# my budget Trans Am build **URL:** \ **Category:** Builds\ **Created:** [December 26, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598 "2009-12-26T19:03:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![budsdubbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d2c977/32.png) [@budsdubbin](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/budsdubbin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/21 "2010-01-05T18:36:37Z")
looking good turbo… or N/A Johnny? ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/22 "2010-01-05T18:59:11Z")
well as of right now 2 out of my 3 cars have turbos. this one might eventually see a s/c though. ---
**Author:** ![budsdubbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d2c977/32.png) [@budsdubbin](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/budsdubbin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/23 "2010-01-05T19:01:06Z")
I hope you land a better paying job for that kinda build lol I’m holdin on by a thread here. ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/24 "2010-01-05T20:07:41Z")
well luckily I bought most of the things I needed for the build so far when I was working full time at $11/hr. now I just need little odds 'n ends. ---
**Author:** ![slow84ta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/slow84ta/32/7265_2.png) [@slow84ta](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/slow84ta)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 6:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/25 "2010-01-06T06:04:52Z")
How many inches of clearance do you think you have with the exhaust, it doesn’t look like much more than maybe 3 inches? ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/26 "2010-01-06T11:00:13Z")
I’d say about 3" sounds right. I’m planning on running vette wheels either 18" front and back, or 18/19 front to back to keep the ride height up in the ass so it doesn’t rub, it might not be a bad idea to put a stiffer spring in the back too. ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/27 "2010-04-20T01:55:46Z")
she runs… ---
**Author:** ![Chevy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/chevy/32/5404_2.png) [@Chevy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Chevy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/28 "2010-04-25T21:17:00Z")
ya most of the interior is in it, have to figure out the timing, its a '97 vortec 350 and we are going to try to set it at 30 degrees advanced, its really loud. ---
**Author:** ![Copper280z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/copper280z/32/5464_2.png) [@Copper280z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Copper280z)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/29 "2010-04-25T21:27:43Z")
Set it to ~34° advanced at 3500 with the vac canister disconnected, should be just about right for WOT. You might need to limit the total mechanical advance in the distributor if it’s not enough at idle though. ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/30 "2010-04-25T21:36:48Z")
There is no vacuum canister. Base timing is set at 25\* advanced at idle which right now is about 500rpm. ---
**Author:** ![355firebird](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/355firebird/32/7369_2.png) [@355firebird](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/355firebird)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/31 "2010-04-26T21:36:34Z")
Vortec heads like 34 degrees total timing. No more. Have full advance come in at 2500-3000. I locked my timing so there is no advance. You running the stock cam for now? The hotcam run the best in those motors. ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/32 "2010-04-26T22:37:00Z")
I am just running the stock cam for now. I’d like to do a cam swap but the heads can only take so much lift without having a little machine work done. right now, base timing is set at 32\* btdc. I should have the total timing set at 34\* at 2500-3000 rpm? also just some pictures before the body work and paint begins. ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0042-2.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0042-2.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0045.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0045.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0046.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0046.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0048.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0048.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0050.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0050.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0051.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0051.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0052-1.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0052-1.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0054.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0054.jpg) ![http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0055.jpg](http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv213/turbojohnny_2009/DSC_0055.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Copper280z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/copper280z/32/5464_2.png) [@Copper280z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Copper280z)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/33 "2010-04-27T04:18:25Z")
If the base timing(assuming we both mean the same thing when we say it) is 32, then the total will be ~46. With a stock cam you should be just fine setting the total to 34 and wherever the initial lands will work well enough. A vac canister is a VERY good thing to have for a street car, summit sells adjustable ones pretty cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Jagermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jagermeister](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jagermeister)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/34 "2010-04-27T04:27:53Z")
What’s up with the 280z??? ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/35 "2010-04-27T23:35:01Z")
The 280 has issues. I can’t quite figure out what the problem is, but I’m getting to the point where I want to say fuck keeping the stock straight six motor and start working on a small block swap. Way easier to troueshoot than the fuel injected l28. ---------- Post added at 02:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:30 AM ---------- > [@Copper280z](#): > > If the base timing(assuming we both mean the same thing when we say it) is 32, then the total will be ~46. With a stock cam you should be just fine setting the total to 34 and wherever the initial lands will work well enough. A vac canister is a VERY good thing to have for a street car, summit sells adjustable ones pretty cheap. When I say base timing I mean at idle ~600 rpm with the vac advance blocked off. Also, if I’m not running any vacuum accessories, is it really necessary to have. Vacuum canister/reservoir? The car only has vacuum to the dis. And the brakes. No heater controls or wipers. ---
**Author:** ![Copper280z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/copper280z/32/5464_2.png) [@Copper280z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Copper280z)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2010, 4:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/36 "2010-04-28T04:25:04Z")
Ok, we mean the same thing. The vacuum advance on the distributor is what I was talking about, guess I should have been clearer. I’d set the timing to 34 while holding the engine at 3500 with the vac advance blocked, 32 initial is way too much. My cammed sbc likes about 16-18 initial+ whatever vac advance it has at idle, I think it ends up around 25. It’s a pretty small cam, but way bigger than a vortec truck cam. ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/37 "2010-04-30T20:27:04Z")
> **[Log In or Sign Up to View](http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1291864740922)** > > See posts, photos and more on Facebook. ---
**Author:** ![Paulo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/paulo/32/7328_2.png) [@Paulo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Paulo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/38 "2010-04-30T20:32:14Z")
video is private… ---
**Author:** ![cougarspeed](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/cougarspeed/32/7468_2.png) [@cougarspeed](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cougarspeed)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/39 "2010-04-30T20:37:26Z")
Sell me the Datsun for cheap. Nice projects. ---
**Author:** ![turbojohnny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@turbojohnny](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbojohnny)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598/40 "2010-04-30T20:42:58Z")
I think my dad would murder me if I ever sold the z. even though it’s not his car. I also think I need to go back to work full time so I can fund these things. school gets me nowhere. as for the video, my friend had uploaded it, so I can’t change the settings at all. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/my-budget-trans-am-build/77598.md?page=1)