Slightly new direction for LS1/T56 swap
#1
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Slightly new direction for LS1/T56 swap
The "original" '82 Berlinetta is going to stay as it is (for now). The 2000 SS LS1/T56 will have a new receptor.
Enter a very clean 298k mile California '82 Berlinetta. The owner since 1985 did all the bodywork & paint, new upholstery including headliner, all new weather seals, plus things like brakes - then donated it to charity. I picked it up from the outfit that sells the cars and donates the proceeds to charities.
It runs amazingly well for a car that old with that many miles. But, the drivetrain has gotta go, and the previously planned pieces are gonna go in 'er.
Enter a very clean 298k mile California '82 Berlinetta. The owner since 1985 did all the bodywork & paint, new upholstery including headliner, all new weather seals, plus things like brakes - then donated it to charity. I picked it up from the outfit that sells the cars and donates the proceeds to charities.
It runs amazingly well for a car that old with that many miles. But, the drivetrain has gotta go, and the previously planned pieces are gonna go in 'er.
Last edited by five7kid; 10-16-2007 at 11:52 PM.
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
The previous owner is the real charity contributor. I can claim the amount I paid over blue book, which would be a difficult # to determine. KBB doesn't go past 1987, and Edmunds doesn't give me a value unless I drop the mileage.
The interior is just amazing. Looks like a bunch of new stuff - dash pad, console, console lid, PW/light switches, door panel/weather strip cover, arm rests, carpet, etc. All of the cargo compartment locks work. Nice 1.5 DIN stereo, too. And it doesn't rattle. Only nits are the shift **** is cracked (it's going away, anyway), the passenger arm rest upper mount is loose (common), and the hatch release button is weathered.
The interior is just amazing. Looks like a bunch of new stuff - dash pad, console, console lid, PW/light switches, door panel/weather strip cover, arm rests, carpet, etc. All of the cargo compartment locks work. Nice 1.5 DIN stereo, too. And it doesn't rattle. Only nits are the shift **** is cracked (it's going away, anyway), the passenger arm rest upper mount is loose (common), and the hatch release button is weathered.
Last edited by five7kid; 10-17-2007 at 12:10 AM.
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Car: 88 V6 'bird/89TBI bird/85 T/A
Engine: 2.8/TBI/TPI
Transmission: V8 T-5/700R4 x2
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open/2.73 open/ 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Slightly new direction for LS1/T56 swap
That looks like a really clean find. Are you going to post more pictures?
I hope you are going to start with the first of many pictures to document your swap fully. I can't wait to see the modifications to fit the motor mounts, A/C box and the like.
Is this an original automatic or standard shift car?
I hope you are going to start with the first of many pictures to document your swap fully. I can't wait to see the modifications to fit the motor mounts, A/C box and the like.
Is this an original automatic or standard shift car?
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
I plan on taking a lot of pictures as I go along.
It's an original automatic. I got the hydraulics and pedals with the engine/transmission.
It's an original automatic. I got the hydraulics and pedals with the engine/transmission.
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Car: 88 V6 'bird/89TBI bird/85 T/A
Engine: 2.8/TBI/TPI
Transmission: V8 T-5/700R4 x2
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open/2.73 open/ 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Slightly new direction for LS1/T56 swap
I don't think I'd go that far...
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Full size 2" receiver, 6-pin round electrical connector, and electric trailer brake control. Also had air bags in the rear springs, but the ride was so harsh that I pulled those out already.
This morning the starter quit. And I'm visiting my mom in Nebraska, so I have to change it out just to get the car home so I can start taking it apart for the swap (probably will start the process in a week or two).
This morning the starter quit. And I'm visiting my mom in Nebraska, so I have to change it out just to get the car home so I can start taking it apart for the swap (probably will start the process in a week or two).
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Car: 88 V6 'bird/89TBI bird/85 T/A
Engine: 2.8/TBI/TPI
Transmission: V8 T-5/700R4 x2
Axle/Gears: 3.42 open/2.73 open/ 3.27 9 bolt
Re: Slightly new direction for LS1/T56 swap
I guess there's worse spare parts to have around than another sbc starter!!!
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
That's what I was saying to myself as I was laying under the car with the passenger side wheels up on the curb (limited shop resources available to me here). My brother & I took the old starter to the local NAPA, the counter guy is a family friend from way back. My brother told him how we got the car up to get under it, and he said, "Or, drive it over a manhole, take the cover off if you need even more room to work."
Good ol' mid-western knowhow. . .
Good ol' mid-western knowhow. . .
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Car: Pair of 92 Z28s
Re: Slightly new direction for LS1/T56 swap
Hah i like that sounds like a good idea to me!
That is a cleeean looking berli! Seems like a decent swap car. A little too nice to swap out but it doesnt really have the value on it. How original is the rest of the car? Are you planning on swapping all the gauges or what? Suspension staying stock?
Cant wait to see the start of your swap. I need more motivation to continue my own...
That is a cleeean looking berli! Seems like a decent swap car. A little too nice to swap out but it doesnt really have the value on it. How original is the rest of the car? Are you planning on swapping all the gauges or what? Suspension staying stock?
Cant wait to see the start of your swap. I need more motivation to continue my own...
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
See post #3. 40k on the rebuilt transmission. New paint, brakes, carb, O2 sensor, EGR valve. The starter didn't look that old. I fixed the arm rest mount already. Except for the upholstery fabric itself, aftermarket rims, and the red heater hoses, it looks completely showroom.
Front suspension is staying stock-like. I've got plans for the rear that I'm not going to say anything about until I prove to myself that it works (it's been done on 4th gens).
85 MPH speedo, 60 psi oil pressure gage. Not sure what I'm going to do about those yet. A complete electronic gage set would solve the non-mechanical speedo drive issue, but would detract from the powder puff look. I guess by the time they saw that, it would be too late. . .
Front suspension is staying stock-like. I've got plans for the rear that I'm not going to say anything about until I prove to myself that it works (it's been done on 4th gens).
85 MPH speedo, 60 psi oil pressure gage. Not sure what I'm going to do about those yet. A complete electronic gage set would solve the non-mechanical speedo drive issue, but would detract from the powder puff look. I guess by the time they saw that, it would be too late. . .
Last edited by five7kid; 11-13-2007 at 09:12 AM.
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