Should have it running and hopefully dyno numbers by May 1st. I posted this on 'tech too but wanted to share with everyone here.

When I switched to LS power in 2011, I was literally blown away by the ET’s and MPH cars on this forum were running. Coming from the old-school, I just didn’t think it was possible to have a small (346) H/C/I engine with a mild cam trap 120+ and run deep into the 11’s. I’ve learned a lot since, and part of my plan was to eventually have a 10 second street car.

Start with a used 2000 LS1 short block:


Send it to the machine shop for some new pistons:
CP Bullet Forged, -2.7cc, .175 valve reliefs



ARP Rod bolts


ARP Main studs…yes, I know the rod is facing the wrong way in this pic. That’s a whole ‘nother story though.


AI 226 243’s. 57.5cc, BTR springs, titanium retainers


Comp trunion upgrade. Man this was a piece of cake. Nice kit for a good price.


Cam is AI custom grind. 236/242 .630/.630 111LSA.

Check the PTV with a couple solid lifter I made from the original short block:



Torque down those incredible heads. Almost too nice in person to describe.


FAST 102, stock out of the box

 

Looking good on the stand, waiting for the car to get back from paint. I’m tired of burning up, switching the ol’ 3rd gen from NBM to Arctic White.



Oh yeah…the shop is nice too. I’m proud to bring down the average with the Camaro! Can't wait for the Arctic White and some updated wheels/tires.




Cliff notes:

LS1 347
ARP Rod bolts, rods "resized" for correct roundness
ARP Main studs
AI 226 243's, milled to 57.5cc, stock gaskets
~11.3 compression
~8.5 DCR
AI Custom Cam 236/242 .630/.630 111+0
AI Ported Oil pump
CP Bullet Forged Pistons
FAST 102, stock
FAST 92mm TB
N-Motion Timing Chain
T56
Monster Stage 2 clutch
Moser 9" 4.30's
MT ET Drag Stiffwall slicks, 26x10 (I might need taller)
S&W Roll BAR
Lots of weight reduction from stock, car weighed 3180 before roll bar. Estimated raceweight with roll bar, slick, skinnies and me is 3450.

 

Looks like it will be an awesome build, car looks great with those rims and color already.
Thirdgens might be one of the few cars that look mean painted white, interested to see what you plan on for "updated" wheels.

 

This thing is going to be a complete animal!! What exhaust will to be running?

 

Gonna be a lot more fun now!!!

 

However, I'm re-doing it during the build. I'm going to keep the front section as it, but after the 3" into 4" Flowmaster merge, put in a 4" y-pipe to a 4" cutout. After that it doesnt matter much, probably just a single tailpipe with a magnaflow muffler.

I'm also using Hawk's 1-3/4" headers.

 

Nice shouldn't have a problem putting down 450+ rwhp

 

I'd be pleased to see that, but dyno numbers are one thing....track results are another. I'm still trying to figure out how I trapped 116.79 with just bolt ons with my previous LS1. I'd be real pleased with this engine to see 124-125mph trap speeds and the corresponding ET.

 

you'll have to twist her pretty hard without a tall tire hooked to those 4.30s!

heads look great

 

nice!

 

Awesome, hard to beat AI heads!

 

Nice build...subscribed!

 

Couple of notes.

Since the heads were milled to 57.5cc, there was a slight FAST 102 fitment issue.



I had to very lightly file the edge of the intake base went into place below the "rails" on the cylinder heads. Even though the heads were milled significantly, AI did re-angle the intake side so everything still went together perfectly. The intake literally falls into position now and lines up perfectly with the ports.



I also didn't take any pictures of the process, but I used the Comp pushrod length checker to make sure the AI supplied 7.325 pushrods were correct. I'm still not sure I want to run them, I checked a few and got near .100 preload. I think a 7.3 pushrod would be just about perfect, next chance I get I'm going to re-measure and order some if needed.

 

Took me awhile to get my head around this, but preload is pretty easy to figure without a checker pushrod. The rocker arm bolt threads, although metric, are right at 20/inch. That means one turn = .050" (1/20).

Turn the engine over until the lifter is on the heel of the lobe. Loosen the rocker until the pushrod is completely off the lifter plunger. Tighten down until all the slack is out (down to zero depression of the lifter plunger, but no movement of the pushrod/rocker). Now, tighten the rocker bolt until snug down, observing the turns it takes. 360 degrees = .050" preload, 1-1/2 turns = .075" preload, etc.

