1971 Firebird Build ("The Other Woman", a.k.a. Project "T.O.W.")

[ZMAN1969]

Bryan, sweet build, long read! Pg 19 had me drooling over the BBQ pics.
I used to have a Lucerne blue 72 T/A and this thread made me miss that car IIRC it ended up in Austin. I'll look for you at the next Goodguys I like the auto-X events what fun are the cars if we cant drive them hard? There is a builder up in Dallas are named Watt, I haven't used him but a buddy has if you haven't found anyone yet, carry on!

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by ZMAN1969

Bryan, sweet build, long read! Pg 19 had me drooling over the BBQ pics.
I used to have a Lucerne blue 72 T/A and this thread made me miss that car IIRC it ended up in Austin. I'll look for you at the next Goodguys I like the auto-X events what fun are the cars if we cant drive them hard? There is a builder up in Dallas are named Watt, I haven't used him but a buddy has if you haven't found anyone yet, carry on!

I'm usually there (this past one being the exception) as are several others of us from the forum. Definitely stop by and say Hello in the Fall!

[Che70velle]

Bryan, carefully examine that oil pump, when you do the tear down. Those have been known to have the relief valve/plunger stick open. Not trying to start an oil pump war, just saying that it's happened before. I'm doing a 5.3 build right now for my nephew, and went with the Melling 295, and I checked it inside and out before installation. Hopefully you'll get your engine woes straightened out on the next one...that has to be getting VERY expensive.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Che70velle

Bryan, carefully examine that oil pump, when you do the tear down. Those have been known to have the relief valve/plunger stick open. Not trying to start an oil pump war, just saying that it's happened before. I'm doing a 5.3 build right now for my nephew, and went with the Melling 295, and I checked it inside and out before installation. Hopefully you'll get your engine woes straightened out on the next one...that has to be getting VERY expensive.

Good suggestion. I'll have the builder pull it apart and take a look. I'm looking at one of the Schumann pumps as a possible wet-sump alternative. The plunger is replaced with a stainless steel ball to help prevent exactly what you describe.

Doing a full rebuild again this year after the full rebuild last year, then the cam upgrade, definitely wasn't planned for in the budget. :\ But it will get fixed, and I'll be back on the track soon!

[Panteracer]

I was always told you want a high volume
Pump not high pressure. Maybe dry sump Ls type
is different. I had a high pressure in one of my Poncho
motors and it washed the bearings.

Pantera has a high volume pump that the engine builder
prepped before installing with an Aviad pan With a mech
gauge shows 60 psi almost all the time. Motor is 10 years old
and sees track and autocross turns at 7500 rpm with steady pressure

Best motor I have ever had and I have lunched over a dozen
in my lifetime. But it is a dart Ford. Flame suit on

Bob

[GriffithMetal]

This is where I mounted the LS7 tank in SWs Camaro

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GriffithMetal

This is where I mounted the LS7 tank in SWs Camaro

You know that I know you can make it work. But the inner fender and core support in that area are very different on the Camaro and Firebird. I was starring at it last night. I considered having Stef's build a rectangular tank to fit in that space also. We'd have to move the AC components, but that wouldn't be a huge deal. Just new lines...

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

I was always told you want a high volume
Pump not high pressure. Maybe dry sump Ls type
is different. I had a high pressure in one of my Poncho
motors and it washed the bearings.

Pantera has a high volume pump that the engine builder
prepped before installing with an Aviad pan With a mech
gauge shows 60 psi almost all the time. Motor is 10 years old
and sees track and autocross turns at 7500 rpm with steady pressure

Best motor I have ever had and I have lunched over a dozen
in my lifetime. But it is a dart Ford. Flame suit on

Bob

Bob,

Maybe I have this all wrong... I have been avoiding the High Volume pumps as I assume those would make the problem even worse. Am I wrong on that? When I read high volume, I'm thinking that pump will suck the pan dry faster and push the oil up into the top of the motor. Is that wrong?

I have a phone call in to Schumann's who sells a ported and modified LS wet sump pump. I've read good things about them on various LS forums. I want to see what they have to say. They only do HV pumps, so maybe I'll learn more there too.