Figured I would start my swap thread as more and more parts are rolling in. Ill show a few pics of my old engine bay with the carbed LT1 in it. Current plans are for a LQ4 with stock lower end, L92 heads ported, ported LS3 intake, 92mm ptm throttle body, EPS custom cam, EPS tune, Xpndbl3's custom 1 3/4" headers, CAI, and undecided for the exhaust at the moment. Ive also got a 4L80E getting built up, with a Yank 3200 stall convertor. Ive currently got my 10 bolt in the rear, but has superior axles, auborn posi, richmond 3.73s, and a stud girdle. Not sure if it will hold up to the engine or not. Have my eye on a built ford 9, but its an old school one, so I will have to modify it a little bit to get it to fit.

 

Has anyone looked into this kit or used it http://www.superchevyperformance.com...p/19212593.htm

 

Looked - yes, many times.

Used it - no, doesn't work in a 3rd gen f-body.

 

you might want to look into better pistons...the lq4's are dished and won't get your the CR you need....look for an lq9 block.

i bought my ls1 f-body oil pan from these guys, great dealership to work with, do a search, bluezee28 started a thread and i finished up all the part numbers you need to make a complete swap pan.

 

Ive thought about the piston issue already. Ive talked to Geoff at EPS for over an hour regarding this situation, and weve come up with milling the heads 0.015" to get the compression up close to 10:1, and he said he could make up a little compression with the valve open and closures with a custom grind. Ideally I would like to be at 10.5:1. If I were to swap out pistons, I would probably end up going the distance and do a 408 stroker kit, but then my cam wont be good for the setup anymore. Any other ideas, please chime in. Thanks, James

 

I rented some lindy flycutting tools off ls1tech and cut .080 and .090 notches into my LQ4 pistons. Looking back I didn't want to buy ls2 rods and flat top pistons and have the whole assembly rebalanced. Geoff really knows what he's doing, perhaps some flycuts and milling the heads some more could get your compression up. Otherwise ride it out until you need a rebuild down the line.


As for exhaust, there are several choices, I had ran 3" true duals and cut out the floor for fullsize mufflers where the back seat would go. I built for another guy a dual 3" into a flowmaster merge(Y shaped) collector into a 4" out with a oval muffler and turndown before the rear end. Either one would flow great, I know he runs in the 9s through the exhaust and mine should outflow his just slightly. It is a pain in the butt getting the 3" h-pipe to fit in there along with the rest of the pipes and maintain ground clearance.


Also I notice you have a vacuum secondary carb on there, you're giving up some power over the same size mechanical secondary as the rears on that carb will never open fully. If you're keeping a lockup trans, these motors LOVE bigger stall converters, if you're tossing a cam in there, bigger is better. Wouldn't even hesistate to run a 4000-4500 stall with a lockup feature still. It'll lockup and drive like a stock converter once you're moving.

 

The carb your talking about there is my setup on my LT1 that I just pulled. I am running an LS3 intake and 92mm throttle body on the LQ4. Got to find a nice set of injector rails for it though, the stock LS3 rails look like **** imo.

 

ahhhh....thought you were sticking with a carb setup. My mistake, carbs are more fun

 

Ugh, a buddy of mine with a mandrel shop just offered me his turbo, and will help do a complete setup for it on this engine. Not sure if EPS has made my cam yet, or it might be too late. Will have to try him tomorrow. Also sucks that I just bought headers for this too. Might be better off just throwing this together without the turbo setup........

 

So I was pulling out all my interior, got my seats out, started removing the clutch/brake pedal assembly and I poked a hole thru my floor pan. Didnt know it was that bad under the seat

 

A hole in the drain plug that is put in the floor, or in the floor itself? yikes.....

 

Well I checked underneath at the floor pans, and it looks a little crusty under there. Checked prices for replacement pans, and most are around $300 plus shipping per side. OUCH. Might have to cut out that bad section and weld in a piece of sheetmetal.

Taking out the body wiring, and am wondering if theres anything on the fog light harness that needs to be kept or scrap it all? No I dont have foglights anymore lol. Looks like the other connectors went to the charcoal canister that used to be in the drivers side corner, or possibly cruise wiring? All of this was stripped before I bought the car, and theres nothing left in that corner besides the connectors.

 

Got a pic of what you're cutting out? Sheetmetal is really cheap if it's a small section you're cutting out. Fog light harness has nothing hooked to it you need, but you could sell it on here for someone wanting to install them onto their cars.


You get the headers yet? Should have gotten there by now.

 

Yeah the headers got to my uncles house on Wednesday. Got a couple of pics of the floor pan. The rust looks to be directly under the seat, everything else looks decent still. Should I replace the whole thing or just cut out the bad spot and tack in new sheet metal?http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...x/IMG_3548.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...x/IMG_3547.jpg
http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...x/IMG_3542.jpg

 

I'd wire wheel what is there first and see what you're working with. See what pops through with a screwdriver under the seat too. You can buy partial pans too I believe if it's just that area. Or just repair it with some sheetmetal if the full pan is the only option at big $$$

 

Just had the new SS hood from Hawks on for quick fitment. Looks decent, few areas to get built up. Old engine is coming out today, and everything in engine bay as well. Nice to start with a clean slate

 

Ordered my oil pan and related parts, courteousy of Streetdemons post Then ordered all my gaskets, bolts, O2 sensors and new rotors for my LS1 brakes. Fuel pump ordered tomorrow. Man it doesnt take much to blow $1000 on all the small things

 

Been a busy few weeks. Everything except the actual cab has been removed now. Found a few unexpected rust holes that need to be fixed. All body parts going to the shop to be sanded and primed. Still waiting on my UMI kmember, a-arms and caster camber plates, so it gives me a few weeks to get everything straightened out and freshly painted anyway. 4L80E was just rebuilt as well, should be good for up to 750hp now

 

hurry hurry! At least you're making progress

 

Well unfortunately this project came to a screaming halt last night. My entire house burnt down, with the camaro inside the garage, along with both engines, rebuilt 4l80e, brand new leather interior and all parts I had acquired for it. Just waiting for insurance company to come thru and figure out whats going on....

 

WOW. Sorry man....that's horrible.