PROJECT: LS1 RX-7 Build
02-16-2011, 10:17 PM
#104
So I have decided to change from the Hinson Torque arm to the Samberg Rear diff brace. I should be installing that soon.
I have also decided to go with some PRC stage 2.5 LS6 heads and an LS6 intake. As soon as I source everything I will update this thread with the installs.
I have also decided to go with some PRC stage 2.5 LS6 heads and an LS6 intake. As soon as I source everything I will update this thread with the installs.
04-17-2011, 06:37 PM
#109
Heads and Intake swap... I was not sure if I should make another thread or just add on to this one. I guess it is still the same build so here goes.
In the quest for more power I decided to go with some TSP PRC stage 2.5 ported 5.3L heads and an LS6 intake. I think these will work well with the TSP 228R cam. I also got some Z06 FRC that I am going to fill and have painted gloss black.
Precision Race Components stage 2.5 heads
LS6 Intake
Z06 Fuel Rail Covers
In the quest for more power I decided to go with some TSP PRC stage 2.5 ported 5.3L heads and an LS6 intake. I think these will work well with the TSP 228R cam. I also got some Z06 FRC that I am going to fill and have painted gloss black.
Precision Race Components stage 2.5 heads
LS6 Intake
Z06 Fuel Rail Covers
04-17-2011, 06:40 PM
#110
INTAKE REMOVAL
I am not going to go into much detail on this and just let the pictures do the talking.
Before:
After:
The good news is it only took me 45 minutes to take the intake manifold off. The bad news is I broke the oil sending unit at the back of the motor behind the intake. Ahh well.
Water Pump & Power Steering
Drained the coolant and removed the water pump so I could get at the bolts to remove the power steering reservoir. Two of the bolts were a pain to reach and took 20 minutes of slowly wrenching them off. Little things like valve covers and rockers/pushrods were also removed.
Passenger Side Head
Most of removing the passenger side head was not bad. The lower head bolts were hard to get to because of the headers in the way but the biggest pain was the bolt behind the head that held the dip stick to it. 3 hours of trying to get one damn bolt off. Sore back, wrist and knees but the damn thing is off now.
Driver's Side Head
Thanks to a buddy who came to help for a couple of hours today I was able to get the driver's side head off. We had to take the header off to get to all the bolts.
LS6 INTAKE MODIFICATION
You can see that the LS1 intake on the left has a contoured bottom where as the LS6 intake on the right is flat. This creates a problem because there are coolant lines in the valey right under the intake on the LS1 motor unlike on the LS6.
There are two solutions to this problem. The first is to buy the coolant lines that came on LS6 equiped cars. The second solution is to cut off the tabs/grid on the bottom of the LS6 intake to make room for the LS1 coolant lines. That is what I did...
Matte Red LS6 Intake
This took several days of prep, spray and curing. It was a pain in the *** but I think it turned out pretty good.
PRC Stage 2.5 Ported 5.3L Head Install
These went on a lot smoother than I thought they would except for 2 things. It was hard to install one of the bolts due to the fact that it was so long and the brake booster was in the way. The second issue is if anyone has ever installed heads before they know the amount of effort it takes to tighten the bolts. A couple of bolts where room is limited were especially hard. My back is killing...
Push Rods and Rockers installed...
Power steering pump and water pump installed. Starting to look a bit like a motor again.
I am not going to go into much detail on this and just let the pictures do the talking.
Before:
After:
The good news is it only took me 45 minutes to take the intake manifold off. The bad news is I broke the oil sending unit at the back of the motor behind the intake. Ahh well.
Water Pump & Power Steering
Drained the coolant and removed the water pump so I could get at the bolts to remove the power steering reservoir. Two of the bolts were a pain to reach and took 20 minutes of slowly wrenching them off. Little things like valve covers and rockers/pushrods were also removed.
Passenger Side Head
Most of removing the passenger side head was not bad. The lower head bolts were hard to get to because of the headers in the way but the biggest pain was the bolt behind the head that held the dip stick to it. 3 hours of trying to get one damn bolt off. Sore back, wrist and knees but the damn thing is off now.
Driver's Side Head
Thanks to a buddy who came to help for a couple of hours today I was able to get the driver's side head off. We had to take the header off to get to all the bolts.
LS6 INTAKE MODIFICATION
You can see that the LS1 intake on the left has a contoured bottom where as the LS6 intake on the right is flat. This creates a problem because there are coolant lines in the valey right under the intake on the LS1 motor unlike on the LS6.
There are two solutions to this problem. The first is to buy the coolant lines that came on LS6 equiped cars. The second solution is to cut off the tabs/grid on the bottom of the LS6 intake to make room for the LS1 coolant lines. That is what I did...
Matte Red LS6 Intake
This took several days of prep, spray and curing. It was a pain in the *** but I think it turned out pretty good.
PRC Stage 2.5 Ported 5.3L Head Install
These went on a lot smoother than I thought they would except for 2 things. It was hard to install one of the bolts due to the fact that it was so long and the brake booster was in the way. The second issue is if anyone has ever installed heads before they know the amount of effort it takes to tighten the bolts. A couple of bolts where room is limited were especially hard. My back is killing...
Push Rods and Rockers installed...
Power steering pump and water pump installed. Starting to look a bit like a motor again.
04-20-2011, 08:53 AM
#111
VALVE COVERS and COIL Brackets
Nothing exciting here. Because the aftermarket heads use a center bolt design and my stock LS1 heads are perimeter bolts I had to get some new valve covers and coil brackets. Picked up some used ones in great condition other than being VERY dirty.
This first pic is after about an hour of cleaning...
After some sanding....
And the final product after painting with some VHT high temp flat black...
Nothing exciting here. Because the aftermarket heads use a center bolt design and my stock LS1 heads are perimeter bolts I had to get some new valve covers and coil brackets. Picked up some used ones in great condition other than being VERY dirty.
This first pic is after about an hour of cleaning...
After some sanding....
And the final product after painting with some VHT high temp flat black...
05-28-2011, 04:51 PM
#115
Now that the heads are on I could finish up tucking the wires and hoses enough to finish modifying the Fuel Rail covers. After some more trimming and sanding I got them to fit.
Next is to get the Corvette letters filled and paint the covers black.
Next is to get the Corvette letters filled and paint the covers black.
07-08-2011, 10:12 AM
#118
Just getting the final touches done. The car is 99% complete now.
I got the fuel reail covers back from paint. The "CORVETTE" lettering was filled in and got them painted golss black. I am thinking I may pinstripe the lines and 5.7L is yellow for some contrast but not sure.
I got the fuel reail covers back from paint. The "CORVETTE" lettering was filled in and got them painted golss black. I am thinking I may pinstripe the lines and 5.7L is yellow for some contrast but not sure.
