92 Formula Firebird.....curious..? - F-Body Online

92Bird · 04-09-2008, 11:33 AM

so heres the deal just got a 92 formula in amazing shape automatic with t-tops just all around clean....its around 128*** miles and im thinkingwhen it gets closer to 2 hundred thou i wanna swap the engine tranny and exhaust...etc but i want to know what approach should i take for the engine...i wanted to buy a 350 and build it up..but w/e your incite would be appreciated!

19Stroked89 · 04-10-2008, 03:59 AM

I think dropping a 350 in there would be an excellent choice not to mention a very popular one. If you wanted alittle more when you are rebuilding it you can have it bored out .030 over, drop a 400 crank in it and build yourself a sweet little 383 stroker.

Another very popular route is to get yourself a 93-97 donor car and do a LT1 swap. Either way it would really wake that car up.

92Bird · 04-10-2008, 10:57 AM

thanks for the advice! =] like i said im kinda on the fence...

strc09 · 04-13-2008, 09:29 AM

I'm running a TPI 383 and really like it a lot. It's got tons of TQ and sounds good too. I thought about a TPI 406, but ended up with the 383 instead. It sounds like you've got yourself a nice ride and project.

92Bird · 04-13-2008, 09:01 PM

its amazing and ive decided i wanna pull it @ 200,000 and do the 383! but i wanna know what kind of mods am i looking at to drop it in my bird?

lol

strc09 · 04-13-2008, 09:08 PM

Are you running TPI or TBI right now? It'll be easier to stay with a FI 383 if you are using a TPI setup instead of the TBI. If you're going to throw a 383 in it, be sure to upgrade your heads for sure. A nice set of aluminum ones will do you good. I used a set of Corvette 113 heads on my setup and will be using the same on my wife's Formula 350 when the motor is rebuilt.

As for mods...

1.6RRs
Cam
Heads
Double-roller chain
AFPR
Injectors
Throttle Body (If you're running TPI already)
Stall (if you've got an automatic)
160 T-stat

Those are just some of the upgrades that'll help you out. If you go over to TGO you can find a listing of the "free" mods that you can do that'll free up some lost HP. They'll also compliment your 383 build.

92Bird · 04-14-2008, 10:17 AM

its tbi automatic

strc09 · 04-14-2008, 02:43 PM

Hmmm...TBI...I don't know if they make injector upgrades for TBI motors. If you can, I'd switch to a TPI or LT1 style injection. You'll have more options and better response.

92Bird · 04-14-2008, 07:10 PM

upgrades like? i found new throttle body tbi & manifold..is that what your talking about?

strc09 · 04-16-2008, 07:12 AM

If you found a larger TBI setup then that's great.

I've never seen one so I couldn't tell you where to look for one. With the TPI setup you'll get a better torque number because that's what it's made to do. The runners, plenum, and intake can all be ported out to increase the power output. Those in addition with a larger throttle body will help. A draw back to the TPI is getting to 300+ RWHP isn't as easy because the powerband is low and the TPI is sort of restrictive running out of breathe at the higher RPMs. They also make some different intakes that alleviate that problem and raise the power band to help get those 300+ numbers...the HSR, the mini-ram, and the LT1 intake conversion to get those numbers. On the downside of those is that it'll affect your torque...not by much though. If you switch to those types of setups then you'll have to switch your throttle cable because the one you have now isn't going to be long enough. You'd also have to probably switch out the PCM with a TPI PCM to make it easier to tune. Once it was done though...it'd be a sweet setup.