86Z

iTrader: (4)

well i decided i'm swapping out the old technology for ls based. i have my eye on an 02 cadillac lq9 6.0 possibly pick it up this weekend. i think this would be a nice upgrade. i'm going to eventually swap a ls1 intake on it. most likely keep the DBW. would like to retain my stock A/C compressor up top. holley makes all sorts of brackets now.

in my research sbc bellhousing should fit the ls minus one bolt. i have a lakewood scattershield 15020.

more to come!

86Z

iTrader: (4)

well i picked up the motor today, LQ9 out of a 2002 cadillac escalade, has 130 amp alternator and 110k on her, also got the 411 computer.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

got an ls1 intake, fuel rail and injectors on the way as well as the f-body oil pan, i ordered it from superchevyperformance.com it was the best price... any how pics to come, old 305 is almost out, been having some back troubles so i must take it easy.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

got the 305 and tremec out yesterday, i was hoping to reuse my centerforce clutch but i noticed a piece of friction material missing.. test fitted the new ls1 intake on. wondering what color to paint it. also the truck coil pack do hit the fuel inlet on the ls1 fuel rail but that's minor for this swap

86Z

iTrader: (4)

got the new f-body oil pan kit today...

so onto the transmission... everywhere i've read says an ls7 clutch setup and flywheel will work with the tko setup. was thinking about adding the tilton 6000 hydraulic release bearing also.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

so i discovered last night, not realizing... the tremec tko swap i did years ago i got from Mike Forte. it's a ford style setup. so the input shaft has the larger ford pilot bearing ID so i'm going to use the conversion pilot bearing with the LS, i have not measured the outter portion of the LS crank as of yet, but i assume it will fit as the older automatic torque converters do.

Jaysz28

iTrader: (30)

will the LS7 clutch work on the ford input shaft?

86Z

iTrader: (4)

yes, i was using a centerforce chevy clutch previously, it's still 1 1/8 x26 spline

86Z

iTrader: (4)

so just an update i installed the new flywheel and pilot bearing i went to dial in the lakewood scattershield and it does not fit the LS... so i ordered a keisler 621 ls reproduction, waiting on that to come in then i will need a hydraulic throwout bearing to go with it.

slowly but surely she will get there...

been having too much fun driving the vette around after installing long tubes

86Z

iTrader: (4)

ugh the saga continues...

my ford tremec kit that i got from Fortes parts years ago came with the adapter for the t5 bellhousing connection it does not fit the 621 bellhousing.....

i found a post where someone had grinded some parts down to fit the lakewood... so i managed to get that installed.

it's out of tolerance... goodies from summit will be here soon.. offset dowel pins and i'm going with the tilton 6000 release bearing.. pics soon.

camaro1185

I will be watching this one!!

I want a ride when your done!

Jaysz28

iTrader: (30)

GHeeesh, you are definitely running into some headaches to use that trans

still cheaper than buying a t56 though! lol

86Z

iTrader: (4)

it's worth it, it's practically brand new and will take what i'll throw at it

86Z

iTrader: (4)

LS7 Clutch all fastened.

bellhousing is all dialed in.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

well talk about customizing

turns out this tremec tko "F-LATE" kit from mike fortes is a ford tremec with the ford input shaft and a GM bearing retainer...

i needed the Tilton 6000 bearing #60-6101 for GM style trans..

as the trans uses a 1" thick adapter and the LS crank being closer to the block i fabbed up a spacer for the input shaft utilizing the old mechanical throwout bearing.

i had to clearance the aluminum spacer for the anti-rotation stud and the Tilton hydraulic bearing to fit through.

trans is all bolted up with a tilton 6000 throw out bearing.

all i need to do now is cut off the slave mount off the bellhousing so i can use long tube headers...

one step closer.

Jaysz28

iTrader: (30)

Good job getting the two together!

86Z

iTrader: (4)

got the engine and trans in today and let me tell you... it wasn't easy, even with the k-member notched... the oil pan is so long. i had to remove the wiper motor and persuade it in. now i feel really good. time working on it will probably get slower until spring. meanwhile i will collect parts.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

so the speed engineering headers arrived. look like nice pieces. they WERE not easy to install. if you have A/C remove the a/c box. i had to lift the motor up for both sides and ended up accidentally breaking the engine side hvac box.

the lakewood bellhousing also required cutting on both sides to clear the headers.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

made a lot of progress even though it's winter... still need to wire up the odb2 connector and interior wiring, i'm putting the computer in the factory spot. got the dirty dingo accessory brackets. still need a fuel regulator. thinking about the black hawks unit just for simplicity. it's a little more than using the vette regulator with the cost of the an lines and fittings...

camaro1185

Awesome work! You look to be moving along quickly.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

i fired her up for a short minute for the first time yesterday!

purred like a kitten....just really loud with open headers. need to fab up a y-pipe.

bought a tilton clutch master cylinder from hawks to replace the worn factory one. the hose that comes with the tilton/hawks unit has a quick connect hose for the factory gm throw out which is useless to me so i'll need a hose for that.

slow progress

86Z

iTrader: (4)

i'm at the point where i'm fabbing up a new trans crossmember to clear the exhaust pipes. i'm not talented enough to run pipes from the headers to the y-pipe. i have a family "muffler" shop guy coming to take a look at it. otherwise i need to figure something out.

not much has happened since the first startup as the weather and work is not cooperating.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

well i bought a hawks ls1 y pipe bolts up fine to the speed engineering headers... had to replace the intank fuel pump yesterday.

ran her for a while. sounds nice and healthy

camaro1185

Ive loved watching this build up, when its all sorted, id love to meet up and check it out. I hope to start my LS this coming winter!

scooter

iTrader: (11)

I love your barring tool

86Z

iTrader: (4)

sure man. hoping to take it for first test drive today.

what LS you going with?

