I'm curious myself to this build on cost. I know what it cost me for mine and I'm curiously watching this build. This is going to make history one way or another...think about it. Nice 3rd gen, nice build, teeters on pricey / radical....but either way its going to be one of those "builds" that sticks with us in our heads. I want to PM Neil when he's done, had time to tune it to tailor that ride to his style and what his reaction was when he shifted at 4k 2nd, 5k 3rd, 6k 4th, through 5th. Should be a grin..

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is the first time I saw your thread and I am with out words. The car is amazing I didnt relize how nice the new dash board even looked inside a 3rd gen. I saw some pics and they looked horrible. Your body work puts anything I have seen to shame. The engine kills you are def making history. I'd be scared to drive it after its finished. What I want to say is man I give you props I hope when my 3rd gen is done it at least looks half as nice as yours

Thanks alot guys! As far as how much I have spent on this project...I do not wish to know. I have all the receipts piled up and at this point I won't even attempt to add them up, I think that would just discourage me from spending more. This hobby for me and I am sure alot of you is like a drug habbit.... I just keep spending more and more and more!!!
Regarding all the crap I have had to deal with I know you have to expect hold-ups and delays especially with a custom project like this, but when you have to deal with companies that are reluctant to help, that just sux!!! If you want to call it fairness, AllPro paid for the labor to install the inserts and overnight shipping of the heads, one-way. I had to pay for the inserts and return shipping! Oh, I forgot to tell you guys that in my dealings with AllPro, at one point during one of our conversations I was telling them that GM made the LSX block so that it could be used with all GEN III LS series hardware to include LS7 heads, etc.... his reponse was, well, GM didn't make their engine for my heads"! LOL I thought that was hilarious yet riduculous! By the way, I am not talking smack about them to ruin their business but I just want you guys to be aware of some of these businesses and how they view their customers satisfaction. Bottom line I am not satisfied with their customer support and I hope they eventually get to read this. I have no fears that it might upset them, because I am not exactly happy with how they treated me as they have upset me! So, now I just need to get busy and build this car and soon put a video up on youtube of me grabbing rubber in 1st, 2nd, 3rd and maybe 4th gear!

Makes that GM crate 454 LS-X look pretty damn good right now, doesn't it!

Don't get discouraged, just 'git r done' cletus!

When I see you next I am going to slap you and BTW my motor better outperform that crate motor OR I am going to slap you some more....beeeee-otch

Check out that link I e-mailed you Cletus.......

Hey, I just got an idea.....gonna start a race team, will name it "CLETUS RACING"

neil.lets call all the tv shows,magaizines.we need to get this sucker out on the main stream media.maybe get 3rd gens some more recognition. like the on eposter said this maybe the best 3rd gen ever(id say so) but its also one of the best builds of a car period. dont forget this thing will eat a z06 for breakfast and fart it out the tailpipes

No disrespect to Neil, I think his car will be awesome when its done, but come on, the motor isnt even put together yet

Ricco, good point! LOL. Yesterday, I spent 2 hours cleaning the cylinder head studs, block mating surface and removing the powder coating from the water jacket areas. I was on LS1 tech.com and was reading that some LSX guys were having overheating OR running hot issues which could possibly have been due to the powder coat flaking off and getting trapped in the radiator cores??? So, to be safe I removed the "overspray" powder coat from the water jackets in the block. (See the round and rectangular ports to the left and right of the timing chain.....picture on previous page).
After all that, I puled out the NEW head gaskets, laid them over the studs and made sure they fit properly then lubed all the stud threads with the ARP moly/assembly lube. Then I slid the heads back on, of course after shortening one of the studs by approximately 1/4" because as I said earlier, AllPro broke a drill bit in the head and did NOT extract it....LUCKY ME! That's half-*** work IMO, especially when you pay $$$ for it! Ok, so here are some pics. Next week i'll torque the heads down since I need to get 4 more 11 mm nuts from ARP. It turns out the nuts only needed to be replaced and not the studs....this is good news.

Here are a few more pics of the little issues I have had...the lifter retainers and the black bolt (GM) which is too short. I ended up stripping threads in the block because there were to few threads to grab! So, had to re-tap and get longer bolts. Lot's of fun, but it's right now!

More lifter retainer pics and pics of the thread chaser which cleaned up the threads in the block BTW, I changed from the black oxide socket allen bolt to a zinc plated hex head bolt because it had a flanged head and fit much better.

Lifter retainers are in AND I separated the OE LSx engine mounts to toss the factory rubber and replace with polyurethane!

Good lord neil,you can't have any hair left on your head huh?
All these setbacks you've run into I know has to be frustrating!
If you just wanna call it quits,I'll get a trailer and come get the car out of your garage!!LOL!!Just kidding man,this is going to be one sweet ride!

Last set for now. Pics for establishing correct pushrod length with the use of low tension checker springs (I actually did this a few weeks ago.)

No sh!t, it has been a pita! I think I have made up new words in this whole process, well actually I just use the usual profane words in new ways, LOL.

hahaha!!! I know what you mean!

Hey Anthony thanks and it would be nice to get that attention not only for my car but for all the thridgens out there! What's cool is that as I talk to builders and enthusiasts in this industry they all seem to agree the 3rd gen Z28's and IROC's, GTA's handle great and that they might even out handle a new vette! That's pretty cool. BTW, I can't wait to line up with a ZO6 and alot of other cars someday!

