88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i know the final cost with all the mistakes and everything was about 1500......... i could have bought afr heads.... but im happy.... next big thread will be titled "AFR Swap"..... after that my engine bolt on days are over....

oscarfromla

iTrader: (9)

I'll let you know how my build turns out, I've got some AFR 195's I'm going to be using on a fresh 355.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

ok..... im interested in seeing what results you get .

DENN_SHAH

iTrader: (1)

the FIRST intake system really isn't that much, at least not for what you get.
buy a new set of good aftermarket runners. then get a new aftermarket base. now buy a new aftermarket throttle body.
without porting the runners and base, you just spent more money for those 3 things that can't touch the FIRST out of the box.
even with port work, those 3 items still fall short of an out of the box FIRST.
pictures may tell 1000 words, but they do not do the FIRST justice.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

exactly.... i am trying to tell people that if your trying to go with aftermarket bases and runners that you will be upset by the results........ edelbrock and others want TOO much money for thier crap tpi parts that still arent worth a damn..... you put a stock gm tpi base and a edelbrock tpi base side by side like i did and YOU tell me which one is really "highflow" like it says on the edelbrock unit.. its honestly hard to tell which one is really "better" dont even get me started on the vortec baseplate, its BARELY better than the stocker.. its really sad that they got people spending their hard earned money thinking they are getting something better when its really junk... and its just that.... JUNK.. I had all the tpi upgrades ported and siamesed and when i switched to the FIRST it still outperformed it all..... the FIRST looks better performs better and just overall beats GM TPI in every single aspect.... idk why people are still trying to buy edelbrock and slp tpi stuff.. i guess accel and as&m realized that its too much money for what little gains you get that they just stop making them all together.... slp edelbrock tpis its about the only game in town now fooling with tpi stuff.. nowadays every aftermarket tpi base is just a reboxed edelbrock unit anyways..... UNLESS you do major PORTING and WELDING the price to performance ratio just isnt worth it.... its sad that they really charge that much for their crap..... its ridiculous that you have to not only BUY expensive aftermarket tpi stuff but also PORT the crap out of them all and the plenum just to have a decent intake..... like i said i WILL NEVER fool with another GM type tpi... go FIRST or go home......

myzblubyu

Nice build... I purchased a complete HSR set up to put on my IROC a couple months ago and never had the time to do it. Then about a month ago I bought a wrecked '84 Buick Regal with a ZZ4 and the FIRST injection system for $2,500 off craigslist. After reading this I'm considering going with the FIRST. The system has no distributor and uses 4 coil packs and a stand alone computer, it sounds wicked. I guess I could put the HSR on the Buick. I have 373 gears, do you think the combination would compliment each other?

DENN_SHAH

iTrader: (1)

i agree. everyone looks at the FIRST price and think its a lot of money.
well, it is, but not if they would just think about what they get with a FIRST vs anything else.
if you could get new aftermarket runners and base for $3~400 tops, then it wouldn't be too bad. but even at $400 for a base with runners, when you add port work in, your getting into the FIRST price range.
i had a few people tell me i was nuts when i bought my FIRST on the GP a couple of years back. my old boss was one of them. when he saw the intake in person, he changed his mind.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i think the 3.73 gears and FIRST tpi would be a killer street machine... it would be hard to hook up at wot from a stop but in a street car your not at the track trying to get the best launch.... it would make daily driving fun because your using all your power and torque down low where you use it most..... it would make your car feel like its alot more powerful that it really is....

VincentZ28

iTrader: (2)

Keep the 3.42's. You will have better top end in the quarter.

myzblubyu

My car feels very strong now with just bolt-ons. I even thinking about putting the ZZ4 complete in my IROC. I just hate to loose a numbers matching motor from my 1990 IROC. I still have every original piece that I replaced with performance parts. I'm even hanging on to my dual cat setup and factory exhaust. Maybe 20 years from now it will be worth more all original w/numbers matching running gear...LOL Decisions, decisions... The 84' Regal ran low 12s to high 11s before it was wrecked, a true sleeper car....

