C3 78' Corvette LS1/T-56 with Holset HX-55 Turbo build
07-18-2011, 09:51 AM
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C3 78' Corvette LS1/T-56 with Holset HX-55 Turbo build The goal, build the badest 1978 c3 corvette I could with the long term least amount of money spent overall.
I have had this car for almost 2 years now, and was just tired of the lack of power, and horible freeway drivability known from the C3 corvettes so I decided to do something about it. I didnt want to spend a whole lot of money and knew I was going to do everything myself. Actually so far the only help I have had is my girlfriend holding a couple things and giving a push here and there.
The car has been getting a complete frame off restoration and I guess will be considered a restomod, or protouring when all said and done. It was fast and a good reliable car before, but I just wanted more out of it. Originally before pulling it had the factory 350 sbc 4 speed, motor was .30 over with cam, intake, carb, and did pretty good. It has a complete VBP four way adjustable performance supsension package with Bilstein shocks. Mind you all this was already done when I got the car in California and I only spent just what the suspension package would cost alone.
When I decided to do the LS1 T-56 swap, I first whent the rout of piecing it together. I got a 5.3 iron block for about $750 complete out of a truck, picked up an LS1 intake, and then started my hunt for the T-56 transmission. Those who have looked for one, know how hard they can be to find, and once you do, all said and done in the car with clutch and everything else be looking right around $2K just for the tranny. Thinking about how much this was going to end up costing I would be right around what a drop out LS1 T-56 would cost and still only be with the 5.3 with an unknown number of miles.
So by chance I found a crashed 99 trans am ws6 model stll in excelent shape with very low miles, and was also a california car still with the plates on it. The car only had some damage to the quarters and passenger side rocker panel. I started pulling everything out, holding onto all the wiring, and anything and everything I thought I would need or want and selling off everything else. Needless to say I made money selling the 5.3 I picked up, and am coming out just about even on the Trans Am deal with everything I need for the swap. It really just cost me a couple weeks of after work labor, and a bit of out of pocket expense that is almost starting to pay me.
I have had this car for almost 2 years now, and was just tired of the lack of power, and horible freeway drivability known from the C3 corvettes so I decided to do something about it. I didnt want to spend a whole lot of money and knew I was going to do everything myself. Actually so far the only help I have had is my girlfriend holding a couple things and giving a push here and there.
The car has been getting a complete frame off restoration and I guess will be considered a restomod, or protouring when all said and done. It was fast and a good reliable car before, but I just wanted more out of it. Originally before pulling it had the factory 350 sbc 4 speed, motor was .30 over with cam, intake, carb, and did pretty good. It has a complete VBP four way adjustable performance supsension package with Bilstein shocks. Mind you all this was already done when I got the car in California and I only spent just what the suspension package would cost alone.
When I decided to do the LS1 T-56 swap, I first whent the rout of piecing it together. I got a 5.3 iron block for about $750 complete out of a truck, picked up an LS1 intake, and then started my hunt for the T-56 transmission. Those who have looked for one, know how hard they can be to find, and once you do, all said and done in the car with clutch and everything else be looking right around $2K just for the tranny. Thinking about how much this was going to end up costing I would be right around what a drop out LS1 T-56 would cost and still only be with the 5.3 with an unknown number of miles.
So by chance I found a crashed 99 trans am ws6 model stll in excelent shape with very low miles, and was also a california car still with the plates on it. The car only had some damage to the quarters and passenger side rocker panel. I started pulling everything out, holding onto all the wiring, and anything and everything I thought I would need or want and selling off everything else. Needless to say I made money selling the 5.3 I picked up, and am coming out just about even on the Trans Am deal with everything I need for the swap. It really just cost me a couple weeks of after work labor, and a bit of out of pocket expense that is almost starting to pay me.
07-18-2011, 10:41 AM
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I fabricated a custom harness bar setup recently. I used polished stainless tubing, stainless plate, the beefiest I bolts I could find, and some large allen bolts. I wanted to use the adjustable tie rod ends for the connection points but figured instead of spending a fortune I would make them, because they wont be moving anyway. and following my theme of inexpensive I proceeded. I have some 5 point camlock belts, but will for the most part not be running the crotch killer..
07-19-2011, 08:59 AM
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Here is a photo of the car right before I started the swap, the Holset HX-55 turbocharger I am going to be running, and the projectors I picked up to replace the popups. I will be smoothing out where the popups are and putting the headlights down in the grill opening area on the sides of the intercooler. I am planning on removing the factory style front bumper and building a one off piece to shorten up the nose and give it a different look. I havnt decided if it will be fibergalssed or some serious metal work yet. Some input would be appreciated on the topic.
07-20-2011, 09:06 AM
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Here are some images of the Trans Am WS6 I picked up as the donar. The guy even delivered it to my driveway for me. Started striping it down, and now I have an empty shell sitting in my driveway covered up.
