Ken's Engine Project...

[69MyWay]

Can't wait till March, I will be "Plucking" the engine out of the 90 in a week or so.

Oh well, I will keep searching.

 

[P-ColaVette]

D.U.I.

Hello Ken !

I was just wondering, how was your experience ordering your D.U.I. distributor ? I am just curious to know if they are still as friendly and courteous as they were 6 years ago ? Did you actually speak with a live person ? et. etc. My D.U.I. is still lighting the fire after many FTP's. Thanks.....




Steve.

 

[Ken]

It was a pretty good experience. The gentleman I spoke with, "Rich"?, was very friendly and courteous throughout the conversation, and I had quite a few questions.

One thing I noticed though after I hung up and was looking at the order form from the catalog once again. On the order form they ask for color preferrence when choosing your distributor cap; I was never asked that question. :Silly

_ken

 

[P-ColaVette]

Can't win'em all......

Hey Ken !

well, you will probably get the red cap as a standard cap. The neatest thing about the D.U.I. besides how clean the installation is, is that yellow sticker on the top that say's; Warning High Voltage !



Steve.

 

[69MyWay]

My Favorite Cap is the one from Cross Fire that routes the wires to the correct side of the cap in the correct order. Had this on the V8 Fiero. It looks so nice and clean to see 1-7 in order on the left side and 2-8 in order on the right. The cap is about $44 and can be found in the back of most car magazines.

 

[Gunner]

Hello, new member here. This has been a interesting thread to me and the recent computer question has got me thinking... Would the Fastburn 385/Mini Ram option that was discussed work with the stock computer and a custom chip?

Woody

 

[vigman]

OOHHHHH OOHHHHHH

WIIFM cont
What are you doing with the old mill ???
I have a friend in need
Buddy
It was always you.
Hey have your Vette mechanic call my sushi chef....
LETS DO LUNCH

but seriously

My bud just bonked his 86 engine...
To stupid to mention how ( really embarassing )
and he's broke..etc..etc ( violins in background )

When your done...( or do you need it as a core?)


Mike

 

[69MyWay]

Hello, new member here. This has been a interesting thread to me and the recent computer question has got me thinking... Would the Fastburn 385/Mini Ram option that was discussed work with the stock computer and a custom chip?

Woody

No doubt it would work. However, you may never see all the potential of the engine from just a chipped stock puter. G.M. spends millions testing and tuning to get the basic program as close as possible, then tuners are able to tweak on it to fit mild performance mods. When you do a major mod you need a system that will allow for micro and major adjustments based on the vastly different cubic inch, chamber volumes, and flow characteristics. The down side to this is a custom computer on a custom engine could take months for the average Joe with a lap top computer to tune it to peak performance, and or some expensive dyno time.

 

[Ken]

Suddenly I feel much better...

I just got the LPE catalog I sent for quite some time ago, and took a look at the engine packages just for the hell of it. I mean, I'm already well on my way so why should I bother to continue shopping for engines? :crazy

Well if you look at the LPE 420 CID L98 EFI Small Block Chevrolet - 510 BHP, 562 lbs-ft of torque engine package, you'll see they are asking $22,485.00 for that engine. Basically, it's exactly the same engine I'm building for around 10-12K. Makes me feel a whole lot better.

Now don't go telling me how much cheaper I could have had it if only...

_ken

 

[maxrevs85]

Ken, wouldnt dream of telling how to spend your money . I think youve done a dang good job of researching and putting together a package. As far as stilling looking , I never quit looking at speed options . It an illness :crazy.
The engine package at LPE is some high dollars stuff . Most the cost as you know, is in parts. Labor isnt really that bad. But I think those guys are pumping it up a bit.
I was out to Pierce Engineering here in Lansing Mi., the engine shop I use, and they were dynoing a small block with Buick heads and all the full tilt goodies and it pulled 672 hp and 568 ftlbs.Absolutey awesome to here here it pull all the way to 7500 rpms!! :eek I remember when they dyoned my 383 , it was chilling. Music to my ears.
I keep looking at the stroker sittin in the corner of the garage all fresh and ready to romp.
I've made up my mind to go with the stock engine and a little more cam and the TPIS runners and manifold and the reworked plenum, with the 52mm TB,Plus a few other goodies . Havent decided on gear yet, between the 373 and the 354.

