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Bought a used 4l60e torque arm clamp on LS1 tech for the car. Just a matter of putting the driveshaft in, 2 bellhousing bolts, crossmember, and torque arm in! Then the car is on the ground for good I believe.
V-Bands should be here this weekend to start the fab work on the hot side. From there it is just a lot of pictures and mocking parts up! Still need to purchase an intercooler kit, injectors, hp tuners, belt, and a fuel system. I think that should basically wrap it up besides the wiring.
Did some work on the hot side today. Not artwork by any means, but should work great! I may have to modify the driver side as I underestimated how tight it is with the power steering line. Anyways, here are some pictures.
Got everything painted this weekend with high temp paint. Bought the hole saw to do a hole for the 4th gen radiator so it can sit in it's final spot. Have to figure out one of the radiator hoses as well, but shouldn't be a big deal.
Then it is going on to building the cold side!
Inkaddict, I used the fbody water pump with the spacers. As far as the alternator, i'm sure you can put it wherever you like with a bracket kit. I'm not using AC so I cannot comment on that.
You didn't have to do any drilling and tapping ? I'm trying to order everthing for my build right now I just need to get the car up and running . I’ll figure a/c out later lol.
John, Long time lurker and follower first time poster!
Glad to see it coming along, I recognize that turbo! Few questions, stock trans and stock convertor? Also are you still running a stock thirdgen rear? I cant remember if you had a 3rd gen one or 4th gen one when you had the wagon wheels on it. I like the idea, budget LS swap just never seen one actually completed. So I will be following along.
What do you plan on spinning this thing to? What HP are you expecting and hoping?
Also, after I get my house set up and my "winter" project going on my car I'll bring it out to see how well of a upgrade that was from your v6 turbo!
John, come get that 9 bolt and 3.70 setup out of my garage. I'm thinking it'll help you along the way (or maybe down the road). Looks good so far, bud. That is one massive turbo! Spin it to the moon!
Darren, yes stock converter and stock 4l60e. I didn't want to put the money into the 4l60e if it will be upgraded or swapped out down the road. End goal would be a t56 I believe. I would really like to see the car go manual one day. Running a stock 4th gen rear with 3.73 gears I believe, might be 3.23. Has a T/A Girdle, but that is about it. Planning on probably a 6000 RPM redline since it is on stock springs and stuff. Should still be fun and have lots of room for improvement. Estimating probably 400-450 horsepower with lots of room to grow. Next year will be trans and rear end then I can start to turn the car up more.
Mike, I'll make it down there this weekend! I'm sorry, been so busy with finals and everything else going on in my personal life. Cars have been at the bottom of the priority list.
Freaky, thanks for the kind words! It probably won't hit a track anytime soon but may see a dyno eventually. Stick tires, stock 4l60e, and stock rear end doesn't sound like much fun to me LOL
Hey how did the ICT billet mounts work for you? I had to have a friend sit in the engine bay in a rowing position with a crow bar while I impacted the bolt through the engine mount hole. The alignment was about half an inch off for me.
Hey how did the ICT billet mounts work for you? I had to have a friend sit in the engine bay in a rowing position with a crow bar while I impacted the bolt through the engine mount hole. The alignment was about half an inch off for me.
I had to do the same thing a year ago with a friend on here with his lsx firebird. It was not fun. Phoenixfirebird
I think it's because ICT makes them thicker than they should be for strength since its not steel. If the engine ever comes out, those are NOT going back in.
Actually worked fine! Our biggest problem was doing the trans and engine at the same time. We did have to use a crowbar to get the engine to drop in, but once it was in there it was tight! Everything lined up good though.
Looks good! Glad you went with the VS 78/75 over the GT45. GT45 is bulletproof and only $180 but it would have spooled around 4k on a 4.8. Also the 78/75 you got isn't the billet version... looks like the cast but thats more than enough for your HP goal, if you got the billet for $280 I would have been pissed lol. I picked up a VS 78/75 cast for $330 new like a month ago. Its going to replace my 76/65 on my 5.3 depending on how i end up running this thing. 10psi is impossible to keep tires hooked so get ready to have some fun!! My 76/65 uses a CX hotside (3" yuck) but my logs show MAP 100+kpa starting at 3k with no real load bc the tires just spin.
hard to tell but you got got some angle on that turbo... hope you dont have drainage issues.
Still here, getting close. Finishing up the wiring, a couple hot/cold side touches, and then I just ordered a racetronix fuel rail kit and regulator. Should have the first start in a few short weeks.
Well, figure I owed a good reason as to why the camaro isn't done yet. Haha. On top of graduating from EMU with my B.B.A in Marketing, I started working full time at Tenneco in Monroe, Mi. It has been a lot of fun, working on the training side and also performance brand management (DynoMax, Thrush, and Rancho). It is crazy to think that when I joined TGO in 2014 I was only a junior in high school working my first job.
It all snowballed after the BMW M-Parallel wheels.... LOL
Some of the local guys knew about the new car, just a fun daily. But a fun daily that snowballed into FBO, MHD Stage 2+ Flash, Alpina Stage 3 Trans Flash, and some other goodies...
Also, shameless plug, if you are not on the Thirdgen Camaro and Firebird group on facebook you are missing out! Great page ran by a great guy named Brian Johnson if you haven't met him.
Exhaust is done, just needs to be heat wrapped. Charge pipe is also prettymuch done. Need to run to the junkyard and rob an IAT sensor and an OBD2 port this week.
