Stage Engines

[pvt num 11]

Anyone here decided to go all-out on their engine -1ZZ to be specific - I was perusing the stuff they have for sale at monkeywrenchracing.com, but they don't post before and after results (that or I just didn't see them) for a 1ZZ or 2ZZ engine. So, has anyone decided to drop serious coin into having some of these products into their car? Anyone done the over-bored sleeves? Installed the lower 8.8:1 CR pistons and crank the boost up? Done a cam swap? I'm mostly interested what a fully built N/A and no-nitrous engine can produce reliably, with these sort of products.I figure if I do ALL the work myself (which I can't), and get all the products they have for sale, I'm looking at around $3,500 to get studs, valves, retainers, springs, cam, pistons/bores, and bearings. Nevermind any headwork, that would run me another $1,700 IF I rip my old head off and send it in. That or go buy their Stage 4 complete engine for $5,450. And then I'd probably go get the HASS turbo kit for another 4,500 or whatever it is just becasue boost is so freaking cool, so let's just round up to total figure up to ten grand.Wow. If I had that kind of money to throw at a car (and I don't), I'd rather go hop up my TTA instead - thing needs some serious TLC and maybe a few mods thrown at it. Oooh, alky injection...

[GrayFox]

Quote, originally posted by pvt num 11 » so let's just round up to total figure up to ten grand.that's probly why noone has done most of that stuff yet Most vibes that put down decent numbers have some sort of FI. Some people have a few internals but not many.

[SeattleJeremy]

There are so many other cars out there that will perform better when you put that kind of money in to it. (like your TTA)If you need a 1zz Vibe to go fast, either swap a 2zz or add a Suparcharger. Then add intake and exhaust, and be done with it.

[Lancer]

There's a few over at MatrixOwners.com that have the monkey engines and have the Hass turbo coming. Must be nice to have the cash to do all that!Don't for get about upgrading the tranny. Mines an auto and cost me $3k to upgrade.Did your TTA come turboed or was an aftermarket kit? I didn't know any of those came boosted? Sounds cool!

[Shadow-Vibe]

I haven't put any money down on it yet but I have been able to accuaire two used engines that I'm making into one, and some parts from monkey as soon as I can.

[northvibe]

I think a lot of lotus people did the 1zz monkeywrench upgrades. And yes there were a couple on matrixowners. Some users on newcelica have a couple of the parts installed.

[pvt num 11]

Ah, the little-known 20th Anniv. Turbo Trans Am... When Buick ran around with the boosted Regal T-Types and Grand Nationals (and who can forget the 1987 GNX) during the early to mid eighties, they usd a 3.8L V6 mated with an intercooled (in the later years anyway) turbo feeding it around 15 PSI. When Pontiac was selected to pace the Indy 500 for 1989, they took one look at their most powerful engine, the 5.7L TPI L98, and scoffed. It didn't have the oomph needed to bring the Indy cars up to speed. Buick had gobs of OEM blocks sitting around in a warehouse, so Pontiac asked if they could have 1,555 of them. Buick said yes. Slap on some different heads, turn up the boost to 16.5 PSI, cram it into the smaller engine bay of a third-gen F-body, and away you go.Magazine articles test-driving the cars came up with mid 13's bone-stock, a huge accomplishment for 1989. Underrated at 250 HP, it made more liek 301 on engine dyno's. I've always wanted one, and even though the one I saw for sale was pretty rough, I had to get it. Ebay has nice ones going for twenty thousand or so often.It's a bright shining example of what the OEM's could produce even back in the eighties, when performance was spoken about in hushed tones and the F-body could be had with a mere four-cylinder. Mullet hair, pin-striping, cheap chrome rims and the dubious entrance of EFI finally led to perhaps the most remarkable, and least-known, Firebird of them all.And yeah, for the price of modding my Vibe, I'd much rather fix the TTA up so it looks near-mint, and throw some goodies into it as well. Pervious owners ran mine 13.8 bone-stock, 13.2 with just a chip. I'd be happy with 13.anything right now, but we don't even have a track anymore on Ohau. And yes, they also handle pretty briskly, less engine mass up front and it had all the WS6 handling goodies the factory could toss in it at the time. Not that it can't be improved, it could really use SFC's and some poly bushings all the way around, but it isn't just a straight-line 1/4-mile monster.Just don't try hauling any cargo in it - the Vibe is sooooo much better-suited for that sort of thing! The TTA is for having fun, the Vibe is for being practical. Pretty good mix, I think.