Figured I'd post up a bit of so some of yall have an idea who I am and all that fun stuff.
I've owned this car since 2002, paid it off and never looked at another car payment since.
I initially didn't want the car. It was under the pressure of my dad to buy it and retire my worn out '83 BMW 533i is when I relented. And Automatic? AND a V6!? Why!?
My dad never taught me how to work on a car outside, check the oil, how to change the tire, etc. etc. He works in the automotive biz, he didn't want me to get the bug and try to turn it into a trade as well.
Anyway, I drove it primarily as a nice A to B car and never thought much about it. Things slowly changed as I got to enjoy some of the nuances of the car, even if others just smirked at me.
I decided to do some minor things, installed a whisper lid (coolest mod ever) and next was a set of beefier swaybars and then longtubes.
A cam was going to be the last thing...
I never really set out to make the car fast or a V8 killer. I just wanted to give it a little more pep and something to help me enjoy the drives a little more.
Well, I found problems during a cam install, decided on a full rebuild, had teething issues on some things that weren't documented and not well known in the general V6 community. I decided to document it, hence why my Project V6 Firebird threads appear everywhere. I try to do it as a benefit to others. Especially when it is the "Ohh I wanna hop up my V6!" posts. Point them to my threads and tell them to read through and re-evaluate what they want.
It's a lot of work, but it has been a creative outlet. Yes, the V8 route would have been blindingly easy and simple, especially here in Lubbock with an abundance of V8 cars, and both Scoggin Dickey Parts Center and Texas Speed & Performance within a short drive from my house. I wanted to learn on the V6. Small steps you know?
Anyway, before:
After:
Engine specs are now:
Intense S1X NA Cam: 212º/216º .556"/.546" 113º LSA (With 1.7 ratio rockers)
Yella Terra 1.7 Platinum series roller rockers
PAC 130# springs
60°Inclusive ported heads and intake
10:1 Compression
LS6 Fuel Injectors w/ FAST spacers
Manton Pushrods
"LS7" lifters
Fabricated Valve Covers
Overall look of the car before (Circa 2005):
Now:
Yes, the tint is bubbling, it's 12 years old and on the list of things to do:
It has progressed over the years in stages, and I am currently at the next step of building a spare engine with the desires of turbocharging.
I've taken a car with performance looks and a generic powerplant that overall was suitable for a prom queen driving around, painting her nails while chatting up her BFF on her new flip phone to something a little more enjoyable for myself and has been an amazing tool in teaching myself automotive maintenance and modding.
I read a lot of information on the forums, asked good questions and listened to the counsel of the more successful V6 modders in the community. I didn't go down paths when I got the "That's not a good idea," posts or try repeatedly at getting something to work if I kept failing at it and took it to skilled people who knew what they were doing.
I've owned this car since 2002, paid it off and never looked at another car payment since.
I initially didn't want the car. It was under the pressure of my dad to buy it and retire my worn out '83 BMW 533i is when I relented. And Automatic? AND a V6!? Why!?
My dad never taught me how to work on a car outside, check the oil, how to change the tire, etc. etc. He works in the automotive biz, he didn't want me to get the bug and try to turn it into a trade as well.
Anyway, I drove it primarily as a nice A to B car and never thought much about it. Things slowly changed as I got to enjoy some of the nuances of the car, even if others just smirked at me.
I decided to do some minor things, installed a whisper lid (coolest mod ever) and next was a set of beefier swaybars and then longtubes.
A cam was going to be the last thing...
I never really set out to make the car fast or a V8 killer. I just wanted to give it a little more pep and something to help me enjoy the drives a little more.
Well, I found problems during a cam install, decided on a full rebuild, had teething issues on some things that weren't documented and not well known in the general V6 community. I decided to document it, hence why my Project V6 Firebird threads appear everywhere. I try to do it as a benefit to others. Especially when it is the "Ohh I wanna hop up my V6!" posts. Point them to my threads and tell them to read through and re-evaluate what they want.
It's a lot of work, but it has been a creative outlet. Yes, the V8 route would have been blindingly easy and simple, especially here in Lubbock with an abundance of V8 cars, and both Scoggin Dickey Parts Center and Texas Speed & Performance within a short drive from my house. I wanted to learn on the V6. Small steps you know?
Anyway, before:
After:
Engine specs are now:
Intense S1X NA Cam: 212º/216º .556"/.546" 113º LSA (With 1.7 ratio rockers)
Yella Terra 1.7 Platinum series roller rockers
PAC 130# springs
60°Inclusive ported heads and intake
10:1 Compression
LS6 Fuel Injectors w/ FAST spacers
Manton Pushrods
"LS7" lifters
Fabricated Valve Covers
Overall look of the car before (Circa 2005):
Now:
Yes, the tint is bubbling, it's 12 years old and on the list of things to do:
It has progressed over the years in stages, and I am currently at the next step of building a spare engine with the desires of turbocharging.
I've taken a car with performance looks and a generic powerplant that overall was suitable for a prom queen driving around, painting her nails while chatting up her BFF on her new flip phone to something a little more enjoyable for myself and has been an amazing tool in teaching myself automotive maintenance and modding.
I read a lot of information on the forums, asked good questions and listened to the counsel of the more successful V6 modders in the community. I didn't go down paths when I got the "That's not a good idea," posts or try repeatedly at getting something to work if I kept failing at it and took it to skilled people who knew what they were doing.