Made a little bit of progress on the pump set up today. And by the way, I hope I'm not pic-whoring up this thread too much lol. I like taking a lot of pics to show the progress!

Anyways, Got the feed fitting in and done. Still need to order the 2 walbro 255's and then the pump bucket will be finished.

The factory plug is what I used to adapt the -8 AN fitting to the top of the pump assy. I chopped off the bottom and top of the plug and then drilled out the middle. This piece has an o-ring seal and should seal the fitting up nicely. I plan on using some JB weld on the top too JUST in case it's not air tight.


Here you can see the -8 nut and 1/2 inch hose adapter. I just need to find a Y-block that goes from 1/2 inch into two 3/8's hoses now.




Also threw the timing cover with a new front seal and balancer onto the 5.3 to seal it up. I hate engines being opened up and exposed to the elements for too long. Head studs and gaskets should be here soon!

 

Heads are on the motor at last! I decided to go with GM MLS gaskets over cometic since I've heard from a bunch of guys on LS1tech that they will hold plenty of boost and horsepower. They were also half the price!

Something about a block with ARP head studs just looks awesome!




Almost all back together

 

Wow I am impressed, I plan on going through a similar process once I get PCSed to Ft. Lewis. But instead of the LSx/T56 swap I'm going to be doing a high revving monster cubed Gen 2 Small Block/T56 or Jerico 6+1. and the soda blasting did a beautiful job

 

While you have the Intake off, you should probably put some silicone around your knock censor seals. The factory recomends the dealership do this after they have replaced them for the customer. Condensation gets down to them due to lack of a good seal. Just thinking out loud.

 

Wow, I would have never known that.....thanks!! I'll have to look into that a little more and I will definately do it if thats the case.

 

It's a good idea even if the seal isn't shot, I have a Vortec Maxx Silverado, and when I had my FAST Intake installed they did that due to it being such a pain to take care of down the road

 

I had one already but you can pick up a brake line bending tool at Autozone or another parts store for like $15 buck, its the same concept and it makes bending lines work soooooo much easier.

 

So uuuuuh when are we gonna get some updates? I'm anxious to see more of her done

 

I update a lot on the weekends ussually. Thats when I bang out a lot of work. I work full time during the week and try to work on the car a little bit but when I get out of work I ussually just want to relax lol. I like my lazy time.

Plus I need to get the fuel system in first but I ordered my damn fuel pumps on monday and they JUST shipped out today....go figure. Guess I won't get them until next week now, but I still have a little I can do this weekend. Check back then and I'll have some updates for ya!

 

Cool, I just ordered a bunch of suspension stuff for my 82 Z, I'm gonna do the same process as you, such as rust corrosion removal just a little at a time, I'm gonna start at the tank and back axle first then work my way forward

 

Not too much to update on today....I got the the oil pan on the motor and put on the rocker arms and water pump as well so the motor is for the most part, ready to go in. Now I just need a clutch and T56 crossmember and she'll be bolted in!

Heres the -10 AN bung I had welded to the pan for the turbo drain line. To install the pan, you need to put the bellhousing on the motor to align it correctly, and THEN torque the pan bolts down. It was a pain in the butt because I had to hang the motor from my engine hoist so I could put the bellhousing on the back!


Heres a shot of the knock sensor with the RTV which was recommended to me so no moisture gets in.


And the assembled LM7. Getting close!


I want to herculine the tranny tunnel this weekend and get ready for the fuel lines, so check back soon!

 

Finished up the fuel pump assembly this weekend! Now I just have to pick up my new gasket for the tank and she goes on. Finally I can start some re-assembly! Anyways, heres the pics of the finish piece.



Closeup of how I ran the T and lines


And all back together

 

Got the pump assembly installed in the tank and ran the feed and return lines. Just need to put some gas in the tank and do a pressure test to make sure theres no leaks and to check that the pumps are working and it's going in!



The black lines and fittings are so sleek looking. I love the stock look they give it.

 

Who did you end up going through for the lines, and sleeves? Those things look great!

 

I bought them all through JEGs. All the fittings and lines are actually JEGs brand too. They have a lot of stuff, just have to look and do research to get the right ones.

And the tank is also now in the car!! Finally some progress. The rear suspension can go in now as well as the fuel lines to the engine bay. Just have to do some more undercoating first.

Heres a crappy pic I took last minute. As you can see, I still have a bit more undercoating.

 

Badass man, this is going to blow my frame up out of the water

 

Wow, been a long time since I had an update. I have been NOT wanting to do undercoating lately, mostly because it's the worst thing I've ever had to do, lol. I forced myself into it a few days ago and stripped the entire tranny tunnel area down. Just have to apply the herculiner and I can put the fuel system together.

