Thanks man! My plan is to get the turbo stuff setup and running relatively reliably on the stock motor, while building a motor on the side. I’d like to do a first gen bottom end for the stronger pistons but with a 3rd gen crank, and a 3rd gen top end for the plastic intake and (to me) better head. Basically going after a fresh motor that should take the low boost I’d like to throw at it for a fun DD.
I definitely need to know more about the ecotec springs and possibly dogbones. I just painted a set this afternoon but would like to make another set for my other car.
Sounds like a good plan. I do agree you may be better off with the 3rd gen intake mainfold. While it really has no plenum the air distribution is much more even than the 91-98 cast manifolds. The ecotec valve springs are a direct drop in for the 99-02 DOHC head. I dont remember how many more lbs. vs. the oe springs, but it was a good amount and that was always one area that scared me on the newer gen heads were very weak valve springs. I checked the other day and I do have enough metal to make another set of dogbones. If you are interested in anything shoot me a PM
Will do!
A friend of mine who assembles electronics for a living offered to build the MS for me so that brings down the cost of it quite a bit, so expect that in my mailbox within the week!
Hopefully I can get the header flange finished being drawn up and cut out soon too to start on the manifold.
On the valve spring note, I may be going with a rebuilt 3rd gen head to go on the new motor.
There’s no tuning option for these cars except a full standalone or piggyback, nobody has been able to get into the factory pcms or change anything within them, sadly.
So I’ll be picking up a mildly built bottom end from a friend of mine in Mass. Had scat rods and sohc hyper pistons. Not sure about the rest but should be a solid starting point. Probably going with a reman head that way it will save me the machining costs and all the used heads around have scored cam bearing faces.
Yeah I’m not sure on the pistons, I’m buying it from Adam who bought it from Tony Cavin who got it from someone else…had a built SDA head on it and is really clean inside.
So it’s been a while since I’ve been on here mainly because Tapatalk doesn’t like this forum anymore apparently.
Anyhow, I got said shortblock from my friend and am really glad I decided to tear it down. Two of the rods were in backwards and the bearings werent in the greatest shape. I had the block honed and washed at Northeast Machine in Tonawanda, as well as had them polish and balance a newer 8 counterweight crank I got from the yard since the crank that came in the motor looks to have been welded at some point. They also weight matched all my rods and pistons for me.
Just tonight I finished gapping the new NPR rings and threw them on the pistons. (Which are the older made in USA type)
Wow, been a while!
So the motor was assembled, installed, broken in, and I drove it for the rest of the summer and fall, and the car was parked all winter. Turbo build is now in full swing, with air suspension stuff happening once it’s running good.
Now just waiting on weather/parts to put it all together as the car is outside. How about a slew of pictures from the past couple months:
Ripped all the nonsense ac and plastic stuff off the car
Mocked up the manifold and pulled the wiring
Decided power steering is stupid so looped that
And since the manifold didn’t have a provision for an ewg and I wasn’t about to buy an internally gated turbo, we came up with another solution.
A buddy of mine can do small powder coating jobs (if anyone needs anything done)
So he was able to do my motor mounts, intercooler brackets, and compressor housing.
As of now I’m waiting for this shit weather to blow over so I can start working on it again, and for the piles of parts I have ordered to come in.
