Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install

Subject: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Tue Jul 03, 2007 12:42 pm

Should only need this mod if you go to a larger blower, or are flowing more than 11,500 MAFF, but here's a write-up:

http://www.davetech.net/car-northstar.htm

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"An intercooled, supercharged, 280 HP Buick Riviera with neck-snapping acceleration and precise handling that proves GM can make something really interesting and competent, if only they would build more than one at a time."
- John R. White, Boston Globe

"I think that in any racing engine, the nearer you are to disintegrating, in general the better its performance will be."
- Keith Duckworth, Cosworth Engineering

'98 SC Riviera • 238k miles • 298 HP/370 LB-FT • 0-60: 5.79s • ET: 13.97 @ 99.28 • 4087 lb • 20.5 avg MPG

3.4" pulley • AL104 plugs • 180º t-stat • FWI w/K&N • 1.9:1 rockers • OR pushrods • LS6 valve springs • SLP headers • ZZP fuel rails
KYB GR2 struts • MaxAir shocks • Addco F/Rsway bars • ES links/bushings • GM strut brace • Enkei 18" EV5s • Dunlop DZ101 tires
F-body calipers • EBC bluestuff/Hawk HP plus • SS lines • slotted discs • ATE superblue fluid • DHP tuned • Aeroforce • Hidden Hitch

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:13 pm

my friend is selling one for pretty cheap with all the stuff. do you think it would be a worthy mod? i dont think any other riv owners have installed a N* TB. would my 96 MAF (different than the 97+ IIRC) plug up to the LQ4 maf sensor? he has it set up for a 98 GTP MAF right now but he also has the LQ4 adapter. would i have to tune it to make it work? i (zzp) may be P&P my blower too, so it would help out more then.
TIA

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Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:23 pm

ok a quick search pulled up some info from zzp website;
aparently i must reprogram my pcm for the different MAF but they have a table i can import. the guy that is selling it has a powertuner with the L67 open package. i guess my next question is will their new software tune a riv? any harm in trying?

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Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:02 pm

I would be concerned as to whether or not there is any support for 96's. All i know of is 97's+ for all 3800's.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:05 pm

the gtp and regals changed in 97 thats why all the sites say 97 but as far as i know the 96 rivs will work too. it's still a s/c series 2 L67 with obdII pcm just a slightly different transmission.

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Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:29 pm

You could just get an AFC 2.0 which scales the MAF. Ive got one, that I probably dont need since I have HPTUNERS. Otherwise, if he has an open l67 package, its worth a try.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:27 pm

I know this is an old post, but I just got myself a new N* tb and LQ4 maf from someone on clubgp.
It is the same kit zzp sells with all the adapters and wires.
I plan on installing it tomorrow, but i want to make sure i have everything i need. Oh, and my buddy has a tuner that works with my car.
here are my questions/concerns:
1. I didnt get a TAC module so i will need to do some transmission TCC adjustments. Anyone know what those are? (keep in mind i have a 96 with vac controlled trans pressure)
2. I will upload the lq4 table and see how my tune is. It doesnt have to be perfect b/c i'm getting 1.9's in the next month or so. Anything else i need to adjust besides adding fuel?
4. Are all vac ports the same? can i run the EVAP line to the unused blower port instead of the port on the TB adapter?
5. The MAF fits nicely right into the TB, can i run it there or is it too close to work right? ie, do i need to use a coupler to space it out some?

thanks for the help.
Matthew

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Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:35 pm

I have seen a lot of them leak coolant, so be very sure your gasket surfaces are clean and sealed up good good good. Or remove the supercharger and plug the coolant ports.

Also, I had to make a vacuum tee - on mine I'm short one vacuum port. I am not so sure mine is an N* anymore, it seems different from the rest I have seen.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:42 pm

did you flip yours 180* to make it work? i've see some people do that and some not. mine will not work 180* and is the newer style N*. i also will need to do some vac line rigging since i need one more port than 97+ rivs.
do you have a pic of yours installed?

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Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm

Mine was preassembled, sorry. I do have a pic of the engine bay, you'll see the vacuum line is in a different place.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:36 pm

thanks Derek. you have the vac port on the TB itself. mine has that port blocked off, but it is there if i can remove the cap.
the adapter itself usually has another vac port on it just like your tb one. maybe you got one of the old style adapters or one from a different company.
As for the LQ4, you have a coupler spacing it out from the TB, is that necessary to get propper reading? i've seen some run it close to the TB, and some run it close to the filter. does it matter?
And thanks for the help!

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Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:15 pm

The exact location of the new maf sensor shouldn't matter.
You can run the evap to the extra vac port on the top of the blower. It will work just like the one on the tb or adaptor.

Tuning wise, I hear it's good to add 30% to the acceleration enrichment table and more importantly bring the PE enable TPS down by 5-10%. It's not fatal if you don't do those things but I think it's a good idea.

If you haven't already seen this, make sure you either have a PCV inlet solution or run a breather. ZZP's adaptor plate comes with that passage blocked. I think you can drill a small hole through the adaptor plate for the inlet.

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:24 pm

I don't know about the spacing, sorry. That's the setup it had when I bought the motor. It all came put together that way, and I just left it like that. It works very well though! wink

Subject: Re: Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:34 pm

i see ports for the coolant, but where does the pcv feed to the TB?

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Last edited by turtleman on Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:57 pm; edited 1 time in total

http://www.davetech.net/pics/gen5/gen5-pcv-inlet.jpg

It's definitely addressed here somehow. I don't know why they chose to bring it outside the housing in this case but he did something with it.

http://www.glovertech.com/Car/ForSale0809/L32TB2.jpg

That's a stock L32 TB. Is that the tiny PCV inlet hole near the top left (from the prospective of the picture) mount bolt I see?

http://www.glovertech.com/Car/ForSale0809/L32TB1.jpg

There's the front of it. That tiny passage would have to go somewhere in front of the throttle blade (viewable on the inner bore) or possibly some other more intrequite rought somewhere.

It's hard for me to say exactly without having ever had an L32 TB in my hands.

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Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install

Write-Up: Northstar Throttle Body Install

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