ls1nova99

F body pan fits first gen camaro or second gen nova without cutting pan or firewall Using stock steering. !rst pic is full lock right, second is full lock left. Anybody else running this set up?

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

How far back is the engine sitting? I tried to not cut the pan on my 71 Nova, wasn't happening, put motor too far back, valve cover hit brake booster. I couldn't get the tie rod to clear the pan. That was back in 2000, so my memory is kinda foggy.

bczee

iTrader: (12)

What style of Adapter plates is being used ?.. BRP ? Can we get some more details and pictures top side ?

ls1nova99

A couple things I found. GM makes 3 different steering arms long, medium, short. If you use the short arms this decreases the side to side travel of the centerlink. Gm also produced (I believe) 3 sizes of pitman/idlerarms.(5.3,5.5and 5.8 inches) I used the 5.8 inch arms. With this combo you will get very quick steering. I used 1" set back mounts. This put the engine in the exact location of my big block(Passenger head is 7/8" from firewall). For mock up purposes I have a lakewwod bellhousing and richmond 5 speed. Fits with no problem at all and shifter is in stock location. Also have plenty of header clearance. Also the wheels are toed in a decent amount just to make sure steering clears. When proper alignment is done centerlink to oil pan clearance will open up from what is in pics. Vette accessory brackets fit fine short of the A/C. Will have to relocate. 9" brake booster should fit fine but do not have that mocked up. Sure beats spending 500-1000 on pan.

ls1nova99

Also if these clearances are a little to tight for you(I don't have any pics right now but the cts-v pan fits great. All kinds of room. Hangs about a 1 1/2 lower but bigger capacity and is no lower than bellhousing or headers.

leonpiper69

iTrader: (3)

500 -1000 for a pan???? i just hack mine up and learned how to tig weld on it. cost......freeeeeeeee

ls1nova99

Here is some pics of the install and parts list.

1" setback plates(Hooker plates should give me 3/16 more centerlink clearance, I have a set ordered)
energy suspension mounts ens-3-1118g(summit)
frame mount E291(short small block)classic industries
pitman arm rp20138(rare parts)
idler arm rp20227(rare parts)
stock center link
short steering arms
Hooker LS1 conversion headers bought from Jet Hot
Corvette front accesories
Turbo 400 transmission crossmember

Would recomend aftermarket upper control arms as the pass header is just a little close. My front suspension should be here tommorow. Will post more pics.

leonpiper69

iTrader: (3)

is that a factory th-400 crossmember?

if so, what did you have to do to use it?

mine wont fit , but im also using a 4l60e!

ls1nova99

Yes it is a turbo 400 tranny mount. I installed it about 12 years ago with a Big block and richmond 5 speed. That is still the richmond under the car(for mock up only) TKO will be on the way. My memory is a little foggy but it either bolted right up or i redrilled holes 1" back on the frame. There is room to move back on frame mounting pad. If you tell me the distance from back of motor to your tranny mount I can double check mine.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Where were you about 8 years ago with this info? This would have saved me ALOT of work! lol Do you think the right side valve cover would clear the factory A/C box? If so this might make my next swap project my other Nova!

leonpiper69

iTrader: (3)

i dont know the distance to the mount on a 4l60e. i have to move my car back to the other side of my garage so i put it back up on the lift so i cant check it just yet.

ls1nova99

LS1 nova 71,

I know for a fact that it will hit a small block heater core. The big block core works. My car does not have factory air. If you could post a good pic of the A/C I could eye it up. Will probably have to change to a 9" booster?

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

An A/C box has the heater hoses more to the passenger side kinda like the big block heater box. I'll take some pics tomorrow. My LS1 car has the original booster and it clears fine, I'll get a better pic of that also. Thanks, Eric

ls1nova99

LS1 nova 71

What mounts are you running now. I give you a lot of credit for doing an ls1 swap 8 years ago. Must have been a lot harder. Aftermarket has really stept up. What did you use for an ecm.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

I'm using the factory Camaro mounts with home made brackets to the frame. I swapped the subframe for a 77 Camaro frame to get front steering, works but I wouldn't do it again, too much work getting the frame in. But on the plus side I did get a WS6 fat ratio gear box and taller spindles and a 1 1/4 sway bar so it handles pretty well. I'm using the 98 pcm, I changed rear axle ratio with a Hypertech tuner. It has ALOT of trouble codes in it because none of the emission stuff has been programmed out, dosen't affect the way it runs though.

ls1nova99

Sweet frame swap! I spent hours searching for somebody that did that. Seriosly considered it for mine. It just hit me. Your car was in car craft or superchevy. What did it take to put that frame under your car. I am not past the point of no return. Any pics during the build. I could be wrong but it seems like most aftermarket frames are modeled after the 2nd gen frame short of the rack.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

It was Hot Rod, and I have about 150 pics of when I was building it, but... they're all pictures, yeah real paper pictures! I don't have a scanner or I would post some. And all I would say is if the way your going is working I wouldn't change it. That frame swap was a pain, you have to cut off the middle mounts and reweld them lower if I remember correctly, you have to narrow the front frame horns to get the bumper back on, not to mention the 3 Borgeson U-joints in the steering. Also the 2nd gen Camaro is 1 inch wider in track width, had to get off set wheels to put them back in where they were. There's probably other things I can't remember, I forget all the troubles I have which explains why I keep doing these things!!

ls1nova99

Shame you cant post pics. Would like to see them. Give you a lot of credit for attemting this 8 yaers ago. I was still putting a dinosaur big block in mine. You dont happen to live around PA.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Long way from Pennsylvania!! Missouri. The way your going seems to be the ticket! And the only reason I got it done back then is because I didn't know I couldn't do it!!!!

ls1nova99

I hope so. These short steering arms(plus pitman and idler)seem to work great. I wish somebody would reproduce them. I contacted a couple of people but nobody seemed interested. I know they are going for a decent amount of money. They are getting rare. Once again props to the aftermarket!!