UPDATE: just passed the 500 mile break-in on the BluePrint engine. All I can say is wow, this motor screams. My 17 y.o. son (very responsible kid) drives it as his daily so I had a conversation with him about the power it has and that he needed to keep it under control and stay out of trouble as walking isn't crowded. After the first day he drove it he comes home and says, "Dad, you're not kidding about the power difference. I was at a stoplight and started to take off and it started to die on me (5 speed) so I did what I always have and punched the throttle 3/4's of the way to the floor to get it going. The rear end broke loose and tires were howling, I can't imagine what it'd do if I held the throttle all the way down!"

I was a little skeptical when I ordered the engine because of some negative reviews I've read about BluePrint engines online, but I can honestly say I'm tickled I got this. GREAT power, seems very reliable, no issues. Power comes on hard at around 2500 RPM and it roars up through around 6000 to 6500 RPM (dyno sheet showed highest HP at around 6000 RPM). Best decision I've made with this car other than buying it twice.

 

that is a beauty,looks perfect just the way it is and with a little extra power !!!

 

Tried a thermal wrap on the starter to hopefully help hot start issues. Failed miserably. Wasted $19. Will try solenoid relocation next.

 

do you have long tubes and a regular sized starter?if you do that is your problem,you need a mini starter.Dont throw away the insulation,it will help when you get a better starter.

 

I just noticed in your picture that you seem to have the CORRECT throttle & TV cable bracket.
Who makes it, what's the part number, and any other pertinent info, please........... Also some close-up pics if you would. Thanks.

You could post the reply to this post: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/carb...e-bracket.html

 

Spent the evening removing the ttop weatherstripping from my 90 formula. Its been leaking horribly to the point im seeing rust stains on the plastics and water is running down the inside of the windshield. Im not sure I will be able to save the ttop bar as it has rust but i was surprised to see the channels in good shape considering the amount of water. Once this is complete i will get the windshield re sealed.

 

I plan on doing a full write up with pics, almost there. Your not the first one that's asked. But it's a modified Holley bracket (easy mod, will cover it, no welding)

 

I can't wait to read it. Thanks.

 

I have shorty headers and a factory starter. Ii thought I'd try the cheaper fix first BUT what mini starter do you recommend? And thanks for helping me out bro.

 

The hot ticket is the 92-96 Corvette LT1 starter.

 

no emmisions84ta has a great suggestion and ive heard other lt1 starters are also smaller and more suitable.im getting closer to being ready to install a 350 with shorty headers and ill be dealing with the same thing so let me know what you find works.i just missed out on a used mini starter (also a solution apparently)because of lack of funds/procrastination.

your car is looking great by the way,keep it up.here is my before and after engine detail.

this is before:


before (wow,its horridly ugly)



this is after...

and now im going to do a vortec headed 350 swap(plus gmpp roller cam,edlebrock rpm intake,holley 650 ultra double pumper,hooker shorties,and aluminum everything)

almost ready.350 roller block with vortec heads

 

Got it done, it's posted in the carb forum

 

F/B-body LT1 starters are good too. I run a $60 eBay special LT1 starter (includes new bolts!) and its been pretty good so far, going on 2 years.

 

Worked on my buddy's 3rd gen today. We started his engine bay clean up. We started to remove the air pump system. He has no cats already so the air pump system is 50% useless so we just will get rid if it. We repurposed the rubber heater hose that went around the back of the engine to tie in the 2 sides of the air system together. He wanted the heater control valve to be off the valve cover and as you see it was a perfect bend to put it right next to the coolant tank. Hopefully when we are done it will look as nice as Bandit's transformation posted above.

Anyone interested in some original air pump system?, minus the hose!

 

Thanks and that looks great man!

 

Thanks man

 

Thanks bro

 

 

That is looking sweet! what vehicle is the new handle from?

 

Thanks, Mid 90s caddillac.

 

picked up a set of lightly used flex a lite fans for $75. oh and got my motor out of machine shop prison after 2 months. cant wait to start putting everything together. just need to get my buddy to build my headers.

 

Well I finally got around to putting in and connecting up a pod of 3 gauges, volts,water temp,oil pressure very simple to do, just takes really a couple of days to do (relaxing days) with the oil pressure gauge tho when i first turn the key on the needle goes to the 7 kg untill i start the car then it drops back to just under 5kg which i think is about 60 psi,is this how it should be?

 

My suspension seems wobbly, can't find anything wrong in the front, so I pulled back the carpet and took out the foam pads to look at the rear shocks. There's some residue from the foam still stuck to the bolts, and after a minute I figured out that means my shocks are 28 years old.

