Hello from Maryland!

[StockAndSlow]

Hello All!

I've been working on finishing up building my engine. I've had my bird, a '94 Trans Am, for around 6 years and have always been working on upgrading it. This winter I rebuilt the T56 and have been working on building the stock 140k mile LT1 into a nicely mannered 383 that will take all the abuse I can throw at it (hopefully!). I just got recently got the heads and valve train installed as well as the oil pan on. I am currently working on painting the intake and valve covers and also priming the oil to check that everything works well and gets good pressure.

What else... oh, I also just learned how to install helicoils - I did one on the accessory bracket for the belt tensioner and four on the intake for the fuel rail bolts. They were pretty easy and fun to do. The intake was a used LE ported intake and for some reason the fuel rail bolts looked like someone tightened the bolts with an impact and stripped them. Since I am using the TPIS happy hooker plate for pulling/intalling the engine and transmission, I figured I needed good threads.

I hope to have the engine finished and buttoned up soon so that I can put it back in the car and start breaking it in.

[harner]

Hello and welcome!

[Brandon++S]

Welcome!

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[SSlowBoat]

welcome, please post pics!

[1QUICKZ28]

Welcome! You’ll find some great information here and very knowledgeable members.


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[StockAndSlow]

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[StockAndSlow]

I’ve got the engine running and the car drives great! The engine had trouble idling (would die sometimes when you pushed in the clutch when driving) but that has smoothed out and it hasn’t died recently. I did check for vacuum leaks with starter fluid - didn’t find any.

I’ve got 67 miles on the engine and transmission now. I already seated the rings and dropped a quart of oil (down from 8 to 7) since I was getting pressure drops under hard acceleration from aeration. Now the car has great oil pressure! 70 when cold and 30 when warm at idle. 40 at 1k rpm and 60-70 when accelerating.

Now I just need to get some more miles put on the car and get enough traction to use more throttle. The car has already seen 6k at about 75% throttle. The power and torque is there for sure!

I initially burned three plug wires on the first start up. Those have been replaced and everything was rerouted. No leaks - thank goodness! I also made sure to check my driveline angles and got +1 deg overall driveline angle.

The transmission works great, it is very nice to have 2nd gear work. My stock shifter totally sucks though. The centering springs do not have enough force to recenter the shifter in either direction even after I cleaned and lubricated the internals. I’ll probably upgrade to an MGW eventually. The transmission does seem a little sticky to come out of gears (clutch pedal pushed in, pushing or pulling on the shifter). I’m sure after some more miles and a fluid change this should ease up.

I do realize that this extra power and torque will necessitated an upgraded driveshaft and safety loop before I go launching or racing... currently I’m still running the stock steel 2-3/4” driveshaft but with an upgraded rear yoke and 1350 u joint. The front u joint is definitely the weak link (new but stock size).

[1QUICKZ28]

I’ve got the engine running and the car drives great! The engine had trouble idling (would die sometimes when you pushed in the clutch when driving) but that has smoothed out and it hasn’t died recently. I did check for vacuum leaks with starter fluid - didn’t find any.

I’ve got 67 miles on the engine and transmission now. I already seated the rings and dropped a quart of oil (down from 8 to 7) since I was getting pressure drops under hard acceleration from aeration. Now the car has great oil pressure! 70 when cold and 30 when warm at idle. 40 at 1k rpm and 60-70 when accelerating.

Now I just need to get some more miles put on the car and get enough traction to use more throttle. The car has already seen 6k at about 75% throttle. The power and torque is there for sure!

I initially burned three plug wires on the first start up. Those have been replaced and everything was rerouted. No leaks - thank goodness! I also made sure to check my driveline angles and got +1 deg overall driveline angle.

The transmission works great, it is very nice to have 2nd gear work. My stock shifter totally sucks though. The centering springs do not have enough force to recenter the shifter in either direction even after I cleaned and lubricated the internals. I’ll probably upgrade to an MGW eventually. The transmission does seem a little sticky to come out of gears (clutch pedal pushed in, pushing or pulling on the shifter). I’m sure after some more miles and a fluid change this should ease up.

I do realize that this extra power and torque will necessitated an upgraded driveshaft and safety loop before I go launching or racing... currently I’m still running the stock steel 2-3/4” driveshaft but with an upgraded rear yoke and 1350 u joint. The front u joint is definitely the weak link (new but stock size).

Nicely done!


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[harner]

Well done!