So I've been reading over the years to fix problems on my car as they arose. Very helpful site !!! This is the first time I've every posted something so here goes...


I have a 1992 Camaro with a 305 HO and 5 speed. Had the car since high school and used to drive it everywhere. Unfortunately the car was stolen in 2007 and it's been running bad ever since. They cut a bunch of wires and hoses and stole cheap **** off it. Like the stock air filter and windshield washer tank.


Was able to put a 2002 steering column in, Frankenstein some vacuum lines, and have a shop get the wires fixed enough to get it running. Still has its problems though, wouldn't trust even taking it out to the lake. Did not have the time or money to really do much with it till now. The car hasen't even been driven in the past 3 years. Figured had it 11+ years now and it was either time to get it rolling right or pass it on. Plus moving it from storage area to storage area to back yard to just let it sit is ridiculous.


So a few months ago I bought an LS1 out of a 1998 trans am. Came complete with auto transmission. engine had 168k miles on it, so I'm working on rebuilding the engine.

 

It's taken longer than expected to get anything done as I was planning on taking it into the basement on a dolly. The day it showed up wife said that wasn't going to happen. So bought a shed and built it. Good thing is I got my own area to do whatever I want.


Here is a picture of it once I was able to get started




It's since been completely broken down and the block taken to the machine shop. Got it back a few weeks ago and have painted the block, cleaned the crankshaft and pistons, and reinstalled them.

 

Need to decide and purchase a camshaft. Not sure which way to go, but I know I don't want a massive ones that gonna make it so I'm always having to wrench on it.

 

Well finally decided on a camshaft. Bought a stage three SNS from tick performance. It's gonna make it here next week if all goes well.

 

This was the car I was going to put the engine in once finish getting it built, however I decided I wanted t tops and now would be the best time to make that happen. I was able to find one with a blown motor one state away for a decent price.

 

Did the shop do anything other than clean up the block? Cam bearings, maybe? I'm guessing from what you said and your pics that you put the stock pistons back in.

Who took apart the galley plugs? Not sure from the pic of the front, but it might be missing the oil galley plug. And, there's the "dumb bell" plug that goes in the back - it's plastic, don't forget it before putting the back cover back on.

You didn't say anything about the heads. With the cam upgrade, you probably want to upgrade the valve springs as well.

Keep us posted on progress.

 

The engine shop did install new cam bearings as well when I took it in. They also removed all the plugs except the dumb bell looking one. Does the oil galley plug look the same as the others or do you happen to have a picture of it. This is my first time attempting something like this .

I cleaned and reused the old Pistons just put new rod/main bearings and piston rings on. Right now I'm waiting for the cam and timing chain to come in.

For the heads I'm trying to find a set of 243 or 241s. The ones I got evidently are the worst flowing . Plan on having whatever I get ported and putting BTR .660 lift dual springs on it. Also going to get new lifters. Possibly pushrods as well if the stock ones won't work with the new cam. Still trying to figure it all out as I go.

Is the f body oil pan the only one that really works? Mine has crack in it from when they pulled the engine. No biggie either way, but the f body has to be the most expensive

 

The galley plug I'm talking about is between the oil pump bolts (actually, in this picture, it's missing):




And installed:




You don't have to use the f-body pan, but the truck and "muscle car" pans stick down pretty far in an f-body. The Holley pan also fits well and doesn't hang down a lot, but it's as expensive as the f-body pan.

 

Thanks man just ordered one, wouldn't have even noticed

 

My scar tissue, your benefit.

 

Well its been a month or so but I was able to get more work done on the engine. The camshaft from tick performance showed up. Got it installed with the new timing set. Then replaced the oil pump.





Was also able to get the rear main seal and gasket in and put on.





~Fire

 

Hey I started lm7 swap on my 91 rs... I've been a little set a back lately but I have a few things worked out maybe we can help each other out

 

 

Sounds good man, help is always a good thing


Looks like your farther along then me, working on getting the old 305 out this week if it ever quits raining.


~Fire

 

I only put the motor in using Hooker motor mounts. I still need to get my ls1 fuel injection harness by painless performance & a transmission. I'm leaving the original harness and computer to accommodate the interior and lights. I also put together a steam pipe setup for the 3rd gen radiator & an adaptor for the fuel feed line to the fuel rail. That's about it. I'll be using the corvette fuel filter but haven't tampered with that yet.

 

You old ECM can be removed. It doesnt control anything interior or lighting related

 

Lol thanx because I was wondering if I really needed it. I didn't know for, sure so I left it

 

After struggling for days I was able to get the engine harness out. Pain in the ***.







~Fire

 

So just for proof, now that you took that stuff out. Does your Windows, headlights, turns and interior accessories still work???

 

I recommend that people leave the harness on the engine and take the whole thing out in one shot. It is a huge PITA to remove in-car



I prefer to install the swap harness to the engine prior to installation, but its not difficult to install after the fact



I know for a fact they will not. The two main power wires for the interior, fuseblock and lighting system both run through the C100 which is part of the engine harness. If you apply 12v to pins A4 and G5 regardless of the engine harness, they will work if needed

 

First time doing this sort of thing so trying not to mess up too much stuff

 

Did you chain your A arms to the K-member in order to do it that way? Sure would have saved a lot of time!

I enjoyed the wiring part of the swap because of how much I learned from it.

 

You should, but it doesnt look like I did looking at the pics. Hind sight is 20/20 they say...

 

nice progress and an interesting build =0)

 

Thanks jfreak

Oil pain came in so got that all bolted up with the front and rear covers.



