LT1-LT4 Modifications - Started My Firehawk Project Today :)

Long story short, the motor blew up in this car in 2007 and I had a 383 built with all the good stuff in 2011 that turned out less than stellar. I'm doing it myself this time and cleaning up the engine compartment too. Not going too radical, as it will be my Wifes car when done. Here's some pictures from today of the disassembly:

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Firehawk/43bf6fec.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Firehawk/f2c4ae27.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Firehawk/9184d97e.jpg

Very clean car! Did the motor blow or were you just disappointed with the performance?

Car looks in mint shape! Looking forward to see the engine build!

Very clean car! Did the motor blow or were you just disappointed with the performance?

As soon as I got the car home it was misfiring, leaking coolant out of the studs, leaking oil and the oil itself looked like milk. At that point I just decided it was better to pull it and start from scratch.

Car looks in mint shape! Looking forward to see the engine build!

It only has 42k on it, but it seems anything that could have ever gone wrong with it did LOL.

Motor has all the good stuff like a Callies crank, Oliver rods and JE pistons so hopefully it will be a low budget freshen up, but we'll do what needs to be done so its right. I'm not afraid to spend money and I can't have the Wife riding around in junk :D

Mine has 33k but has turned more towards a race car these days. Wish I had the internals you do. Hope your guy just didnt use sealant on the head bolts or something.

Lookin good

Mine has 33k but has turned more towards a race car these days. Wish I had the internals you do. Hope your guy just didnt use sealant on the head bolts or something.

I wish my car ran like yours! It's an amazing peice! To be honest, I think there are all kinds of things worng internally, but we'll find out soon enough :eyes:

You've got a garage full of fun man. Firehawk, Corvette, Chevelle. The holy trinity. Are they all yours?

The body of your hawk looks great! Looking at your pics I'm almost regretting spending all that money on the engine instead of the body. Best of luck!

You've got a garage full of fun man. Firehawk, Corvette, Chevelle. The holy trinity. Are they all yours?

Yes they are.....I'm pretty lucky for the most part. Thats the toy garage....there's another one with the wife's daily and an IROC too.

The body of your hawk looks great! Looking at your pics I'm almost regretting spending all that money on the engine instead of the body. Best of luck!

Don't regret it Rob, you have an awesome car! Just make it your next step!

That hawk is SEXY!

A little more progress..............anyone know what needs to come off the front of the motor to get it out of the top? Do I need to remove the opti and balancer?

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/83ec7e93.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/a6296703.jpg

The car looks real sharp.

To come out the top you need to take everything off of the front of the motor. You need to bring the motor as far forward as you can, then tilt it up so the crank snout is pointed at the ceiling to get it out. Helps to keep the trans attached because it acts as a counterweight and helps get it vertical. Beautiful car!

The paint on that hawk looks flawless!

The paint on that hawk looks flawless!

Truff!!!

The car looks real sharp.

Thanks man! Your car is amazing! A week after I bought mine a black one came available.......thats the one I really wanted cause it was a 6 speed and black.

To come out the top you need to take everything off of the front of the motor. You need to bring the motor as far forward as you can, then tilt it up so the crank snout is pointed at the ceiling to get it out. Helps to keep the trans attached because it acts as a counterweight and helps get it vertical. Beautiful car!

Thanks for the info and compliment!

I'm a moron, I should have mentioned I bought a 'happy hooker'. Just didn't want to get it on the hook and have an issue.

The paint on that hawk looks flawless!

Thank you......it was painted by an awesome shop in 2000. Its been colorsanded and buffed too.

why dont you just roll it out of the bottom? You can litterally clean up any loose ends?
Nice hawk looks just like my 93


[QUOTE=Rumblin70ss;16014811]Thanks man! Your car is amazing! A week after I bought mine a black one came available.......thats the one I really wanted cause it was a 6 speed and black.



Thanks for the info and compliment!

