For any who are interested in keeping a somewhat step by step on my performance rebuild of a 1993 SSEI and who have suggestions or comments here'* the spot. Just something to read I guess. Today, April 05, I bought:

MSD DIS-4: This ignition features multi-channel capability complemented with multiple sparks, rev limiters, and a timing control. Throttle response and mid range pull are improved due to a series of powerful multiple sparks.

MSD Coil Pack (3): It is designed with improved materials and windings to produce a stronger spark. This improved spark helps burn the fuel mixture more efficiently, resulting in a smooth idle and improved mid range rpm power.

MSD 8.5MM wires: MSD'* 8.5mm Super Conductor Wire has a special helically wound core that has just 40-50 ohms of resistance per foot--but with the RFI suppression equal to a 1,500 ohm wire.

RPM Adaptor: For use with MSD DIS-4. Because the DIS-4 sends multiple sparks and the RPM gauge reads the sparks as measurement for rpms. I'm sure you can see how this adaptor is needed.

and the less expensive oil pan gasket and silicon compound. I also got ahold of Jet Performance to build me custom chip, I'll know more Monday on which one I'm getting but I asked for a slightly modified Stage 2 or if suggested Stage 3 (Stage 2 with POWR-SHIFT). Monday I'm also contacting Walt Austin Racing to get a set of 24lb/hr Accel injectors. I want those because I'm replaing them anyway, why not go bigger. Tomorrow comes the nuts-n-bolts part of it. All of which, if I can, will come from ARP. Head bolts, intake bolts, rod pins, things of that nature. Also Monday, I'm calling local shops to ask about a transmission rebuild just to see where prices lay. I found one place that offers a heavily rebuit trans for $2700, not looking to spend that so hopefully a local shop can get me a decent price for next month. CompCams offered to regrind my cam depending on how much material was there, I might just ask for a new one. Near future purchases is a switch to control between timid exhaust and straight pipe which will be fed out near the back tire. Yes you can flip a switch to control a door to switch between the too. Thats about what I have for now. I've been busy as of yet...Any suggestions or comments?


Jason

Today was a slow day, I ordered a supercharger coupler and two bottles of supercharger oil. It is seriously difficult to find parts for this engine. Mostly I'm waiting for responses from the 20+ places I wrote to and/or called. By the end of this you guys should have a whole host of places that sell parts for a Series I! heh. But anyone know of parts that are interchangable? The hardest to find as of yet are valves, valve springs, rockers and lifters. I'm sure if I knew the exact specs I could order them but alas I don't. K-motion offers a range of sizes and I'm sure they carry what I need, albeit a little pricey. I really should just keep what I have but I'd like to replace them just to have a new part on the inside. The internals are what I'm mostly worried about, if a fuel pump quits working its not going to be a "B" to replace. Might end up ordering parts once I get it apart and can take measurements. It should be in the shop next weekend and I'm hoping to have all the parts by then. I think the harder part is finding these parts at a discount. I checked 5-6 different places before settling on one for the fuel injectors. But for the most part custom parts or special order is the only way to go. Its hard to believe that this car got no support when it was produced. You'd think although its a '93 that back then there were performance parts available. I can buy a kit to put a 350 in a yugo but I can't find a valve spring for a supercharged v6. I did find one company that offers a full rebuild kit for $1300 but thats too much so I asked for specific pricing so I can pick and choose from the parts. Another guy offered a rebuild kit as soon as I find out what size piston ringgs I have, the local dealer is working on that. Any suggestions?

Jason

If you are after big hp I would swap in a Non Sc series II, or a v8.

I personally would swap in a non-sc series II and strap on a centrifugal super charger. That would get you in the 500-700hp range without any major problems. There is also a ton of support for that engine. If you do this I will provide you with all your products at wholesale if you are interested. Drop me a line.

I can get you product for the series 1 but it is all mostly custom and your leg work is about as good any anyone else’*. As for a transaxle I feel mine is the best. My limited slip is also exclusive. I have a cheaper drop coil on the way but for performance I also have cheaper coil overs coming. The big shops are going to get you the best deal on most "known" product. I have an awesome deal on a Northstar swap LOL . Most v8 swaps cost around 30.000.00-60000.00 mine is 15000.00. and can be cheaper. That’* a potential hp limit of 1000hp. I am very interested in any pictures and keep us posted sounds like a fun project.


