Doing a topswap...what else?

[Bonnie01]

I'm getting parts together for a top swap. I was wondering if there any other mods to do while the motor is disassembled. A differerent cam, temp probes, valves, are some ideas. My idea is to install everything at once instead of tearing down the motor twice. Any idea is helpful.

[nos4blood70]

You NEED headers with a top swap.

If it is your DD I'd shy away from a cam. Go for some 1.9 ratio rockers, and try to find some larger injectors as well. Port the blower and the lower intake. Down the road intercool it and you should be able to squeeze 300 wheel out of it pretty easily.

All that being said, start saving up for a trans rebuild. Your input shaft won't like you for long with a built topswap.

[Bonnie01]

I was thinking about rockers, and looking for 60# injectors. The tranny was rebuilt last spring!

[nos4blood70]

Did you add any heavy duty parts in the trans? Do you have a trans cooler?

If you get 60# injectors you'll be good for E85 if you upgrade the fuel pump a little bit.

[00Beast]

It all depends on how far you want to take your build. I suggest you sit down and figure out exactly what you want (whether it's a horsepower number, 1/4 mile time, etc) and then we can help you figure out what the best combination is to get that goal. I would honestly recommend a cam over rockers, especially if you're going that far into the motor. Rockers are just a cheap trick to avoid all the tear-down of doing a cam, and only get half the benefits. A stage 1 style cam is still totally driveable, and worth it. About the same price overall as doing rockers.

Unless you plan on doing E85, you don't need 60# injectors.

You will also need a source of tuning, preferably one that isn't mailing your PCM back and forth to Intense 100x.

[Bonnie01]

My goal is to hit around 400hp. This is a sleeper project, so a daily driver. I'm buying parts through the winter and will install them all when it gets warmer. The plan is to install as much as I can at once. If I have to port everything, upgrade parts, I can have it all done before the tear down. Making a list and working off that will be objective.

I have built 350's for stock cars before, but have not done anything with electric engines.

[00Beast]

400 HP? That's way more than just a top swap and a cam. And your transmission is going to need some serious beefing up...

[MattStrike]

400HP - at the crank or wheel?

I vote turbo and P&P and cam/exhuast. Trans will need upgraded input shaft, hardened chain and a few other bits, shift kit, and probably the upgraded 3rd clutch piston.

[Bonnie01]

Considering that stock is 205... it shouldn't be too hard to get there. When the tranny was rebuilt, the heavy duty parts were installed. Im not worried about the tranny, That was beefed up to support this mod.

[00Beast]

You are wayyyy underestimating what's necessary to do all this. These don't respond to mods like an LS or SBC do...

Look at this: http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... ml#p334596

And he's somewhere where you want to be...

[nos4blood70]

Let's say 400 crank. You will still need a cam to hit those numbers as well as an intercooler. E85 will make it easier. That trans better be beefed up good!

[Jfridge92]

Another note on the trans: Pat (2003ssei) has shown pretty well how easy it is to break these transmissions, and his is pretty built from what I understand. Other than that, it will take a good bit of work to get to 400whp. I'm all for seeing it done, so I hope that you're able to get there!

[2003 SSEi]

hehe...

ya I highly doubt that you have a 300m input shaft, 7/8ths or larger chain set, and a upgraded valve body and channel plate...

you will have a TOUGH time hitting 400 HP. You will need a GenV, IC, S3 heads, monster cam, a really good tune and still prolly not hit 400. That number is a Max effort, high dollar M90 build.....

If you want my honest opinion, keep the L36 and throw a turbo kit on it. you make 400 a lot easier with less money

[nos4blood70]

If you want my honest opinion, keep the L36 and throw a turbo kit on it. you make 400 a lot easier with less money

My opinion as well. You can find complete turbo kits for 1500-2000 dollars. And they are easier on the trans.

[samples08]

You NEED headers with a top swap.

If it is your DD I'd shy away from a cam. Go for some 1.9 ratio rockers, and try to find some larger injectors as well. Port the blower and the lower intake. Down the road intercool it and you should be able to squeeze 300 wheel out of it pretty easily.

All that being said, start saving up for a trans rebuild. Your input shaft won't like you for long with a built topswap.

What a minute I asked about adding headers to my car and I was told that it was point less that it would not do anything for me yet you tell a guy with an sle to go with headers wth?

[MattStrike]

He's asking for 400hp...

[00Beast]

You want my honest opinion? For the money you'd spend on a Bonneville to make 400 HP, you could have a running, driving 80's G-body (Monte Carlo, Cutlass, Regal, etc) that has the right end spinning the tires, and have a 400 HP SBC or even LS motor in it. With a lot more headroom for power, and still have the bonne that gets 30 MPG's for a DD.

It's not worth putting money into the Bonneville to that extent. If it's the only thing you ever want again in your life, sure, go for it. But for the average guy, who just wants a fast car, it's not the best way to go fast...

samples: You want to put headers on an N/A car. It doesn't make sense. If he top-swaps, headers are worth it. Apples and peaches argument.

[nos4blood70]

You NEED headers with a top swap.

If it is your DD I'd shy away from a cam. Go for some 1.9 ratio rockers, and try to find some larger injectors as well. Port the blower and the lower intake. Down the road intercool it and you should be able to squeeze 300 wheel out of it pretty easily.

All that being said, start saving up for a trans rebuild. Your input shaft won't like you for long with a built topswap.

What a minute I asked about adding headers to my car and I was told that it was point less that it would not do anything for me yet you tell a guy with an sle to go with headers wth?

He's planning on a topswap. Which means it will become boosted. The high compression L36 pistons necessitate headers in order to not blow the motor from knock. NA cars don't need headers unless they have rockers and an HV3. On a stock car, you'll lose some low end torque with headers.

[samples08]

who said I wouldn't eventually get around to doing a top swap im a married man with 3 kids and extremely tight pockets I take it one step at time
If you know what I mean

[00Beast]

Then save your pennies till then...