I'm a moron, I should have mentioned I bought a 'happy hooker'. Just didn't want to get it on the hook and have an issue.



Thank you......it was painted by an awesome shop in 2000. Its been colorsanded and buffed too.[/QUOTE

Awesome deal! Sux to have to go into it but it will be even more awesome once its done..... I myself just added a Trans Am to my corral.

Nice build, looks like you got a nice 74ish C3 and a Chevelle or Elky?

Looks great!
Need more details on the Vette and Velle!!

I would leave everything you have on and just take off the hub balancer
I pull engines like that all the time and you can even leave the intake on when yanking it out. But it also depends if you can angle the trans out?

Awesome deal! Sux to have to go into it but it will be even more awesome once its done..... I myself just added a Trans Am to my corral.

I agree! We might add another to the stable as the wife is getting impatient and I'd like to have an LS1 hawk to compliment this car. She wants a T/A with a 6 speed and T-Tops so we'll see.

Nice build, looks like you got a nice 74ish C3 and a Chevelle or Elky?

Thanks for the compliment and you are exactly right! The Corvette is a 74 convertible and has been in the family since 75, although it needs work too. The Chevelle is a 70 SS and my pride and joy. It was my first car in 1988 and just recently completed. Here's a pic:

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Chevelle%20Build/002-1.jpg

Looks great!
Need more details on the Vette and Velle!!

Thanks! See the pic of the Chevelle above and here is one more pic of the motor. Any other questions please ask!

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Chevelle%20Build/001-1.jpg

I would leave everything you have on and just take off the hub balancer
I pull engines like that all the time and you can even leave the intake on when yanking it out. But it also depends if you can angle the trans out?

I wasn't sure if I should take the trans out too......I bought one of those 'happy hookers' where you attach it to the intake and turn it sideways to take out. Is it easier to pull the trans too?

If I do pull the trans, I can leave the AC compressor and starter on? That would be great!

That is one sweet Chevelle!!

Almost ready to pull the motor......if all goes well it will come out tomorrow. As I was taking things off, I found an intake bolt that was finger tight. Could that be the cause of water in the cylinders and misfire?

No water goes through the intake. Im thinking non sealed head bolts.

No water goes through the intake. Im thinking non sealed head bolts.

Oh the head studs are definitely leaking, not a doubt, but how would I get antifreeze out of the exhaust?

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/4ac71500.jpg

Wow! I've never seen that much!:eek2: I'd be after that shop for a refund, that is ridiculous.

Good luck man. Beautiful car and't wait to see what you do with it.

We might add another to the stable as the wife is getting impatient and I'd like to have an LS1 hawk to compliment this car. She wants a T/A with a 6 speed and T-Tops so we'll see.



Damn, I wish my wife wanted stuff like that!

Very nice line up of vehicles you have, that Chevelle is gorgeous.

Oh the head studs are definitely leaking, not a doubt, but how would I get antifreeze out of the exhaust?

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/4ac71500.jpg

Yup. Guy that assembled mine did not use thread sealer and I pulled up to get gas one day and shut it off and it was running great but had noticed that the exhaust smelled a little like coolant in recent days. Filled up the car and started it and a cloud of white emerged behind me. I fogged out the station on start up. lol. lasted about 20 seconds and sealed back up. Drove it the 3 miles home and pulled the engine to find out the head bolts leaked over to the compression rings and entered the rear cylinder on both banks and steam cleaned the pistons for me. For me it was a combination of weak head gaskets and no thread sealer on the head bolts. Went with a felpro gasket and thread sealer and so far so good. No warping of the LE2 heads thank god.

Wow! I've never seen that much!:eek2: I'd be after that shop for a refund, that is ridiculous.

It definitely not what I was expecting. Problem is, the shop is in Florida and I'm in Delaware. I've just decided to cut my losses and do it myself.

Good luck man. Beautiful car and't wait to see what you do with it.

