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    Blown, Stroked, & Sprayed

    Ed Blown Vert's Avatar
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    Exclamation 1999 Pontiac Trans Am - Bolt-On Inspiration - Part 2

    1999 Pontiac Trans Am - Bolt-On Inspiration - Part 2
    Whether it's reworking the ignition curve on a 400ci Ram Air III or cutting down the EGR tube on an LS1 displacing 346 ci, Pontiac owners love to tweak their machines to extract additional power. In Part I of our LS1 bolt-on bonanza, a group of engine and induction modifications for the '98-'02 LS1-equipped Firebirds were introduced.
    For the LS1 faithful, the "free mods" were created when innovative owners started pulling parts and experimenting to see if the changes would net power gains. Since the LS1 responded so well to minor bolt-ons, the quest for additional power was on, and in no time a set of "cost effective mods" were developed that are widely embraced by the community for their bang for the buck. For the '98-'00 LS1, the swap to an LS6 intake manifold is very popular and typically nets the owner around 10 rwhp on a stock vehicle. The remainder of the free and cost-effective mods can be applied in an afternoon and provide significant power increases for the money and time spent. If you have a free-flowing exhaust, a hotter cam, and/or port work done to the heads, even more power can be produced.
    Kadin Betts of Carrollton, Texas, owns and drives daily the 57,000-mile '99 T/A that was upgraded for this story. Real Perform-ance Motorsports (RPM) in Lewisville, Texas, performed the installation and testing of the modifications.
    In the first installment, the stock LS1 intake manifold was removed, and the SLP Performance-sourced LS6 intake manifold was prepared for installation by transferring-among other items-the MAP sensor, fuel rails, EVAP canister, lines, and PCV valve. Since the owner wanted to retain full EGR functionality, he purchased a used SLP manifold and placed a call to SLP for a set of new EGR O-ring gaskets. To purchase a new SLP manifold with EGR function-ality, ask for PN 30041 that retails for $499.95. The manifold includes a predrilled hole and EGR tube. Alternately, the manifold can be purchased from SLP without the EGR provisions for $399.95 under PN 30039. Both manifolds come complete with the required pipe assembly, covers, and seals.
    Completion of the LS6 intake manifold installation on a '99 Trans Am follows, as does an aftermarket lid and ported throttle body install. And, of course, most of the free and cost-effective modifications will be performed. The airbox mod, however, will not since this Bird is subjected to the ele-ments each day. Subsequent dyno testing will verify the results of our efforts by comparing baseline pulls with those done after the mods. We're shooting for 20 rwhp. Will we make it?





    Recommended Parts and Supplies
    • SLP LS6 manifold (with EGR provisions), PN 30041, $499.95
    • SLP LS6 manifold (without EGR provisions), PN 30039, $399.95
    • GM manifold gaskets, PN 12533587, $76.30
    • GM LS6 intake manifold, PN 12561269, $851.46
    • GM front pipe assembly, PN 12581213, $39.00
    • GM throttle-body gasket, PN 12552542, $12.06
    • GM covers - Qty 4, PN 12570678, $5 each
    • GM seals, PN 12551933, $6.28 each
    • Shaner S2 throttle-body, exchange, $119.95 satin finish, $139.95 polished Motorsports Technology Inc, carbon-fiber-look airlid, $129, K&N filter $49

    Cost-Effective Mods
    • Aftermarket Air Filter - Factory-style paper air filter replaced with a drop-in filter utilizing a cotton gauze or foam element to increase airflow, $25-$50
    • Aftermarket Airbox Lid - Lid replaces factory upper airbox assembly to increase airflow, $75-$150 LS6 intake manifold (with or without EGR provisions) - LS6 intake manifold to increase airflow, used or new parts, $300-$500

    Free (And Low-Buck) Mods:
    • Descreen MAF - Screen is removed from MAF in theory to increase airflow, $0. Real Performance Motorsports and many other shops do not recommend this mod
    • Cut EGR Tube in LS1 Manifold - EGR tube is cut down in intake manifold to increase airflow, $0
    • Airbox Mod - Factory lower airbox and airdam are modified to pull more air in from underneath the car, $0
    • Throttle-Body Coolant Bypass - Engine coolant is not routed to throttle body, thereby allowing for a cooler charge, $5-15 Ported Throttle Body - Throttle body either home ported and polished or sent out to a service provider, $0-$300

