project unleashed
cuz i like to go fast bitch
project unleashed
cuz i like to go fast bitch
Vehicle Background
The author of this site is the second owner of this pewter metallic Firebird which came with a somewhat celebrity ownership history. Not wanting just any old Firebird it was built to the hilt and outfitted with nearly every factory option inside and out. Some of the options ordered for this car included interior luxuries like tinted windows, the ten speaker ‘Monsoon’ stereo CD system and T-tops as well as performance upgrades such as quick 3.42 geared rear differential, chromed aluminum wheels, fat 235/55-R16 tires, dual tip exhaust, body extensions and more.
The 3800 Series II L36 Fuel Injected v6 Camaros and Firebirds come from the factory rated at 200 hp at 5200 rpm and 225 lbs. of torque at 4000 rpm measured at the crank.
The factory performance of these cars means you know you are not driving a four door family car but rather a nice handling, sporty and fun to drive touring machine. Good job GM.
Wanting a bit more, however, has put this car in the performance laboratory here at Unleashed HQ on the weekends several times with a few more scheduled appointments for further upgrades to this already fine automobile.
First to be upgraded was the engines air intake system. A K&N oil charged filter replaced the stock paper air filter. Then the lower air box blocking plate was removed to create a larger air intake port as well as to incorporate an aftermarket cold air intake system in the form of a Fast Toys Ram Air Induction kit. To make sure that all this fresh air was getting to the throttle body in a timely fashion the stock air silencer baffle unit was yanked and replaced with a custom PVC pipe smooth air bellows. To reduce turbulence in the air box the underside of the air box lid had its fins removed.
Other Modifications Include:
Mobil 1 10-30 synthetic oil and the ‘large’ filter every 3000-4000 miles
Replaced stock 195* thermostat with 180* thermostat
Added BMR Strut Tower Brace
Added three-point tubular Sub Frame Connectors
Replaced stock LCA with tubular LCA and poly-urethane bushings
Replaced stock Pan-Hard Rod with tubular Pan-Hard Rod with
poly-urethane bushings
Replaced stock one piece steel drive shaft with one piece aluminum
drive shaft
Added B-quiet extreme sound proofing to trunk bed and inner rear
fender-wells
Added spray on rubberized undercoating to floor pans (under car)
Replaced stock 1.6 ratio valve rockers with Intense Racing 3rd Gen
aluminum 1.9 ratio roller rockers
Replaced stock low load valve springs with LS6 medium load valve
springs (Pretty much required with the high ratio rocker upgrade)
as well as swapped out the stock L36 retainers for LS1 retainers. (For proper LS6 valve spring install height of 1.8”)
Replaced stock 2.25” exhaust system with:
Magnaflow/Carsound 3”/3” high flow catalytic converter,
Magnaflow LT1 (v8) 1993-1997 p/n 15620 3” cat-back system
with dual tips:
Then swapped out the Magnaflow muffler for an SLP Firehawk
muffler. (quite a bit deeper, less rasp and not as loud…)
Replaced stock PCM programming with Hypertech Power Programmer 3:
Increase shift firmness in Auto Transmission
Remove/change top speed limiter
Change rev limiter
Change fan ‘turn on’ temp relative to thermostat
Installed GM9-AUX (CD-Changer to RCA plug adapter) in Single CD
Monsoon head unit to connect portable mp3 player to stock sound
system.
Mounted B/C fire extinguisher between rear bucket seats.
Mounted Maglite flashlite in trunk
Tire pressure adjusted to 35 psi in the fronts and 31 psi in the rear
tires for weight distribution toward the rear end.
HPTuners PCM programming suite (coming soon)
RKSport/Powerdyne super charger related modifications include:
Throttle Body PCV bypass with valve cover breather
Boost Gauge, Electric Fuel Pressure Gauge and narrow band Air-Fuel Gauge in triple pod A-pillar
Custom fuel lines for FMU and F/P sender install with reflective metal heat wrap
Custom 3" blower discharge tubing
Custom blower intake system (integrated stock air-box/cold air induction)
John_D power wrap
Changed RKSport/Powerdyne stock 6 psi smooth pulley with 6 psi ASP Racing cross-cut grooved pulley
And more…. Check out the GUIDES section of this web site for further details.
What is the point behind all this modding and upgrading? Well, performance of course.
