FBI stuff: 368 up grade?

[Paul Workman]

Winter projects are looming, and I'm researching and planning ahead now. I'm planning on porting my heads as part of my phased approach to upgrades, along perhaps with an aluminum FW and 4.xx ring/pinion.

But, the thought occurs to me that while the engine is out and I will have already incurred the expense for gaskets, etc and trouble to pull the engine, is not a 368 upgrade more or less a "drop in" by way of sleeves and pistons (and fresh bearings, etc)? What am I looking at as a cost adder for parts and machining to do a 368 upgrade? Ball-park...What does a fully ported 368(?) with LT headers, optimum (stock cams!) cam timing, and open 3" exhaust put down at the rear wheels??

For the effort, I would be hoping to see rear wheels putting down hp a bit north of 450 (on stock cams). What do you gurus think?

P.

[jonszr1]

pete would be a great one to ask on this , corey hendersons 268 makes 500 to the wheels . i think mthe biggest difference could be how aggressive you port her .

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Winter projects are looming, and I'm researching and planning ahead now. I'm planning on porting my heads as part of my phased approach to upgrades, along perhaps with an aluminum FW and 4.xx ring/pinion...

P.

Have you gotten through Phase 1?

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Have you gotten through Phase 1?

Oh, yeah. OH YEAH! She seems to run like a "scawlded dawg"... in spite of apparently having a leaking exhaust valve on #8.

Up to now it has always had a little less than turbine smooth idle like most of the LT5s do. I always figured it was an injector and shrugged it off - figuring "someday" I'd get around to changing them all out and be done with it.

But! The instant she fired up with the new headers and open exhaust, I could here a little tick sound. I recon it was always there but I never heard it thru the stock manifold/cats and the restrictive Borla resonator and mufflers.

No doubt about it, just knowing it is there takes the blush off of the rose (project). But, if I'm right and it has always been there (must be - I haven't done anything to cause it on my watch), then I guess I'll just enjoy it for the rest of the driving season and plan on pulling the motor late this fall. I'll open up the heads and then send one if not both heads off to be freshened up.

I'd really like to know how it would do on the dyno, and I'd prolly already have made the arrangements to do that. But, I'm just a little bummed right now, I guess. I have notice tho that in anything resembling normal driving, the ticking sound seems to disappear entirely. At WOT she really gets with the picture with no complaints that I can tell!

$$ is tight right now. But, I'd just hate to have to wait almost another year before she'd be at 100%. And, I'm danged sure I don't want to be lying on cardboard in the middle of winter trying to pull the engine (for my first time on an LT5)!!

Ah...We'll see what happens. But, other than that, she's running pretty well and sounds bloody awsome! In spite of the (latent discovery) valve issue, I'm very pleased with how the project has turned out so far. It is an entirely different animal...or should I say BEAST!

p.

[LGAFF]

Is it a valve or a injector ticking?

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Winter projects are looming, and I'm researching and planning ahead now. I'm planning on porting my heads as part of my phased approach to upgrades, along perhaps with an aluminum FW and 4.xx ring/pinion.

But, the thought occurs to me that while the engine is out and I will have already incurred the expense for gaskets, etc and trouble to pull the engine, is not a 368 upgrade more or less a "drop in" by way of sleeves and pistons (and fresh bearings, etc)? What am I looking at as a cost adder for parts and machining to do a 368 upgrade? Ball-park...What does a fully ported 368(?) with LT headers, optimum (stock cams!) cam timing, and open 3" exhaust put down at the rear wheels??

For the effort, I would be hoping to see rear wheels putting down hp a bit north of 450 (on stock cams). What do you gurus think?

P.

Paul,

Thanks for asking this........I might be heading down this road too.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

Is it a valve or a injector ticking?

Compression tests says...Valve. It may have "always" been there and I just never realized it through the stock manifolds n cats n Borla.)

P.

[LGAFF]

My car has also developed a tick, hope its an injector, also noticed smoke at idle....although not uncommon on a 90...seems to be getting alittle worse.

[XfireZ51]

Originally Posted by LGAFF

My car has also developed a tick, hope its an injector, also noticed smoke at idle....although not uncommon on a 90...seems to be getting alittle worse.

Lee,

When I listened to your motor it sounded as if ticking was coming from
under plenum not cam covers.

[Paul Workman]

Originally Posted by HAWAIIZR-1

Paul,

Thanks for asking this........I might be heading down this road too.

Your welcome. I hope to get a little more input fm some 368 drivers.

In talking with Marc H last spring, I got the impression the 368, aside from pistons, rings, and sleeves and bearings is a "why not" kind of upgrade, if you have the engine apart anyway. Hope to hear from some 368 drivers tho.

P.