Thanks so much! I'll try to post regular updates!

Damn, I wish my wife wanted stuff like that!

Very nice line up of vehicles you have, that Chevelle is gorgeous.

Thank you and I do have a great wife! Took a long time to find the right one!

Yup. Guy that assembled mine did not use thread sealer and I pulled up to get gas one day and shut it off and it was running great but had noticed that the exhaust smelled a little like coolant in recent days. Filled up the car and started it and a cloud of white emerged behind me. I fogged out the station on start up. lol. lasted about 20 seconds and sealed back up. Drove it the 3 miles home and pulled the engine to find out the head bolts leaked over to the compression rings and entered the rear cylinder on both banks and steam cleaned the pistons for me. For me it was a combination of weak head gaskets and no thread sealer on the head bolts. Went with a felpro gasket and thread sealer and so far so good. No warping of the LE2 heads thank god.


Mine leaked inside and out from the second it go home. Below is an update of the motor being apart. :)

Well, we got the motor out and apart today. The good news is all my parts are there like the Callies crank, Oliver rods and billet main caps. I have to check the receipts, but I had asked for JE pistons and I found SRP units inside the motor instead so that isn't exactly right.

The bad news is the problems just look like sloppy workmanship. Some of the intake bolts were loose, the studs had very little, if any sealer on them and there is some scoring in the rod/main bearings. We think this is from either dirt during assembly or the anitfreeze leaking throughout the motor along with the sealing pellets that were added to try and stop the leaking when it was dynoed. Motor assembly and the dyno session were done by two different shops.

Below are some pictures of the motor. Keep in mind it probably has an hour of runtime total and has been sitting for about a year waiting for dissasembly.

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/f3b800b1.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/17d58288.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/22495f6d.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/3e299406.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/5b9c728f.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/e85ff60b.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/5b9cb917.jpg

I am trying to get motivated to work on my newly acquired TA, my start is not near as clean as yours but it is yet one more f body being rescued and it is a first year car 1993

In her nicer days
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/rudy_028/2012-02-05040329-1-1.png


sun faded and wheels sold off, this car was about to be parted out due to a blown headgasket
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/rudy_028/2012-02-04_12-26-11_12.jpg

Clean looking Hawk! Good luck with your build.

I am trying to get motivated to work on my newly acquired TA, my start is not near as clean as yours but it is yet one more f body being rescued and it is a first year car 1993

In her nicer days
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/rudy_028/2012-02-05040329-1-1.png


sun faded and wheels sold off, this car was about to be parted out due to a blown headgasket
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/rudy_028/2012-02-04_12-26-11_12.jpg

You'll get it......just take some time, come up with plan and stick to it!

Clean looking Hawk! Good luck with your build.

Thanks so much! Hope it will be done sooner rather than later.

I am trying to get motivated to work on my newly acquired TA, my start is not near as clean as yours but it is yet one more f body being rescued and it is a first year car 1993

In her nicer days
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/rudy_028/2012-02-05040329-1-1.png


sun faded and wheels sold off, this car was about to be parted out due to a blown headgasket
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m173/rudy_028/2012-02-04_12-26-11_12.jpg


No don't part her out, she's beautiful, hardtop like mines and speed density, I kept mines and its a 93 as well. Glad I did, by the way what color is that? Is it from the factory?

Nice hawk man

Even nicer chevelle
Mind posting more pictures of it if you have time?

Nice hawk man

Even nicer chevelle
Mind posting more pictures of it if you have time?


Sure! Here's a few more. Let me know if you want to see anything specific!

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Chevelle/006.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Chevelle%20Build/004-1.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/Chevelle%20Build/022.jpg

Nice set of toys! Did you build this engine for boost? I saw that they used dished pistons and was just wondering.

My god is that chevelle clean! Is that a 454? Aluminum or iron block?

As for your hawk, it's a real shame about that shoddy workmanship. Especially after you had them build it with quality parts. What's the condition of the crank?

