BOOSTED AFR

Just got my 1997 Trans Am back up and running, I bought the car over the summer for the grand total of $1800! Car came with a 396 LT1 built by Motorsports Technologies of Houston, Tx. Eibach spings, Hotchkis control arms, weld-in subframe connectors, headers, and a full 3" exhaust.

Since then I set out to put a ProCharger on this monster but I wasn't satisfied with the capabilities of the LT1 PCM so I decided on a 0411 Swap to enable me to run a 2 BAR MAP sensor and a custom OS. Being as I'm a bit of a cheapskate and I was completely broke at the time I skipped the 24x kit and built my own swap with a billet Accel Vortec distributor and repinned factory harness. I finally fired it up and Viola!

For later I picked up a Twin-Intercooled, 12 Rib D1-sc, AFR 210 heads, and a Moser 12 Bolt all brand new for $5250! And found the Denny's nitrous ready driveshaft for $150.

So the project is rolling and I hope to keep everyone posted. I figured this accomplishment merited my first post here.

I wish the car wasn't so ugly but that's for later!

Sorry no pictures of the engine bay yet. They are on my computer and I'm posting from the IPad. I'll get them up soon.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=HF1vlGtN2Vs

https://youtube.com/watch?feature=plcp&v=qgykSM9uTo0

Dave357LT1

What kinda rpm will that dizzy handle?

BOOSTED AFR

I cant say for sure, I just got the car running but I do know that the distributor is completely billet inside and out, has ball bearings, and is a very nice piece.

FWIW Accel's website says 10,000 RPM

BP Automotive

iTrader: (3)

I am just wondering, and I may be wrong because I am unfamiliar with the vortec dizzy swap. Why didnt you just go ahead and add the 8 coils and not use the high voltage through the distributor?

Edit- I see why now, you kept the 4x reluctor and you cannot use the ls1 calibration. I think I have an idea on how to get around that issue though.

BOOSTED AFR

At one time there was a distributor swap that was called something to the effect of a Digispark that I believe housed a 24x reluctor inside which allowed the use of the Coil on Plug ignition with a standard looking distributor.

Edit- Guess I should have google searched a bit more, i think it actually houses the same type of reluctor as an Optispark allowing the L98s tune run a flash programmable LT1 PCM

BOOSTED AFR

On another interesting note thanks to BP Automotive. Just a few days ago I bought a benchtop harness off Ebay from you that actually tuned this car. Small world!!

BP Automotive

iTrader: (3)

Thanks! I hope you were satisfied! Quality is most important to me!

BOOSTED AFR

Absolutely awesome, thanks again!

draggin97s10

iTrader: (2)

Sounds really good. The car doesn't look bad just the bumper. This will be a fun car im sure.

BOOSTED AFR

Finally got to putting up the actual pictures of the swap. Enjoy

BOOSTED AFR

Few more

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Those are heads Craig ported for you? He get a CNC machine? Because the symmetry on the ports is fantastic. What headers are those? If they are 1 5/8" shortes then get rid of them ASAP because you're going to choke the snot out of that engine.

draggin97s10

iTrader: (2)

Lol... i retract the statement about it not looking bad....but hey function of form

WS Sick

I almost bought that car, I seen it for sale , looked at it but never contacted the owner.
I didn't know it had a 396 in it!!

BOOSTED AFR

No, sorry the heads in the picture are the a AFR 210s I bought for later. The heads on the car are the GTPs and they were hand ported many years ago. The previous owner didn't know much about the car's history so he didn't have a date for me.

I have no idea what brand the headers are but they are 1 5/8". I have some 1 3/4" hooker long tubes for the car when I switch the heads, cam, and intake and put the blower on.

BOOSTED AFR

Yessir, fully forged 396! It's the only thing that made the car worth it to me because the rest of the car is/was so trashed. I have completely gutted the interior besides dash, door panels, and front seats. Believe it or not it looks better.

WS Sick

Lol, I almost bought it but my wife said " you don't need another one taking up space"....lol

flyinZ

iTrader: (15)

Not bad, but a nice powerplant to start with. I remember when MTI was a BIG shop and did top notch work.

BOOSTED AFR

I sure wish I knew something about MTI. The first LT1 was produced before I was born!! So as much as I love this platform I'm a bit out of tune with 90s and early 2000 mods and car shops. Rumor has it that this car was modified while it was still almost brand new, if that was 1998 I would've been only 5 years old!

I have heard positives and negatives about MTI so I took a gamble with the engine but so far it seems okay.

BOOSTED AFR

I can almost relate. Being that I just got to college all my projects are in my parents driveway, Dad is a chassis builder so he thinks it's awesome but Mom is less than enthusiastic.

Send me a PM sometime when you go to Thunder Valley and I'll leave the actual drag car at home and bring the TA. We'll have ourselves an Okie LTx shootout!