With the help of PRJ Performance...
With the help of PRJ Performance and PF&E we're finally getting our Grand Prix X-P ready for the road with a larger dose of tire frying power!
In our last installment, we covered the final portion of the installation of our ZZP intercooler assembly and LS1 throttle body conversion. In this issue we will tie up some loose ends and throw in some new parts to boot!
We had originally planned to show you how to fabricate your own extended fuel rails to compensate for the increased height of the intercooler core. Our first set of fabricated fuel rails came out great; they looked fantastic and were much better than the rubber hose extensions recommended in the intercooler instructions. Fate however, had different plans for our fuel rails. No matter what we did, our fabricated rails hit the stock hood, to the point that the hood actually dimpled in a few spots. For a fuel line, that is just unacceptable, not to mention dangerous! Unwilling to admit defeat after this much time and hard work, we decided to search for alternatives.
Our PRJ Performance fuel rail...
Our PRJ Performance fuel rail kit came with almost everything needed to install them with only a few minor changes. The included instructions are very concise so we will be skipping a few of the elementary steps.
Coincidentally, a great new product had just been released that would cure all of our ailments. PRJ Performance's aluminum fuel logs for the '97-03 Supercharged 3800 Series II really saved the day. These fuel logs don't run over the supercharger so we picked up some much-needed clearance as well as cooler fuel.
Having solved the fuel problem, it was then time to fix our last shortcoming from our first buildup, the exhaust. Follow along now as we install some new fuel logs and a new custom 3-inch Magnaflow exhaust system!
Well, it appears we are out of space for this installment. Next issue we will put some more tuning into X-P with some Digital Horsepower magic and an ultra small pulley. And then it's time for the ultimate test-the dynamometer and drag strip! Tune in to see if all this work pays off!
Special thanks to Gary Cook, Diamond Hugo, Greg Dansbury and Paul Jerkatis.
First test fit the rails with...
First test fit the rails with no injectors or other associated hardware. When we did, we found that the small mounting bracket on the front rail would bind against the intercooler core. A quick removal of about 1/8-inch of material with a file fixed the problem.
After checking for proper...
After checking for proper fitment, install AN fittings on the rails per the instructions. Use a small amount of Vaseline on the rubber O-rings to help them seat correctly. Be careful with these fittings, you must first run them down as far as they will go by hand and still face the proper direction. Then use two wrenches to seat the retainer nut and seal against the fuel rail itself.
This is what a semi-completed...
This is what a semi-completed rear rail looks like; your next task is to install the injectors into each rail. Again, a little Vaseline on both the top and bottom O-rings on the injectors will save you some headaches.