Thread: Building an engine

Originally Posted by Bio248

dont even touch the bottom end on the motor. hell, you dont even need to run a cam to get 250whp.

what are your ACTUAL goals with the car? ever going to take it to the track (how fast do you want to go)? want it to sound really cool or just be quick and quiet? need more info. lots of it.

just to have a fast car for once, 350WHP would be awesome. I do want it to be reliable (i know, iffy with doing mods) since it is my DD. I would love to beat my friends nova, but he just bought some LS motor, so thats doubtful. I might take it to a track once and a while.
The 3A racing exhaust sounds pretty good so far, so not to much louder, but i do want it to be quick.
I'm guessing i will have about a $2000 budget just for mods, i will have money for the engine and trans.
What else do you need?

Which speed daddy headers should i get, none of them say they will fit my 04 grand prix?
1: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GRAND...Q5fAccessories

2: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/REGAL...Q5fAccessories

Also, How much will the built trans roughly cost, $2500?

Originally Posted by EJOUIE

He's taking out his N/A and going to swap in his S/C engine. The point of this thread is what he should do to the engine before it goes in.

I say that since your putting it in before the built transmission, then I would hold off on rockers or cam until you put in the trans. The IC will put plenty of power for a stock trans on a DD. When You put in the trans, it will be easy to install the cam. Rockers can be installed whether the motor is in or out. So you could see what power the your getting with the IC and see if you want to put rockers on. In the end though, a cam will be better for power.

ok, i will probably do that.

Originally Posted by Bedwards

A turbo won't cost $4000. Do a little snooping around, I'm sure you could find a used turbo kit for cheap. The Z3 kit on ZZP isn't too bad of a price either. With all the money I spent going supercharged, I wish I just went turbo been done with it.

I don't know if this is dumb, but wouldn't a turbo cook an engine faster than a supercharger? wouldn't i have to get, turbo powerlogs, hv3, and other things (don't know what else)? My engine does have 140K miles on it, would that be safe/smart(i know, modding is never safe)? i love turbos, i think they are the coolest things ever, so if i should go that route, just say so.
Thanks for the help guys

So the real question is, which is cheaper, and better: Turbo a 140K engine OR Do the original L32 Build?
Sorry i know this is the supercharged forum.

Turbo is just a more efficient power adder, the downfall becomes the owner. It's easy to turn up the boost and you just want to be more aware of what the car is doing, meaning get a aeroforce guage or a scanner and learn what to look for. A basic turbo kit on a completely stock motor is fine. I would recommend getting a wideband, 42.5# injectors and fuel pump rewire, a Z3 kit and keep the boost at the wastegate setting. If you want the trans to last, keep that in mind and don't beat it during shifts. Once you have a built trans you should have built up enough knowledge on what to do next to get some more power. It is very easy to go 12's without a cam on a turbo setup.