That said if you want to use your stock engine a build up can be done. I am very interested in who you have contacted and what they have to offer.

Ty

Thats a very tempting offer (especially that northstar ) and I gave it some thought but it would be going away from why I started this project in the first place. Any monkey with cash can make a car fast, but it takes dedication to take a car with little support and make it fast. I think it was people similar to me that drove this market in the first place. Refering back to the 350 kit for a yugo, some yahoo with an idea came up with that and built it. I'm sure he had very little support but now its more of a common item and I can probably order one on ebay. Even the water/alcohol injection kits I've seen floating around, I'm sure the guy that designed the first one got a lot of "Why don't you just buy nitrous?". This applies to almost every aspect of the aftermarket scene. Now I'm not saying I want to take the hard way, by all means if any of you know where I can find parts for this thing please let me know. But when this project is done and I can use it to help others find parts or even motivate someone to try and fix up their uncommon car I think that will carry with it a sense of pride. With that said, on to the update.

Yesterday was another slow day, I get the feeling I have a lot of those to come. I contacted CompCams and they're working on a custom grind of a Buick cam that tech says should fit. I was wary of sending in my cam for fear that there isn't enough material to grind down and still have enough to safely cover the magnetic pickups for the cam sensor. The specs: 210 intake 202 exhuast 432 intake 416 exh. The rebuild kit will probably be comming from Craig with http://hi-performance.com/ . He'* been really helpful, the last email I got said "The kit will be either $505.95, $545.95
or $625.95 depending on which ring set you need." Which is about $200 lower than the closest competition and $800 lower than the next. Yeah a guy with RPM performance offered $1300 for the basics, not happening. The next closest was from Harland from www.GreenBayPartsWorld.com at $869 for all the goodies. But even contacting a few local pontiac dealers has failed to come up with the specs for the rings so I just ordered some from the dealer. Yeah, they couldn't tell me the specs but they could order it. So oh well at least I have some and I can get the specs when they come in a few days from now. So I have to get ahold of Craig and tell him that I don't need the rings and just to send the other parts. ARP still hasen't gotten back to me on the nuts-n-bolts but they warned that sending email will take a while so I'll just give them a call. The parts from MSD should come in today, excited about that. I got some support from Ken Crocie at www.hoenterprises.com. I asked him for some information on parts and he went ahead and forwarded my message to "Mike Lewis of Pontiac Enthusiast Mag." Seeing as he'* the 3.8L expert. This is becomming kind of a who'* who of the Pontiac world eh? I have quite a few others I'm talking to but I'm going to wait for their reply before posting as a good spot or bad. But http://www.autopartstreet.com is decent for some bits and pieces. Not a whole lot of internals though. Suggestions, comments?


Jason

I agree on the sense of pride and the mission is admirable. For your goal, which is apparent now, you are going to find the main focus will be Custom. I talked to a few companies awhile back about cam and shaft options and billet options are available from a few of the same companies who build the old turbo 3.8’* for the track. If you contact me via e-mail or phone I would be glad to pass on all my leads. I tried to incite some interest/pride but so far no one with any real interest or money came forward. How OEM are you going to stay? Are you interested in a twin screw instead of the Eaton you have? I also talked to a few people about that option and would love to see it done. That would put the build on the map. Happy trails.

Ty

Oh one other thing.. as for a transaxle i know of all the current options and can provide leads for the do it yourselfer. But there are basically three people who really know the performance end of your transaxle and based on your response to the 2700.0 price tag you are going to find the transaxle a bit difficult to find. The price ranges from 2700 for a standard unit to 5000.00 for a custom performance unit. Wait two years and there will be a kit and the performance unit will be around 4000.00. There is however a option that you can do yourself that will get you half way there and not cost as much. Once again drop me a line if you are interested.

