Then comes engine work... I need to get another 65mmTB, as for heads, they are currently stock. I was looking at getting the race/boost heads for the car. As for camshaft, itll probably be something custom, something pretty big though. Ill be keeping the bottom end stock, for now. Only time Ill touch it, is if something happens with it, so that could be a long time from now. Headers... there a must. Ill gain MUCH more power over then shitty log manifold on it right now.

I think if I can achieve 300bhp from a 3400 or even close to it, Ill be a happy camper. I thought about going turbo, but thats more work than I would like to get into, I dont know much about it, and more custom work than id like to get into, not to mention my wallet is surely not fat enough for a turbo set-up. But still even if I was close to 300bhp, i think the car would still move pretty good through a 5spd set-up.

Does this sound plasuable? I know i need to do a little more research on the topic, but any suggestions or ideas that would be better?

Thanks,
-Jason

Jason, Here are some of my suggestions with your goal in mind. First off with the heads, i would suggest using the competition heads rather that the race/boost heads. The race heads are going to be opened up to much, i would only suggest using the race heads if you planning on circle track racing. You are right that the cam will be large and will be custom made. Along with the larger cam you will need to run larger cam bearing our stock cam bearings will get destroyed by a cam the size your gonna want. However, you need to figure out what compression ratio you want first. Once you figure out that then you can go ahead and start planning what you'll need. Now 300hp with the stock valvetrain isn't gonna happen. Using a bigger cam means u need stiffer valve springs and custom length pushrods. I would also recommend swapping in the TCE lifter springs. There are other components as well that will need to be changed to maintain a reliable 300hp car but i think my point has been made that in order to play you gotta pay. Making 300hp while maintaining reliability that it will last doesn't come cheap for our engines. I say save up some more money and buy all the parts u'll need for a good build rather than throw some stuff on it and hope it holds.

[bob442]

what he said /\
going turbo would be cheaper, but again, running with the big boys isnt cheap.

[19Cutlass94]

I know all about the valvetrain needing to be upgraded and such, but im prepared to spend some money. I think the only thing keeping me from going turbo is the lack of knowledge about them. I can physically build everything, id have to have someone help me tune it, but choosing a turbo, id be lost.

I guess I just need to be more research about the na vs turbo. I gotta get my truck fixed before I tear the car apart, so Ill have a few months to plan and research and find all the parts I need.

[robertisaar]

choosing a turbo?

i'd almost bet my left nut that a T04E 50 trim is a damn near perfect match for a 3400 looking to run up to 300HP.

[19Cutlass94]

Ill more than likely be keeping it N/A. Ill just save my pennies and built it up.

[robertisaar]

N/A can sound nasty as hell, just look at superdave, he was pushing ~300WHP in the Z24?

however, achieving the same power level by going boosted will make a much more streetable car in that it won't have a raucus cam and need a higher stall converter(or launch at higher RPM with a clutch)...

it's a very fine game of comprimises.