86Z

iTrader: (4)

hehe, i actually stole the idea from some place... forget where i seen it.

camaro1185

I really have no clue. I wonder if it would be smart for me to go with a hawks "performance pallet" they provide a complete kit tailored to 3rd gens with all mounts, harness, fuel, exhaust and cooling parts. Or I will just go with a 6.0 and source all separately. Not sure yet. Kinda leaning toward option 1 just for the ease of it.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

so i still have some things to tidy up but she's getting there. got the cold air intake pipe together, need to make a mount and heat shield for it.

still getting used to the long tube headers, they have a rattle / rasp in the upper rpm's. she moves but not the power as before the supercharger. purrs like a kitten. not sure if i'm going to just leave it or stick a cam in it.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

so i took the car out yesterday for a little bit to kind of focus on the motor. i feel like there is a flat spot when i mash the pedal she takes off and then just kind of levels off. i put my wideband in the corvette so currently i can't check the wot afr. the 305 made 475~ at the crank this motor is rated at 345 so i was expecting a drop in power but it just doesn't feel like 345.

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

That's kind of what a stock LQ9 does. It has a pretty flat torque curve off idle to 5000 RPM. Power peaks at a measly 5200 rpm. That flat torque curve means it pretty much feels the same everywhere giving you the feeling that it picks up quickly and levels off.

LQ9 engines are known to run hard.... after a cam swap. You missed that part and it makes a HUGE difference. That engine is $400 away from running like a rabbit on fire.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

thanks qwktrip, that's one thing i noticed first, the throttle response and pull is amazing, than at WOT she pulls and then it's like a bunch of timing was pulled but the scanner shows nothing. i wanted to get it running first before i did anything. just wasn't sure of what i was feeling. a cam was in the future. was thinking a texas speed 228r but there are so many cams out there now.

QwkTrip

iTrader: (22)

It could be pulling a lot of timing. I have a friend with a 6.0L truck and it is a dog. The torque management pulls timing like crazy. Make sure all that stuff is off. Even LS1 Camaros with T56 have torque management that holds it back.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

Yep, everything is turned off. the timing delivered matches the high octane table.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

drove the camaro some more. purrs like a kitten.. love the ls platform. i started looking at camshafts and i had to come back to earth and remember my original goal which was reliability with some nice power. don't need a whole lot. so i picked up a brand new hot cam kit with LS6 valve springs for $250.00

waiting on an ARP crank bolt and a valve spring tool for install. then i'll tune her appropriately with the wideband.

she received a lot of attention at the car show friday night specifically the motor

camaro1185

Golf land? I got check it out this summer!

86Z

iTrader: (4)

Yes, Golf land.

hoping to install the cam by this weekend.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

got the hot cam in and have been trying to datalog and tune it. keep in mind i have not touched the stock calibration as far as fueling and timing. installed the wideband. and in ct it has been hot and humid! feels like 105-110 for the last 4 days. what i noticed is that this thing runs great and the temp stays nice and cool even the interior feels cooler compared to the old 305 with the procharger.

1st issue got the ve round 1 datalog via wideband... upload the new ve and all the sudden i'm lean as can be more than the changes i made. found out it was heat soak on the iat sensor integrated in the maf. i have not made a heat shield for it yet so not sure what i'm gonna do about that yet.

the hot cam.... well same results as the stock cam. no power up top. now that i have the wideband i found the entire tune to be really rich. started leaning it out and i can feel a nice power increase. especially the lower rpm's compared to the stock lq9 cam. still working on the wot tuning. pe is only enabled at 90% throttle currently.

all in all i'm happy thus far. just want this weather to break so i can not feel miserable.

man i need a/c in that car.

punkmaster98

iTrader: (5)

Very interesting reading the hurdles you endured in regards to the trans. I'm glad you stuck with it and are enjoying it!

86Z

iTrader: (4)

thanks, like i said the trans was practically brand new. i can chirp all 4 gears with this motor now its been hot and humid here in CT so i have not been driving it much, going to go with a sanden compressor with the dirty dingo brackets.

i did however manage to install a new emblem...

punkmaster98

iTrader: (5)

When I was driving my car with no AC the heat was excuse to drive a little faster lol.

86Z

iTrader: (4)

86Z

iTrader: (4)

a video of the LQ9 hot cam idle

alan91z28

how do you like your quick jack? what points are you lifting on, ie do you have subframe connectors, etc

nice Camaro and swap!

86Z

iTrader: (4)

love the quickjack! it is a pain to move around though, i work out of a single car garage. if i had a double i would probably just leave them on the floor.

i have subframe connectors that i'm lifting at with the quickjack supplied blocks

86Z

iTrader: (4)

so pretty much i got the tuning set for the car and it runs great! plenty of power. the starter is a little weak. may need to change that out soon. took her out for memorial day for a short cruise after sleeping for 7 months.

the wires across the console are for the wideband interface when using hptuners,

trans is shifting great. the LS7 clutch was a little touchy off the floor initially. but the more i drive it the better it feels.