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

car will be tuned friday.....

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

car tuned and all bugs worked out... car sounds abit smoother because it was tuned... But this car freakin PULLS like nobodies business.... anybody out in the raleigh area want to feel the difference in power let me know.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn6U6Bs5wwU

Gallileo60

give us some numbers from the track when you go....Thanks.....

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i will.... tommorrow i will probably get a 0 to 60 time and just driving around and you will hear my tires screech into second gear with ease at wot..... Truly amazing intake once all the bugs are all tuned out...

weaselbeak

You took your videos down . As someone with a first being completed and afr's in the mail i was hoping to see how yours ran.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i can put them back up...i'll upload them later tonight

SiCkRs

iTrader: (6)

What was you 0-60 times? Also please repost the vids i seen all the ones you have i love how it sounds

weaselbeak

Saw the vid and have to say that's a nice sounding car. Do you have any vids with you driving it after the first install?

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i will take a video of me driving around and chirping the tires from first to second gear later today.... right now my 0-60 time is just under 5 seconds.... i need a better stall converter...

1989GTATransAm

iTrader: (3)

As you know a stall makes a huge difference on your ET.

weaselbeak

It would be awesome of you'd shoot a little vid for me. If you get in trouble with the law while horsing around just tell them that it's my fault and I'm sorry.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

hey i just got off work... i did take a video.. but its kinda crappy... ill post it in a couple hours

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

ok video should be on my youtube page in 15 minutes... its hard to record with one hand... i think its a crappy video but i posted it anyway.... when i got on the car is was about 3/4 throttle...

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

here is the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDibIXzKbuY

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

if you notice just a little bit past half throttle i was able to chirp into second gear... also the torque of the car pushed me back into the seat thats why right before second gear the camera moved abit to the right.... but i will get a much better take off and cruise tomorrow... the car is definitely fast...

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i really want to race a ls1 from a stop with my buddy recording... i know i can beat a stockish ls1...

gp90gta

iTrader: (1)

Sounds nice, I helped put in Spades First and all in all I really like it, the only real deal breaker for me was the TB, I ended up going with a Miniram but after seeing Dyno Don make a TB adapter to bolt on a stock style TB I was like damn why didn't I think of that, anyways my cam is custom and I'm very happy with the way it feels. I have to say though I really like the way Spades car pulls hard down low, I would love to get him to the track and see what he runs.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

what was wrong with the throttlebody... i know mines was sticking so i had to ship the throttlebody out to ken to get a new tb..... problem solved... yea i do alot of city driving so thats where i want all my power to be at..... the FIRST is the perfect choice for a fun street car thats a daily driver...

weaselbeak

sweet vid-your ride sounds real mean too. Did you do your dash?

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

thanks man i still want a vigilante stall and afr heads.. should be ALOT quicker with those two mods... yes i did the dash myself... it looks awesome in person but i dont like how the camera makes it look kind bad..... the engine sounds alot meaner in person and the dash looks very nice in person also.... i get compliments on my engine bay, sound of car and the interior... everyone keeps telling me how can you spend thousands on engine tranny interior etc but not a dime on paint.... i always say well paint dont make the car go fast lol....

gp90gta

iTrader: (1)

I just dont like the linkage on the TB blade and the TPS braket and the IAC under the plenum, I know that in theoy one blade is better ( more inertia ) but I just dont like the way it looks, its the main reason you can tell the manifold is not stock. Maybe if it was an LS style TB I would like it better but if I ever to go with a First I'm going to make an adapter plate.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

yeah that iac is a pain to get at and the tps sensor could have been done better.. you can move the bracket with your hand and it will change the volts of the sensor... other than that i love the intake.... but you know ken makes a throttlebody adapter to where you could use your stock throttlebody..