 

Thanks!

I wish I'd have known this last week. It was just about 1.5 turns from first contact with the lifter to tight. If thats the case, then the .075 preload will be just fine. I'll check it all again next week when I back from work.

 

Hahahaaaaa that is...nice. Brilliant selection of parts you have clearly been doing your homework and its sure pays to do so dont it? Looking forward to the build

 

Swung by the paint shop today, my car was wheeled outside while they finished up a truck. Sure looked sad out there primed and empty, can't wait to see it painted Arctic White and get it back to the shop for re-assembly. I've got nearly everything, and considering it had been running for over a year with the previous LS1 I hope it goes together quick. Don't let the picture fool you, the paint shop doing the work is just about the best in the area. I have no doubt it'll look 100% killer by next week.

 

Subd. That artic white is going to look killer! Going to look like Spike's

 

white is a good color....i'm pretty partial to mine. what are you going to do for your new wheel selection?

 

I'm just not sure yet. I'd like to stay away from spacers, find something black center, polished lip, and reasonably priced.

Eh, wheel decision will come later. I'll probably plasti-dip my TT2's for now.

 

i've heard a lot of good things about oe wheels.....i've been thinking about the new zr1's, black with the red stripe.

 

Picked the car up from paint today, and man it looks AWESOME!
I literally couldn't be more pleased with the results. The local shop who did the paint has an excellent reputation and history so I knew it would be nice, but I wasn't expecting this type of work. It's not "cheap" material, PPG paint and clear in Arctic White. Check out the branch reflections, not even a hint of orange peel. Now that its back at the shop, I've got to work my real job for a week, then its down to business. Still want it running by May 1st.





I'm going to have quite a bit of touch up work to do, the k-member, wheelwells, steering box, and headlight/bumper support are going to need painted black/gunmetal.

 

Looks great!

 

Looks great, keep us updated as you put it back together.

 

I'll be making another video next week for the engine installation, but here's the last few days condensed into 1:30.

I mostly did a lot of cleaning, painting, and re-installation of headlights, ducts, wiring, weatherstrip, etc. You know...the boring stuff of the build.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M55tC...ature=youtu.be

 

After polishing the TT2's and cleaning them with rubbing alcohol, I went ahead and plasti-dipped the center section.

Turned out great, this plasti-dip stuff rocks!

 

Cool Video! I like how the wheels turned out too. I thought about doing something like that with my 91, the white/black combo looks great.

 

Cool video! I bet it's nice having a lift.

 

Posted from Thirdgen.org App for Android

 

Looks good brotha

 

It's coming together now. Everything underneath is done, exhaust, suspension, wiring, fuel lines, brake lines, etc. I even managed to get the brakes and clutch bled today.


Just need to finish up the "console delete", wire up the guages and switches, and finish off a few odds and ends and it'll be ready to run.

Don't worry folks, the console I cut down was junk and completely busted up, but made a great donor base for some aluminum sheetmetal work. I know deleting a console isn't very common here on TGO but I just felt like giving it a shot. If it looks like total crap I can alway re-install my nice pieces and go from there. I think it'll look great with the Wideband 02, Oil, Water, switch panel, and all covered with black vinyl. I just need to get a nice shifter **** to match to soon to arrive Momo steering wheel...

One thing for sure, it's been a busy 2 weeks of work to get from empty shell to this point. I didn't make my goal of running by May 1st, but came awful close. I leave for the Power Tour in slightly over a month, so I'm hoping I just have the usual new build issues to fix and nothing major like an engine change.

 

Coming right along! Looks great. I hope it all works out so that you can have it ready in time. I'm going to try to attend the Power Tour next year if possible. We'll see. It seems like it would be a lot of fun.

 

i think the console delete will be cool...definitely something different, and give it a very race car like look in the interior.

 

I am almost jealous I never thought to just get rid if the console. Are you also removing the Ebrake handle, or what are the plans for it?

 

I have never had a working E-brake on the car, so no need to start now. I do think if I ever needed to install one, I could just put a nice boot around the handle and it'd still look great without a console.

I have also never had a working radio/stereo, so I stripped out all the speakers, wiring, and even filled the antenna hole. As for the HVAC, I'm kinda making a tough decision that's honestly a little "out there". I really only need the defrost for the rare occasion I get into rain, so I'm just gonna relocate the fan control next to the switch panel and set the mixer to nothing but defrost. The single push/pull cable that controls the temperature will just be a small **** on the bottom of the new shortened "console"...a la old CJ Jeep controls. This car isn't my daily driver and after taking a good look at how I've used it over the years, I just decided the bulky, creaky, junky console wasn't needed.