Well, getting closer! Don't mind the cobbled fuel system. Waiting on my Racetronix order to come in and it will replace it all. Went with one of their regulator setups and fuel rails, all -8 AN in preparation for the LS1 tank and twin 255's going in over the winter. Flex fuel will be a great addition.
I usually don't drive like a total idiot, so I should (hopefully) fly under the radar. If not, a fender is $50 and the car needs to be repainted again anyways. Haha!
Also, shameless plug, if you are not on the Thirdgen Camaro and Firebird group on facebook you are missing out! Great page ran by a great guy named Brian Johnson if you haven't met him.
I left Facebook a few years back before it was popular to make Facebook groups as opposed to Forums like this. I'm hesitant to go back for many obvious reasons that have been in the news lately, so what is the draw or so great about the Facebook thirdgen groups or whatever groups on facebook?
@Tibo it really has changed in my opinion. The group that I help monitor is a no-BS group. It is really for those who are passionate about the platform and have something to offer/help/share.
In other news, got the harness hooked up. Went to connect the battery and it blew my inline fuse for the 12v pcm wires. Unhooked sensors one by one and tested. Still blew. Unhooked c100 and tested. Still blew. Unhooked PCM and it did blow.
Diagnosed one of the 12v pcm wires is the short. The problem must be inside the pcm because once it is disconnected the fuse does not blow.
Have a 411 on the way from a buddy of mine. Hoping to toss it in, remove vats, and fire it up. Then all that is left is filling the radiator, plumbing the vaccum lines, installing the wideband, and looming the harness. Fun!
Well... as it turns out you can put the blue covers on the red connector and the red covers on the blue connector. Thanks to Shaun Norton for helping me out at 9 PM last night giving me some guidance and verifying pins for me.
Should be able to hook it up now and flash the 411 for start up.
Looking good by oh my.... side fender exhaust for a non race car? That should be interesting and loud lol
yea it’s gona be loud but not that bad. I installed a cutout where the cat would be right after the tranny on my car and With both the 76/65 and 78/75 when I open it up it’s a whole new animal. Really only “loud” below 40mph but not like an open exhaust as the turbo does a good job as a muffler. I prefer the cutout and full exhaust so it’s super quiet until I open it up. It also spools faster and makes more boost with the cutout open with awsome turbo spool noises. Cutout closed you don’t get any of that
yea it’s gona be loud but not that bad. I installed a cutout where the cat would be right after the tranny on my car and With both the 76/65 and 78/75 when I open it up it’s a whole new animal. Really only “loud” below 40mph but not like an open exhaust as the turbo does a good job as a muffler. I prefer the cutout and full exhaust so it’s super quiet until I open it up. It also spools faster and makes more boost with the cutout open with awsome turbo spool noises. Cutout closed you don’t get any of that
I had no exhaust for years with my many Turbo V6s, they got annoyingly loud after so long. I mainly drag race mine only but I did drive to the track every weekend. Turbos do a good job of muffling the sound but it's still is gonna be loud it would be different if hes racing but considering this is a daily driver only it's kind of weird.i don't understand why he didn't run the exhaust out the back it's not that much harder.but regardless, John's done great with this build. Cant wait to see that puppy on the road.
Thanks guys, got the car started this weekend and idling. Finishing up the harness tonight with loom and tape.
Going to put one of those mesh caps over the inlet for the turbo instead of a traditional filter. Should have planned better.
Car isn't that loud actually, was really surprised lol. I have always wanted a fender exit. The V6 dumped right under the passenger and I was fine with it. Car isn't really a "daily" anymore, it has succumbed to weekend toy status.
All in all it is coming together. Should be on the road here soon!
Thanks guys, got the car started this weekend and idling. Finishing up the harness tonight with loom and tape.
Going to put one of those mesh caps over the inlet for the turbo instead of a traditional filter. Should have planned better.
Car isn't that loud actually, was really surprised lol. I have always wanted a fender exit. The V6 dumped right under the passenger and I was fine with it. Car isn't really a "daily" anymore, it has succumbed to weekend toy status.
All in all it is coming together. Should be on the road here soon!
You should take that puppy up to milan with me. I got my 509 bbc in and I'll be out at the track in 1 or 2 weeks.
Thanks! Some more photos. Don't mind the leftover wires. MAF is off to the left, i'm sure i'll find something to put those wires to good use (probably ethanol sensor). The C100 is still hanging out and about. Car is heavily oxidized from sitting outside. Intake piping / BOV is just chilling on top there.
Blah. No signal coming from the PCM fuel pump signal wire that ties into my fuel pump relay. Turn key and it does not prime. Hook up a 12v to the test connetion (red wire from relay) and it primes.
One thing after another over here! It has been so damn hot I have not been able to work on the car. Picked up a '70 cutlass and have been enjoying that. Only has 30k original miles!
Blah, been tinkering here and there. Car will start, runs like crap, shoots a flame out of the intake. Starting a from-scratch tune instead of using someone else's mistake.
Had to put a new starter on. The old one decided to give up the ghost lol. I felt dirty putting a $100 starter on a $200 engine.
Well that was no fun. First real start, idled great, reved great, no problems, then made an awful knocking noise and puked oil all over the ground. That is a first!
ISO LS1 Oil pan, and a new short/longblock.
Good news is that I was able to get 70% of the stuff off and ready to pull the engine in two hours. It is nice knowing how everything goes together, even spent 30 minutes looking for a 10mm that I gave up on. All that is left is fuel lines, power steering line, pcm connections, and obviously the trans.
11-15-2017, 11:22 AM