    Recommended Tools:
    • Metric socket set
    • Metric wrenches
    • Flat-bladed screwdriver
    • Schrader valve tool Fuel-line disconnect tool

    Dyno Testing:
    The '99 T/A, as tested in the baseline configuration already had a few of the "free or cost-effective" modifications done to it, including an aftermarket K&N air filter and a descreened MAF. With just a swap of the LS6 intake manifold, the car picked up a total of 7 hp from peak to peak, but more importantly, gains showed all across the rpm range. For the owner of an LS1 manifold-equipped Firebird, the LS6 manifold is highly recommended if the owner plans to add additional modifications such as an aftermarket camshaft or headers, as the LS6 manifold supports a combined head and intake flow above the LS1 intake manifold's nominal flow of approximately 285 cfm. Higher-flowing heads and camshafts that produce high lift will see big power gains with the LS6 manifold.
    For the owner of an LS1-equipped Bird who doesn't plan to do more modifications or doesn't have the budget necessary for the LS6 manifold, the modification where the LS1 intake manifold EGR tube is cut down has proven to provide gains in the 3-5hp range on stock vehicles.
    After spending less than five minutes swapping out the stock throttle body, the Shaner S2 unit produced an outstanding gain of an additional 5 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque. If you can stand to have your beloved Firebird down a few days, or utilize the replacement core policy that S2 Performance has, you will be rewarded with additional power.
    The final dyno test involved removing the stock airbox assembly and installing the MTI carbon-fiber-look airlid. When the rollers stopped spinning, the MTI lid pulled down an additional 8 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque.
    Total gains from an afternoon's worth of work added up to a tick under 19 hp and 14 lb-ft of torque. Had the car been baseline dyno'd with a stock MAF and factory paper air filter, it may have crested the rear-wheel-horsepower goal of 20.
    The important thing is that you look at the gains from a system perspective versus just what the individual parts netted. It's entirely possible the order in which the dyno pulls were made may have increased or decreased the individual contributions of each part. In the final analysis, HPP has shown you how to gain a minimum of 15 rwhp for a very low entry fee.
    Dyno Results:
    Key Engine Parameters: Air Inlet Temperature (AIT). Maximum values are noted unless otherwise stated. Average horsepower and torque are dyno pulls recorded between 3,300 and 5,800 rpm.
    ConfigurationAITHPHP GainHP Avg. TorqueTQ GainTQ Avg.A/F Avg.Stock90.7302.7— 260.4316.2— 302.812.7LS6 Int., TB Bypass 93.5 309.26.5265.0319.53.3306.712.7LS6, TB Bypass, and S2 TB 94.1314.04.8267.3324.95.4312.112.9 LS6, TB Bypass, S2 TB, and Lid93.8321.57.5272.2330.05.1317.913.4 Total Gains18.811.813.815.1
    Testing of the '99 Trans Am was performed at Real Performance Motorsports in Lewisville, Texas. RPM has a Dynojet Model 248C dyno that is capable of measuring up to 1,800 hp and is optioned with the above ground kit and the Commander wideband 02 sensor so air/fuel ratios can be charted.
    Dyno Pulls:
    The "stock" configuration has a descreened MAF, an aftermarket K&N air filter, and an SLP Loud-mouth after-cat exhaust.
    • Stock Test Parameters: Air inlet temperature 90.7 degrees Fahrenheit, barometric pressure 30.09, vapor pressure 0.17 in. HG, correction factor 0.99
    • Stock, plus an LS6 intake manifold and TB bypass Test parameters: Air inlet temperature 93.5 degrees Fahrenheit, barometric pressure 30.08, vapor ressure 0.16 in. HG, correction factor 0.99
    • Stock, plus an LS6 intake, a TB bypass, and a Shaner S2 throttle body Test Parameters: Air inlet temperature 94.1 degrees Fahrenheit, barometric pressure 30.13, vapor pressure 0.16 in. HG, correction factor 0.99
    • Stock, plus an LS6 intake, a TB bypass, a Shaner S2 throttle body, and an MTI lid
    Test Parameters: Air inlet temperature 93.8 degrees Fahrenheit, barometric pressure 30.07, vapor pressure 0.15 in. HG, correction factor 0.99
    Free mod! Throttle body coolant bypass
