Plugs + Intake

[flyingvee]

2 quick questions on my wifes GT. First off I own an 86 SS so I do a lot of work on my car, but found it real weird that I could not get the plugs to budge in the GT in trying to remove them. Anyone have this problem? Got her car new and I wanted to look at the plugs at 20,000, but the plug felt like it was welded in.

2nd question, I keep hearing more and more about putting in a CAL setup, and wonder, just by looking at the Ram-Air on the GT, there has to be a whole lot more air coming in through those slots then with a KN filter stuck in front of the wheel well. So curious as to that. I'm still a 4bbl guy myself LOL

Thanks

[71Z28RS]

As for the 4bbl concept, I couldn't agree more. Give me mechanical and rwd over computer and fwd any day.
But as for your question.....
I can't help you with the intake question, but as for the frozen plugs I would recommend trying a spray called PB Blaster. I had the same problem with changing the oxygen sensor on my wife's 96 GT. That sucker felt like it was welded to the exhaust manifold and the spray worked like a charm. Spray it on, let it soak in a bit, spray it again, and then run the engine for a couple minutes to warm it up. Then give it a try. Hope it helps.

[Blackrider]

To be honest the ram air is Really Restrictive! I wouldent even bother with it, It is possible to make a nice ramair setup with a hood like the SCT Hood, But This is something that we have gone over from time to time on this site and a Cold Air intake is the way to go, Do a search on it, you'll find a hole bunch of topics :)

[Greed4Speed]

The main restriction is the intake ducting from the opening to the air box. I found a site a while back that was about z3's intake set up, but could be used for the GT. You could probably find it by doing a search. I've also been wondering if the C5's intake system with a cone filter would work, since it is bent to angle down. Not sure if there would be sufficient hood clearance though. SLP also had an interesting design for the LT1 that could be changed to work. The 2 smaller inlet tubes Y'd to a larger pipe to the MAF. You could run 2 small tubes over the radiator for more airflow easier than you could 1 large tube. I never dug around to see if there was a way around the side of the radiator though. Just some ideas I had, but dropped once I got my car. Maybe they'll help ya.

As for the 4bbl concept, I couldn't agree more. Give me mechanical and rwd over computer and fwd any day.

Drive an LS1 car. That'll cure all the love for a 4 bbl. Mid 13 sec ETs stock and very traction limited with the ability to get 30 mpg on the highway. That was with 86 octane and a short 125 mph blast. lol My 70 SS could either go fast and get horrible milage or get decent milage and be slow (mid 14's are slow for a 350 to me).

[flyingvee]

Yea, I've read all the pro's of the Cold Air intakes (though here in Florida don't know if you'd get any cold air lol) Had also talked to some GM guys and they do say the Ram-Air flows a lot better than the stock setup, though they don't comment on the CAI much.

Thanks for the PB blaster info. Is it sort of a WD-40 type spray?

[Black2K1GT]

What I do before I change my plugs everytime is start the car for about a minute. By the time you get the coils out of the way nothing is very hot to the touch.

This expands the aluminum heads and the plugs come out super easy (plus you dont strip the threads)!

Hope this helps,
Later

[71Z28RS]

[i]
Drive an LS1 car. That'll cure all the love for a 4 bbl. Mid 13 sec ETs stock and very traction limited with the ability to get 30 mpg on the highway. That was with 86 octane and a short 125 mph blast. lol My 70 SS could either go fast and get horrible milage or get decent milage and be slow (mid 14's are slow for a 350 to me). [/B]

Actually, I did get a chance to drive my friend's LS1 a few months back. I agree with you in that it is very cool and a blast to drive, but I guess it's all a matter of preference. I don't really mind getting 14 mpg out of a carbeurated small block, and I love the sound of the secondaries opening up on an big carb. Plus, when something dies, I don't need a diagnostic computer to fix it. I ran mid 12's without any juice in my 79 Z28 with a relatively simple stroker build up. I know 12's can be easily accomplished with an LS1 as well, but I was just trying to even up the comparison of a new muscle car to a tired 30+ year old muscle car. You're right in noting that in a stock to stock comparison, the new technology takes the cake. No arguement from me on that one. But, I'll bet that if you spent on your 70 what you spent on your 00, that 70 would be running mid 10's now. But then again, the 70 wouldn't be getting 30mpg, it wouldn't be as reliable, it wouldn't be as quiet, it wouldn't be as tight, and let's face it, girlfriends get really tired of sliding over the side bar of that roll cage. Like I said, for me it's all just preference. I'm prejudiced because I'm $aving for the 540 stroker buildup that I'm researching for my 73 project. For all I know, I'll get spanked by a nitrous fed, double turbo'd civic the first time I take it to the track. To each's own. I'll be able to brag with my timeslips and you'll be able to brag with being able to drive comfortably and quickly to the movies without using 3 gallons of gas and breaking a u-joint.
Oh, by the way, I like your "cobra's taste like chicken" signature.....I miss my old regular diet of them since I sold my last camaro, and I'm looking forward to my re-indulgance as soon as I finish building this one.

[Greed4Speed]

With a 540, you'll be swallowing Cobras whole. lol I agree old muscle is cool. About the only things I miss is hearing the lope of a large cam through dual ehaust, and inexpensive plentiful parts.

I'll eventually get that cam lope sound back though.

There is a guy in our local f-body club that just built a Poncho 468 CUI. That thing was setting off even the stock alarms of the 4th gens when he cranked it up. :thumbs:

[71Z28RS]

Whoa, setting off factory stock alarms? I doubt there are a whole lot of people who can claim that one. That's one hell of a ground thumper. He certainly must have picked his components right. If you went with a similar build would you go with the poncho too, or would you stick with the bow tie and build up a rat instead? Either way, they're bred from the good ol' General so all is well.

[Greed4Speed]

I was contemplating a Poncho engine in my 70 SS for a while. Just for the shock factor. Those old Caddy engines are hellacious torque monsters too. The thing about the 400 & 455 is that headers are readily available where as they aren't for the Caddy 500 and 472.

I kind of like the Poncho engines over the BBC. They just aren't done as much. I also like how the spark plugs are above the exhaust ports. Lessens the chance of burned wires.