Dropped most of the transmission from the bottom, and then pulled the engine from the top. Unfortunately had a casualty to the fan shroud. I knew I should have removed it first but what you gonna do. Now I got a good reason to get dual fans, especially since the wife helped me pull it .








Definitely gonna put the new engine and trans in from the bottom, but until the driveway gets extended next week I have to be able to roll it back when not working on it.

 

Wassup Keep us updated !

 

Not too much done recently, summer seems to find a way to spend all my extra money. I did purchase some ls7 lifters and drop them in last week though.





And I was able to get the blue camaro running again.

~Fire

 

Got a new valley pan gasket and got it installed with the knock sensors last week.





Called around town to see what it would take to get the heads cleaned up and couldn't get a straight answer except that it could easily be more buying their remanufactured ones and trading in my cores. So for half the price decided to buy some unused 806 heads on ebay.

Hopefully will be here soon, also planning on ordering some BTR .660 dual valve springs. Nice to finally get a chance to work on it with summer ending

~Fire

 

The new heads and valve springs came in. Got them disassembled, painted, and put back together with the new springs.









~Fire

 

is te wiring on the passanger side all trash or is there anything you need to save for the swap?

 

Im loving the color choice for the engine, what brand of paint did you end up using for the block and heads?

 

Thanks Nick V, I wanted something different and it turned out to my liking


Its high temp rustoleum, lime green or something of the sort.


As for the harness, still got it in the box in the shed, I know I had to cut a couple of lines near the connectors when removing it. Would love to try and make my own harness, but it seems like way to big of a headache, so most likely gonna buy one from Pocket when the project gets closer.

 

Got the heads installed on the engine.



Also went over to Montana and picked up a posi disc brake rear end with 3.73 gears. Guy said it was from an 84, either way it has been sitting around his garage for 14 years so got a hell of a deal.

~Fire

 

You cant paint over surfaces where gaskets are meant to seal unless you love trouble

Spray brake cleaner or use paint thinners on a rag and carefully clean off the areas where gaskets need to seal.

 

Ya thanks for the heads up I've been wiping them down as I go. Is a pain in the *** if the paint has been on for a while though.

 

Looking for some advise. Almost done building the engine, and gearing to getting the parts ready to get it in the car. How hard is it gonna be to put an automatic transmission in an originally manual car. To get the transmission to do what it supposed to do. Is it reasonably do able or would it be wiser to just find an automatic car and go from there?

Thanks in advance.

 

I did it...but I cant tell you it's going to work perfect yet as I'm a few weeks from firing the car up. I did have a donor auto car to scavenge from and that included a section from the floor tunnel of the auto car, the shifter, associated shifter harness, and brake pedal and even the steering column w/ the interlock cable.

I also had much help from pocket too.

 

Find an auto car in a JY and cut the auto shifter connector from it. All the wiring changes o through it. Next, read the auto to T56 stickys, specifically about wiring. You'll be doing the reverse of those

 

Thanks guys, I was hoping so. Is there any other cars around that time frame that use the same automatic shifter connector, the junk yard in my town has two third gens and they have been pretty stripped out. Still can't hurt to go and see may get lucky.

 

So it's been a little bit since I've posted, had some free time so figured I was post some progress.



Decided to go with the holley 2 pan so I can use their exhaust and use it easily.





Went with some brian tooley pushrods and upgraded trunion kit.



And finally got the intake on

 

The old rubber motor mounts were pretty beat up so I got some polyurethane mounts.




Also found out the PCV system was junk when trying to install it, so installed an LS6 valley cover and new crossover tubes. Still need to get the new hose though and I broke the damn oil pressure sensor messing with the intake.








~Fire

 

I'm loving that lime green color. Very nice choice.

 

Thanks man!!!


It's definitely different, but I like it.

 

Replaced the broken power steering pulley with a turn one pulley. Also got the hawks AC line kit.

 

It's been quite a while since I've had time to post. I've been getting everything out of the engine bay and stocking up on parts.







Engine bay before paint.







Primered





Painted

Also got the K member notched, covered with POR15, and placed on the engine with the holley mounts.




Will post more pictures of the stuff I have acquired as I get things cleared out. Have camaro parts in five rooms now.

 

I got the front half or so of the bottom of the car truck lined. Sorry there is not a better picture will have to grab one next time I'm under the car but I think it looks pretty good.




Also finally got the engine in the car.




The transmission also went in, but unfortunately I didn't have it line up right and cracked the bellhousing. So I was able to find a replacement transmission for relatively cheap.



Researched the proper way to get it all put in properly so hopefully it and the yank torque converter will be in sometime later this week.




Also got the holley 1 7/8 headers ordered. Hopefully they arrive soon as its finally starting to get cold and would like to get everything big installed.

 

Im a fan of black and green for sure. Did you get in on holley's sale price going on right now? makes me wish i had more cash on hand thats for sure.

 

Ya I have been waiting to see if they would do it again this year. Hopefully can save a few hundred more out of my next couple of checks so I can get the rest of it while they still have their sale. Dang holidays though we will see.

 

Any updates Fire?

 

Haven't gotten as much done as I would like to but it's coming along and all my big expensive parts are purchased.



Got the second transmission in and bolted up with the torque converter and crossmember. The back two bolts on the cross member were a pain but glad they are there.




Headers showed up and got them installed. The truck manifold gaskets are the perfect size for the 1 7/8 primaries. My passenger side header definitely didn't go in as easy as others but it was manageable. Just glad I didn't spend the money to coat them.








Also hooked up the hawks a/c conversion lines. So far they are great. Next I need to get a new a/c condenser, radiator, and start working on the fuel lines.