07-20-2011, 09:52 AM
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Pulling of the small block. Cut the tunel a bit more than needed just for ease of in and out while fitting. Notched the crossmember for the new trans mount which I am not pleased with my quality of work at all. if I had the body off, or the car on a lift it would have been a very different story. I plan on cutting the whole thing out and fabing up a quality asthetically pleasing crossmember/ trans mount down the road. This will be good and strong in the meantime. I used the motor mounts from my small block and got some adaptor plates from my best friend Ebay. As of now the motor and trans are in and bolted down.
You can see in the picture of starting to plate up the crossmember what kind of room I am working with under this car. Its cozy to say the least.
You can see in the picture of starting to plate up the crossmember what kind of room I am working with under this car. Its cozy to say the least.
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07-20-2011, 10:00 AM
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Over the 4th of july weekend I found a totally kick *** hood on craigslist. The guy had it laying around for years and wanted it gone so I picked it up super cheap. Its a high rise, but the only one I have seen like it was on a guys racing c3 corvette. Could never find them for sale anywhere. This one is a high rise, and also has heat extractor louvers on the passenger side exactly where my turbo will be going. It also has a guage pod in the center of the cowl so you can see it when in the car, debating if I want my boost gauge or another guage instaled there.
07-20-2011, 10:27 AM
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For the people who are interested in a high flow fuel system for a very reasonable price, I drew up a diagram when I was puting together everything I would need. Everything is from Summit, was had for under $550 and should support up to 1000hp efi, and 80psi. the feed line could be larger for higher hp applications.
-8 feed 20ft
-6 return 20ft
all fittings are the twist tight summit brand and support up to 250psi
2 summit EFI fuel pumps( each support 43gph & 40psi-500hp)
2 fuel Y blocks
2 filters, one for pre filter and one for after pump filter
mallory regulator, 30-100psi, 3 outlet ports, return port boost, guage port
fuel rail adaptor fitting
I know people will argue things should be one way or another, but this is what I came up with for the cheapest price to handle my power. I am going to come nowhere near the power this is capable of, but will not need to upgrade down the line.
-8 feed 20ft
-6 return 20ft
all fittings are the twist tight summit brand and support up to 250psi
2 summit EFI fuel pumps( each support 43gph & 40psi-500hp)
2 fuel Y blocks
2 filters, one for pre filter and one for after pump filter
mallory regulator, 30-100psi, 3 outlet ports, return port boost, guage port
fuel rail adaptor fitting
I know people will argue things should be one way or another, but this is what I came up with for the cheapest price to handle my power. I am going to come nowhere near the power this is capable of, but will not need to upgrade down the line.
08-02-2011, 12:16 PM
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I got the fuel system put together this weekend and mounted on a piece of aluminum that will be mounted to the car as close to the fuel tank as possible.
08-02-2011, 12:22 PM
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I threaded and pluged the heater bungs because of the common problem with clearance issues with the control arm, besides I dont have a heater anyways so it made it easy for me. I also instaled my straight thermastat housing that uses a sbc thermastat. I got my driveshaft resleeved and shortened almost 3" and is now mounted up. I also started diving into the harness mess. There is a lot of wiring I dont need, but then again I think I may have already spliced out some things I do need. Will address those as the time comes.
08-02-2011, 12:23 PM
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Now i need to fab up my sump pan I will be welding to the bottom of the fuel tank to address the issue of sucking air with a hard turn and low fuel.
08-03-2011, 01:43 PM
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Any plans to upgrade the rear diff? There is a guy named Gary on digitalcorvette or C3 that does a nice 12 bolt rear and upgraded outer shafts. That stock unit won't last real long
08-03-2011, 02:30 PM
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bad *** build dude. that thing's gonna haul ***!
Any plans to upgrade the rear diff? There is a guy named Gary on digitalcorvette or C3 that does a nice 12 bolt rear and upgraded outer shafts. That stock unit won't last real long
08-03-2011, 02:35 PM
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question for the car guys who may know.. I finally got rid of the trans-am shell that was sitting in my driveway, I posted it up on craigslist as free and some scrappers came and picked it up. My phone BLEW UP though posting that thing...
My question is, the car had a clean title, not salvage, so I removed the vin plate and have the title and vinplate. Is it legal to sell just a clear title and matching vin plate??
My question is, the car had a clean title, not salvage, so I removed the vin plate and have the title and vinplate. Is it legal to sell just a clear title and matching vin plate??
08-03-2011, 03:53 PM
#19
Looking neat man...btw, you can't do that with the heater bungs on the LS1...you have to connect them or you are going to have cooling issues as it is an integrated part of the system. Just run a 90 fitting and a u bend hose to bridge the two and you will be fine.
Do a search on that, you'll see what I mean.
Do a search on that, you'll see what I mean.