I have also been debating on dishing out a HUGE chunk of money on things I don't really need right now in the build but that I was getting a sweet deal on. Well I decided I couldn't pass it up, so I have a hot side set up for an LSx swapped third gen as well as a turbonetics T76 turbo, wastegate, and LS6 intake manifold painted prowler orange (yes I actually found a prowler orange LS6 manifold!!). The guys camaro just happened to be painted the identicle color as my car will be, and let me tell you, that color looks incredible on a third gen!

Anyways though, I will be sure to get pics when the turbo parts start coming in the mail!

I also have a pressure bleed down issue with my dual pump set up. I should have that fixed in the next few days though. Pretty sure the conglomerate of hoses connecting the 2 pumps inside the tank is leaking! I hate rubber hose..... I'll have to find a way to get rid of those.

 

Got some more undercoating done finally! The entire tranny tunnel is done now, so really, I can put the entire car back together without having to do anymore undercoat. Then I can just do the floors after since nothing goes there. My turbo should be here Tues! Pics will come when I have it.

Gas tank is back out because of the pressure issue


Tranny tunnel looks great now!

 

I got some toys in the mail today.....

Turbonetics T-76 & 42mm Turbonetics racegate

 

HELL YEAH!! bet that put a smile on your face. thats a good reward after the undercoating

 

I've STILL got the smile on my face actually!

 

wow builds like this keep me inspired to never give up on my 84 Camaro Abomination

 

Finally got some work done. The fuel pump assembly is all back together and the tank is bolted in as well as the upper panhard bar and a few other things in the rear. I also started to clean up the axle a little. I'm only painting the brake lines black and re-painting the calipers orange. I don't expect this axle to last very long so I'm not putting much work into it. In the next week or so I'm ordering some BMR adjustable control arms and an adjustable panhard bar. Then the rear goes back together! It will be nice to see that done because thats making some good progress!

 

How much did the blasting cost for the whole car? I'd like to have mine done that way when I redo it.

Also, what is the color name/code you're using? It looks AWESOME!

 

The blasting was 475$ for the "shell" which is what is in the pic there. For everything, like fenders, doors, hood, you'd probably looking at more like 8-900$.

As far as the color, I'm not sure what the code is off hand but the name is plymouth prowler "flame orange metallic." Looks like 2 different colors whether it's dark or light out! I love it.

 

Any updates? Lookin good

 

I will soon, I swear! I ordered poly motor mounts for the 5.3 and got my BMR control arms. Still need the BMR adjustable panhard bar and a 4th gen rear axle with lower gears than 4.10's! I was going to put the axle I have back in the car but 4.10's in a 10 bolt are weak and they will be real bad with a turbo car, so I decided against it. The factory LS1 3.42's should be fine and 10 bolts are a dime a dozen.

I am also trying real hard to sell my shelby mustang because making the payments on it are KILLING me on this project. If I can sell that, progress on the TA should go MUCH quicker. Check back maybe over the weekend, and I will hopefully have some updates for ya!

 

Your gonna sell a shelby mustang to make payments on a third gen??? Now that's what's called devotion to a project lol.

 

I originally bought the mustang because the TA was on hold since I wasn't sure what I was doing with it. I figured I'd drive the stang and have an enjoyable car while the TA was under the knife. Then I started up full boar on the TA again and it's making awesome progress, but when your dishing a HUGE chunk of money out a month on a car payment, it's tough to have money for the project.

And I have NO problem selling the stang to fund my original true love!

BTW, not sure if you misunderstood me, but the mustang is the car I'm paying on. The TA is paid off and I work on it with out of pocket money. Thats why it would be nice to not have the mustang car payment so I had more money for the TA.

 

Just saw this, looks like it's going to be BAD ***!

What did you do to prep the body after the soda blasting? I've read a lot about adhesion problems after soda blasting.

 

I was told it was ok to paint since the guy at the soda blast place washed it down with distilled water after the blasting, but as a safeguard, I prepped the entire body with an alchohol based prep solvent just to make sure it was free of debree and then put a coat of etching primer on before the high build primer. The ethcing primer chemically bonds itself to the metal and creates a nice base for the high build stuff.

And thanks for the comment. I hope the thing starts coming together soon!

 

Well heres my lousy attempt at an update guys. I found a deal on some corbeau LG1 seats so naturally I had to buy them, lol. This kind of set me back a little in the build since they weren't cheap, but I'll be picking them up in a week or so and then the progress can continue.

For now, heres a shot of me getting the rear control arm mounting points ready for undercoating so I can get the rear suspension together when I have all the parts.


And heres a shot of the BMR control arms with a poly bushing on one end and a heim joint on the other. Fully adjustable and made out of chromolly. They are NICE pieces.


Anyways sorry for the lack of updates and progress. I have a lot of little parts to get together for the suspension to go back on since basically nothing is being re-used, so bear with me, and hopefully I'll have some progress soon!

