71_firebird

I'm building a drag car for my wife. Might see some local cruise nights/car shows.

68 camaro
2800 pounds
3.73 gears
TH350
4500-5000 stall
Stock 2000 LS1

Here are my plans:

new cam and springs
rod bolts
Intake

1) What cam is recommended? I see a bunch of cams people are using but they are for daily drivers and have to pass I/M, since it's a drag car only does that change your minds on what cam? I dont want to worry about valve-piston issues and I dont want to change the internals-yet.

2) What HP/TQ would I expect out of this combo? I'm not looking to spin it too high, I just want years of enjoyment out of it yet I'm hoping for mid 10's if possible.

3) Do I have to change the injectors? I was told no.

4) How much HP can these motors take before grenading? Maybe I'll put some nitrous on it only if I cant hit the mid 10's so I want to be safe.

Any suggestion on this combo will be very appreciated.

Lee

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

How'd you get it down to 2800lbs? Is that with engine? I just put in a late 2000 early 2001 engine in my 68 Firebird. Completely stripped interior and was figuring it would be around 2900lb

1. A Trex or MS3 have been popular choices and will clear stock heads. I think they are like 239/242 110-111lsa or something like that with about .610 lift for the trex and i think the ms3 is like .630 on the intake. I have heard nothing but great things about custom spec'd cams from Patrick G though and i think if i ever change my cam i will be going with one. My cam is on the bigger medium duration side but has more lift than most cams.

2.With a nice set of heads and matched cam you can make 450-480rwhp easily. Are you planning on running it carbureted or fuel injected?

3.Ah fuel injected. I had an 01 Z06, heads, cam, and it made 465rwhp/422rwtq on stock injectors, intake, fuel system, throttble body. That was like 3 years ago too. 238/242 .608/.612 115LSA cam (HPE S cam)

4.Pistons go then rods and they go around 600-700hp from what i have heard. The cranks are supposed to be good to 1000hp. The 6 bolt main setup really helps with crank strength. FWIW I plan on putting down 460rwhp or so with heads and then spraying a 150shot on top of it but Shhh its a secret

If you have any questions feel free to PM me or IM me. I actually just sold my 70 Firebird which almost got the LS1. I'm all the way through the swap just waiting on my intake to start it and driveshaft to drive it.

71_firebird

Thanks Shawn,

You can save a ton of weight be replacing the factory frame and A-arms, it just costs a ton too! The nose on the firebirds must weigh a bunch more the a camaro too?

I will look at those cams. Have you run your 68 at the track yet? Do you think mid 10's are possible with my configuration?

BTW, this motor was going to go in my 71 firebird but my plans change so often. The firebird is so much heavier that I'm putting in a whipple blown 454 out of 98. The torque should really get it moving.

Ulmo

Nice project We have ) this

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

I'm not sure if the bird is heavier or not. Ive been reading that's it's lighter. The OHC 6 cylider was actually only like 2980 or something and thats what my car orgionally was the OHC sprint. I figured the LS1 must weigh about the same as the iron 6 cylidner and i've stripped everything out of it.

I havent run it yet I'm still waiting on a couple odds and ends to start it then i have to get a driveshaft made but everything else is done.

Mid 10s will be hard to hit. With the trans setup it could possible but I would think you would need a set of heads to do it even at 2800lbs. It'lll be a couple months before i get mine to the track I'm sure but i can let you know. I'm shooting for High 10s on all motor. I plan on spraying on top of that too just for a little extra edge on the street. You would need a good suspension setup and stronger rear than the 8.2 i would think.

PREDATOR-Z

To do mid 10s in a 1st gen at 3000lbs driver included you'll need ~ 500>525 fhp

fast

iTrader: (24)

i'll be running the ms3 in my '68
the ms4 is the higher lift (intake side) version

I'd think the bird would weigh more, if you've ever picked up the nose it is quite heavy (have a '68 bird in the garage in pieces as we speak)

71_firebird

I agree. Looking at all the posts here, there are many people getting ~400rwhp so I figure that's around 500 flywheel.

So, is it possible with just a cam? If not, what inexpensive heads do you recommend? Or maybe I should just throw some nitrous on it and call it good....

Lee

red_ryderSS

iTrader: (1)

Check out tsp heads/cam packages. You can easily hit 400-420rwhp with a set of their heads matched with an ms4 or ms3. Just make sure you have a decent intake(ls6 or fast 90) and matching tb. If you plan on spraying the cars, your stock injectors won't be too efficient. Might as well upgrade those as well as your oil pump.

PREDATOR-Z

525 fwhp means about 440rwhp
you'll need a H/C, Fast 90/90, LTs, lots of attention in the build, rod bolts (Katech), spin to 6600>6800, and hours of dyno tuning.

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

Really? Why would a 1st gen be so much faster than a 4th gen being only a couple hundred pounds lighter? Is it a better chasis design or weigh distribution? I was hoping for around 400-420rwhp and with 4.56s hoping to see high 10s on motor.

MrElectric03

iTrader: (71)

How about some pics, I want to put an LS1 in my 68 Firebird sometime

Shawn MacAnanny

iTrader: (12)

https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-swaps/899221-almost-ready-start-68-ls1-firebird-what-jets-holley-hp-750-a.html

Theres a thread i have with a few pics in it. Nothing is really finished yet haha.