Thread: 2002 Impala "SS" build

Starting the build on a friend/customers 2002 Impala LS. He doesnt know much about cars so we started planning the build last year then he moved to Oklahoma. So now he's just paying me and im building the whole car now then sending it down ready to drive with 2 pulleys and 2 PCMs for E85 and pump. Starting with a 2003 Regal L67 and 4t65hd from the junkyard. Going to be getting ARP mains, head studs, and rod bolts. XP cam, 105 springs, double roller timing chain, ported heads. Forged Diamond 9.5 to 1 pistons .030 over. Gen V, OD balancer, 60# injectors. Built trans with a 300m input, single chain, shift kit etc. Who knows what else.

Plans havent changed much with this, its moving forward. Slowly. The owner just got a new DD so his cash flow for the project has thinned a little and his desired deadline has pretty much been abandoned. However his requirement of complete drivability and decent MPG has also loosened as he permanently has something else to drive now. As we talked about reliability and driveability issues with the cam and stuff we decided. If it is going to have a semi-unreliable setup with high lift cam in it that requires stiff springs and a double roller etc. it might as well have a XPZ in it and make more power. So I also sent the heads and LIM out for a full out race port job to match the cam. Finally just got the pistons from Diamond, took them 5 weeks to ship but w/e. This is going to be a long term project.

ARP mains and Rods


Powerbond SFI 5% OD balancer.


Diamonds, uncoated. In 9.5:1 CR and +.020, they didnt list .030 that I could find.

Sub'd to see how this turns out.

Might has well go intercooler and e85 for massive pulley drop

This is going to be good

Intercooler and E85 are already planned. That is the reason for the 5% over and the 9.5:1. No matter how hard I tried I couldnt talk him into a turbo build so we are basically spending way more than a turbo setup would cost to go for maximum power with the M90. Planning on running 8 rib 2.7" + the 5% on a Gen V.