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Well I figured it was time to start a build thread so that at least worse case I could track my own progress.
Background:
When I got the car it had a 6.2 swapped into it. Motor had let go due to the getting to hot. "Luckily" they had the stock 5.7 still so I could get the car running and driving again. 5.7 has nasty piston slap, but I had plans for bigger and better anyways!
Car came with an 8.8 swapped into it with 4 wheel disc, BMR Torque arm, and heavy subframe connectors installed. Has a 8 inch cowl liftoff hood, halo headlights, and came with Jegs Spike Rims with a second set of rears with new radials on them. The day I picked it up
From there the cleanup began. I deep cleaned the car and went on to fixing things I wasnt a fan of or were broken. Removed the broken vent visors, changed up interior plastics and fixed the power windows. Sanded down the frame and painted it black and put a quick coat of cover under the car. Thanks MN winters....
Being as I have grown up drag racing the slow process began to convert the car into a aggressive street but probably slow drag car. The end goal being a drag car that looks as stock as possible. We have a couple classes at our local track that are fast but are for "Street Cars" and most of them don't see the streets unless you are from around my hometown. In my hometown we have a bunch of the cars in the classes and ours see the streets often. Not to uncommon to see about 30 cars cruising on a Friday or Saturday night.
So installed the line lock and wired it to the switches above the stereo, moved the battery and put in a push/pull kill switch, put on the radials, and did the free mods then to the track we went! great burnouts but slow et's...
After some tweaks to it we got it to the mid 13's. I thought it was slow but let me tell you I did not mind climbing into a fire suit to run the car!
Lasted all of a few weeks after our last race and the parts collection began.
I stumbled into a Gen 3 5.3 with only 100K miles for $200 and decided well here we go!
As my brother and dad both run boosted trucks one a procharged 8 second s10 and the other a twin turbo'd 9 second ls c10 I felt it was only right to keep the boost alive.
I picked up a D1SC standard rotation and that helped decide where I was going. (Later learned I was going to have to be creative with the standard rotation)
Parts acquired for the motor:
Texas Speed Bald Eagle Cam
Texas Speed Dual Valve Springs, Titanium Retainers and push rods
4th Gen Pistons and rods (Rings gapped for boost)
862 Heads
All new bearings and seals
High Output Oil Pump
Dual Roller Timing Chain
LS7 Lifters
ATI Balancer with upgraded hub for boost
Few others I am sure I am missing
This spring tear down began and off to the engine builder it went! yes my garage is a mess
Decided I wanted to go with a different transmission so got my hands on a core of a th400 that was sent to our transmission builder for a full rebuild with upgraded shift kit, transbrake, and a ultrabell.
Also ordered a SFI Flexplate and a BMR transmission crossmember with Torque arm relocation.
Should be getting the motor and transmission back this weekend which means i can finally get rolling on the real fun of putting it in and getting it rerunning.
Started the to-do list and it got long... yes i spelled stupid wrong. on purpose...
Planning on removing the ac and retaining heat. Mainly for defrost in the cold fall evenings when we go out cruising.
Switching over to dual in tank Racetronix pumps on e85.
Eliminating the ABS to give myself more room.
Installing the Holley Terminator Setup
And in the end installing that D1SC on the passenger side top using the LSSimple bracket. I have a ton of room over there and the way the procharger is clocked now makes routing to a front mount intercooler a breeze! Only bummer is from all my reading the only bracket that I can do this with is the LSSimple one. Luckily a guy in town had the same setup in a 240sx set up for drift. So I got to see the layout. My biggest fear is will it fit under the cowl....
Been a fun build so far especially while trying to keep it stock looking and a "budget" build.
Look forward to providing update and progress pics!
Well got 1 part back so got to work on the car a little bit while I wait for the motor to come back!
Transmission came back from the builder. Cut off the old bell and put on the ultrabell. Whole transmission gone through. Put in a transbrake while he was in there.
was able to sand it down and put a coat of paint on it. Now just waiting for the aluminum pan to come in.
Heard back from the engine builder that the motor is short blocked and probably a couple days away from being done.
Went and picked the motor up tonight from the engine builder. Really pleased with how it came together!
Another big check on the checklist!
engine builder deep cleaned all the pieces and it pulled paint off the valve covers. Anyone have any good luck with a paint for them? I’ll buy aftermarket down the road
Well Minnesota weather didnt cooperate so worked on some stuff I could get to.
On all our cars we clean up the bay and put a coat of gloss black to them. Not perfect but a huge improvement!
Cleaned up the surface rust and applied a few coats of gloss black. When the motor and tranny come out end of week will be stripping down as much as I can and putting paint to the frame rails and behind the engine.
The more I see it the more I love that they "Blended" the bumper with the flat black into the cowl hood....
Im thinking when this motor comes out the bumper is coming off and going to our body guy. Not sure how much longer I can deal with it.
I also think the thing I am most excited about when removing the motor and tranny is cleaning out this engine bay and doing it the way I want to. Try and maximize space.
That dash looks really good. Where'd you buy the vinyl? Any special glue/adhesives?
thanks!
so I ended up getting the vinyl at a fabric store. Joann Fabrics. Went there on a whim and they had it. The gray is a little bit lighter. I believe the color was black onyx or something like that.
I used the 3m 90. I put three coats on the vinyl and dash pad before laying the vinyl onto it. I let it get tacky and just layer it on. My advice would be to have a second set of hands so you can lay it on slowly and really work out the bubbles
An expensive little box from Racetronix showed up today!
Fuel Lines and Rails come in tomorrow so o believe outside of a few relays and determining how I want to route from the front of the rails to the regulator cleanly I should have all of the fuel system!
I was able to get in there and touch up the engine bay in- spots I couldnt with the motor in it.
Was able to get almost the whole ABS delete kit installed loosely but the shop I was doing it in borrowed out his flare tool so that had to wait. Just a few cuts and some flares and that will be done.
Opens up the engine bay a lot.
Dropped of the new motor and transmission last night so hopefully will get all paired up today and maybe, just maybe will go in the car today.
Well got the fun call this morning that they went to put in the flywheel bolts and the motor wont turn over.
Shop is digging into it currently. Not sure if it is tight due to being a fresh build but really hoping not to have to tear it back apart.
Well found out where the ATI Harmonic Balancer seats to the oil pump and crank it was bigger than the stock balancer so was locking it up from turning. Going to have the ATI balancer machined and it will go on.
got the car back today and got to work!
Got the computer removed, wiring removed, whole font end pulled, radiator pulled.
working on removing as much wire as I can on the driver side while keeping wipers, locks, windows. Pretty much Bcm controls.
Had to send out the ATI Balancer to have the hub machined this morning.
Was bigger than stock balancer and wasnt seating inside the gear of the oil pump and was digging into the oil pump gear binding with the timing chain pulley.
Took the machine shop two hours to call me back and let me know it was done.
Guess I am stopping to get a new Harmonic Balance Bolt after work so it can get put together.
Spent a good chunk of time in the garage this weekend with the nice weather. Got to go through the joys of wiring.
Normally wiring doesnt bother me but trying to keep as much accessories as I can and making stock wiring work with the upcoming terminator wasnt all that fun.
BUT I think I got it! Down to a few loose wires
Down to one fuse box All the wiring that was removed
Chasing just a few wires that I left figuring they might be useful for the Holley.
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