If you don't mind me asking what's the specs on the cam? Maybe it's just me but aluminum rockers scare me.

Nice set of toys! Did you build this engine for boost? I saw that they used dished pistons and was just wondering.

Thank you!

Originally I wanted to boost it, but the motor ended up taking way too long and was alot more than I wanted to spend with a blower. Specs say its 10.4 with a 57 CC head, but since I have it apart I'm going to check everything to see really where its at.

My god is that chevelle clean! Is that a 454? Aluminum or iron block?

As for your hawk, it's a real shame about that shoddy workmanship. Especially after you had them build it with quality parts. What's the condition of the crank?

If you don't mind me asking what's the specs on the cam? Maybe it's just me but aluminum rockers scare me.

The Chevelle has a 580 built by Pro Motion Racing Engines out of NJ and it uses a Dart Big M tall deck cast iron block. Made 850 hp on the dyno when it was first done.

As for the crank, it looks good. Some of the bearings have some scoring, but nothing major. I'll be replacing them anyways.

The cam is variation of the CC502 with 528/535 lift using 1.6 rockers and 218/224 @.050 on a 114 ls. It has to get through inspection so I had to go light on the cam.

Now that I see what everyone else is doing here I could have probably went alot further with it.

Always feel free to ask questions or point things out. I'm still a novice with these cars.

Made some more progress today.....almost have everything out of the engine compartment. Last things I have are the main harness, the hood release and throttle cable. I might remove some of the brake lines too.

Now sure how to pull the whole harness....think I might need to disconnect a few things under the dash to get it out.

I talked to the body shop too about the project and I'll firm things up with them this week. Hope it will get down next week and back in a week or two. They had thought it would be a pretty quick job.

Just need to figure out where I want to go with the motor :)

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/25688ce9.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/e2e1ad64.jpg

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/571b57fe.jpg

looking good very sharp car gd luck to u

Minor progress.......ready to go to the paint shop.

Still deciding what to do on the motor. Picking up another project today doesn't help. :)

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/028e6378.jpg

Project.....LOL

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/494c9065.jpg

Subscribing :)
I've been down this road; it can be fun if you have a solid game plan and the time/resources you need to finish.

- James (93 Firehawk #18)

Good luck with your build man. I feel for you on having such a nice car down for so long. Head gasket on my 95 hawk started leaking coolant out the back of the block couple weeks ago so have it torn down to repair it and may install a larger cam and new spring kit while im at it. going to pull the engine the rest of the way out of the car though and verify the condition of the internals before i spend money where it is not necessary.

Looking good sir! That Chevelle is sick looking! I would have Pro-Motion re-build your LT1 motor.

Thanks for the comments guys! The car is coming along slowly, but money is a little tight right now.

It just came back from the paint shop yesterday and they did a real nice job.

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/81ba1bff.jpg

I have to concentrate on this one more than the others as the wife has been asking to drive it :)

uh oh, youre in trouble. It better be perfect.....lol

Man that looks sweet! Wish I could get my engine bay painted up but that's wayy down the line of things to do ha

Looks real good!

WOW I didn't realize it had been 4 months since I was reading this. Any updates?

Things kind of stalled out at the moment due to time......plus the wife wanted a new car so we picked this up for her and I have been slowly getting it in shape!

http://i337.photobucket.com/albums/n389/Rumblin70SS/cfeb6e948d9624da09faf0cdf4955096.jpg

Beautiful car, I have always wanted a Firehawk... jealous!

Looks like your new hawk has t-tops. Nice. I love driving around with the tops off.

Thanks Guys!

The wife wanted t-tops a six speed and a Trans Am with the big wing. I figured it was easier to buy a car for her and then I get to fool with something new too!

Nice, you guys own two great looking Firehawks now. I love watching the old car test videos on the Firehawks from the 90s. Those things were bad cars back in their day.

< this guy is jealous.