78 TA with LS3/Holley TBI - Shaker scoop mounting

[Gscherer78ta]

I have the above combination which seems pretty rare. I'm trying to see if anyone has been through this functional shaker scoop mounting before and I don't have to invent something.

The issues are:

1) The LS/Victor intake don't match the line of the hood front to back. At the front the hood is ~1" from the factory air cleaner assy. And the back of the air cleaner assy is ~2".

2) The Air cleaner assy is also about 1" over to the pass side. So the stud that comes out of the TB is ~1" towards the passenger side from the line in the hood.

Thanks in advance!

Greg

[Panteracer]

Greg,
I love my shaker but bought a few kits
for the Pontiac engine and still had to modify things
Now with my Mr-1 block and manifold it is all custom
and still not the best

I thought there were a few on here with Ls engines
that have it figured out

Love your TA

Hope it works out

Bob ... Panteracer but also Dreamin Ta's

[carbuff]

Greg,

As I think you know, I have a very similar situation. I didn't realize that your setup moved the engine towards the passenger side though. My SpeedTech Extreme subframe did that, but only about 1/2' or so.

I have Googled and Googled and Googled some more, read every post I can find on the topic, and I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to make something custom. I don't remember if I've sent you this picture before, but below is my current 'prototype' that I have been working on. Prototype is even a stretch, I'm using this to create a template of what I will need to do.



I drew those up based on measurements and had a local shop waterjet those for me. You can tell how far off the engine is in terms of angle based on the larger bottom plate relative to the smaller upper plate. I don't remember the exact numbers right now, but your 1" difference front to back is similar.

My plan at the moment is to obtain a 2" spun aluminum drop base from someone, and then cut it to the required angle. I will then have a large disc made with a hole in the middle based off of my prototype of the large disc in the picture. I will deal with the F/R and L/R offsets by cutting the hole correctly, then with angle by cutting the drop base. I'll get it welded together and go from there.

Then there is the air cleaner to deal with. The best plan I have at the moment is to either buy or make something like the following:



My concern is that my throttle body will cause the drop base to be so far up into the shaker that space will be limited. I need to build my base and put it together and find out. I've been dragging my heels honestly because it's a pain and I don't have the ability to do it all myself at home.

If I don't have enough height to do it, my next course of action is going to be consider one of the new Pro-Touring F-Body tall shakers. He calls them the Dude Scoop.

https://scontent.faus1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...1b&oe=5DB70927

Hmm, not sure if that link worked. Trying again:



That should get me enough height to deal with a filter, but them means finish work and paint, etc. It may be my only option though....

Enough rambling. Not sure if any of this helps.

[Gscherer78ta]

I know there are a lot of LS swapped Trans Am's on here and Pro-Touring and TA country. Seems most of the typical plastic intake and MFI.


Thanks Bob, appreciate the comments.

Bryan- I was looking at that blockers kit as well. I'm sure you have also heard of WFO sold by Butler.

https://butlerperformance.com/i-2445...html%3Fq%3Dwfo


Or WFO has a blocker style system as well.


https://butlerperformance.com/i-2445...html%3Fq%3Dwfo

[Panteracer]

Greg,
I bought the original Blockers popsicle stye and it was junk
It did not even fit right under the shaker.. looks like what
you are looking at is a lot better

I ended up doing something like Byan cutting a bottom plate
to fit where the whole wants to be.. my car has a dominator
based carb with 4150 bowls for 1050 or 1150 cfm on the
CV1 manifold so it is really big and set far forward

I then grafted the shaker over the top by gluing oak pieces
up in it and then put threaded rods thru my home made
assembly (see attached pic of air filter)... air filter is a 3"
round that I made into an oval.. hard to describe but it works

I recently changed the Trans in my car and also the trans
mount so the motor is at 2.9 degrees down vs almost 5 before
and the front slightly hits my hood.. need to trim it a little

I can pull things apart to show you if you want more info
but looks like the Butler thing may work for you

Bob

[WSSix]

Going to be watching this as, one day, I may switch my intake out so I can do this as well. Good luck, Greg.

[Gscherer78ta]

Originally Posted by Panteracer

Greg,


I ended up doing something like Byan cutting a bottom plate
to fit where the whole wants to be.. my car has a dominator
based carb with 4150 bowls for 1050 or 1150 cfm on the
CV1 manifold so it is really big and set far forward

I then grafted the shaker over the top by gluing oak pieces
up in it and then put threaded rods thru my home made
assembly (see attached pic of air filter)... air filter is a 3"
round that I made into an oval.. hard to describe but it works

I can pull things apart to show you if you want more info
but looks like the Butler thing may work for you

Bob

Thanks Bob! If you have time and inclination to take more detailed pictures, I would love to see them! I know we are all busy too, so it's not a big deal.

What diameter is your round filter - I'm guessing that you don't feel like the filter area is choking your flow?

I'm leaning on fabbing my own plate - blockers/WFO style such that my shaker can fit onto it with the stainless ring and then use a rectangular KN filter fitted into the shaker itself. When I make the plate I can adjust for tilt and off center. I'm concerned that with the Victor Jr. style intake I have that I'll run out of height- so the rectangular filter appeals to me.

[carbuff]

Originally Posted by Gscherer78ta

What diameter is your round filter - I'm guessing that you don't feel like the filter area is choking your flow?

Greg, interesting data point here. When I dynoed a couple of weeks ago, we did so both with and without my current round filter installed. We removed it after a few pulls since we noticed vacuum in the manifold and wanted to see if it was the filter. It made very little difference. So we did the tuning without it installed and then reinstalled for one last pull. We lost 6HP when reinstalled, but it was also heat soaked, so to me it was little to no loss.

The filter I'm using is a 9 3/4" round 3" tall K&N at the moment just to give you an idea...

Originally Posted by Gscherer78ta

I'm leaning on fabbing my own plate - blockers/WFO style such that my shaker can fit onto it with the stainless ring and then use a rectangular KN filter fitted into the shaker itself. When I make the plate I can adjust for tilt and off center. I'm concerned that with the Victor Jr. style intake I have that I'll run out of height- so the rectangular filter appeals to me.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Keep us posted. I'll get back on my own setup here soon...

[Panteracer]

Greg
I also have a 3"x10" filter
I did cut the lower edging all the way around as my
CV-1 manifold is really tall. Not the best but better than
running a filter exposed thru the hole. I did that for a while

Bob

[Panteracer]

Side view

Bob