72vega

iTrader: (9)

Hello, figured id post my swap on here.. Its actually been a long time comin.. Im stationed in Germany and was on a f-body site over here and was lookin for just a T56. well i found a wrecked/complete 1997 Z28.

This was april last year. about june i finally got the car. No one wanted it which worked out for me. Nothin wrong with the car cept the body damage. Anyways i gutted it, junked the bare shell and pretty much sat on everything till now. I was doin research, gathering other parts etc.. So i figured i would use the engine trans rear end which has all hotchkis susp. peices on it, the dash and center console. All of which is goin in my 87 GTA.

Im also slowly swapping to 91-92 gfx.. So fast forward to 3 weeks ago. I was moving the car to my freinds house to start doin the swap. I was doin 120 mph on the autobahn and well.. i guess it didnt like that to much. oil pressure went to half of what it is normally and it started knocking. there was no where to pull over so i had to ride it out till it locked up. bummer. my freind pulled me behind his ranger about 2 km to the exit i was tryin to make it to and a german friend of mine met me there with his trailer. so we got it to his house and well heres where were at now.

Engine and trans is out.

Fitting the 4th gen rad and fans. Have to do something about the fans. they hit the steering box.

workin on the LT1. Im gettin a new water pump. Have a used dynaspark thats goin on it. Needs a new balancer, and a few other things. Interestingly, it has a BBK tb on it, accel injectors, GMPP roller rockers, MSD coil, and an LT4 knock module in the computer. It may have had a cam swap done to it already, hopefully an LT4 hot cam. Im using an LS2 maf with it because it has the iat sensor integral to the maf. I also replaced the oil pump to a Melling M155HV that i had for another project. Also already got a used Spohn crossmember for the T56. **The Wrangler frame in the background is my german buddys. Hes rebuilding it because it was his first. He has several now and daily drives a Durango that runs on LPG. Its awesome.**

Last week i ripped out the dash and console in prep for that portion. Dont have any pics because i left the memory card in my computer. But i had my camera with me! fail. More to come, but its slow goin.

72vega

iTrader: (9)

Also already got the swap fuel lines and ordered a swap harness from EFIConnection.

chevyowner02

iTrader: (3)

Looks like you have a good start on it.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Definatly a good jump. Are you running ac?

Firebat

iTrader: (7)

I'm running the 4th Gen radiator and LT1 dual fans on my LT1. Did a few modifications to install them and get more clearance from the steering box:
1) You'll notice there are plastic "hooks" that are part of the plastic on the sides of the radiator. They are on both the front to hold the fans in place and on the back to hold the 4th gen condenser in place. Since you are using a thirdgen condenser you can cut off the plastic "hook" part on the back and you will gain some room. The hooks are solid, not hollow, so nothing will leak out if cut off.
2) I placed rubber insulators on the bottom of the radiator at least one side because the radiator is a different length. I think I moved the radiator as far as I could to the passenger side. Placed small rubber insulators, like the ones used on end links, between the radiator/condensor fins and just kind of pinched in place.
3) Used a 4th gen radiator shroud, cut it to fit. Made it about as small as the thirdgen one. Made holes in it to bolt in down where the thirdgen holes would be.
4) There is a niblet or drain on the bottom of the LT1 radiator on the side where the cap is. Drilled a hole in the radiator support so the drain thing would go through it. Maybe used a 1/2" holesaw?

For the balancer, Professional Products makes one that comes with a keyed hub that is under $100, at least on ebay. It comes with optional spacers for different years and models so it will work on any LT1 setup. ATI makes the best balancer but they are expensive and probably not really needed unless you have a lot more HP than stock or a supercharger.

72vega

iTrader: (9)

i did chop off the ones on the front of the rad to fit it in there against the condenser. i also will be using a/c as i got the line kit from firebat. just have to figure out the motor mount issue.

1badeagle

iTrader: (2)

Looks good man. But if I may give you any advise. Lose the High volume pump. The high volume pumps are notorious for draining the pan on ltx motors. Donnt wanna spin a bearing.

72vega

iTrader: (9)

Ive never had a problem with HV pumps. I ran one in my daily driver 88 chevy pickup. the bottom end is the exact same as a regular sbc so i dont see how it could affect the engine any different. the only difference between what i had in my truck and this one is the pickup tube diameter. this one is a 3/4 in. diam. and i think my truck had a 5/8 in. diam. if im not mistaken..

72vega

iTrader: (9)

FINALLY been able to work on the swap. What Ive done: not alot. Put some more parts on the the engine, bought some small parts, recieved my eficonnection harness, and buttoning up some dash wiring. Yesterday i replaced the motor mounts which i must say is a b!t*# (unless someone knows a better way than fishing a wrench or socket up into the crossmember next to the control arm..). Then i pressure washed out the engine bay. But i am able to drop in the engine now, which is a plus. Nothing noteworthy for pictures so.. once the engine is goin in i will be postin pics.

cprmn14

iTrader: (3)

Agreed, the motor mounts are a PITA