1984 Hot Air WH1 upgrade - 500 hp

[GenXer]

Hello,
New member here, and first time poster. I've checked many of the discussions on here, but have not found what I need. I've been building cars for over 20 years, but never a Turbo 6 cylinder. I've recently purchased a 1984 Hot Air T-Type, WH1, T-Tops with only 41k on the odometer. The plan is to make a cruising show car, but I want to modify the engine to give me upwards of 500 HP, just because. The engine has a couple oil leaks from sitting, rear intake and valve covers, I already changed the valve cover gaskets (what a joy on the passenger side) so I decided I will just pull the engine to do the intake, and refresh the engine, and engine bay at the same time. Here is my dilemma, I'm not a "pure stock" kind of guy, so I'm torn between building the hot air up to 500 hp, or just dropping a V8 in, but I just can't bring myself to that (just yet). Question: Is there a "menu" of parts and work needed to bring a H-A model up to approximately 500 hp, im sure it's been done, so I'm looking for a little guidance. I'm not against dropping in a modified HA T6cyl, if there is one for sale, already built, so any help is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Hello,
New member here, and first time poster. I've checked many of the discussions on here, but have not found what I need. I've been building cars for over 20 years, but never a Turbo 6 cylinder. I've recently purchased a 1984 Hot Air T-Type, WH1, T-Tops with only 41k on the odometer. The plan is to make a cruising show car, but I want to modify the engine to give me upwards of 500 HP, just because. The engine has a couple oil leaks from sitting, rear intake and valve covers, I already changed the valve cover gaskets (what a joy on the passenger side) so I decided I will just pull the engine to do the intake, and refresh the engine, and engine bay at the same time. Here is my dilemma, I'm not a "pure stock" kind of guy, so I'm torn between building the hot air up to 500 hp, or just dropping a V8 in, but I just can't bring myself to that (just yet). Question: Is there a "menu" of parts and work needed to bring a H-A model up to approximately 500 hp, im sure it's been done, so I'm looking for a little guidance. I'm not against dropping in a modified HA T6cyl, if there is one for sale, already built, so any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Post in thread 'Built Buick Turbo V6 3.8L LC2 109 Roller Motor/ Engine Grand National_$8,200'

Thursday at 2:30 PM

Is this still for sale?

yes sir...

• BUICKTIME

This and add an intercooler and be done.

 

[GenXer]

Post in thread 'Built Buick Turbo V6 3.8L LC2 109 Roller Motor/ Engine Grand National_$8,200'

Thursday at 2:30 PM

Is this still for sale?

yes sir...

• BUICKTIME

This and add an intercooler and be done.

That's all I would need?

 

[Chuck Leeper]

, but I want to modify the engine to give me upwards of 500 HP, just because.

You will spend as much as this engine would cost... If you could find the parts, the machine shop that knows WTF these engines are all about, along with replacement parts for the other HA pieces that need to be modified/changed out.
In any case, not an inexpensive "toy"....

 

[GenXer]

Thank you, I was not worried about the cost, more about the integrity of the build. Like I said, im also not a purist, the car i happened on was a great deal, and im just thinking of the end results.

 

[Reggie West]

Here is what I would do.

New fuel pump and hot wire kit is a must.
Alkycontrol kit.
58/57 from Work Turbo
Port and polish the heads.
Use a roller cam like a 210/210 and roller rockers.
ARP head studs.
The stock manifold is a pain in the rear, I would send it to Extrude Hone
Do the Casper mod to coil pack. Run a Bailey box on it.
Use the 87 ECM and run Scanmaster
Get the wideband kit

Tune from there and max out the combo. This will not break the bank.
You will find the weak spot in your transmission and rear end quickly.

Want some real fun?
Built short 109 block, forged internals,
Ported and polished iron heads
Port and polish same intake
218/212 roller cam
Roller rockers
58/57 turbo
Alkycontrol
MS3 and wide band

That car will be a sleeper and loads of fun and it will break said stock transmission and rear end even quicker.

 

[GenXer]

Here is what I would do.

New fuel pump and hot wire kit is a must.
Alkycontrol kit.
58/57 from Work Turbo
Port and polish the heads.
Use a roller cam like a 210/210 and roller rockers.
ARP head studs.
The stock manifold is a pain in the rear, I would send it to Extrude Hone
Do the Casper mod to coil pack. Run a Bailey box on it.
Use the 87 ECM and run Scanmaster
Get the wideband kit

Tune from there and max out the combo. This will not break the bank.
You will find the weak spot in your transmission and rear end quickly.

Want some real fun?
Built short 109 block, forged internals,
Ported and polished iron heads
Port and polish same intake
218/212 roller cam
Roller rockers
58/57 turbo
Alkycontrol
MS3 and wide band

That car will be a sleeper and loads of fun and it will break said stock transmission and rear end even quicker.

Thank you, I don't really want to drop an LS in, this may be the ticket

 

[Reggie West]

I forgot one bolt on that will help a bunch too.

A real downpipe and ditch the stock piece of crap.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

This will not break the bank.

Maybe not, but sure as hell more than the $8K for the complete engine mentioned.

 

[BEATAV8]

You’re in Ohio? Go see Brian Lorenz at Lorenz Performance & Racing. He can get you setup with fuel system, ignition, valve train, turbo, intercooler, ECU, whatever else you might want.

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