Project "Pace car motor"

[IsaacHayes]

Got to thinking about the 3500 motors out now, and how that intake manifold looks like the indy pace car motor... (from what I can remember, I have no pic of that motor anymore. Does anyone have a picture?)

Well looking at the specs of the indy pace motor, and what we have avalible now, I believe that we could build something up pretty close. (3.4L 245hp V6)

Now I won't be doing this, as I don't have time or the tools (but I do have the ability). If I were to do this to my Aqua-retta some things might not be done, or maybe would be depending on the time I'd want to invest. Depends on if I just wanted a quick boost in power, or wanted to make my ride a tire-shredding nightmare.

The pace car had a 4 speed auto, so I guess my 4T60-e would be closest to "authentic" but if you were doing a perforamance build you'd start with a beretta with a 5spd, or do a swap. You could take this as little or as far as you wanted.  Say, start with a 93 5spd, swap the built up motor, add TGP manifolds, turbo, and burn a custom TGP chip. With this high flowing motor, you wouldn't need much boost to be very very fast.

Well enough rambling, what's the specs I have to get close to the 245hp pace motor?

Start with a complete 3400 motor, then:
4.3L Vortec TB (or other large TB).
3500 Intake Plenum P&P.
Lower intake manifold P&P.
Heads P&P.
3x00 custom cam (and related springs, rods, etc).
High Flow injectors (possibly needed).
Crank Scraper.
FFP UDP.
Headers (Custom, or TOG's/S&S, modified to clear firewall).
Full exhaust (2.5" hi-flo cat, straight through muffler).

*** Not listed are adapters needed, etc such as EGR & TB adapter plates. ***

That is pretty much all the mods that the pace car motor had. Compare them and see you can do just about all the mods one way or the other now. With the right valve train you could go to the 6800 RPM redline, and possibly make the 245hp before that too.

I'd like to hear what everyone thinks of this. I like this because there is some small fab work, but nothing like custom motor mounts from swapping a motor that doesn't bolt up stock. Do you think in NA form these specs would be close to 245 horse?

[88GTRacer]

The 60degreeV6 store already has billet 65 and 62mm TB's and is working on adaptors to make them cable ready.  It's already confirmed that the Jbodyperformance headers fit (although it was on a 2nd Gen engine).  88GTRacer

[IsaacHayes]

The 3500 plenum will not bolt up a stock TB. The TB on the 3500 is cableless (electric). I've heard that 4.3L TB will work with an adapter plate. Also heard that mustang 4.6 & 5.0 TB can be adapted.

EDIT: looked at those headers. Stainless and way expensive. I'd be much more inclinded to get the S&S and hack them, or get some flanges and weld my own. Plus I'm not too sure on the fitment of those...

This whole project including exhaust back could be done for less than 1000 if you can do a lot of work yourself.

[88GTRacer]

This is from the website regarding the 3500 plenum.

Q
U
O
T
EIt also features a TB opening that requires no porting for even a 65mm TB.  Adapter plates and custom TBs are nearly done to take care of the cable-less stock 3500 throttlebody issue.  There will be a package to include all parts needed to swap this onto your car as soon as it is completed and tested.

http://60degreev6.com/store

From,

88GTRacer

[IsaacHayes]

Ah "working on" I missed that part. I see now what your're saying.
Depending on how much one wanted to spend they could go with the easy stuff like what 60degree store will offer, or do some work of thier own. Me, I'm the latter.

What do you think of the setup though? Do you think it'd be close to 245 horse?

[KFLO 93 GT]

I think you'd need a bump in compression as well.  Put it at like 10.5:1, that would work very well with a cam and headwork on that build.  Build it to breathe and rev, get the a/f ratio right and you'd have a monster. ÂÂÂ

The pistons are obviously going to be custom, but damn it'd be worth it.

[bonecrrusher]

These would help you to start off with.  

[IsaacHayes]

KFLO: Yes compressrion would help too. I didn't add that to my list as it wasn't listed on the pace car specs, but could very well have been higher than stock.

Bonner: Hey thanks for the generous offer! Send em over!    I can finish the polishing, hey wait I needed that vacum port stem on there for my cruise control!
What do you think about the setup, do you think it could attain 240 crank hp as per my list?

[88GTRacer]

Boner sent those headers to Jethot to be coated.  They look real nice.  I'll send them my full dynomax catback to get jet hot coated too .  88GTRacer

[IsaacHayes]

Click here for a picture of the pace car motor. Notice the header. Seems that the primarys in the front are not equal, as they all terminate into the collector at the same point, and come straight off the head to the side and into the collector.

Boner: those headers are look to be equal length primarys, but the front and rear set are not equal lengths. Which do you think is worse for performance? Un-equal primaries on one head, or same length primaries with the front/back different lengths?  *anyone feel free to comment*