Marktainium

OK, so the LH8 pan was not ideal for my car. I posted it on craigslist and sold it the next day at only a $55 loss. The issue I had was steering interference. The LH8 pan may have worked if I jacked the motor up high enough, but the hood to throttle body clearance would have been limited. If you are following this thread then you know of my plans to pro-charge. This being said, I need all the space I can get to squeeze the charger under a stock hood.
SO...the mount set-up that works for me. I am using the trans-dapt ls1/sbc adapter plates, with a 1/2 inch spacer placed under the factory crossmember to mount plate. I am re-drilling the crossmember and shifting the mount rearward 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This allows good clearance for my F-body oil pan, steering , and alternator.
The LH8 Pan was better at the rear of the crossmember, but the sump sat lower than the crossmember (as low as 2" before jacking up the motor) and the front of the pan was deeper than the Fbody pan and hit the steering before being jacked up, and at that point I decided to use the F body pan as ground clearance is a big issue for me.
In conclusion, I recommend the F body pan. ( mine is from a '99 trans am )

MrCheap

iTrader: (1)

I just got my 6.0 LQ4 home! Ive got and 80' camaro and you probably saved me some money on the pan subject . Im probably going to use the same stuff since it works well for you.

Thanks for the info...keep us posted!

Zedzag

iTrader: (7)

Hi Mark. Nice looking project. I've got an LQ4 in my 81Z and used all fbody accessories and oil pan.

I'm in Cloverdale and if you need any help let me knowas my swap is done and running well.

Up untl now, I thought I was the only one with a LSX in a 2nd gen in the Lower Mainland of BC.

Marktainium

Good to meet ya Z! I'd like to pick your brain a little just to see how you went about doing your swap! in fact, pm me yer number and I'll give you a call sometime to discuss a couple things... cheers!

Marktainium

Well, I finally found someone to finish painting the car! Waiting for the flat deck right now to take it to his shop. After a bunch of research and emails, I got a hold of the guy who started the bodywork in the first place, and with a little begging, he decided to bench another project he was working on to complete mine! Yay.... continued....

Marktainium

things are coming together ever so slowly.... anyway, here's a pic! built my own procharger mount kit, and as you can see the car is fully painted!

2manycars

iTrader: (7)

Sweet project! I had envisioned this for my 70 but have now decided that it will be strait-line only so no T-56 . I had a quick question however about your mounts. You say you are redrilling the crossmember to move the mount back 1/4-1/2 inch, by redrilling are you saying that you just elongated the factory holes on the crossmember and if not can you post a pic as I am easily confused. Thank you!

Marktainium

I removed the stock sbc engine mounts, the ones bolted down to the front subframe with 3 bolts on either side, then bolted them to my ls1 using my modified adapter plates and stock sbc rubber type mounts. Then I positioned the motor where everything would work, ( steering is a big issue here when all the accesories are on the motor ). I remarked the 3 holes on the front subframe and pulled the motor out again. I found the new holes were too close to the old holes to just drill new ones, so I welded in all the old holes, and drilled new ones.
Since then I have remounted the engine and built myself a transmission crossmember with provisions for exhaust clearance.

Les_SS

iTrader: (6)

the lh8 pan wasnt working for me either... i was having problems getting my motor mount bolt holes to line up due to the pan hittin the subframe.. the motor would have had to be lifted waay too much and the trans tunnel would have had to be modified to make it work... i sold two lh8 pans with a loss of $80 each

Marktainium

Here'e my transmission crossmember. it's a 3 piece deal, took way too long to build, but thats the fun part, right?

2manycars

iTrader: (7)

Thanks, I was wondering how you did that. Sexy trans crossmember, probably worth the time.

Marktainium

Since I am supercharging I had to 'pin' my harmonic balancer. Here's how that went.
1. Took a chunk of tool steel and 'spun up' a guide tool on a friends lathe.

2. Bolted it to the balancer.

3. Took a brand new 1/4" drill bit and marked off with tape 5/8" depth.

4. Drilled to depth, then removed Tool.

5. Cut 1/2" off of the chuck end of the 1/4" drill bit.

6. Inserted 1/2" drill bit piece into crank pin hole.

7. Re-assemble and enjoy!

Rick Speed

iTrader: (55)

Nice work! Must be nice to be able to just simply chuck it up and machine your own parts.

Marktainium

The whole point of doing a project car is building it. I'm not rich either, so alot of it comes down to if I don't build it I can't buy it. Well, really, lets put it this way, if I could afford to buy the trick parts, I probably would. Until I win the Lotto, this is it. (Even if I was rich, I would still make my parts, only I wouldn't have a pesky day job to get in the way!)

Marktainium

GOT IT IN!

Hopefully this isn't another test fitting! Got the LS2 into it's mount and all bolted up. It's a tight fit, especially between the 'charger and the upper control arm. But there is space. Time to start the plumbing.

frojoe

iTrader: (10)

Nice project man. It's always cool to see fellow LSx enthusiasts up here in Canada.
Awesome fab work, I'd love to have access to machines but right now it's just me and my MIG & anglegrinder And it's funny to see someone building in a garage smaller than mine, didn't think it was possible!!
Would love to see this one day when it's finished, maybe by that day my LQ4 conversion will be finished too!!!

metalmechanic

That is totally awesome dude. I wish i had the time and know how to do something like that. 2nd gens are really kool,, You deserve much kudo's

Marktainium

Cleaned up the tranny a bit and installed it tonight. The new crossmember worked perfectly, really happy about that! Here's a few pics. Note the clearance between the hood and intake, that shot is with the hood closed!

- all this is being done in a 10 x 20 garage too!!!

rsz288

Great progress man. Innovative X member. Have to give that some thought!

V8Rumble

iTrader: (9)

Great project man, I don't know how I missed this one. I was also a little surprised at the way you made your crossmember, since I'd already decided to use tubular stock the same way that you did!

Anyway, great job, I'm enjoying this build.