EspaceF1Fan

Only one other person I know of has installed an LS-series engine in a Merkur XR4ti. I'm planning this swap as we speak and need some idea as to what headers I should attempt to fit to the car.
Areas of fitment concern are primarily :
-Steering shaft
-Over the front swaybar(its a firewall mounted swaybar, it doubles as a compression strut for the front suspension....There is aworkaround if I cant keep the swaybar with headers, but its aobut 500 extra dollars)
-Also of course there is floor pan clearance. I would attempt F-Bodyh headers but I think it kicks out to the side too much on the driver's side.


I will be using a T-56 or TKO trans behind the engine.

Anyways here are a BUNCH of pics of the other guy's swap that will help I think with suggestions.

Here is apic from the passenger side front corner. The gold colored fat tube toward the trans tunnel is the swabar/chassis brace.
http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install003.jpg


Here is a fron drivers view. You can see the steering shaft and the swaybar again in this picture.
http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install004.jpg


Here is a pic from the front of the passenger side mount he made. You can see where the exhaust would route to if you look under the car a bit.

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install013.jpg


another view from the passenger side.

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install014.jpg

Passenger side mount from top dow to show some clearance possibilities...

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install015.jpg


Drivers side with a factory LS2 manifold and its clearance to the steering shaft/crossmember

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install016.jpg


A good view from behind drivers front tire showing swaybar. You can see the bellhousing just barely clears it.

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install020.jpg


Here is Passenger side with manifold and converter in place.

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install021.jpg

Self explanatory view from drive tunnel

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install036.jpg

View from end of trans

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install034.jpg

Empty engine bay with trans.

http://www.merkurtech.com/merkurtech...install032.jpg



Any help or info is appreciated!

EspaceF1Fan

Damn. I hate wasting mmoney because Im the first to try to put longtubes in something....ugh.

lol

Convette

I'd say build your own, or turbo it and the run the manifolds forward.

jw33

iTrader: (8)

Looks like you have plenty of room, but I don't think anyone has done this car yet. I'd look for a set of 302/351 headers, get a pair of LS flanges, and just see where you need to make changes.

thedrill

iTrader: (1)

The closest stock manifolds that fit in my Xr4ti with an 2006 4.8 LS motor, are the caddy CTS-V .. just needed an extra universal joint in the column .

EspaceF1Fan

Looks like 2010 Camaro shorties will fit perfect.
If I redesign the swaybar set up I'm thinking I can use longtubes designed for foxbodies.

EspaceF1Fan

It looks like certain brands of longtubes from the 2010 Camaro might fit as well.