I haven't been working on the car much at all so it's been a while since I posted anything. I had ot wait for back ordered shorty headers to come but they are finally here. So I'm slowly working on the hot side piping. Had to order 2.5 inch V-Band clamps and flanges, turbo drain flanges, I had one turbo oil inlet screen/restrictor but I needed another for the second turbo, so that's on the way too. My turbo exhaust outlets are 3 inch V-Bands. I want to run 4 inch exhaust piping down and out along the rocker panels, kind of like lake pipes, but larger. Turbos really quiet the exhaust so the pipes will be unmuffled. I'm hoping the sound will have a lower sound with the long piping and have little to no restriction. To that end I ordered two transition cones to go from the turbo 3 inch to the 4 inch pipes. The expansion also helps with the exhaust coming out of the turbo. The flow is pretty turbulent as it exits, so any expansion right out of the housing helps the flow settle down and straighten out. Mine will also hit a 90 degree turn within inches of the end of the transition, so it will help the exhaust make that turn. Now I'm just waiting for that stuff to arrive. I have to mock up my turbo placements as well so I can order that piping soon.
My Brother in Law was visiting so I brought out the old 4 cylinder to show him and threw it up on the engine stand. But of course, now that it is staring me in the face I had to play with it a little. I've decided to remove the polished Tunnel Ram because I just don't trust that it will stay sealed under boost. I'm going to cut it in half so no one else can get stuck with it. Then, what the heck. I'll keep one half and close up the cut open plenum, add injector bungs, (I'll sell the good side to someone needing it for their 4 cylinder) machine the port flange straight again, and use it with throttle bodies. There are tons of 4 cylinder EFI systems out there, so EFI should be easy.
My intention is to find a cheaper little '86-'92 third Gen Firebird and drop it in there. Then either turbo it or use a GM supercharger off a 3.8. Mount the supercharger on a plate in the open side of the 4 cylinder block. Run the boosted air out the bottom of the blower and into an intercooler and then up to the throttle body. This way I can have an intercooled supercharged set up. Of course a smaller Pro-charger or that type of supercharger would work great but I'm thinking I can find a nice clean working GM charger and do all the other stuff for less than buying a used Pro-charger?? The GM charger should flow enough for the 4 cylinder. I have a full Switch Pitch setup to go into a TH400 so that would make a neat trans option. Although I think the supercharged combination would be more fun with a manual. Find a 5 speed WC T5, a Corvette 4+3, or even a nice wide ratio super T-10. Use it as a daily driver. These are the shots of the 4 cylinder mocked up with a chrome oil pan, RAM AIR front cover, and the uncut tunnel ram bolted on.
I was also thinking that once the 4 cylinder short block was built. I could swap it into the Gasser too. For something very different. I could use one of the KRE heads, one of the turbos and intercooler systems. If I don't sell the other half of the tunnel ram, I could close up the plenum so it would accept one of the blow thru carbs. I can use all of the trans adaptors I made for the V8 and only have to modify this block for a late starter. Even that is really already on the adaptors and would require only one hole to be drilled and tapped on the block. Even the clutch assembly would bolt right on if I get the rotating assembly zero balanced. So it would really be a fun easy changeover. Even the front motor plates and the rear plate/adaptor would be in it's exact position. The only thing I would change for the 4 cylinder is to an electric fuel pump instead of the Hilborn pump. HA!! Nice to have options. Mark L