 

Lookin good. So what did you decide on all the hot side parts. Thats my next big step. Not looking forward to it.

 

I actually got lucky and found a guy that was selling a pre-made hot side set up for an LS1 swapped third gen for 200$!!!! Thats one heck of a deal! It's the same car my turbo and wastegate came out of, and he offerend me his hot side set up too, so I couldn't say no.

 

Heck I wish I had that luck! You should post some pics. Its commin along great! Looks good.

 

After you mentioned the hot side I forgot I never did put pics of it up so I went out and snapped a few in my garage. I'll post em up tonight after work.

 

Figured I'd throw a few pics up of my turbo hot side set up that I bought pre-made for an LS1 swapped third gen.

Heres the custom exhaust manifolds. The flanges were cut of factory manifolds and then piping was added to them to make the new turbo ones.



Heres the merge pipe and 3 inch down pipe. I may make a new 3.5 or 4 inch down pipe instead since 3 inch is on the small side for the power I'd like to make. Notice how the merge pipe is angled to go around the steering gearbox on the drivers side.


And this is just a beautiful sight of the two third gens in the garage together. My bro's IROC is getting some sort of turbo LSx swap at some point as well.

 

Those hotparts look familiar. Get them from another member??

 

He is a member on here but I bought them off LS1tech. I can't remember his user name but I want to say it's something like Red25thcamaro. Don't know off the top of my head, but the setup looked killer on his car. My turbo and wastegate is from his car as well actually.

 

Went to NH Yesterday to pick up these seats. They are Corbeau LG1's with F body brackets already on them. I love them already just from sitting in them and the way they feel. It's a night and day difference from my old generic racing seats. I plan on using a 5 point style harness as well and I wanted a seat that could accomodate one. They weren't cheap so I had to save for a few weeks which is why progress has been at a standstill, but now that they are out of the way, it's back to finishing the suspension.

Heres a few shots of them.

 

damn dude you and your brother are gonna have two great 3rd gens there! They'll make for some fun cruising and track nights.

 

Nice seats. I've been wanting those in leather. I need to find somewhere I can sit in the first.

 

They are a great set of seats, and they feel awesome to sit in. I would say they are def worth the money. The quality is excellent too.

 

Subscribing to this thread. Been reading for a while now. I LOVE the painstaking detail to which you are doing this project. Some day...

 

Been a while since a update..Come on your killing us!

 

Atually your in luck....because I DO have an update! I have the next 2 weeks off of work and you better believe I'll be getting some things done. So far I have the entire rear axle back in the car minus the sway bar and torque arm. I still need to buy the torque arm/trans crossmember kit and I'm deciding if I'm going with an aftermarket sway bar or the stock ones. And just so you all know, the BMR control arms and panhard rod are beautiful pieces and fit was absolutely perfect. I love having the adjustability as well!

Other things I plan to get done over the break is running the new fuel line to the engine bay, and getting the front suspension back on. I'm not sure how long the wait is to get the new J&M caster camber plates so if they come quick, I should have that all done.

Anyways, heres the pics.

Here you can see the panhard rod

This is the control arms, and tokico shocks and springs.

And the overall shot

 

More progress! Got all of the fuel lines run today and the car is really starting to look awesome! I used 1/2 inch aluminum line going up to the engine bay and there is about a 3 foot length of braided line that comes from the gas tank into the hard lines, and then there will be about another 3 foot length of braided line connecting the hard line to the engine when thats in. I'll let the pics do the talking.

Heres the engine bay side.



Heres where the line T's and goes back to the tank for the return, since I am still using the factory LS1 in-tank regulator.

Another angle of the T

 

And heres where the braided feed and return lines from the tank connect to the hard line. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed when I pressurize it and test for leaks tomorrow!!



I also found a reputable body shop that is going to do the paint and body for me. I decided against painting it myself since I have so much money into the car already, and I really want the paintjob to look awesome. I spoke with the owner and he is willing to work with me on taping off all of the underside and painting the car how I want it done. He sounds like a real nice guy on the phone, and he even owns an 89 Z28 so he's a fellow third genner. After the front suspension is back together it's off to paint, so progress should be moving along quick.

 

Good news...lines are LEAK FREE! Now I can sleep at night knowing I don't have to run fuel lines again. That job was a pain, but it paid off. Not a whole lot to do before I can get some paint on the car now. Just a few hundred bucks in parts and undercoating the rear drivers side fenderwell and then I won't see it till it's all one color.

 

Man that's awesome. Your gonna have a car you can be totally proud of! Your attention to detail is inspiring too. I think i'm gonna go out and work on my GTA now haha!

Keep up the great work man!

SUB'D!

PS- This would be even more awesome with a youtube vid to accompany it!