    The EVAP tube, PCV line grounding strap, and EGR valve are connected. Rather than route the coolant hose that comes off the front bypass hose to the throttle body, a brass connector with barbed ends is inserted into the line, and after slipping on two factory hose clamps, the other end of the throttle body coolant line is attached and tightened. The throttle-body coolant bypass mod was just completed. This procedure is the same on an LS1 intake, so if you don't need the extra heat that might keep your throttle body from icing up in the winter months, this modification may take you five minutes with a cool engine. Using a large crescent wrench, the EGR tube is connected to the LS6 EGR fitting that we installed earlier. The stock throttle body is then reinstalled with the three 10mm bolts, and the PCV hose was connected to it (not connected in picture).
    Cost-Effective Mod! Shaner S2 Throttle Body
    The LS6 intake manifold and throttle body bypass modification were dyno tested, and the car picked up power all the way across the powerband. With that test out of the way, we quickly swapped the stock throttle body for a used ported throttle body from S2 Performance. After sending in your throttle body for modifications, the Shaner S2 ported throttle body (on the left) is extensively reworked, including boring out the main body's restrictive ridge at the leading edge of the throttle blades. The air chamber is filled with epoxy, and brass air tubes are added to retain proper idle and PCV operation. Blade screws are ground flush with the shaft, and then the inside of the throttle body is hand sanded and smoothed. A ported throttle body will run you $119.95 in a satin finish or $139.95 polished. With the car loaded back on the dyno, the S2 throttle body was tested.
    Free Mod! Maf Descreen, Or Not
    Before installing the MAF and airbox assembly to the car, the MAF is inspected. Since the owner's car already had a MAF that had the screen removed, Real Performance Motorsports reached into its parts cabinet and pulled out a factory MAF. According to RPM and many other shops we spoke with, an enthusiast should never descreen the MAF or polish the MAF ends. As can be clearly seen in this photo, constant effective air filtration is a must if the MAF screen is deleted. Bugs and wood chips don't flow well through a throttle body. For those reasons alone, the mod isn't recommended. The only time a stock MAF will reduce horsepower is when it becomes incapable of either properly reading the signal to provide the PCM with an accurate analysis of how much air is flowing through it, or the MAF is maxed out (more air flowing through it than it can read). If the MAF ever needs cleaning, electrical contact cleaner is the only liquid that should touch the center electrical sensors. Back to our T/A, the MAF and airbox assembly are installed, and the key is cycled a few times to get fuel into the injectors and to check for leaks. After verifying there are no leaks, the car is started and then loaded back up onto the chassis dyno.
    Cost-effective Mod! MTI Airbox LID
    MTI was the originator of the aftermarket airbox lid. In addition to both black and clear units, the company offers this attractive carbon-fiber-look lid for the '98-'02 F-bodies. The airbox lid retails for $129 and includes a rubber connection hose and band clamp from the airbox lid to the MAF. The smooth underside of the lid that is free of ridges flows cleanly into a round opening that optimizes airflow. A K&N replacement air filter was already installed when the stock configuration was tested, but you can pick up the filter as part of an air induction package with any of the lids, or separately from MTI for $49. After removing the factory air lid, the MTI lid is slipped into place and the band clamps are attached. The connection hose is retained with two band clamps that are tightened with a flat-bladed screwdriver to attach the lid to the MAF. Remember to swap the IAT sensor from the factory airbox over to the MTI lid and to purchase the optional K&N breather filter ('01-'02 models only) to keep your AIR pump functioning properly. When the rollers stopped spinning, the MTI lid increased power as well.

    Photo Gallery: 1999 Pontiac Trans Am Bolt-On Performance Parts - High Performance Pontiac Magazine



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  2. #2
    car enthusiast djvaly's Avatar
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    good article Ed!...

  3. #3
    Senior Member clg82's Avatar
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    2000 Trans Am

    awesome write up ed!!!

  4. #4
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    Just found this...great article. Ed...you have N2O a blower and a 383?!?!?! HOLY (must be fun!)!!!!

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