So after catastrophic engine failure (rod bearing) I have decided to go ahead and start the tear-down for my LS build. I didn't even have a camera untill today but went out and bought one just to document it. I bought this car 6 months ago, and have enjoyed every second of driving it, but still was never completely satisfied with the old engine combo. I didn't expect to be taking on this swap so soon, but due to the nature of events it's happening now. I plan on having it done by march/april 2012. It sits next to my bros 86 Trans Am who I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with (project P.I.T.A). It will be a battle to the finish! The car already has an RPM built LS1 T56 trans, so that's one less expensive piece I will have to buy. Anyways, I'll try to keep you guys updated frequently. Enjoy

The two birds wait...


The old block is still sitting in the bay because I have no room for it elsewhere! It will be out soon though.


The harness has been consolidated. I tore out all of the wires from the existing harness that I did not need since the LS engine will have it's own stand-alone harness. These will control my gauges, alternator, and starter. They will be re-taped and loomed when the time comes.


Found this in the lifter valley. Bearing material anyone??


Tore out all factory fuel lines to be replaced with larger 8AN line. Floor boards will also be cleaned and coated.


That's pretty much it for now. As I said I will update frequently so check back. I had originally bought an LS1 engine from a 98 Trans am but sold it due to larger power goals. Still going to be getting an LS, just one a little "beefier"

 

had me thinking for a moment there on the first pic, I was like...that's not a gen 3 motor


good luck on your new project, these motors are the best platform for decent power cheaply.

 

That's pretty cool to have both projects in the same garage.

 

Thanks guys. I'm really looking forward to this swap and the newfound power, and then the sibling rivalry that will endure afterwards all in good fun of course. And Nick, it is very nice to have them together. All you have to do is take a look over your shoulder for a point of reference! I'm hoping to get a couple small things done tomorrow (or technically later today) so I should have a few pics to share.

 

can't wait to see this one develop! gonna be siiiick!

 

Bearing material and maybe a little bit of ash.... Can't wait to see these plans come to fruition, and like I said, the offer to lend a hand still stands!

 

Remove the harness from the car. 1000x easier to work with when you arent hunched over a fender

 

Well I finally got that crummy old engine pulled today, as well as some outdoor shots. Haven't seen her in daylight for a while!





The Engine leveler makes the process soo much smoother...






Hoping to get the bay cleaned up and pull out the rest of the AC box tomorrow. Then as soon as I find a good deal on a non-ac box I will be putting that in there as well. The air conditioning never worked in this car (compressor was seized) so I figured why bother having it. T-Tops are good enough for me!

 

Now that she's out in the light, thats a slick looking car you've got

 

Thanks Pocket...yea I wax this thing regularly even with no engine! haha. Yours is coming along nicely. Can't wait to see what it puts down.

 

that is a very nice looking car you've got the. look forward to seeing more photos of the swap in progress.

 

So didn't get any work done today because I was at a family party...but do have a funny story. I was in the garage last night looking over my car planning my next move, and out of the corner of my eye saw something scurry across the top of my car. I was tired and figured it was just me, and then saw a field mouse hop up into the front of my hood! Not cool with me by any means... Me and my brother proceeded to carry the hood out into the driveway, and fill it up with water hoping to flush this thing out. After about an hour it was 3am, and we figured the thing was dead. Then out of a stroke of luck, it rode the wave of water out and was sitting alive on my driveway. We ended up putting it in a container and brought it in to warm up for the night, then let it go this morning. I now have a piece of tape over the opening in the front of my hood

 

Wow you got an awesome looking car. What size tire/wheel combo you running?
I bet you will have fun with the new lsx motor going in, especially already having a built 6 speed in it. Oh...and if you ever want to sell that Moroso overflow tank, let me know haha

 

Thanks man. They are Race Star 15x10 rears with 325/50/15 M/T et streets. The fronts are 15x4 with M/T sportsmans. And yea like I said I can't wait. The trans is an RPM T-56, viper mainshaft and tailshaft as well as beefed up internals. Should Hold 750ft lbs. As well as the Moroso, can't see myself letting go of it, but I will keep you in mind!

 

LOL, I still don't know how that thing came out alive after the process we did to flush it out! After seeing it wash out in the wave of water though I instantly felt bad for it. It was so scared and tired that it didn't even try to run

Here it was after it spent the night wrapped up in a cloth and dried off. Had plenty of energy in the morning though! Let it go nice and far from the house into the woods, and it ran off. I swear, only in this garage do these kind of things happen...

 

well, it's good that y'all saved the lil fella!

 

nice car man!
cant wait to see this swap take off.

 

where was the cat thats sits on your brothers car its not doing its job

 

Haha...I was asking myself the same thing. Some nights it just won't want to be in the garage...that was the case here.

 

Hey guys...small update and some news. Got the A/C box pulled and cleaned up that corner of the engine bay. I will hopefully soon be picking up my a/c delete box.





Now onto the exciting news! I just picked up a built Moser 12 bolt rear end. It wasn't on the top of my priority list but I couldn't pass it up. Also, I'm going to be doing a lot of racing with this car, and I'm sure that my current 10 bolt with 325/50 drag radials and xxxHP wouldn't have lasted very long... Should be arriving sometime next week so I'll have pics once it's here!

 

Very cool. I have been watching your brothers build for a while, and picking his brain for my eventual LSx swap.

Good luck!

 

awesome rivalry haha both your cars are gonna turn out awesome

 

Are you going forced induction or NA?

 

Is that a CHROME brake booster?!?!

