82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

Hi guys, I am pretty new here but have been a member at Digital Corvettes for quit some time and post regularly over there. I have always wanted a LS1 powered car, I purchased a 82 corvette last year because I had the cash and had always wanted one since I was a kid, although I could of gotten a LS1 powered camaro for the same price I chose this. Unfortunetly The engine was very weak (200hp) and the 4 speed auto was not a performance shifting trans. However at 3300 pounds with a Solid Frame, Iron block engine and all kinds of heavy weight adding pieces it was a great platform for a performance car.

So The build began to start pulling the engine and tearing it down

Breakdown if engine to pull it.


Pulling the engine

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

I am not really going for a PURE SHOW car here, but I definetly want the wow factor and for it to look like the job was done right.

I have only put about 400 miles on the car since I have had it. I purchased a Complete Performance Plus Suspension with all poly bushings, Tubular A-Arms, fiberglass adjustable springs and bilstien sports a while back for my car and had it installed, she handles like she is on railes now.

The engine bay definetly need some attention.


Engine bay pressure washed and de greased


Preped and Primered, My tubular A arms are already powedercoated so they got covered up.



PAINT!!!!

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

Well my interior is shot in this car but for right now it will be going back in after the wiring is complete.

2 Reasons the wiring had to get reworked in this car.
1. I am not keeping the old computer and having the LS1 on stand alone on the engine.
2. I am using a completly new set of AUTOMETER C2 gauges.

I dont have alot of pictures on the wiring, but This is how butchered the interior looked like with all the wiring.

transamsam98

iTrader: (56)

please keep this up to date and add as many details/ parts list/ price if possible this is my next project and it has only been done a handful of times with limited record keeping also congrats on obtaining a car you have wanted since childhood.

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

I purchased a used LS1 and Trans needless to say they were pretty nasty.





Problem one with the Transmission, one of the slave cyl bolts has been broken off in the transmission, guessing the slave was replaced at befor or atleast tried to replace it.


It was drilled out and tapped and a new slave was added.


Now back to the engine, and Trans, they were they were givin some TLC to clean them up, and also went into the engine to see how good it was.





Obviously the engine does not need any work, you can still see the CROSS HATCH in it, and things are VERY CLEAN

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

I will try to give a Price calculation once I show more stuff in the build dont want to give away any suprises

transamsam98

iTrader: (56)

sounds good man and have fun with the build.

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

If anyone is familier with the 80-82 rear ends, you know they are not strong, GM decided to make them ALUMINUM for weight savings to help the Corvette during the SMOG emissions days. after all with only 200HP it really did not need to be ALL that strong anyways right?

Well It probably could of held the LS1 with a automatic but I was concerned with the T-56, after all that trans is known for destroying rear ends.

Also I wanted a rear end gear change and wont ganna spend the money to do it on the aluminum one. So out comes the old one.


Things dont look to bad for 30 years, Surface rust over the rear end, and some grease under the car thats about it.

I wound up getting a awsome deal on a used RACE preped 79 IRON corvette rear end with 4.11s

I also needed new half shafts for the rear end because they were differnt.

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

OK, as I said theres just alot of stuff I did not get pictures of. I will post what I have on some of the custom pieces needed to do this swap, and some pieces I just wanted to upgrade and change.

MOTOR MOUNTS

My mechanic makes these, he is one of the most knowledgable LS engine swap people I know he specilizes in putting them in C3s.

I powedercoated mine this what they look like on the engine.


Notice that these mounts have TWO different mounting locations, so that you can choose the Position if your engine.

Those go hand in hand with this!


This is a Bowtie Overdrives 700R4 with adjustable mount, my mechanic is the reason bowtie sales this, there is still modification needed to make it work with a T-56 however, nothing major just some grinding of the transmission mount.

Now one of the biggest problems with trying to drop a LS1 into a C3 vette and quite a few other cars is the WATERPUMP, the reason is the heater fittings run into the A arms.

This is my waterpump after being customized by my mechanic.


There were alot more things that needed to be customized like the fuel tank, shifter location and things like that. hopefully I can get some pictures of those later.

Now onto some of the stuff I wanted done to spruce up the engine bay.

This is how alot of the accessories looked when I got the motor


Well This is how They turned out after some TLC



Also My mechanic makes CUSTOM A/C brackets that allow c3 owners to RETAIN THERE STOCK A/C components and mounts the A/C in the same location it was on the old engine, also his brackets come in billet but I decided to go with a DIFFERENT theme.


The A/C brackets are on fare right.

Now onto some other things. To go with my engine bay theme this is what happend to the valve covers


I was also concerned about the clutch because of the miles on the engine, it turned out to be in perfect shape might be a replacment piece itself, but I still decided on a upgrade, and I also added some MSD wires and new plugs.




