lxwithlaundry

Ok I've tried doing this three times now and It keeps signing me off.. so Ima take baby steps lol..

And also first of all I would like to think LS1tech.com and Matt (Denmah) for having all the threads that keeps me learning.. esp Denmahs stuff.. he makes it easy for us..

Its time I start my build thread.. This Project is wrapped around a true low budget build.. As I am unemployed and do not get any type of funding from any government or state agencys.. I'm sort of a backwoods do it myselfer from SC.. but here is the run down..

The project started when I ran across a LS 4.8/5.3 at the scrapyard.. I asked about it and it was being held for a guy.. 3 weeks later I go back and its still there.. I offer $70 for it and the guy accepts it.. So I have a short block to play with.. I take it home and tear into it.. cleaning it along the way.. come to find out its a 4.8 and I was a little bummed but hey theres still room for fun with it.. So I proceed to clean and paint and check it over and find 2 bad lifters.. So I get 2 and throw them in for $32 bucks.. Then order a gasket set for $140 bucks and head stud from KMJ for $80 bucks.. Being a short block I needed a intake, water pump, etc.. So I landed a LS1 intake for $200 and a starter off the same LS1 for $30.. So I have $552 bucks in a freshish LS 4.8 (not as budget friendly but not to bad)





from here knowing I need a water pump and accesories I run across a guy taking a 5.3 out of his tahoe because it taps when he first fires it up.. goes away after a couple minutes.. Turns out to be a lifter also.. I picked it up for $200 and it was complete.. with a 1 month old water pump.. so a little cleaning and I put it in the 4.8



Now that I had a clean engine on the stand it was time to look for a chassis but there was a problem.. I had $200 bucks in my pocket and nobody was giving away cars.. So I still get to looking and run across a guy selling what I want.. a 1989 Notchback.. He wants $675 for it and it come with a freshly rebuilt 302 and t5 trans.. And I happen to know a guy looking for a 302.. So before I even get the car I have money in hand for the engine and trans.. sold them for $600 So I get the car and it also had a 600 holley and chevrolet hei distributer in the seat.. so I sold those for $100 bucks.. So after that I end up with a notchback and $25 more dollars in my pocket and heres how it looked when I picked it up

lxwithlaundry

Alrighty then.. glad its finally posting.. On to the next part..

Now I get a little tax money back.. And the last time I done one of these swaps I done it the hard way.. using the stock k-member and I managed to do it but was aggravated.. So I had to do a little better and went with a AJE K-Member for $300 bucks, AJE spring perchs for $40 bucks and AJE mounts for $80... And at that time I also ordered a Northern Radiator for $130 bucks.. And I charged on putting it all under the front end and at the same time welding up a few holes on the towers and painting it black..



Then it was time for the engine to go in and get off the stand.. I was taking up to much room in the shop and had the 69 camaro outside and that just wasn't cool lol



Man that went in so easy.. right by myself and in about 2 minutes.. So I set the radiator in next to see how it fit.. cause its a big one..



A little big for what i wanted but I'll work with it..



So on to the next issue.. I needed a trans and I'm a th400 fan.. So I start looking and run across one with a 2000 stall.. I want a 3000 3500 stall but hey.. cant be picky.. Esp when I had $225 bucks and found one just pulled out of a camaro that the guy went to 6 speed with.. and I know it works.. So he took my $225 bucks and I had a tranny.. I also had a hughes spacer from my build last year so I could mate up the LS and the th400 but I was having issues.. the spacer was making the crank sit out to far and the tranny wouldn't bolt all the way up.. hmmmm.. scratching my head I start compairing flexplates.. Seems the 4.8 has a spacer made on its flexplate and longer bolts than the 5.3.. also its a flate plate.. Somehow I ended up with a flexplate designed for older transmissions.. ??? still puzzled.. so I take the spacer out and bolt the tranny up and perfect fit.. guess i just got lucky? Anyways now I'm in the process of making my crossmember to support the transmission..

in between this and following Matt's builds (denmah) I know I want to go turbo.. And its right at my birthday.. The Wife suprizes me with buying me the Microquirt v3 set up and thats not it.. she then goes to ebay and looks at what I have in the watch list and orders the GT45 turbo I've been looking over.. so I order a set of 2.5" vbands and a turbo flange.. and start making headers.. and vht hi temp coated them..







