[Elarson]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Looks good Eric. I noticed you have a heater hose block off cap on the timing cover. Not sure if you have a use for that fitting but if not it can be tapped for a 3/8 pipe plug.

Everything looks great!

Did that.....thanks for the tip!

Eric

[Elarson]

Go to the last post on previous page for the important news

Eric

[PAUL K]

Originally Posted by Elarson

The Firebird is finally on the road today. Open headers so all the neighbors could experience it with me. This thing is rowdy! Gobs of torque, even off idle.

It still needs work...exhaust system, parking brake cables, front alignment, adjust front ride height up a little. It's up on the lift now.

Eric

Looks great..... Thanks for the pictures and update

[Skip Fix]

What size tires and wheels?

And as Paul said a 3/8 NPT fits perfect in the timing cover.

[Elarson]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

What size tires and wheels?

And as Paul said a 3/8 NPT fits perfect in the timing cover.

255/40x18 on 18x10 wheels.

Eric

[Skippy597]

This is awesome build Elarson!

[sdbob]

Nice Eric. I cant imagine the feeling coming off a turn with that torque!!

[blueghoast]

Real good power for 10:1 motor.
I showed my dyno sheets and got bitched out LOL.
Great Job.

GT

[b-man]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

What size tires and wheels?

And as Paul said a 3/8 NPT fits perfect in the timing cover.

Yes you can tap the hose nipple in the cover for a 3/8 pipe plug, I’ve done that myself with no issues for my bracket race car.

However the material is somewhat thin and brittle, you have to be careful not to run the tap too deep and not over tighten the plug.

In an endurance application like road racing I’d feel a whole lot more comfortable completely sawing off the hose nipple and tapping the hole in the cover for a plug.

[Ashley P]

Originally Posted by Elarson

Super T-10 4-speed. Rugged transmission, true to Firebird roots and I had no need for an overdrive 5-speed.

Eric

Your engine (is nice!) has a pile of toque.....what's the limit on the trans?

[Elarson]

Originally Posted by Ashley P

Your engine (is nice!) has a pile of toque.....what's the limit on the trans?

Good question. Richmond rates the Super T-10 Plus, 2.43 1st gear ratio at 375 ft-lbs.
I had a bone stock Super T-10 in my '77 T/A that didn't have any of the upgrades (billet mid-plate, billet bearing retainer) that I put into this one. That transmission survived a 450 ft-lb 455-HO with 9" slicks, drag racing launches on sticky tracks and never broke. Road racing will have far less impact loads; so I'm pretty confidant that it will have a long, happy life.

Testing will confirm or crush that assumption.

Eric

[Skip Fix]

Nice setup for sure. Sticky tires sure make corners fun! I autocrossed by 78 TA with 23x10x16 road race slicks ,then the 79 Camaro that has the IA in it now with 25x10x16 road race slicks.
I took my 78 TA with the stock 180 HP motor and 2.56 rear gear(stock) to Texas World Speedway road course for a Porsche event. The little 180 hp could only pull 4000 with the 2.56 top speed, but about 130. It would also run most of the course in 2nd gear with the TH350!

[Ashley P]

Originally Posted by Elarson

Good question. Richmond rates the Super T-10 Plus, 2.43 1st gear ratio at 375 ft-lbs.
I had a bone stock Super T-10 in my '77 T/A that didn't have any of the upgrades (billet mid-plate, billet bearing retainer) that I put into this one. That transmission survived a 450 ft-lb 455-HO with 9" slicks, drag racing launches on sticky tracks and never broke. Road racing will have far less impact loads; so I'm pretty confidant that it will have a long, happy life.

Testing will confirm or crush that assumption.

Eric

FWIW, around here there was a guy who drag raced a SBC powered 1st gen Camaro, IIRC he ran about low 7s (1/8th mile of course) with a ST-10. He said he would stretch the front of the case as the cluster pushed away from the input shaft. He would notice fluid leaking, maybe from the cluster pin hole elongating.

He undoubtedly had less torque than you, but you won't be nearly as violent with the clutch and your tires will probably hold less than his drag tires. Best wishes, and I look forward to some in car vids.

[Elarson]

Things are happening:

The car is close enough to being done that I booked and paid for the first open track day at Mid-Ohio on 30 April.

Concerning the ST-10; I had a conversation with Paul from 5speeds.com. I asked him about the low factory torque rating. He says that it is rated that way for infinite life in new cars subject to warranty claims. The actual capability of the transmission is much higher.

I'm going to start posting updates on the things I've done to the car in the last year.

Eric

[Elarson]

Here's the exhaust. 3" pipe, Hedman x-pipe kit, Dyna Tech mufflers. They're still pretty loud and some tracks have noise limits so I'll be testing the db level when the weather gets better.

Eric

[Elarson]

The current project is mounting a low oil pressure light and shift light. They have to be in my field of view without taking my eyes off the track. I ended up deciding that it would be a cool Pontiac tie-in to mount them in a hood tach housing. Housing will be white to match the hood and internal mounting plate will get painted black.

Eric

[Skip Fix]

Nice!
When I autocrossed on N CA they checked db level on the cars all the time.

I think a local Pontiac guy here Larry Navarro broke his ST-10 with a healthy 455 and was not even ban shifting it at the time.

[PAUL K]

Looks great! Thanks for the updates


Your exhaust is similar to my brothers. If those mufflers are too loud there a plenty of quiet, good flowing options available.

[Elarson]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Looks great! Thanks for the updates


Your exhaust is similar to my brothers. If those mufflers are too loud there a plenty of quiet, good flowing options available.

The Dynomax Super Turbos seem to have a good reputation. Do you have other candidates?

One of my intended tracks is Waterford Hills in MI. They have a 78 db limit measured at 90' from the track. Decibel meters are surprisingly cheap so I bought one to do my own tests. Since we live in the country, it's easy to have a friend stand in my front field, 90' from the road, and do a full throttle drive-by.

Eric

[PAUL K]

The Magnaflows on my brothers car a very quiet. This video will give you an idea of how quiet they are.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KqQnuLVrR/


I use Pypes 3.5 race mufflers. They're also very quiet.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EXVK7QxnS/

Both cars make pretty good power and run about the same with and without exhaust.

The Super Turbos are great but unfortunately Dynomax discontinued the good one that'll fit our cars. They will start to restrict an engine making more than 550 HP ..... The two mufflers we use don't seem louder than the big turbo mufflers and they won't' resonate as much inside the car.

I've never worked with a decibel meter but turned downs off the muffler angled towards each other seems to hide some of the noise.