From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
#51
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
OK, so after I went LS, I ran the car this way for maybe a year or so, then I started doing some more upgrades. I went ahead and swapped the 706 heads for a set of 799's that I picked up on eBay. I had a shop machine them down .030, and then installed a set of Brian Tooley valve springs, as well as upgrading the rockers with some Comp trunnion bearings. I also went with some LS9 head gaskets, ARP head studs, Comp hardened push rods, and to top it all off a stage 2 Tick Performance turbo cam. At the same time I sold my LS6 intake and picked up a cathedral port Fast 102 intake and eBay 102mm throttle body.
After this I decided to upgrade from the factory brakes to Cts-V brembo's. I picked the calipers up from a member on Ls1tech, along with the brackets and hoses. I modified and tapped the spindles myself. At the same time I realized that my 17 inch wheels were too small to clear the new brakes, so I picked up a fresh set of 18x9.5 C5 rim's off ebay. I'm running a 275/35/18 tire in the the front, and a 275/40/18 in the rear. I really don't have any pics of this work being done unfortunately, but here's some of the last shots I have of the car before the body work began...
Also I bounced back and forth between the Z28 grid tails, and the sport coupe lights. I put the sport coupe lights back in when I though I was gonna leave the car this way...
After this I decided to upgrade from the factory brakes to Cts-V brembo's. I picked the calipers up from a member on Ls1tech, along with the brackets and hoses. I modified and tapped the spindles myself. At the same time I realized that my 17 inch wheels were too small to clear the new brakes, so I picked up a fresh set of 18x9.5 C5 rim's off ebay. I'm running a 275/35/18 tire in the the front, and a 275/40/18 in the rear. I really don't have any pics of this work being done unfortunately, but here's some of the last shots I have of the car before the body work began...
Also I bounced back and forth between the Z28 grid tails, and the sport coupe lights. I put the sport coupe lights back in when I though I was gonna leave the car this way...
#53
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Niles, IL
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
I've been following your youtube channel for a few months now and have enjoyed your updates.
I recently installed the same Speed Engineering headers that you did, and also liked how they fit.
If you were closer to Chicago I'd tell you to come by and use my lift anytime!
My exhaust build is here:
Post #462
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...1z-ls1-10.html
Like yourself, I'm not sure how happy I'll be with the passenger side headers ground clearance......I feel like it'll bug me so I'll have to cut/shorten the header, which I'd really like to do.
I recently installed the same Speed Engineering headers that you did, and also liked how they fit.
If you were closer to Chicago I'd tell you to come by and use my lift anytime!
My exhaust build is here:
Post #462
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...1z-ls1-10.html
Like yourself, I'm not sure how happy I'll be with the passenger side headers ground clearance......I feel like it'll bug me so I'll have to cut/shorten the header, which I'd really like to do.
#54
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
I've been following your youtube channel for a few months now and have enjoyed your updates.
I recently installed the same Speed Engineering headers that you did, and also liked how they fit.
If you were closer to Chicago I'd tell you to come by and use my lift anytime!
My exhaust build is here:
Post #462
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...1z-ls1-10.html
Like yourself, I'm not sure how happy I'll be with the passenger side headers ground clearance......I feel like it'll bug me so I'll have to cut/shorten the header, which I'd really like to do.
I recently installed the same Speed Engineering headers that you did, and also liked how they fit.
If you were closer to Chicago I'd tell you to come by and use my lift anytime!
My exhaust build is here:
Post #462
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...1z-ls1-10.html
Like yourself, I'm not sure how happy I'll be with the passenger side headers ground clearance......I feel like it'll bug me so I'll have to cut/shorten the header, which I'd really like to do.
Yea they're a good header for the money. Especially since the hawks sit the exact same way, there was no way I was gonna pay a grand to have them scrape along the street... Anyway thanks for the support, youtube's been taking up my time but I will keep adding to this thread!
