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Fireball FI98x Turbo Build

1. Project Sponsors

Performance Auto Fabrication, Inc.
Virginia Speed

2. Vehicle year, make, model, mileage

1999 Trans Am 75K miles

3. Current Modifications List

See below

4. Planned Modifications List

See below

5. Current HP/TQ or Track Results

Best of 10.48 @ 129.4 H/C and Six speed

6. Planned HP/TQ or Track Results

1300 FWHP (est)...Low 8s @ 170ish (one can hope ;) )

After wearing out the motor of my stock-bottom ended H/C setup, I decided to start a turbo project.

Found a race class that requires a true 10.5" tire and an 88-mm maximum size turbo restriction, so I chose to build around that class. The specifics will be a .010 over LS2 (stock stroke) motor 366 cid, ETP 225 heads (9:1 compression), vic Jr intake intake and Wilson 90mm elbow. Tranny will be a powerglide. Specific details will be given within...

Step one...

Order some turbo parts. Found a killer deal on tech and bought the following as a package. GT47-88 turbo, Reichard Racing "minicube" A2W intercooler, HKS GT-II 60mm wastegate, Meziere A2W water pump.

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/turbo1.jpg

Step two...

Hack up the back of the car and add minitubs. I ordered a moser 9" rear narrowed as far as they could go with STOCK SUSPENSION MOUNT POINTS which was 3 3/4" per side (7.5" total). The rear was equipped with optional drain/fill points and a back brace. 35-spline axles, spool and aluminum center round out the package. I still haven't put gears in yet. Wheels are 15x10 American Racing Pro-Series Trakstars on a 5" BS. LCAs are Billingsley Racing Offsets. As you can see in this picture, I still had my old 28x10x15 hoosiers mounted on the rims an no brake calipers yet so the pic looks a bit goofy (tires set in pretty far)...this will change ;)

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/mt_done_1.jpg

Step 3 Training wheels :jest: Performance Auto Fabrication custom wheelie bars. They are 68 +/- inches long. The third picture is a decent picture of the rear

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/wb1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/wb2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/wb3.jpg

Step 4 Motor and mid plates, mount the turbo, and radiator. Plates are Madman pieces. Radiator is a universal griffen unit and the front of the car was modified to accomodate it.

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin55..._mounted_1.jpg

Step 5 Air filter. Found this 14" long filter from AFE

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/filter.jpg

Step 6 Headers. Custom 304 stainless forward facing headers. We opted to make them this way to help with routing and it keeps the primaries a bit longer.

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/headers.jpg

Update 6/30

Got the A2W intercooler installed. Saw one positioned similarly on another build and I liked it...really tough to get it to fit though...needed alot of cutting :jest:

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/IC1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/IC2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/IC3.jpg

Update 7-14

Got the turbo connected to the intercooler and the Tial 50mm blowoff valve welded up. Note that there aren't any silicone connectors anywhere....everything is connected with aluminum v-band assemblies :nod:

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/coldside_1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/coldside_2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/coldside_3.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/coldside_4.jpg

That is a really clean build, very nice work! :thumb:

Updated my sponsor info...

Update 9/30

Got the exhaust system layed out today....tacked up, to be fully welded up later...pretty simple design. 4" past the motor plate, under the starter into a 4" bullet muffler then a turndown :pimp:
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/exhaust1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/exhaust2.jpg

Also threw the car on the scales....I figure there is about 500 or so more lbs to put in (tranny, converter, gears, driveshaft, brakes and fuel/water systems mainly)

Came in at a portly 2502 lbs right now :eek: :nod:

Looks like 3200 lb raceweight is probably an achievable goal...still have about 30-40 lbs that needs to be removed too...(cutting out my old Global west SFCs since the new 25.5 cage has integrated SFCs)...also need to install my tubular A-arms in place of the stockers...

update 10-27

Mounted the belt-drive fuel pump, vacuum pump and connected the wastegate discharge to the downpipe:

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/pumps_top.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/pumps_front.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/wg_discharge.jpg

Update 11/3/07

Installed the moroso replacement oil pan today....really nicely engineered piece IMHO...

1. Pickup is moved to the back of the oil pan
2. Windage tray now covers the WHOLE rotating assembly
3. The pan is much lighter than the stocker but has a nice thick flange.

New windage tray installed
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/moroso1.jpg

Windage Tray comparison (stock held up next to installed moroso one
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/moroso2.jpg

Oil pickup installed
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/moroso3.jpg

Pan installed
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/moroso4.jpg

added a little bit of "bling bling" to the motor, also started on the tubular bumper support:

http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/valvecovers1.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/valvecovers2.jpg

So I up and sold the GT47....wonder whats in store now :devil:

couple updates:

Got the cage certified for 7.50s
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/cert.jpg

Mounted the stroud chute
http://home.comcast.net/~tfranklin5580/chute.jpg

Also ordered BS3 and racepak dash setup :pimp: