No love for the BBC! :willy:

If I am not mistaken
 

VIR is a long track. I know they run a short version as well. The long one will work to your advantage.

I would ditch the big block as well. 7 or 8 miles to the gallon as apposed to 20 for the LS Motor...and the LS will make the same HP.

You never said much about the BBC. Does it need a rebuild? I am assuming it is a steel head motor?

From a budget standpoint, if you do not need to rebuild the BBC you might as well use it. Adding the 6 speed is easy. Use the stock sub and opt for upgraded control arms and stick with the leafs on the rear with different bushings. You should be able to pick up a trans am rear end with factory disc brakes and sway bar pretty cheap. I think they are 8.5 10 bolts with a gear raito of 3.31 and posi. Run the stock brakes front and rear with a really good set of pads and fab up some cooling ducts.

Just like everyone else said. You are going to blow through $12,000 pretty quick. If you had more money to spend the recs would be a lot different.

This sounds like a cool project. Coming from a guy that runs road courses in a big four door Impala SS, you should be able to pull this off. :thumbsup:

Just a few things to consider.

-- C5 front brakes -- pretty cheap for parts, minimal fab work. (Probably get some donated from the Vette racer guys)
-- Herb Adams suspension stuff? Didn't he make some great 2nd gen cars back in the day (before my time)?
-- 2nd gen WS6 Firebirds had a factory disc rear, like stated earlier.
-- I think Z28 and WS6 cars may have a faster ratio steering box?
-- Plan for oil and power steering coolers.
-- Possible LT1 swap? Might be cheaper than the LSx based stuff. A mild cam, good tune, and headers should get 340-ish rwhp.

I'd look into keeping the stock front subframe (for $$ reasons) and put in good subframe connectors and a rollbar or cage. That should stiffen things up pretty good.

Good luck,
Randy

i think that a stage 2 front end from SC&C on a stock subframe is your best bet... tie it on with solid mounts and subframe conectors..

with regards to the engine, you are propably better off selling the BBC and investing in a LSx engine... most power for your money is propably a 6.0 with L92 heads, a big cam like a TSP, MS4 and a single-plane+carb... that should put you well into the 500-550 rwhp. that way you are still able to use OEM bellhousing and ls7 clutch, keeping cost down...

new f-body long tube headers are prety tight and should work in your 2.gen.. and so should an f-body oilpan with enough engine setback..

brakes should be a matter of keeping stock rear discs, and perhaps upgrading to ls1 brakes via some brackets....

interior should be a pair of light weight seats and a cage...

rims.. id get some el-cheapos for a bmw off ebay and run a good sticky tire.. and find out what to do in the rear.... sliders, tractionbars and perhaps a watts-link??

What do you guys think of this plan of action:

Work the suspension, brakes, subframe, body work, etc. first. Hang on to the BBC for now (Since I have it, and it just needs new bearings and to be put back together). Find out where my budget is when I get that sorted out, and make a decision on the engine. If I've got room, go for the LSx, if not, use the BBC.

Not a bad plan - Don't forget about the good ole Small Block. LSX engine would be preferable, but the a small block will be much lighter than the BB and still make good power for the money - just a thought.

you can get a used 6.0 for arround 500-750, and a pair fo L92 heads flow 320 out of the box and costs arround 1000, for that money you cant even get a set of AFR sbc heads.... and a 6.0 iron block is stronger than almost any sbc block out there, oem or aftermatket....

Great thread :thumbsup: Good luck I hope you kick his a$$.

Point taken - I just didn't want the old SBC to get left out - Just throwing out another option. He may run across a good deal on one - you never know. I would like to see a budget 6.0L make its way into this project - it would give me chance to learn more about them!

I really hope this thing smokes the little BMW - Good Luck

You could save a lot of cash going with an lsx motor and using a single plane intake. That would save the extra cost of FI and expensive ecm.

GM sells a 440 hp single plane crate for $4900, I'm sure you could get a good engine for half that amount.



Good luck,

Rich