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My ls1 chevelle build

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Old 03-10-2008, 11:39 PM
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Default My ls1 chevelle build

Thought I'd start a thread to document my work. Should be getting started soon I hope. I've been doing research and ordering parts already...I want to do everything possible to get it in and running by the end of May.



So far I've ordered:

LS2 timing chain
Comp custom grind cam (similar to a Thunder Racing TR230/224 reverse split)
stock MAF
ported LS6 oil pump
.080 wall Comp pushrods
Comp 918 valve springs


Still need: headers, rod bolts, harness, ECM, air filter, make some custom engine mounts, LS6 intake, fuel pump, throttle cable, and plenty of time to massage this thing into the hole with the stock oil pan and acc. drive system.

Should be pretty fun when I'm done and still be 100% daily driveable...prolly even increase my fuel mileage quite a bit so long as my foot doesn't stay planted to the floorboard

Updates to come. Cam is going in Easter weekend. Also might massage the head ports, and will polish and port the throttle body.

:shiftingfun:
Old 03-11-2008, 01:20 AM
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Sound like your off and running on a great project.. looking forward to the update and pictures..

With 4.11 gear and the T56.. I get 23+ on the freeway (70-80mph).. not great.. but when you consider the gears.. it great for me...! LOL
Old 03-11-2008, 05:47 PM
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I'm getting about 20-22 highway right now depending on conditions and how I drive. If I keep that I'll consider is a success.
Old 06-16-2008, 10:26 PM
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Well I'm behind, but I have all my stuff here expect fuel and power steering lines.

Harness is 99% done.

Stock cam had a failure on 2 lobes so I need lifters and then the motor is going back together and into the car.

Hopefully the car will be close to running by the end of next weekend.
Old 06-17-2008, 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by thunderstruck507
Well I'm behind, but I have all my stuff here expect fuel and power steering lines.

Harness is 99% done.

Stock cam had a failure on 2 lobes so I need lifters and then the motor is going back together and into the car.

Hopefully the car will be close to running by the end of next weekend.
So i take it u decided to tackle the harness yourself?
99% done ? how hard was it ?
Been workin so much ive been thinking sending it out may be easier but i hate other people workin on my ****! lol
Looks like it will be a sweet swap!
Youre already getting over 20 mpgh on the freeway! What size are your shoes?(feather foot! ...lol!)
Old 06-17-2008, 08:18 AM
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thunderstruck507 I just noticed your engine has the factory disconnect for the fuel rail. You were asking in the other thread what to get. I used the factory one. HP rubber hose from hard line with hose barb to fuel rail factory connector. I just doubled clamped it.
Old 06-17-2008, 08:58 AM
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Looks like a lot of fun. Post some more pictures up!
Old 06-17-2008, 04:38 PM
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I'll have more pics soon.

I'm actually wondering if the harness is done right it was so easy...I didn't strip it though. I just unplugged the crap I don't need from the ECM pin out per the sticky and cut the wires loose from the 3 F body plugs I need and soldered new wire leads onto them that will go to an underhood fuseblock. I went to the salvage yard and got a OBII port for $4 and soldered it onto the harness. All in all it took me prolly 3 hours using nothing but the info from the stickies here. It only took that long because I was double checking all the info and taking my time.

Yeah I got 23 mpg from Ft Smith, AR where I filled up to my house in Valliant, OK. 30 minutes of that drive is at 45-50 mph through the Ouachita mountains too.

Street Avenger 670 with larger front jets, mild 320 hp 350, 700r4 with lockup, and 3.42 12 bolt out back.

City mileage blows though...from my house to work I average about 11mpg over the week. This is 90% babied at 45mph and 10% romping around for fun.
Old 06-18-2008, 04:03 AM
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Cool! lol I actually finally found that sticky last night about 3 am (lol I spend way too much of "sleep time"on here lately ).
Im glad to hear that it wasnt a nightmare!
Im definately gonna go ahead and lock myself in the garage with my laptop and do it myself! Thank god for everyone on this site!
Cant wait to see more pics!

And damn it must be the 700r4! my 72 camaro gets like 12 on the freeway (3:42s th350, mild 355)
and nothin round town! Cant wait for fuel injection! lol and a well designed engine (by present technology I love sbc any gen!) ..
Old 06-18-2008, 10:37 AM
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well just got a call from the machine shop, apparently my heads were "hangover day at GM" heads

with brand new comp 918 springs the seat pressure on several is 50-75 instead of into the 100s as it should be

it never stops around here...I should have sent my 5.3 truck heads to have better valves put in instead
Old 06-21-2008, 12:04 AM
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Header kit from Doug's Headers ($560 shipp3d from summit, edlebrocks are probably better, but I am on an extreme budget)







my home ported throttle body, needs more work but I'll get to it.



Old 06-21-2008, 06:26 AM
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I did the same thing to my throttle body. So far I am like you and have not had a chance to make any noise with my swap either. One tip, while you have the throttle body off, go ahead and pull the coolant fittings out of the throttle body if you were planning on doing the throttle body bypass mod. Grab them with some vice grips, or channel locks, and twist and pull them out.
I am in the process of pulling my harness apart to get all of those unused wires out of it. I don't want all of those wires in the harness nor the connectors on the other end. I will probably have more than 3 hours in it though.
Old 06-21-2008, 09:12 AM
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Eddie, if this is your first harness, you will probably be closer to 6-8 hours.
Old 02-16-2009, 03:41 PM
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Just thought I would crawl back in here and post a picture of the finished product. I just got around to taking some post wire cleanup.

Old 02-16-2009, 03:59 PM
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Looks good under there.
Old 02-16-2009, 05:48 PM
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thanks, I'm about to order another 90 elbow to go off the MAF, ditch the extension and run pipe down to the filter which I will mount low so that its about even with the sway bar under the car, this will give me tons of ground clearance but put the filter down where there's fresh cold air
Old 02-16-2009, 06:00 PM
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how about a couple more pics of the motor/ car!
Old 02-16-2009, 06:03 PM
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I'm gonna get some, car is dirty right now...washed it then it rained.

There are older pics on my cardomain, but my roof had a clearcoat failure so it peeled and rusted, I'm about to sand it down and shoot the whole roof in black epoxy primer to mimick a vinyl top until I can afford to have the car repainted.

I'm gonna try to get some videos soon of the exhaust idling, cruising, and WOT. It's actually very tame sounding...very unsuspecting. *sneaky eyes*
Old 02-16-2009, 06:06 PM
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Nice swap and nice job.
Old 05-04-2009, 12:16 AM
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Thunder what pan did you use?


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