So Neil,is this beast going to be broken in on open headers or full exh ?
I vote the initial break in should be the open headers!!!

wtf are you saying dude..this is history being made..and youre fricking rolling your eyes? go home to mom.

im not bad mouthing this allpro place but if i lived in your area i would never bring my stuff there after reading your post...wtf is up there?i bet they aint cheap either...

Hmm... Clearly I wasnt rolling my eyes at Neil, they were being rolled in your direction...

[Quit sucking Neils ****...

wrong..youre just flat out jealous his ride will smoke your 92 to ashes.......give the man his props.........and roll these eyes...btw who the f drives a 3rd gen and also hasa dodge as a d/d...chevy to death.....

Back to topic kiddo's...... let it rest.


Neil, I'll fedex you those parts sometime this week. Call me after work.....

Buford T. Cletus Racing

Neil...Everyone has stated it, I'll just reiterate, Props for all your hard work and PATIENCE!

I wish I had half of your knowledge about building a motor. Keep up the good work.

Patience is the key Bro, don't cut any corners. Your car is going to be a Beast and fun to drive too!!!

After spending about an hour and a half reading all this, DAMN! You are one crazy mofo for doing all this at once, but DAAMMNN will it be worth it! You have my vote for F-Body of the year!

Yeah, I feel a little crazy for working on this EVERY DAY, well almost!!!

Here are a pics of the front cover installed with the balancer hub to properly center it and the polyurethane engine mounts.

I worked on installing the clutch/pressure plate assy and bellhousing today. Pulled the engine off the stand and set it on a pallet in order to mount the clutch driveline components.

A while back I ordered a hydraulic throwout bearing but I can't find it anywhere, so will order another tomorrow and return my missing one when I find it, so frustrating when you can't find parts!

Here are pics of the flywheel, floater plate and pilot bushing installed. The pilot bushing went in alot easier then I thought.....I cleaned the bushing thoroughly with brake cleaner as well as the inside of the crank, then lightly coated the bushing with lithium grease and knokced it in with a hammer using a socket and a flat washer.

Pics of the bottom and top clutches installed and the pressure plate.

Also, I posted pics of my build on omnipotent-goku's 3rd gen site. I am still in the process of getting pics up there, but will update with more pics when I have time.
http://www.omnipotent-goku.com/iroc/gallery/album03

Did you put KONI Red's in your ride??

Yes I did.

This is one hell of a car, subscription added!

Think............ Visualize...............

INTAKE MANIFOLD Cletus!!

I can have Buford whip you up a TPI for that motor if yauntoo!



I'd probably get an AC/Delco throwout bearing for it instead of the O'reilleys brand.

Actually, the more I think about it, you have a 3 finger HD pressure plate and the AC/Delco throwout bearing may not work. You might have to use the Mcleod parts. That would be a question you would have to run by Mcleod tech support.

haha! and I thought I was funny!!
Anyway,lookin good neil,sorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry ,,,tryiiiiiiiiiiin tootoo wip
wipe .... thr thr the drooooooooooool offf myyyyyyyyyyyy ke y board

Should have more pics for you this weekend. I have the bellhousing attached, though I have a few more bolts to install and torque. Monday, I will call Mcleod and make sure I have the correct p/n for the hydraulic throwout bearing and then i'll order it through Summit.
Since I am on hold with transmission-engine "mating", I will continue working on the A-pillars this weekend, so back to the interior.

Can't wait to see them!

awesome.

The Mcleod hydraulic throwout bearing is ordered and should have by next week. This past weekend I made a little progress on the interior. Here are some shots of the A-pillar mods from beginning to almost finished. I cut the a-pillars so that I retained a very small piece of the 3rd gen t-top mounting section and the majority of the 4th gen pillar down to the dash. I used dry wall screws to secure them together (while positioned in the car), then used plastic weld epoxy to bond the pieces. Actually, I first used gorilla glue and it seemed to work quite well, but the epoxy is definitely a stronger bond.

After cutting "scrap" sections from the 4th gen a-pillar that I was not planning on using, I used smaller, flat head screws to hold the pieces together to create more of a flow between the pieces and then used more plastic weld epoxy.

more pics..

and a test fit in the car....

and now making it look somewhat pretty, though the a-pillars will be covered in suede so they don't have to be perfect.

a couple more of the pillar...It is very smooth even in the area where I exposed some of the epoxy. After I finish all the smoothing, I will prime it and then work on getting them wrapped in suede. I plan to have double rows of white stiching, not sure exactly of the pattern yet.

While your working on the pillar anyways, might as well mold some gauge pods in there too.

Finally, I installed the ABS headliner board which I covered in suede. Note, I did not cut the hole for the courtsy light because I am not sure which one I am going to use.

As for the sunvisors, I want to cover them in suede as well..those are going to be a PITA!

Yeah, I am still debating doing that. I might install the guages else where in the dash, not sure yet, but it is a good idea!

Cool mod. The steering wheel is

What....you don't like my wheel??? LOL, personally I like the wheel itself but I can't stand the horn button and ring! I am going to try and either change out the ring/button or at least paint the ring black and put in a custom button with some sort of custom painted logo.