ls1astre

iTrader: (5)

hi all,
getting ready to put a 98 ls1/t56 into a 1977 pontiac astre. first attempt to install engine will be tonight. used v8 monza frame plates and a kit from trans dapt to convert a v8 car to a ls1 car. any advice on headers and which oil pan will clear front frame? i guess i will find out tonight. any advice would be helpful. thanks again.

Monza355

iTrader: (3)

Nice car! I'm running the stock V8 Monza frame plates and stock V8Monza.com mounts. The best oil pan is the Autokraft oil pan. it fits very well. I'm running stock 98 manifolds that were modified a bit. They fit like they were made for it. Good luck and visit h-body.org forums for more info on the H-body LS1 swap.

Bill

ls1astre

iTrader: (5)

thanks bill. do you know a part# for the oil pan. this will be the first of many questions. what trans are you running? i plan on using the stock six speed. just got clutch pedal assembly out of a monza. still early in the project. will post more mock up picks as i progress. thanks again.
eric

Monza355

iTrader: (3)

I think AutoKraft only makes one swap pan, give them a call and they'll help you out. I'm running a 350turbo trans. The stock T56 will probably require some transmission tunnel mods, new crossmember, shortened torque arm and driveshaft. There are a few guys running T-56's on the H-body.org forums and have some swap info there.

Bill

ls1astre

iTrader: (5)

thanks again. i saw the pan on there website. it fits f-bodys (67-69). it looks like it will work. i am pulling the engine out today and taking the pan off and reinstalling the engine. going to check how much room i have to work with and look into modifing the pan. i saw some elso who had to "massage" the trans tunnel for the top bolt at 12o'clock, but thats the next step after engine is in its final resting place. will post more pix later today. thanks again. eric

Project GatTagO

iTrader: (7)

You have a very nice clean car! I want to do one of these or a Vega with a turbo Ecotec.

Andrew

ls1astre

iTrader: (5)

thanks. that is the original paint. garaged since it was new.

Project GatTagO

iTrader: (7)

Have you owned it all this time, or did you just purchase it?

It would look killer this these wheels:



With some 245/50/16s all the way around. I am sure there are ways to convert them to 5x4.75 bolt pattern, right?

Andrew

sheikss

iTrader: (11)

This is going to be an awesome sleeper.

ls1astre

iTrader: (5)

i just purchased it about 2 month ago from an old lady. its has 68200 miles on in. your right those wheels would look great but i want to keep it looking close to what it does right now. i plan on converting the front and rear to five lug later. but for right now i need to get the motor and 6 speed in there final resting spot. just put motor in again tonight with no oil pan to check and see how much the pan has to be modified and found out the factor v8 monza mounts are sagging bad. just ordered solid mounts from v8monza.com. here are some pix. anyone who has done this conversion i am open to any and all advice. i saw alot of guys did beautiful jobs with their h-bodies. would love to hear all stories. thanks again.

80 MONZTA

Nice looking Astre.
I am doing the same swap, but in a Monza, and I can not wait to
I was planning on using a Buick 215 aluminum V-8 and T-5 trans, but found a 2000 LS-1 with T-56 localy, needless to say I could not resist buying it. I do not have a build thread here, but do on the forums at H-body.org

oldmtnfart

ls1astre, I just joined the forum so I could send an email to you. I am 63 years old. I bought that very same Astre new back in 1977. It was the same body style and the same color. Mine was the 4 cylinder with stick shift on the floor. If you ever want to part with it, just let me know. I know you have already changed the motor, but please do not screw up the stock body or the interior. Take care. Steve, aka; oldmtnfart.

ls1astre

iTrader: (5)

steve, i plan on keeping the car as stock looking as possible. not ready to sell the car. i have been after this car since 2002. the lady finally decided to part with it. thanks for looking. i will be posting more as i move along. havnt had a lot of time to work on it in the last few weeks.

philntx

iTrader: (8)

Please say you are going to clean and detail the engine compartment before you put the motor in...........................

ls1astre

iTrader: (5)

yes i am going to clean everything. still in the mock up stage. still very early in project. motor is in. now working on making crossmember for t56 trans, then next is to make / find a oil pan that will clear. may be putting steering rack in to make more room. because the inner tie rods will hit the pay and prevent lock to lock steering.

oldmtnfart

ls1astre, OK. I would really like to see pictures as your project unfolds. Just let me know when you decide to sell it. Thanks. Steve

N2OMIKE

iTrader: (3)

Former Monza owner here ( I have had 3 ) would love to see more of his build.

MonzterMtrSprt

any updates on this? thanks

99VetteFRC

I wish I had my Monza back. It was totaled, guy hit me head on 6 days after it was done. Couldn't find a rust free car to put my stuff in so sold it all. I had '76 Town Coups 262CID th350 that I change out to and old 350 sb. I took the stock rotors to the machine shop and they tapped and put pipe plugs in the four stud holes then drilled them to 5x4.75 patter and used moroso long studs. I cut them to lenth. I the rear I used s10 axles and drums, brakes are the same size on '76 and newer. You may need to find a newer Monza rear, but they are 7.5" ring gear and are junk. Your cheapest bet is to find the S10 8.5" rear, they are the right lenth and are very strong. Same size rear in Grand Nationals. You will have to weld the conltrol arm and shock mounts to it and then fab a way to bolt the torque arm to it.

Good luck, I wanna do one of these with an LS motor too.

Ford_Assassin

iTrader: (4)

Any updates?