Sorry for all the crap pics.. to lazy to get the nikon out.. cell phone is always with me lol

lxwithlaundry

ok.. at this time its getting close to car show time at the beach.. And I have to get some loose end tied up on the 69 camaro so I can make it to the show.. and i was in the middle of stripping paint off the car.. it had some surface rust that was eating at me so I just had to... Now its sitting like this.. I sold the LS1 intake in favor of the truck intake from the 5.3 engine I bought.. I figured the little 4.8 could use some help in the torque area..



And sitting there waiting for a driveshat that needs to be 3.25" longer.. This is up to date and I'll be dropping the fuel tank today. Finishing the crossmember and i'll get started making the turbo exhaust from the headers to the turbo.. and get the turbo in position..

lxwithlaundry

so just about to date this is what I have:

1989 Mustang Notch $675.00
LS 4.8 $70.00
Gasket Set w/MLS head gaskets $140.00
KMJ head studs $80.00
2 Lifters $32.00
LS1 starter $30.00
AJE K member $300.00
AJE LS engine mounts $80.00
AJE Spring perches $40.00
Aluminum Radiator $130.00
Another complete 5.3 $200.00
Hayden 14" fan $75.00
Turbo 400 with stall $225.00
Microquirt v3 $380.00 < (gift but i will still include in the price)
GT45 Turbo $260.00 < (gift but i will still include in the price)
Vband flanges $25.00
Billet oil feed plate $25.00

Total comes up to $2127.00 then with the 2 gifted items it goes to $2767.00

Sold the 302, trans, carb and distributer for a total of $700 so it drops the grand total down to $2067.00 in the build so far..

FrossB

iTrader: (1)

dude...teach me your ways of finding deals like that haha great start! you make it look easy

stangtrader

iTrader: (2)

Nice work man,thats a pretty good budget.i wish mine was cheaper to be building.keep up the good work

Bullitt117

iTrader: (1)

Very nice! I wish I could find deals like that.

toxic99

Good job so far, keep updating pls

MrPotatoeHead

iTrader: (1)

Whats the part number on that radiator?

red 95 t/a

Nice build. I'm doing the same thing with my fox body I'm just about done other then a wideband and paint and a little over 3500

87lsttop

iTrader: (2)

Very nice. I practically did the same thing with all of my old 5.0 stuff cept I kept the turbo system and adapted it. I think right now I am right at 3500 total. Including the car. They can definitely be done for cheap. Good job so far.

LsoneGT

iTrader: (2)

Looks good man and great budget build also

bjamick

iTrader: (31)

What steering shaft you using?

lxwithlaundry

thanks for all the compliments guys.. My brother says I'm always finding crackhead deals lol...

lxwithlaundry

As far as I know its a stock steering shaft..

lxwithlaundry

Still to come..
I'll have to make exhaust from vband headers to the turbo... $20.00
Aluminum 3" piping and couplers for cold side piping... $150.00
80lbs injectors.. $350.00
Twin walbro fuel pumps.. $230.00
AN Fittings and Fuel line.. $100.00
Strange Front Adjustable Strut shocks or Competion engineering 90/10s... $240.00
Moroso trick springs front $130.00
Full sub frame connectors.. $130.00
Paint.. $200.00

So roughly figuring.. I'll have $3700 in a completed car.. or Closer to $4000.00 if I have to go in a redo the rear end.. and I'm sure it might go up a little more with time or down if I run across some good used stuff.. which want be bad still esp if it gets me close to my goal at the track which is to have a chute.. I dont care much for the lower times.. I'ld be happy with low 10s as long as my mph is close to 150

lxwithlaundry

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-380431

Thats the one I got.. it must have been on sale when I got it last month.. now its saying $144.00

If I had it to do over i would go with the dual pass like this one for $190.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110897372073...84.m1423.l2649

LsoneGT

iTrader: (2)

yea I just spent 1k on parts for my rear end

denmah

iTrader: (2)

damn dude you do nice work!

lxwithlaundry

Thanks Matt! I'll be glad when I get to the really fun stuff.. turbo and wiring.. about a week away tho


LsoneGT.. before I spend to much I'll go down to the junkyard and ****** out a explorer 31 spline diff unit for $40 bucks.. then run to Holcomb and pick up a set of $200 31 spline axles and throw this 2.73 gear or 3.27s i have laying around in.. the 31 spline unit from the explorer come with 3.73 and some with 4.10 but thats to much for my setup