 

Wanted to build a big cube N/A setup at first...but now I'm leaning towards boost. Just bang for the buck...I think I might be happier and make more power. Still in the deciding phase though.

Sure is! haha. Don't ask me where it came from, but I've gotten a lot of compliments on it.

 

are you going to go with the LQ4 if you go boost

 

The Moser 12-Bolt...



Over the next week I'll be poking away at the 10 bolt in my car...pulling off the brakes and such that I will need to bolt onto the 12 bolt, and then pulling out the rear end. I bought this 12 bolt used with 4.56 gears installed which are wayy too high for my taste, so I'm going to have a new gear set installed before putting it in the car. I'm leaning towards 3.73s If I go boosted, or 4.10s if I stay all motor.

 

Hey guys...been a little while for updates but got some work done. Pulled off the exhaust, and dropped the old rear end and fuel tank. Going to be running a custom dual walbro in-tank setup with 8an fuel line. Want there to be more than enough fuel in case I go bigger in the future. I'll be cleaning and undercoating over the next few weeks as well as working on the fuel system, then It will all be bolted back together with the new Moser 12 bolt rear!





My old external 105gph pump...




The New 12 bolt awaiting some 3.73 gears...


Also pulled the trigger on some Turbo goodies... Pics to come soon!

 

go for it are you and your brother going to race to see who will finish first lol

 

It was cool to see both of you and your bros car first hand. I cant wait for both of these cars to be done, I cant even imagine how excited both of you are. Whats the ETA?

 

As far as who will have their car done first or a drag race? Haha...we both should be done around the same time, but there will definately be some racing afterwards.

It was nice meeting you. Not a day goes by that we don't imagine driving them when they are done! haha. For both of us, it's looking like spring time, (March/April). Just going to take my time over the winter and have it ready to enjoy next year.

 

Both

 

Mine will run first!!! LOL

 

Got Some goodies today!!!

I was lucky enough to find this turbo hotside kit off of a member who already had a turbo lsx in his 92 camaro. Was going to weld one up myself, but for what I paid I'm not complaining! Fabrication takes longer than anything else, so this will help to speed up my build. It's T4 flanged, and I'm planning on running a T76 turbo with it (seems to be a popular choice!). Now I REALLY have some motivation to find an engine and get this thing together! haha

Fuel pumps will be ordered this week so I can get a jump on the fuel system. Once that's out of the way and the rear goes back in, I can get to the fun stuff up front!



TURBO MANIFOLD


CROSS-OVER PIPE


DOWNPIPE

 

so both sides feed into the same manifold then to the turbo....hmmm wonder how well that works. Where would the turbo be located then?

 

Correct...the driver side will use a stock ls1 manifold which will pass exhaust through the crossover to the turbo manifold on the passenger side. Nothing new here as far as design goes. There have been many kits designed like this. The turbo will mount right between the engine and battery tray on the passenger side. I will have to relocate my battery to the trunk. I would say this kit worked pretty good. On a 76mm it put over 600whp down with 12lbs of boost on a completely stock lq4 6.0.

 

need a LQ4 i have one for sale complete with wireing and everything it had 15k on it and the heads have already been to the machine shop for new seats and a checkout

 

What did the heads need to be checked out with only 15k on them

 

Nothing really just wanted to make sure they were perfect because I planed on putting alot of boost on the motor and wanted to make sure they I would have no seal issues I was going to get block machined 30 over also even though it doesnt need it just decided to put a engine in a 3rd gen that hadnt been done yet so I dont need the LQ4 anymore

 

A whole week without an update? You dead or something?! UPDATES NOW!!! hahaha

 

Sweet looking car. Never been a fan of that early 90s front end, but it looks great in Black. I am biased towards Black though ....

Look forward to watching this come together

 

Haha...ask and you shall recieve. Just Picked up an engine. Had originally been looking for a 6.0. I could not find one with low miles for a reasonable price. Seemed like they all had 130-140k miles and still going for $1500-1800. I ended up buying a 5.3 out of an 03 Tahoe. Spent the day setting up the engine stand and clearing some room out in the garage. I'll be tearing it down to put on the ls6 intake/fuel rails and ls1 style accessories.

 

Loving this build!

Good stuff man!

 

Some updates! Got some more parts and began working on the engine. Tore off the truck manifold and replaced it with an ls1 manifold. Also got brand new Z06 valvesprings with retainers and a Z06 camshaft, as well as some high flow fuel rails with -8AN feed and -6AN return fittings. Bolted on the rails and the turbo manifold just as a teaser. Still have to clean up/paint the block and then install the cam. Pics to come...

 

should have bought the 6.0 I had but I just sold it yesterday it was complete wireing pan to intake with less than 15k 05 engine

 

Thanks for the offer...I found this 5.3 though literally less than ten minutes from my house. It was just too good to pass up. I may go with a built 6.0 down the road, but for now I just want to get an LS platform in my car. Plus, I'm sure the little 5.3 will still produce plenty of power with a 76mm turbo

 

gm performance did a test with a junk yard 5.3 all they did was file the rings and had the heads ported they ran it over 60 times trying to blow it up at 26 psi and got 1200 hp on race gas then they found out it was a 4.8 they couldnt blow up a bone stock motor and they tried so in my opinion any of the 4.8 5.3 and 6.0s are good motors im putting a 6.6 LB7 in mine to be different

 

Your def going to be happy with the cam and springs in there over the stock truck junk. Much better powerband and the springs will surely help with holding the boost in the chambers. Love the way the fuel rails look too. Much flashier than my stock junk lol.

 

You guys are going to make some people envious with two turbo'd LS swaps

 

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