After three years of wrenching on this thing, and still with several chapters left unwritten on this car, technically, Project Redrum is coming to a close in terms of tuning and assembly. It’s a project we picked up way back in 2015, and although we put it together in just six months during the Summer of 2016 and into 2017, there were plenty of speed bumps, sidetracks and general issues along the way, and after.
Built as a street-going autocross and road race track car, it’s seen its share of bumps and bruises in its life, if (what’s left) of the paint says anything. Wanting to give the car a new lease on life, while maintaining its 30+ years worth of scars, we kept the patina as a tribute to the car’s originality.
To the untrained eye it looks like a bucket of bolts with aftermarket wheels, but upon closer inspection, the solid foundation of a Las Vegas, Nevada sourced early 3rd-gen Trans Am was perfect for what we wanted. Plus, it’s awesome knowing that we don’t have to worry about stone chips and debris from the track hurting a show-quality paint job.
Under the hood, is a SDPC-built 416 LS3 with 10.5 comparison, a BTR Racing boost-loving camshaft and a set of BluePrint Engines cylinder heads. You can find more about the engine in the link HERE. On top of the forged stroker, is a Magnuson Superchargers TVS2300 cranking out 10-psi. — more on that in a later installment.
Although we originally had Pittsburgh-based FJ Performance work out a few bugs in our setup early on, resulting in 660hp to the rear tires, the car suffered some drivability issues. That wasn’t the fault of FJP in any way, rather than with a hidden wiring issue on our end. Since we were under an incredibly tight deadline, we couldn’t take the time to get it 100% at the time.
After a season or so of hitting up a few local track days, car events and an appearance or two at LS Fest East, it was time to get serious with this old ‘Bird. We tasked our friends at Hawks Motorsports to round out the details; including installing our Classic Dash gauge cluster, AutoMeter gauges, work out the exhaust and wiring issues, and get final dyno numbers with the HP Tuners software.
You’ll read more on all of those details in future installments, but for now, take in the sound of 660 supercharged ponies from an LS3 stroker! The drivability of the car is now on-point, and we’ve been putting some real miles on the car in the coming days!
Rick Seitz is the owner and founder of AutoCentric Media, and has a true love and passion for all vehicles; GM, Ford, Dodge, imports, trucks — you name it! When he isn’t clacking away on his keyboard, he’s building, tuning, driving or testing his current crop of personal projects!
