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

[carbuff]

Ah, that makes a lot more sense. I thought that was a big difference, especially since I have the aluminum LS and aftermarket subframe up front.

[glassman]

Nice update Bryan!!

Just got finished with my heads and cam from TSP on mine, cant' wait to see what breaks next lol.

We're only as strong as our weakest link....

I'm (or was before the DSE rear) at 3501 on mine, any reason the 'bird's are more?

[gerno]

Originally Posted by glassman

Nice update Bryan!!

Just got finished with my heads and cam from TSP on mine, cant' wait to see what breaks next lol.

We're only as strong as our weakest link....

I'm (or was before the DSE rear) at 3501 on mine, any reason the 'bird's are more?

Mike - Is your car's weight with you in it? I'm pretty sure Bryan's is with his weight mocked pretty close. My car's at 3425 without me and I'm near 170 which puts it at 3595. I don't have near the creature comforts Bryan does - AC, Dynamat, full stereo, back seat..etc

[glassman]

Not with me in it. but it has a/c, dynamat (two boxes, 45lbs ish) and rear seats (most likely getting deleted with the new interior in a year or two)....

179lbs, me, plus clothing....helmet and shoulder pads...and cleats...

so, tank, full, or 1/2?

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by gerno

Mike - Is your car's weight with you in it? I'm pretty sure Bryan's is with his weight mocked pretty close. My car's at 3425 without me and I'm near 170 which puts it at 3595. I don't have near the creature comforts Bryan does - AC, Dynamat, full stereo, back seat..etc

Originally Posted by Panteracer

Bryan,
I wasn't thinking when I saw your car weight
Now I know you have your weight included for corner weighing
I was not counting my weight and I am no little guy either
at 240lbs so our car weights are closer

Bob

Originally Posted by glassman

Not with me in it. but it has a/c, dynamat (two boxes, 45lbs ish) and rear seats (most likely getting deleted with the new interior in a year or two)....

179lbs, me, plus clothing....helmet and shoulder pads...and cleats...

so, tank, full, or 1/2?

PRETTY DANG HARD TO RUN A CAR WITHOUT A DRIVER..... SO what's the point of saying my car weighs "X" if you don't include the driver and fuel and, and.....


'NUFF SAID

[GregWeld]

Bryan ---


Without coming off like a jerk - because that's not my intention AT ALL..... I'd be looking for a different engine builder/tuner..... et al. I know a ton of people that are running track events over and over and over - with their LS motors and aren't having issues at all.

I'm pretty sure you have an Accusump -- and that SHOULD take care of the occasional pick up / cornering issue... I would assume you have a baffled "race" pan...

After having motor issues myself 3 or 4 times in a row.... It was the best thing I ever did just going to a new builder and problems solved. The very same motor has been flawless since. Go figure.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by gerno

Mike - Is your car's weight with you in it? I'm pretty sure Bryan's is with his weight mocked pretty close. My car's at 3425 without me and I'm near 170 which puts it at 3595. I don't have near the creature comforts Bryan does - AC, Dynamat, full stereo, back seat..etc

Yes, the car's weight included my weight (weight plates).

When I first put TOW on the scales, it was 3810 or so with me in it. Since then I've added the Accusump, rear sway bar, remote oil filter, the change from the LS2 to the LS7 block, and I've put on a few pounds. Not that many though.

A firebird has a very heavy front bumper (75 pounds or so). The Camaro RS urethane bumper is about 30 or so? Also the brackets for the Firebird are heavy.

I have no actual data to prove it, but I think the JRS subframe is pretty heavy too. When I was moving it around, it certainly wasn't light.

[GregWeld]

My Mustang has lost almost 15 #'s since I drove it last. LOL


Didn't cost me a thing. Balsamic on my salad instead of Bleu Cheese... Apple and Raw Almonds for snacks... Breakfast is 3 tablespoons of Granola - a package of non fat yogurt - and a 1/3 cup of blueberries instead of bacon and eggs and potatoes and sourdough toast with butter and jam...

[WSSix]

Sorry to hear of the woes, Bryan. I'm glad you're out having fun with the car though. That action shot at COTA is nice! Good luck getting it sorted and back together.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Bryan ---


Without coming off like a jerk - because that's not my intention AT ALL..... I'd be looking for a different engine builder/tuner..... et al. I know a ton of people that are running track events over and over and over - with their LS motors and aren't having issues at all.

I'm pretty sure you have an Accusump -- and that SHOULD take care of the occasional pick up / cornering issue... I would assume you have a baffled "race" pan...

After having motor issues myself 3 or 4 times in a row.... It was the best thing I ever did just going to a new builder and problems solved. The very same motor has been flawless since. Go figure.

Greg,

No offense taken. I completely agree with you...

I had Texas Speed rebuild the motor last year when I dropped the valve. I don't blame the dropped valve on the original engine builder, I think it was moreso due to having sat for 5 years. But I don't want to go back to Texas Speed for another rebuild.

So I went on a hunt for another builder. I didn't find anyone in Austin that has much of a reputation for LS engines, but there are several shops in Houston that have good reps. After speaking with a few of them, I've decided to have H-Squared Racing do the rebuild. We've had multiple discussions about what I'm doing with the car, what I want in the engine, and the level of details that should be discussed during a build. Today we talked about piston options and deck height options and compression ratio options, as an example.

To make things even better, he has offered to help me pull and reinstall the engine, as Eric's shop is full so he doesn't have space to do it right now. I didn't ask, he offered. So I'm towing TOW down to Houston on Friday to start the process.

Regarding the Accusump, I'm definitely not happy that it didn't help (assuming that it didn't). I figured out during my second day at COTA that my Accusump wasn't working. It didn't prime when I flipped the switch on at some point during the day. I used my multimeter to determine that the pressure switch in the block wasn't working. WTF, how did that die? Anyway, I bypassed it and had the Holley controlling the Accusump valve. But it's likely that any damage was done before I figured that out.

Once I get the engine out, I'll pull the sensor and contact Canton about it. I may leave the sensor out and just use the Holley for the control.