 

my suggestion is dial in your brakes,suspension and make everything right,then do tasteful mods
that help performance and looks.proper performance exhaust definitely helps especially with headers,just
gutting or removing the cat does next to nothing unless it was blocked.

 

don't the sweet gauges in the car from stock already work?

 

Done...for now.

 

Nicely done. I always thought these cars would look good with flush handles.

 

Yep, and theyre much better made than the flimsy stock pieces of ....!

 

Yeah right the oil pressure gauge: ah no the needle would just flick around on start and jam on the edge ,but i connected the new gauge using the same sensor and sweet as,the original temp gauge didnt work at all ,and dont ask me what the tach gauge does .
i also got around to replacing those dam rattling door handles because of broken springs and replaced the locks with black ones

 

Tranny mount.








Wait, those are supposed to be one piece?

Then I got what we patio mechanics sometimes describe as a "wild hair," and scraped most of the 28-year-old grease off the transmission pan and the crossmember.

 

Made a couple of hubs out of 1LE rotors for my Big Brake Upgrade. Shouldn't have to use spacers with my wheels this way. Boy was there a lot of cast iron chips to clean up, lol.

 

Installed a heater core!!!

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/cool...ater-core.html

 

I tried and failed to re-connect my Walker y-pipe to my catalytic converter where it has come loose and leaks fumes and noise, and sometimes comes completely apart!

It was not fitted right by the garage in the first place, there is barely 1cm of overlap and for some reason seems to have 2 u-bolts on it... I tried to tighten one and could do so, but it barely made any difference and I worried about over-tightening.

Will be taking it to a specialist custom exhaust place next Thursday, meanwhile I am daily driving a car that sounds terrible or even worse if it comes undone..

 

got my heads back. put the ls9 head gaskets, arp studs, spec clutch and rebuilt trans all together then threw it in the car. threw the intake manifold i bought on and realized i want a different one. so its up for sale/trade. need to order some sensors and gaskets then start wiring it up. gotta figure out where to mount the holley dashes.

 

Installed an oil catch can

 

yeah,thats not something you can fix with clamps and adapters unfortunately.

 

....

 

So many awesome third gens on here.... Mine pales far by comparison but maybe one day I can get one of mine to look as good as some of the ones here in these pages. Keep up the great work you guys, your cars are truly an inspiration!!

 

Got some new junk yard seats, my old ones were full of cigarette holes front and back (thanks po) . Decided while I had all the seats out would be a good time to shampoo the carpet. Didn't do much for the stains but sure smells alot better in there. Killed the 30 year old must&dust smell.

 

ive got a pair of these in my closet(and a pair of 2012 camaro seats as well) im rocking some grey gta seats now that are super mint

 

it only takes time and hunting for parts,ill get there eventually too!

 

I like that hood , there's one where I pulled the seats. Guy wants 200 for it, going to grab it soon as I have the funds, provided he still has it.

 

The new shock is held closed/compressed by the wire you can barely see. The 28-year-old one is mostly just laying there.



It expanded some after about five minutes. The one on the other side did nothing at all.

 

move quick,they are double that new and hard to find from what ive seen in my area.is it steel or glass?

 

gathering more parts and waiting for it to not be a winter wonderland outside and partially in my uninstalled,unheated garage.

picked up:
grant challenger steering wheel $20
comp cams retainers(new)
ls6 beehive springs $30
viton valve seals(new)
stainless braided fuel and other braided lines 1/2" id and 3/8" id -14' and 10.5' rolls nos($50)
1 1/2" rim spacers for my bbs lm reps $40

 

Fiberglass. Has a few chips along the front edge but other than that just needs paint. Bolt areas for hinges are solid.

 

been mostly doing some wiring. did a sorta wire tuck on my headlight harness. did some wiring on my holley stuff. mounted up these cheap caster/camber plates. need to pick up some springs from my buddy to put my front suspension back together. finally decided that i really need a dual pass radiator but just need to find one thatll fit with an a/c condenser. got some of my fuel line and fittings. ordered some filters and mounts. need to order a regulator and fuel pump. trying to sell my vic jr intake manifold to get a different intake. bought a nearly mint dash pad for .99 cents plus $75 shipping. should be here monday. also looked into repairing and flocking this other dash pad i have.

 

Crazy how expensive dash pads are.

 

yeah. dude had 3 of them. 2 at no reserve or starting bids. i bought one and my buddy bought the other, then after we bought the, he listed another one with a starting price of $100.

anyways got my u-joints pulled off my ls1 driveshaft, modified my fuel pump sending unit to run thicker gauge wiring.

 

drove it to work after fighting a charging issue for almost a month