Thread: Engine & Tranny & Exhaust what should I consider?

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I'm putting together a power point presentation/plan for my next Trans Am. I plan to burn it on CD so I can visit shops to go over it with them and find people that are interested in the project. On it, along with timeline, budget issues etc...i've put together an overview of the whole project. Now i'm at the point where i'm going through each bullet point and adding detail. Here's the part that I need direction and opinion on. Engine, Tranny, Exhaust, Suspension. I think I can pick out upholstry and paint...but the mechanicals are hard for me to know what goes with what...

I've put on my outline that I want the car to have (no laughing please):

* a more powerful/faster engine (my current setup only does about 190-220hp and is a very slow starter)

* a really nice deep sound, I want it to be heard, but not obnoxious.

* manual transmission (because I think they're fun)

* a more solid suspension system

I have a million questions...some are:

What are the problems with that general overview?
What KIND of engine should I be looking at and why?
What KIND of Trans should I be looking at and why?
What KIND of Exhaust system should I look for and why?
What obvious things am I missing????

One big question...HOW do you plan on using the car, and what is it's curent drive train? (ok so thats 2) Things like is it going to be a dailey driver, is milage a concern, is it going to see much intersate driving etc.

I have a couple of thoughts, but for a reastic answer those questions need to come first.

I plan to drive it good weather only...but as much as possible lol. I don't plan to show it...i do plan to take some road trips (could be trips across the USA) so that's the reason that i'd like to make it as comfortable a ride as possible. I plan to be able to pull a small lightweight, low profile trailer sometimes too...enough to hold a couple of big suitcases. Does that help?

Drive train...hmmmm...yeah.... EXACTLY... well, right now i'm shopping for a clean rolling chassis...so, it may come with a drive train...? Maybe not? I'll have to assume that I may have to replace things and basically start from the ground up....is that a good answer?

Originally posted by DennyW
And you didn't say anything about a roll bar, fire suit, helmet, or parachute.

Yeah, Denny, hopefully I won't need any of THOSE!!!! Talk to Pro60 about that...lol

ooops, forgot one does it have to pass emissions testing?

Jerilynne,

Ive seen the pictures of your car before (which is very cool)...so I would think you would want to stay fairly conservative from outward appearances. You have made your car a "mild custom" which in my honest opinion works very well for the TAs. But there is no reason you can't have a wolf in sheep's clothing. Otherwise known as a classic "sleeper".

As for the powerpoint, Ive done more than I care to admit and it sounds like you are a pro if you know about bullet points which take you to other slides to dig deeper into the data. If you need any help with that let me know.

As for the questions regarding your car...I would suggest the following combination:

* a more powerful/faster engine (my current setup only does about 190-220hp and is a very slow starter) .........Getting loads more horespower out of your engine is certainly feasible with maintaining your "stock" look or even adding small amounts of "hot rod" chrome to show you don't have a stocker...whatever you like here will do the trick. You could certainly can go "big" by adding a big block, but stroking your small block will add the low end torque and throttle response you are looking for to solve your "slow starter" issue without draining your 401K. I wouldn't recommend "too much of a radical" change since I am sure you are going to want to keep the highway comforts such as A/C and power brakes. Low vacuum and high heat of a "too hot" hot rod engine will not live well with these "must haves"...so keep that in mind. As for reality, if you can live with 400 hp, you should have no problems making this happen with a little boring/stroking and a cam change....again all hidden from the outside appearance.


* a really nice deep sound, I want it to be heard, but not obnoxious ...this should be relatively easy to accomodate with simple muffler changes and perhaps new exhaust to complete the new tones/tunes.

* manual transmission (because I think they're fun) ....DennyW is right on with his suggestion of a 5 or 6 speed. There are plenty of F-body donors out there with 5 & speed manuals which would deliver the "fun" you're wanting as well as also help your "slow starter" you mentioned above. The additional benefit is you probably won't need the expensive and "large" quickchange in the rear to make you go. By adding one (5 Speed) or two (6 speed) overdrive gears, you should allow for plenty of highway joy while not compromising your street "get-up-&-go"!

* a more solid suspension system ...with the simple addition of Energy Suspension bushings, larger anti-sway bars, larger brakes (if necessary and if you have room with your wheels)...you should be able to make your suspension more solid.

Hope this helps... your ride is already cool...but there should be no problem to make it cooler with these additions.

Troy

WOW Troy! Thanks for the boost of confidence and all the info! It will be a different car than the 81 Turbo that I have now....so it will basically be whatever I want it to be...I just don't want to choose conflicting components or stuff that won't function the way I think it should...if that makes any sense.

Mike ~ in answer to your question...I don't think it has to pass emissions testing? I live in Michigan and while when I lived in Texas I had to have an inspection every year...we don't have that here...

Denny ~ what is an OD unit? and what does quick change rear end mean?

