Goals

I had several goals with this project, and even though I don't know for sure (as I still need to dyno/tune/get track times) I think I completed them all successfully.

- Goal 1: A big problem with the j-body is getting good aftermarket parts.
They simply don't exist. And when someone finally develops something, they
have a hard time selling it, leaving them at a loss, and with no urge to
further develop for the j-body. I wanted to contribute as much as possible.
I managed to buy from 5 different companies/people that have contributed
to the j-body community.

- Goal 2: I want to build an engine that's putting out 200 bhp, with keeping
the stock compression for future upgrades (boost). And with the 200bhp,
I hope to be running 14.xx in the 1/4 mile.

- Goal 3: Since the first idea was to boost my engine, I wanted to keep
the same idea for this. Therefore I built my engine so it would be ready
for boost. I kept the stock compression, which I believe is low enough
for boost (8.9:1), and replaced weaker parts with stronger parts
(head bolts/rod bolts/pistons).

Companies / people that I purchased from

- www.jbodyperformance.com - built shortblock, and purchased misc. parts.
- v6h.o. (Colin) - Did all head work, port work, and purchased custom pushrods.
- www.fdpperformance.com - 62mm throttlebody.
- www.fastfwdperformance.com - Underdrive pulley.
- Mark Pain - Mark Pain Polyurethane Dog Bone Mount.

All these people were amazing to deal with. Customer service is top notch. I
would recommend them to anybody.

Bottom end (all work performed by www.jbodyperformance.com.)

- Sealed Power: Speed Pro Hypereutectic Pistons
- Bored out .030 Over (total displacement of 3.2l)
- Chrome Molley Ring Set
- Crankshaft Resurfaced/Polished/Rebalanced
- Race Connecting Rod Bearings (Clevite 77 P-Type)
- Race Main Bearings (Clevite 77 P-Type)
- Race Cam Bearings (Clevite 77 P-Type)
- Sandblast Connecting Rods
- ARP Rod Bolt Kit
- GM Performance Cam (260-H) with Lifters
- Melonite Cylinder Wall Treatment
- Sealed Power High Volume Oil Pump

Front side of engine	Timing chain side of engine
Back side of engine	Flywheel side of engine
Top view of shortblock	Top view of shortblock

3x00 Top End Swap

- 2001 upper intake manifold from Malibu (3100)
- 2000 lower intake manifold from a Venture (3400)
- 1997 heads from Malibu (3100)
- 1997 1.6 Roller rockers from Malibu (3100)
- 2000 fuel rail from a Venture (3400)
- 1995 timing chain cover from Grand Am (3100)
- 1995 power steering pump from Grand Am (3100)
- 2001 exhaust manifolds + crossover pipe from Malibu (3100)
- 1990 fuel injectors from Cavalier (3.1 mpfi)
- 1995 throttle cable from Beretta (3100)
- 2001 upper rad hose from Grand Am (3400) (22680642)
- 1997 throttle cable bracket off of Lumina (3100)
- Head and lower/upper intake manifold gasket kit. Vehicle unknown (gm# 89017347)
- ARP head studs
- Smith Brothers Push Rods (lengths: INTAKE 5.94 in, EXHAUST 6.275 in)
- FFWD Underdrive Pulley
- Mark Pain Polyurethane Dog Bone Mount
- Sealed Power Timing Chain
- FDP 62mm Throttlebody

Heads, Underdrive Pulley, Pushrods	Upper/Lower intake manifold, mount
Ported lower intake manifold	Ported upper intake manifold
Exhaust side of head	Intake side of head
Exhaust side of heads	Head bolts, mount, throttlebody
Pushrods, valve covers, heads

Heads (All work done on heads performed by Colin (v6ho)

- Ported and Polished
- Resurfaced
- 3 angle valve job
- Double Coil valve springs
- Valve seals
- New retainers

Combustion side of head	Combustion chamber
Ported intake chamber	Ported intake port
Ported exhaust chamber	Ported exhaust port
Ported exhaust port	Valves
Dual coil valve spring

Putting it together

Originally I ordered the wrong head bolts. ARP had a set from the iron head days, and only half of them were the correct length. On Thanksgiving Day, I spoke with Mev at www.jbodyperformance.com, and we spent an hour on the phone with ARP. We decided that it would be quickest to use parts from this kit, and parts from another kit (I believe it was for a Honda engine). A couple of days later I had my head bolts. The pictures below show size problems.

Back of engine	Front of engine
Timing side of engine	Clearance Issue # 1
Clearance Issue # 2	More measuring
More measuring	More measuring
More measuring	Clearance Issue # 3
Tight but fits	Ported intake manifold
Clearance Issue # 4

- Clearance Issue # 1 = The head stud with the hex key in it is to short. In the picture, it's screwed all the way down, not allowing enough thread for a nut to screw on. But, as you can see from the other head stud is the perfect length. This one is designed for the top bank of the head, which are an inch longer.

- Clearance Issue # 2 = For the long head studs, they were too short by an inch.

- Clearance Issue # 3 = With the roller rockers being slightly bigger, and the new head studs being longer, it was a tight fit. I ended up grinding down some of the excess stud on one cylinder, all others fit fine.

- Clearance Issue # 4 = The aftermarket throttlebody is about a 1/8" shy of covering the IAC port above the throttlebody bore. This was remedied with an oversize gasket.

EGR Adapter

Since I wanted to keep the stock EGR, my father whipped up an adapter plate for me. The plated needed to be at least an inch thick, as the hose from the manifold is to short otherwise.

Manifold side of plate	EGR side of plate
Exhaust hose goes in scratch up hole	Mounted
Mounted	Mounted

Installed and ready to go

Front shot of installed engine	Driver side shot of installed engine
Front shot of installed engine	Passenger side shot of installed engine

Wheels

I wanted to keep the stock wheel, but found the selection of tires for 15" to be not so good. I got a set of 95-99 z24 rims, and polished them up. Each rim took about 10 - 12 hours to polish. I may go back and so some of over again, as I can see spots I missed. The wheels are wrapped in Falken GRB FK 451, and are 225/50/16 in size.

Comparison of stock vs. polished	Close-up of polished
Wheel that is 25% completed	Mounting the wheels
Mounted

True HID headlights

Nothing beats having a set of headlights that are worth more then the car. These ballasts / light bulbs are out of a 2001 BMW. The new enclosures were bought at Canadian Tire, and are made by Bosch. It took some fitting/cutting, but worked out.

Part of the ballast	Ballast tucked behind battery
Part of ballast	Ballast tucked away under ac canister
New enclosure	Drivers side turned on
Passenger side turned on	Turned on
Turned on

Click here to see a movie of my lights starting up

Hot bodies feavs style