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

better video guys....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDibIXzKbuY

Guest

But will this system bolt up to stock heads, I never heard if they did.

88BlackZ-51

iTrader: (2)

sorry i dont have time to read this whole thread. what was the performance results of the FIRST intake? dyno or track times or which?

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

pantin88z yes they will bolt up to stock heads and 88blackz-51 i dont have any track times or dyno numbers but i do plan to dyno the car in march to see where its at right now....

d00012

Which hedman hedders do you use? These are what I'm looking at

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HED-68468/


I'm going pretty much the same route as you, only using 906 vortecs. Made a post on your youtube (1987RS173). Like some other people on here, I'll be asking questions once I start this intake swap.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i have hedman street headers which are very similar to ones you posted

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HED-68460/?rtype=10

i had them sand blanded and coated them myself with vht paint 3 years ago and still look great....

FIRST is a great system.. tons of lower and mid range power even with l98 heads and corvette stall... i have been running it since august of last year... just be prepared to get lots of little things and take your time with it... it took me a week to swap over because i had to go out and buy little things...

d00012

How about the o2 sensor, which one do you use? And did you have to have the fitting custom made?

Haha! Looking at your garage, and seeing how you have the Y-pipe...I have the same subframe connectors...our cars are long lost twins...

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i have a heated o2 sensor from a 94 corvette... i have the power source rigged to the fuel pump so it heats up when the car is running, which is what i want it to do... yes i had a o2 bung drilled and welded on the drivers side collector and it hasnt failed me since...

haha i wish i could see another flame red gta around my town but out of the 6 years ive owned this car i have only seen one real gta and that was gunmetal gray one about a year ago... heck i dont even see many thirdgen trans am on the street.... my GTA isnt a daily driver anymore since ive gotten my ranger so i take it out on nice days or when i feel the need for speed... either way everywhere i go i get alot of compliments on the gta....

d00012

Well, sweet, going to order those headers now!

Crazy, I had three GTAs like ours to choose from, ended up buying the stock looking one. One was a notchback, but aftermarket wheels, the other had a carbed engine put in. Sadly it comes out more maroon in Washington weather...when the sun does decide to come out, you can see that burnt orange/red color. Only other GTA I've seen driven was a black one with the Hawk's ram air hood. Mostly a mustang area here. Coworker has the new 5.0...I might have to see what mine does against him when I'm done

RacerXaX

What did you use for the cold air intake?
I'm working on a project just like this. Looks awesome.
Thanks

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

im running slp's cold air intake.... its alot better than the stock box that gets air from the hood... this bolts onto the fenderwell and gets cold air from there and under the car....

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

for those of you who are interested i just converted my first throttlebody to a stock gm type throttle for this intake... here is the thread

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tpi/...onversion.html

Trinten

Nice man! Get us a Dyno sheet! So we'll have a before and after you do the head swap!

Looks very clean, very well done!

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

thanks man i appreciate it : )

ASE doc

That is a great looking intake and engine bay. You've got me thinking seriously about switching to the First TPI.

88fastgta

iTrader: (9)

i would do it... its definitely a unique intake like no other... how many people you know running this intake.... numerous people try to port out the tpi to make it better but are sadly dissapointed like i was....the intake flows better than a superram mind you... all the work is done for you... its like a muscled out tpi and its definitely more beefier/custom looking than the traditional tpi setups, espically with the fuel regulator.... right now ken is the only guy to get these new and there is basically no advertisement for this so actually seeing these in person is very rare imo.i am quite surprised why this intake is so "hush hush"..if you can adapt to using the stockish type throttlebody then you are golden.... i will giggle when people see how fast my car is and open the hood up to see what they think is a stock tpi lol

oramac91

iTrader: (5)

There sweet.

ASE doc

I would definitely want to use my 58MM BBK TB on it. I don't like the look of the First TB. Other than that it looks like a very nice unit. Can't believe the price. That's about what I paid for my aftermarket TPI parts.