Jeri

Well, being just a driver, go for a Chevy 350, there cheap to build, make more hp than your 301 turbo you have in your other, and there easier to adapt more common parts into, like if you wanted to put in a 4spd, ya could find a super t10, and it would bolt right up, with a pontiac motor, special bellhousings and adapter plates so it will mate up, most everything aftermarket like that is designed around the Chevy platform. A super T10 4spd is a pretty common trans, the power you want, you don't say but, 350 hp reasonable? the trans should take it. The cars were available with 4spds, so the clutch pedal assembly, console and variouse other parts needed in the changeover, are available. As mentioned earlier, a 5 or 6 speed is a better choice for economy. Myself, I like the old 4spds, with the long chrome shafts, like they put in the 60's cars with floor mounted 3 and 4spds. I see some gen 1 camero's and other cars like that, that had 4spds but were replaced with 5 speeds, and the shifters they used are those " Short Throw " shifters, there the doofiest things I ever seen.

"What KIND of Trans should I be looking at and why?"

Jeri, if you want some gas mileage on the road, you will want to consider a 6-speed transmission with 2 overdrives (OD) to get the engine rpm's down. The faster the engine spins, the more gas it uses and if you can slow it way down on the highway where you don't need a lot of power to move the car at a steady speed, you'll be able to pass some gas stations.

I strongly vote for the 6 speed. Basically this is your standard 4 speed with 2 overdrives!

I have one in my 34 Ford with 4.11 gears. Fourth gear is the standard 1:1 while 5th is .75 and 6th is .49......

Simply put, 6th gear cuts my RPMs over half (.49 reduction) of 4th gear. Which means with a 29.5" rear tire, I am turning 2300 RPMs at 100 mph! Talk about a highway cruiser...and it still has the 4 speed for city driving.

Denny is correct about the OD units...we are putting one of Gear Vendors units in my brother's 46 Ford and it is really cool. But it is also long, heavy, and (in my opinion) very pricey ($2500 just for the OD...you still have to buy your tranny). So considering you will probably not try to break any speed records at Bonneville, I would bet an F-body 6 speed out of a late model TA or Camaro (or even a vette if you find one) would solve your problems for the least amount of $.

Just my opinion...your getting some great advice from these guys.

Hi Kid---Here's my 2 cents worth. If I was after the same things you want, and money was not a major obstacle. I would definately opt for a big block engine. Not an elephant, but definately a rat---something akin to a 454 cubic inch, fed by a single 4 barrel carb, (or the newer fuel injection systems). For the tranny I would go for a minimum 4 speed, and if you can get one with overdrive for added gas mileage, well thats fine, but if this is primarily a city driven car, an overdrive is not really needed. The rearend thats in the car is probably O.K., but a 3.55:1 ratio single speed rearend is a nice gearset for what you are after. ---Check with your cars manufacturer or the aftermarket, and see if you can buy a "rallye-pack" for your suspension----stiffer springs, meatier sway bar, stiffer shocks. (and the beauty is its all bolt on, if its a rallye-pack made for your specific model of car). Any competent muffler shop can help you with the sound you are after---before you buy, ask for the name of somebody driving a car with the similar muffler package and engine and listen to it first if you can.

OK, I did know what OD was lol... on my mini van it's just a button you can push...
My first vehicle was a 65 ford pickup...3 on the column... but I don't remember doing anything special beyond the gears & reverse...hmmm, I do remember a big spring in the drivers seat...that was a pain in the...

Originally posted by brianrupnow
Hi Kid---Here's my 2 cents worth. If I was after the same things you want, and money was not a major obstacle. I would definately opt for a big block engine. Not an elephant, but definately a rat---something akin to a 454 cubic inch, fed by a single 4 barrel carb, (or the newer fuel injection systems). For the tranny I would go for a minimum 4 speed, and if you can get one with overdrive for added gas mileage, well thats fine, but if this is primarily a city driven car, an overdrive is not really needed. The rearend thats in the car is probably O.K., but a 3.55:1 ratio single speed rearend is a nice gearset for what you are after. ---Check with your cars manufacturer or the aftermarket, and see if you can buy a "rallye-pack" for your suspension----stiffer springs, meatier sway bar, stiffer shocks. (and the beauty is its all bolt on, if its a rallye-pack made for your specific model of car). Any competent muffler shop can help you with the sound you are after---before you buy, ask for the name of somebody driving a car with the similar muffler package and engine and listen to it first if you can.

Well, this goes a little bit into the area of budget. I've set aside a budget of $5,000 a year. I can combine years (say over a winter) so that i'd have $10,000 to spend on bigger ticket items, but then i'm done for the year. So, I really need to have it planned out in stages. Don't know if that helps or not...thanks for the great input (keep it coming if you think of other stuff ...it's giving me a ton of research to do, but that's a very good thing.

Hey Jerri, don't forget about your local parts store as a source for an engine. The NAPA store here will sell a remanufactured 350 chebbie engine for about $1000.00 exchange, doubt if a Pontiac would be a lot more. Big consideration is that the engine comes with a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty. If your just going to be cruising, all you have to do is bolt on the chrome pieces and cruise. Is probably much less than you could overhaul an existing engine and pay for the machine work and parts. JMO