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John's

1997 Pontiac Firebird

Formula LS Swap

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Build Points

38

  • Color: Red
  • Horsepower: 430
  • Drivetrain: RWD
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    • Vehicle Overview

    I bought my 1997 Formula new and started with the upgrades below. 1. Corsa Exhaust 2. Added Ram-Air 3. SLP Suspension (Eibach Springs, Bilstein Shocks, Different Sway Bars) 4. SLP Subframe Connectors (Bolt-On) 5. SLP Strut-Tower Brace 6. Power Slot Cyro Brake Discs 7. Hawk Performance HPS Carbon-Metallic Brake Pads 8. 17" American Racing Torq-Thrust II Wheels and Tires (Up From 16") 9. Powder Coated Calipers 10. OEM Monsoon CD player I then wanted more power, so I got an LS1 swap making around 430 horsepower to the wheels. I started with a General Motors Performance Parts short-block, 1998 PCM, wiring harness, and 4L65E transmission then ended up with the parts below. 1. Changed to Texas Speed stroked 383 short-block 2. Changed to PerformaBuilt 4L60e Level 3 transmission 3. Changed to 0411 PCM 4. Changed to Speartech wiring harness 5. AFR 205cc Mongoose Street Heads (milled to give 11.18 to 1 compression) with ARP Bolts (Milled to 62cc) 6. Comp Cams Cam (Duration @ .050 224 Intake / 228 Exhaust, 114.0 LSA (Lobe Separation), Valve Lift .581 Intake / .588 Exhaust) 7. Crane Cams Pushrods (Part number 144621-16 7.400" Chrome Moly 5/16" set of 16) 8. Dynatech Long Tube Headers (Ceramic Coated), Y-pipe, and Catalytic Converters (wouldn't recommend due to welded part falling off of headers and Dynatech not wanting to do much to fix it) 9. FAST 90mm Intake (ported by AFR's Tony Mamo) 10. FAST 90mm Throttle Body 11. FAST Fuel Rails 12. Ford Racing 42 lbs./hr Fuel Injectors 13. MSD Coil Packs and 8.5mm Wires (all 8 coil packs did not last long, so I got Delphi coil packs with a 3 year warranty) 14. Walbro Fuel Pump 15. SLP 85mm Mass Airflow Sensor CHANGED TO TRUCK MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR 16. SLP Double-Roller Timing Chain CHANGED TO Cloyes 9-3658TX9 17. SLP Heavy-Duty Oil Pump 18. SLP 160º Thermostat 19. SLP Heavy-Duty Adjustable Torque Arm 20. SLP Heavy-Duty Driveshaft Loop 21. Prothane Motor/Transmission Mounts 22. Elite Engineering PCV Oil Catch Can 23. Aeromotive Gauge, Regulator and Fittings (Also Aeroquip) 24. RacePartSolutions Silicone Coupler and Step Hose 25. Computer programmed and car dynoed by PCMforless 26. Moser 9” – Truetrac, 31 Spline, 3.89, Back Brace, Drain/Fill Plug (Wouldn't recommend because had to change to Auburn Pro Differential because original failed and had cheap axles seals) 27. BMR – 22mm Rear Sway Bar 28. 3200 Vigilante Converter 29. Underdrive Pulley (because it appeared that the high RPMS caused a problem with the air conditioner compressor and alternator) 30. "Converted" the rear taillights to sequential.

    Future Plans

    I am mostly done. While I really enjoy my car, it has been a pain getting there from all 8 MSD coil packs failing to my original tuner not wanting to be bothered (and trying to find another local quality tuner). I would like a better rear brake/parking brake setup and a better audio setup, so those may be the only 2 things left.

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