<Project> 1998 Trans Am Upgrades

[DETROITMUSCLE]

very nice, I have the same set

[OVRKILL]

I feel a house warming event coming on....

[Schuby87]

I have two projects to finish before getting on the road this year.

1. Steering rack swap - right before putting it away last year I lost powersteering while turning left. Replacing the powersteering pump didn't help.

2. Head swap - one of my cylinder head gaskets started to weep last season so instead of doing all that work to replace the gasket and keeping the crappy 806 heads I am switching to 243 heads. No plans for a cam as of now, just replacing 150k mile parts.

What I have:
243 heads, center bolt valve covers and gaskets, center bolt coil brackets and bolts.

What I'm planning:
Stock MLS head gaskets, stock rocker arms, LS7 lifters, LS2 lifter trays, 7.4" pushrods, and head bolts.

Any comments/suggestions?

[JoeliusZ28]

Very cool!! You forgot the upgraded cam specs though

[sman]

Dont really think the ls2 trays are required, but to each their own. Why are you buying new pushrods?

If you are going to replace the head bolts, they get the reuseable studs. No sense to spend the money twice. But personally ive always re used the head bolts

Not looking to start a war over reusing head bolts. Keep that in mind....

[Lucky SOB]

In order to use head studs, doesn't the engine have to be out of the car?

[Fox Slaughter]

In order to use head studs, doesn't the engine have to be out of the car?

I don't see why it would be? Screw stud in, torque down nut onto stud. I heard the problem with studs is getting them to seal in a water jacket.

[Boost Addict]

I don't see why it would be? Screw stud in, torque down nut onto stud. I heard the problem with studs is getting them to seal in a water jacket.

Not enough room to fit the head on the block with the studs sticking up. Guess it depends on how they get put in.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

Not enough room to fit the head on the block with the studs sticking up. Guess it depends on how they get put in.

lightly tape the studs so they sit inside the head and won't fall out, put it back on, removes the tape and then screw them in. I would not recommend resuing the head bolts, find some ARPs they make bolts that are cheaper than the studs and still reusable.

[Schuby87]

Very cool!! You forgot the upgraded cam specs though

Maybe next winter. No money in the budget for a cam swap right now since I have a house payment and a garage to finish. I do have some money set aside for a detail that I never got last year...

Dont really think the ls2 trays are required, but to each their own. Why are you buying new pushrods?

If you are going to replace the head bolts, they get the reuseable studs. No sense to spend the money twice. But personally ive always re used the head bolts

Not looking to start a war over reusing head bolts. Keep that in mind....

I think the LS2 lifter trays superseded the LS1's.

If everything goes as planned, I hope to not have the heads off again so I can't justify the extra cost of studs. I can't reuse (but wouldn't anyway) the head bolts since I'm going from perimeter to center bolt.

[Fox Slaughter]

I hope to not have the heads off again so I can't justify the extra cost of studs.

http://www.advancedinduction.com/LSX...cGMLS2Head.php

This why you should retract that statement =D

[BP_Z28]

Those heads look familiar

[Schuby87]

http://www.advancedinduction.com/LSX...cGMLS2Head.php

This why you should retract that statement =D

Haha, I don't know man. Brent is the only Schubring that will drop that much into a Fbody...

Those heads look familiar

Thanks again, Rolo. I'm glad to help with your worthy goal.

[Fox Slaughter]

Shhhh it will slowly eat at you. Its like a watermelon seed that has been swallow. Soon a watermelon will start to grow until finally BOOM!

Yes that was a reference to a Rugrats episode.

[Schuby87]

Does anyone run LS7 lifters? I have read that some people think they are 0.050 taller than my LS1 lifters. Any truth to this? I have a feeling I will need order a pushrods length checker but I would like to order the correct length the first time.