Ty

I got my stuff from Summit Racing today, still waiting on the back ordered MSD coil packs though. The new piston rings should be in soon too. Comp Cams promised to call back as soon as they have the cam ready, they need to be done already! heh. Well it looks like the shop time is getting pushed back a little, I ended up getting duty this weekend. Oh well gives me more time to get the parts ordered. Even though I don't have all the parts yet I was hoping to get the engine pulled and on a stand this weekend so I can start tearing it apart. I went ahead and picked up another vehicle for transportation while the beast is in the shop. So I get to choose from 2 2000 Ford Focuss' (red or silver) a 2000 Toyota Tacoma TRD and a 1996 big *** van! Wonder which I'll be driving to work most...hmm TRD anyone? Yea yea its a truck. So anyway thats where it is as of yet. I consider a slow day any day that parts weren't either ordered or arrived, today wasen't a slow day but I don't feel like I made much progress. I realize they need time to custom build EVERY DAMN PART ON THIS ENGINE...but still. Comments?


Jason

I am just book marking this so I can find it later.

Like I said before this last weeked sucked being stuck on duty so the car is still waiting. I got the rings in from the Pontiac dealer yesterday. $35 x 6 = more that I was out to pay for OEM but its all that I found so oh well, better than nothing. I got my coil packs in and promptly installed those. About the easiest installation I've ever done. Seems counterproductive to install parts when I'm yanking the engine but who could say no to such an easy installation. It was about 10min in all and took a ratchet. I'd definately suggest this for anyone out there. Contact Summit Racing pn# MSD-8224 and shovel out $120. Also good to have is the MSD 8.5 plug wires, extremely low resistance wires and not a horrible buy for $73, also from Summit Racing. For the Series I you have to get the universal wires and cut-to-fit, no biggie. I also went an got some more exhaust wrap from Design Engineering. I love this stuff, it can really lower your under hood temps. I already have it over the front side exhaust and the upper coolant hose closest to the intake. I also used to have it around my intake hose. I got a second roll from the local shop ($27-37 bucks!) for the exhaust, intake tube, and coolant lines. I'm working on getting the right fuel injectors. Using the equasion thats floating around the internet its suggested I buy injectors rated for an 1100hp engine. I bet that perked some ears but nooo I'm only expecting 385 with the nitrous tweaked. (Btw I'm also looking at flipping to a wet system..hmmmm) So as with about every other part I have I've sent that out to about every pontiac enthusiast I could find to get suggestions. Have any? I'm searching local shops to find the best deal on getting all the block work done. There'* a machine shop right down the street but it, for some reason, wasen't open today. I guess they don't like working on Tuesdays. Progress is steady and I don't want to rush it but I can't wait! I'm prepping for the future so I'm also talking with PST (Performace Suspension Technology) to get a complete kit for the ride. The kit includes:
2 Upper Ball Joints
2 Lower Ball Joints
4 POLYGRAPHITEŽ Upper Inner Control Arm Bushings
2 or 4 POLYGRAPHITEŽ Lower Inner Control Arm Bushings
2 POLYGRAPHITEŽ Strut Rod Bushings (if required)
2 Outer Tie Rod Ends
2 POLYGRAPHITEŽ Stabilizer Links
2 POLYGRAPHITEŽ Sway Bar Bushings with Brackets
Control Arm Bumpers (for most models)
2 Inner Tie Rod Ends
Tie Rod Adjusting Sleeves
1 Idler Arm
2 Upper Inner Shafts

This is for the Super front end kit. Seeing as this is for everything BUT a Bonneville I may not need some of these parts and may need parts that aren't included, also getting them to fit... so we'll have to wait and see what they come up with for me. Comments?


P.*. Sorry for the block form but I just type as I think. Also if you want a picture of my engine before I started this email me - SonicOverdose@hotmail.com . I would post it but its too big.

I've been having fun screwing with the people in Nwstreetracing.com. Most of them I talked to back when it was draglab so its all in fun....hopefully none really wanna race just yet. Anyway really nothing new to report, I ordered a new oil pump and a gasket rebuild kit from gmpartsdirect.com, also got the Jet stage 2 chip. I'm liking this setup, obviously. I tore some junk out of the engine bay, namely my fan setup and battery. I'm still waiting for everything to fall into place, junk is taking longer than I'd hoped but like I said before I don't wanna rush it. The guy down the street said he'd port my heads for $200, decent deal I thought but hopefully he'* good.