#55
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
Ok I’ve been busy with youtube, but I need to keep this thread alive! So after the brake swap I decided to get started on body work. Now I’ve always loved the the 90-92 Gfx cars, but the price they we’re going for at the time I got my car, It was just out of the question. Keep in mind when I started this build, I was in my early 20’s working at a tire shop. Now my initial plan was to pick up a good body roller 90-92 and swap all my stuff into it. Well I tracked down a 92 rs with a z28 spoiler and gauge cluster for a 1000.00 bucks on craigslist. After about a 45 minute ride and uhaul truck/trailer rental, I was in it for 1300.00.
After taking a closer look at the car I found rust hiding in a few spots. Aside from this, being I had an entire gfx car, I decided it would just be easier to swap all the gfx pieces and hatch over to my car. Plus my car was a less desirable 2.8 auto, so I really didn’t feel bad about it. I also discovered the roller had a 3.73 posi rear with tubular poly lca’s and panhard bar. The headliner was also in great shape along with the door panels and dash. Also, being it was a 92 it didnt have a speedometer cable, and the previous owner swapped in a 145mph gauge cluster. Plus I had all the gfx pieces and the rocker brackets I needed to swap them over to my car. For 1300.00 bucks, I couldnt be happier with it.
**pics coming soon, Im posting this from my phone and the photos are at home on my computer**
After taking a closer look at the car I found rust hiding in a few spots. Aside from this, being I had an entire gfx car, I decided it would just be easier to swap all the gfx pieces and hatch over to my car. Plus my car was a less desirable 2.8 auto, so I really didn’t feel bad about it. I also discovered the roller had a 3.73 posi rear with tubular poly lca’s and panhard bar. The headliner was also in great shape along with the door panels and dash. Also, being it was a 92 it didnt have a speedometer cable, and the previous owner swapped in a 145mph gauge cluster. Plus I had all the gfx pieces and the rocker brackets I needed to swap them over to my car. For 1300.00 bucks, I couldnt be happier with it.
**pics coming soon, Im posting this from my phone and the photos are at home on my computer**
#56
Senior Member
iTrader: (12)
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
Lsxmatt, I'm trying to figure out intake setup on my lq4 swap. Your's looks nice, is that a kit or did you piece together yourself? What upper rad hose are you running to allow the intake to clear under it? I think I saw pictures of your blue car with a nice polished intake on it which looked killer. Any info / help would be great. Intake is my last remaining part to buy
#57
COTM Editor
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 0
Received 1,855 Likes
on
1,270 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
#59
COTM Editor
iTrader: (22)
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,892
Likes: 0
Received 1,855 Likes
on
1,270 Posts
Car: '89 Firebird
Engine: 7.0L
Transmission: T56
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
Post #324 should give you some ideas.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ml#post5968331
Some people use an intake kit for the LS1 GTO cars if going to the driver side.
Here are more ideas for creating a box.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/alte...ml#post6117065
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...ml#post5968331
Some people use an intake kit for the LS1 GTO cars if going to the driver side.
Here are more ideas for creating a box.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/alte...ml#post6117065
Last edited by QwkTrip; 11-09-2018 at 11:54 PM.
#60
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
Lsxmatt, I'm trying to figure out intake setup on my lq4 swap. Your's looks nice, is that a kit or did you piece together yourself? What upper rad hose are you running to allow the intake to clear under it? I think I saw pictures of your blue car with a nice polished intake on it which looked killer. Any info / help would be great. Intake is my last remaining part to buy
#61
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Niles, IL
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
I like the Tahoe, excellent score! Here's a great channel where the guy troubleshoots and fixes many GM clusters like yours:
https://www.youtube.com/user/jeffescortlx/videos
https://www.youtube.com/user/jeffescortlx/videos
#62
Senior Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Niles, IL
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
4 Posts
Car: '91 LS6/T56/9"
Engine: LS6
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Currie 9"/4.11, detroit truetrac
Re: From Base to Bad, My 86 Sport Coupe Build Thread.
Tahoe related: I HIGHLY recommend getting the stock transmission temp gauge enabled since you'll be towing. Here's a video on it:
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
5speed88
Body
1
05-20-2011 04:20 PM
Andy Fanshawe
Auto Detailing and Appearance
19
05-29-2009 03:46 PM
leeperryracing
Tech / General Engine
4
01-30-2006 10:15 AM