Now I would like to thank Monster clutches for the great deal on this little bad boy




Now that finalizes the work needed to be done on the powertrain befor it gets its new home time to button it all up and toss her in.

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

Now its time to drop the motor back in and start puttin all the goodies on.



SITTIN PRETTY!!!!!!!

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

Finishing up the engine bay!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, now to bolt everythign up to the engine.

One more thing I would like to add, I did not get any pictures of the install but I also added HYDROBOOST to this car and got rid of the vacumme tank, I also converted to eletric headlights to allow me to do this.

The hydroboost system runs off the powersteering pump instead of the vacumme to assist in breaking, which means you dont have to apply as much pressure, almost all new cars have this. The unit is a stock mid 90s chevy 1/2 ton hydroboost but all the fittings and lines had to be custom made. I finished it up with a WILWOOD tandem M/C with a 1 1/8 bore Proportioning valve and line locks. basicly all the supporting mods I will need for when I upgrade the brakes in about a year.

Valve covers go on.


LS6 Intake and Alternator, I left the stock crank pulley for now, It will be replaced with a Underdrive pulley in a few months.


Coil packs



Now for the headers, This is a custom set of 1 1/4 Ceramic coated headers that are made for LS1 into C3 swaps, they work with all stock components of a C3 as well as aftermarket things like steroids rack and pinion steering and other custom mods.

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

ok, everything is bolted up to the engine, MINUS the custom Throttle Body I ordered from a forum member here, its over a week late and I never got a tracking number, so hopefully I did not get hosed. If it dont show up in a few days the stock one goes back on so I can put on the CUSTOM Air intake.

The hydroboost and P/V with line locks is in also.

transamsam98

iTrader: (56)

how long has this build taken you so far and how difficult has it been? also since your thread is so detailed I am more than happy to delete my posts and not take away from this. also what is your wieght goal? hp goal? is i ever going to see he track if so 1/4 mile guess?

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

No need to deleat your threads, I honestly do not think it is that detailed, but if it helps others then im glad to post.

This is only phase one of what this car will go threw. but I am not rich so this is the last up the major upgrades for now, it will still look stock on the outside.

right now I think my car should fall in around 3100 to 3200 pounds, but there is still 2 to 3 hundred more pounds I can lose and still be fully drivable, upgrading the brakes alone will drop 50 pounds, and taking out the bumper supports can drop another 80 for front and back.

I converted the headlights to eletric so I lost about 10 pounds there. got rid of the spare tire rack but like I said when I have the money she will get even ligther.

Final Horsepower goals are going to be around 500 to the wheels N/A with a shot of nos just for fun. I could probably make the 500 with the engine I have now, but I plan a Forged 416 LS3 in about two years, the motor in it now has high miles but I may throw a cam in it and some heads just to get more umph out of it.

I already know it will run Mid 12s 1/4 with the STOCK LS1 engine. Plus with the 50/50 weight distribution she will handle as well, especally with my suspension.

This car also needs RESTO along with the modding, I plan for fender flares later on also and my mechanic is working on CUSTOM LS1 C3 sidepipes also.

I am not doing the swap myself, because I would just butcher the wiring im no good at that stuff. but once my mechanic turns the motor over and throws everything back together its comming back to me.

i mainly did this so that I could whatever engine option I wanted at a later date, this LS1 was never ment to be permanent. thats why I chose one with high miles cause I got it dirt cheep.

motor and t-56 cost me 2700 and I got the F-body radiator and fans for the swap also. Those are temporary as well.

SuprJames

Good call on ditching the rear. I have an '82 CE that runs 12's on street tires and I'm afraid bolting on slicks will result in a rear end failure.

82cetuner

iTrader: (9)

Good possibilty, the fact that you are running the 700R4 is probably what is saving it now.

I have seen a LS3 with a 480LE trans running on a stock 82 rear and held up fine and that is 430hp. its not the horsepower its if it hooks or not, Ive also heard of stock engines breaking them.

99FormulaWs6

I'm seriously debating this same project on an 81, I was glad to see your thread, keep up the good work!

600HPShark

James, the LS6 Miata is exactly what I was planning on building in the near future as my fun track car. Thing is gonna be a monster.

82, what other major hurdles have you run into with this swap?
A buddy and I are putting a LQ9 6.0 motor into his 71 vette.
Aside from needing the motor mount adapters and headers what other major adjustments had to be made to drop this puppy in the vette?
You gonna have someone do a reflash of the CPU?

Could you go into more detail on the water pump modifications?

Only concerned with engine/trans mods, rest of the cars suspension will do for now.

Thanks man!

BulldawgMusclecars

I'm doing a smiliar build on my '81 Corvette...you might want to check Corvette Forum, there are LOTS of these done or being done. There is a sticky in the C3 Performance section.

-Q-

iTrader: (10)

Love it, man. I did a mild restoration on a '75...interior was not fun. Your pictures look all too familiar...