BTW, here's my inspiration, the Red Devil 69 Camaro. Race seats, shifter, guages...all business, just like my 84 Camaro.

 

We got mark steilow's silver Camaro in our shop just before winter. Never seen the red devil in person, but I can say his silver first gen is a on amazing piece of engineering

 

Every one of his Camaro projects have been nothing short of amazing. Just when you think the 1st Gen Camaro is played out, along comes Steilow and pulls off the next level in performance and design. I've seen Jackass (the yellow 69) in person and its just jaw-dropping awesome. And the sound man...the sound of that LS9 at WOT is incredible.

 

Its alive!!

Spun the engine without the coils or fuel pumped hooked up, and had no luck getting oil pressure. Turns out patience is required when doing this type of "prime". After probably 10 attempts at cranking for 10 seconds each, we finally managed to see nearly 40psi of oil pressure from cranking via the starter. Always a relief to see the life-giving flow of dino oil reflected on the guage.

Called the neighbor (dude with the Z06 Vette, Lee Howie) and told him we were ready to start, bring the HP Tuners.


He had downloaded and "pre-tweaked" the tune for my car, so once he showed up we were down to business. Car started instantly, and of course needed some serious work on idle quality. Once we got it close enough to drive, hit the road for some fresh gas. The tune is extremely conservative, car is running pig rich and pegging the Wideband 02 at 10:1. I have to leave for a few days and travel for work, but starting next Monday time to get it dialed in by tuning on the street. FWIW, even in an untuned state this engine is WAY stronger than my previous stock bolt-on LS1. It's gonna be a rocket for sure...

Also, the center console it just mocked up and thrown in, everything works great but the execution isn't exactly what I had in mind. As for right now, its functional and I think the console delete idea will turn out great once I get everything else cleaned, installed, and set up just right. I still need to add some guages to the top blank area.

 

Video or it didn't happen

 

Since this isn't my first rodeo, the motivation for filming falls way behind the motivation for making sure everything is right.

But since you asked....enjoy the terrible audio!! Classic LS1 cam surge during data logging.

 

Looks like you need to change the privacy settings on the video, it won't play. I was debating between a 3, 3.5 or 4in system when I do the LS swap with my 91. I don't want it super loud but don't want the exhaust to be a restriction either. I'm anxious to hear how yours sounds and how loud it is when cruising.

 

glad to hear you've got it back among the driving.

i think after you dress up the console a little, more gauges, perhaps a covered switch or two and you'll be golden there!

i'm thinking about a custom overhead console with a wideband gauge and cutout switch for my z.

 

Done.



Of course, now I've gotta leave for work til next Monday, and unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts (and weather) I wasn't able to get it tuned this week. Oh well...that's springtime in Ohio, expect some rain to say the least. I'm leaving it in the hands of the local tuner, so I sure hope next Monday when I get back from a work trip it's ready to rock.

Gotta love the LS, after getting it up to operating temp a few times and putting just a few miles on it, there are absolutely NO LEAKS whatsoever. O-ring technology is a great thing. Looks like I need to make some appointments for a front end alignment and window tint job. I know everybody is patiently awaiting some dyno numbers, just hang on, I'll get some within a month.

 

Where in Ohio are you? It's been raining non stop down in lovely south west Ohio.

Is that a GTO CAI?

 

I'm in Pike County. Well...sorta. I have an apartment in Columbus for work but my car stays down south where I'm from.

Also, you made me realize I need to update my sig. See the "cold air" piping? That's designed to fit a GTO but works beautifully with a 3rd Gen F-body for an LS swap. It's almost as if they curved the pipe just for our cars.

 

I know right. Its nice not to have any leaks for once.

 

Thats neat, who makes it? I can't see on the pic, K&N?

 

I like that CAI too, does it matter what year?

Also, is the carpet stock, or a new one? My tan one is showing the dirt of its age. I do like the center console delete look, don't know that I'd do it on my car, but I like it.

 

The CAI is for a 2004 GTO, and the airbox I made from sheet aluminum. The carpet is new from Hawks/ACC. I'm still not 100% for sure about the console delete...I guess I will see how it looks with some more work.

 

Throw the 4th gen console in there brotha!