getting ready to finish assembly on this engine. just want to make sure im not missing anything.

my goals: daily driven, easier to pass slower traffic and an occasional on ramp romp. id like to make 130wtq, and would be happy if it made 150hp before 6000 rpm. i have no desire to rev to 9000, so if its time to shift by 8200 id be fine with it. i guess more of a mid to upper mid range setup. i put 20-25k miles a year on this car.


81.5mm lsvtec
rs machines pr3 pistons
arp rod studs
oem bearings gaskets etc in the bottom end

pr3 head
itr dual springs with brian crower steel retainers.
98 spec itr cams
port matched p30 intake manifold
arp headstuds

other stuff
3" intake w/velocity stack. ill probably mess with the length on the dyno
old edelbrock 4-2-1 header with 2.5" collector mod
2 1/4 exhaust with magnaflow cat and straight through muffler.

run on 93 pump gas, self tuned on neptune using rc 310 inj. should be plenty of fuel available.

i know my exhaust should probably be 2.5". well aware of it. i literally drive past a dozen or more cops a day to and from work, dont want to go bigger or louder. ill sacrifice the few hp.

not sure if i should get a bigger tb. my manifold is not opened up at the tb, so i dont think it would help to have anything bigger than 62-64mm. is going from 60-62mm worth the change?
also contemplating a heat shield intake manifold gasket...

 

Interesting choice of intake manifold. I don't think 1 or 2 mm tb size is going to make any substantial differences in power. Looks like a good reliable DD setup.

 

find aebs manifold they are dirt cheap on craigslist.
a good upgrade for te money.
and check phearable.net they always run sales on throttle bodys.

have you had the rotating assembly ballanced when adding those pistons?

 

i know my exhaust and cam combination dont really make for a high hp, higher rpm motor. rather than use a manifold that really makes power upwards of 8000 rpm i decided to go p30 to accentuate the midrange. searching showed me the p30 really does a damn good job up to around 7500-8000 rpm

i have an extra skunk2 pro series intake mani but dont think i want to use it on this setup.

i didnt balance, probably should have got them on a scale before i assembled the shortblock the other week. ive used the rs pistons with stock rods/arp bolt combo in a few other engines and never had an issue...

 

Ballancing involves the whole rotating assembly.
The counterweights are there for a reason they ballance out the weight of STOCK pistons.
81.5mm pr3 pisrons are heavier.

 

cams came in the mail. i didnt get totally scammed for once. also just ordered a 3" velocity stack.

 

more than just the pistons.

 

and rods lol i was trying to keep it short.