High Compression 3400/3500 NA build

[mfuller]

Are you going to have to fly cut the pistons? I have a smidge less lift than you but 12 degrees less duration.

[02GT_SkyHigh]

I called and talked to the guy doing my block about fly cutting the pistons, he said he has the tools and he does it all the time for the racing team he sponsors. If it needs to be done he will handle it. My dad went to highschool with this guy, he raced then too. Ill trust his judgement.

Ill have to run the PAC springs. When I was talking to ben about the cam, he designed 2, one for the comp cams 26986 springs on the heads now and another more aggressive one for the PAC springs. It has a higher ramp up rate, needs the stiffer springs to keep me from floating a valve.
Went with the more aggressive cam.. did it done!

Im sending the transmission off in a week off to a guy I got referred to.
Rebuilt for high HP and hes going to put a LSD in there. Paired with a 2500 rpm stall converter.
When I first started talking to him he said he can do a higher final drive ratio. How high?

3.91!

Of course I did it! The (aka) Weekend warrior, the 3k go kart, the grocery getter is gonna move!
Eff it man, Im already going what I feel to be all out is!

More Pics of shiz

[MAC the KNIFE]

everything you just said is WINNING

[02GT_SkyHigh]

I knew I was going to rebuild, But I always thought why not step it up?
I love the look on peoples face, I tell them about the build, then tell them its in a Grand Am.


You guys are awesome (most of you)
I post mostly cause of wanting to share and gain knowledge.
I dont have time to talk and chat a lot on here but I enjoy reading the **** you guys give each other. Haha
I read a lot of posts here and grand am and I get excited when a topic comes up and I know that one person is gonna chime in and blow the whole thread to sh!t. haha
I learned everything I know about my hobbies on forum boards.

Go-ped Forum (Built 35MPH)
Car Audio Forum (paid steadily since I learned how to "tune" a ported box)
Fiberglass Forum (too much to mention I might share my Jeep fiberglass project)
L.E.D. lighting Forum
Radar detector Forum(nice to know when you have a fast car and a lead foot)
Many more

But.

This one is my favorite, Ya'll crazy beeshes

[young gun]

damn 3.91 fdr. Good luck with traction

[gregraisbeck]

Glad the headers made it safe.

[02GT_SkyHigh]

Heads are done with the PAC springs.
Block is bored
ARP studs are on the rods and the rods were reconditioned
Crank was turned, all the surfaces are baby ass smooth
Have all the parts.
Long block assembly will begin within a week

[MAC the KNIFE]

Originally Posted by 02GT_SkyHigh

...

i just realized your screen name, and your compression ratio, are both sky high.
keep the progress pix coming.

[young gun]

Originally Posted by MAC the KNIFE

i just realized your screen name, and your compression ratio, are both....


sky high.

Insert CSI Miami yeaaaahhhh!

[plastic_indian]

Originally Posted by 02GT_SkyHigh

Long block assembly will begin within a week

Wash everything! Parts fresh from the machine shop are almost always full of debris (blast cabinet dust, metal particles, etc); more than one fresh engine has died a quick death when the machine shop left black beauty in the castings and the assembler completed a dirty build. Cylinder walls, inside the crank case, water jackets, oil galleys (especially), bearing saddles, chase all the threads, everything. Hook a hose up directly to the water heater and clean away. Dry with compressed air and coat with machine oil, WD, ATF or something along those lines. Don't wipe with a shop rag (lint contamination); use hands or maybe a Wypall. Plastic everything until the build and assemble in a clean room.

Use the proper chemicals in the proper places, measure all your clearances, take your time and enjoy the process. There is no finer joy for a motorhead than building the beast. Congrats on your progress.

[sleepyalero]

Sleepy likes this ^

[AaronGTR]

My engine/machine shop hot tanked everything before and after they did my work (took all my paint off my engine ) but I still inspected it as well before assembly, and I wiped down the cylinder bores with a clean cotton towel and ATF (as was recommended to me by the shop).

[plastic_indian]

Originally Posted by AaronGTR

My engine/machine shop hot tanked everything before and after they did my work (took all my paint off my engine ) but I still inspected it as well before assembly, and I wiped down the cylinder bores with a clean cotton towel and ATF (as was recommended to me by the shop).

That hot tank is the dirtiest thing in the shop. Castings are typically sprayed off with a hose after emerging from the tank, but it's a token effort. Some outfits may have a separate washer for post-machining, but in most cases those freshly machined castings go in the same bath as the fresh meat; the stuff that accumulates in the washer basin is wicked.

I too subscribe to the ATF-on-the-cylinder walls routine as I was shown by an old timer. The theory was to provide an advantage to ring break in; who knows if it truly provides any benefit - particularly with modern materials and surface finish accuracy - but I've never gone astray doing it.

[AaronGTR]

Originally Posted by plastic_indian

That hot tank is the dirtiest thing in the shop. Castings are typically sprayed off with a hose after emerging from the tank, but it's a token effort. Some outfits may have a separate washer for post-machining, but in most cases those freshly machined castings go in the same bath as the fresh meat; the stuff that accumulates in the washer basin is wicked.

I too subscribe to the ATF-on-the-cylinder walls routine as I was shown by an old timer. The theory was to provide an advantage to ring break in; who knows if it truly provides any benefit - particularly with modern materials and surface finish accuracy - but I've never gone astray doing it.

I didn't see it myself, but i would bet theirs is cleaner than that. I saw the rest of the shop and it was cleaner than most machine shops I've been in. They did a lot of high end performance builds there, so I'm sure they know how to clean an engine properly before assembly. They certainly were expensive enough... and everything I got back from them was pretty clean.

But yeah, for anyone else... if you don't know the reputation of the shop you are using or the quality of their work, or even if you do... still a good idea to inspect everything.

[02GT_SkyHigh]

The guy that owns the shop is my dads friend so im actually the one doing all the cleaning and assembling. It is nice to have him there as a reference so i dont eff something up.
Everything was hot tanked, then i spent about an hour cleaning it with lint free cloths.
I have pics of assembly so far. Ill get them up later tonight.
Im thinking the motor will be a long block in about a week, im still waiting on tranny parts to come in.
Changed the FDR to 3.63

[02GT_SkyHigh]

MORE TO COME

[02GT_SkyHigh]

Monday the pistons, cam and timing chain is going on!!!

[MAC the KNIFE]

stepping up to 3.63 gears would make even a stock motor more peppy. this is gonna be a blast!

[sleepyalero]

I likeeee

Do you have a DRTC?

[02GT_SkyHigh]

I think the 3.63 FDR is going to make a fun car to drive! Track and street. Hello freeway onramps!

What is a DTRC?