 

[Ken]

 

[maxrevs85]

Well??? What did ya get today??? :J

 

[Ken]

I just punched a button again, for a few hundred more dollars spent. :crazy

I just ordered some final "dress-up" pieces for the new engine, like a billet fuel pump block-off plate, a timing chain cover (I splurged there and went overboard; I got a Comp Cams two-piece billet aluminum unit. ), a magnetic drain plug for the pan, a universal shifter boot for the new six-speed (it goes under the console to seal out the elements), and I just had to get an engine cradle to transport the new engine when I pick it up, and then to hold the old one when I pull it and store it under my workbench. Ka-ching$ Ka-ching$ :gap

Today the UPS driver came with my TPIS delivery -- the MiniRam, throttle body, customized MAF, headers, oil cooler, pulleys, everything except the oil pan, which is being custom made. Oh, the beauty of it all! They even threw in a t-shirt and a hat! :gap

:J The neatest thing about it was the fact they just put it on the truck Monday. Great service, eh? Many thanks to Jim, Terry and Chris at TPIS (I talked to each of them at one point or another).

I talked to my builder today again too, so everything is right on schedule so far.

_ken

 

[Drewser]

They even threw in a t-shirt and a hat! :gap

What a bargain...only $10grand for a t-shirt and hat!

 

[Ken]

Project: Engine

 

[maxrevs85]

Man ,all that stuff. Its gonna be awesome !!
Cant wait till I get my hat and t-shirt $$$$.........great decision going with the eagle crank and rods. Real stout bottom end. And I like a stout bottom end.. The site is way cool too. It will be fun and informative to follow along.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Nice toy box Ken. I see you went with the new E-Tec heads. Good choice.

 

[maxrevs85]

Ken, I was looking over the side effects exhaust from the Power Effects site and they dont quote any cost for the kit. ? Are you going to stay with yours after the Engine mods? The more I looked at them the more I liked them . Very good quality product. Are you happy with yours?

 

[69MyWay]

YES! I love it. Ken, you are really doing this right.

 

[89ZZ4]

Ken - I just joined the site today but have been following you and 69MyWay. I bought my first Vette late last summer - 89 Cpe/ 6spd/Z51/8500 miles. I was a good but but I dislike the digital gauges and the wall at 4800 reves stunk big time. I've owned a 69 Road Runner/70 1/2 - Z28/90 Shelby IROC etc and even the old Road Runner would pull to 6K. My budget was 20K including the car. I'm lucky with a kid who's a Chevy Tech but his schooling wasn't cheap. I went through the same processes you did and decided to keep things as simple as possible and to do only those things I could do myself with a little help and education. I was going to modify the original "tired engine" with 10K on it but I had some reservations on the strength on the pistons and rods.
I like a bit of over kill on strength. Kid scored a ZZ4 crate without intake and water pump that had been installed but only run for 2 hours in the wrong application for a bargain 1K. After calling and talking to lots of people the TPIS folks won most of my business + they gave me fair suggestions on others products with a bit of prodding and reading between the lines. I won't say what several purists think about yanking an engine with 10K on it but the Cut Lid/TPIS filter/Hypertech II chip/180 thermo/Full Modified MAF/DUI Coil and Module(which works great)/new plugs and wires/plus TPIS cat back didn't do enough even though I could get a chirp on the 2-3 shift. Didn't have a choice on the heads and as they were already on so I didn't do any port work except that I figured a way to clean them up a little with out metal getting into the valve area. I did the TPIS Mini Ram II/Prom/Fuel Rails/52 mm BBK/Chevy Bow Tie 1.5 Roller Rockers which are self aligning/TPIS ZZ-409 cam (designed for the 1.5 ratio and max I wanted to push the ZZ4 springs(LT4s))/TPIS coated headers. I was given a B&M shifter and I already put a set of BFG gForce KD's all around. I figure 390-400 at the flywheel with the unported heads. I'm staying with stock clutch and flywheel for now. Only questions remaining are the ones in the switch (motor mounts/water pump clearance in the ZZ4 composit Timing Cover/ etc. and 1) did I over cam by going ZZ-409 instead of ZZ-9 on TPIS recommend + 2) will I squeek thru emissions in IL in 2 or three years as the pre-cats are now gone and there's no EGR on this set up. You get to do it all the way but my 4.3K including the intake and exhaust should at least let me kick Mustang Butt and keep up with stock regular Vettes. My kid still won't give me enough car length's to make running his 94 Z28 a real drag race as his 500+ HP and 4.11 rear give him some advantage against my what ever with a 3.33 rear. Keep the faith guys.