Ls1/t56 69 ta vert
I know, but the cost to rebuild the 350 to get the kind of power and mileage the LS1 has was way more. I also wanted fuel injection and the cost to convert with the old school motor was just too prohibitive. Don't get me wrong, my first car was a 70 GP that would chew up Chevelles, Mustangs, and Camaros all day long, and this was during the muscle car days. My brother had a 66 tri power GTO and a 74 Formula 400, so I hear your pain. The engine did go to a fellow pontiac guy that is putting it in a 72 ventura (nova look a like).
Sam
all it needed was a stroker 455 crank for that 350. 
Sam
Car guys are the most generous people I know. They're always willing to help a fellow or share their ideas. I just wanted to share my experiences with this build and maybe help or inspire someone else.
Sam
Sam
absolutely beautiful build....I've never been a huge fan of people modernizing muscle cars, but this changed my mind. Very very tastefully done, and still pays homage to the original!
Just need to take some more pics of the final product!....as if you didn't take enough pictures during your build process, lol
Just need to take some more pics of the final product!....as if you didn't take enough pictures during your build process, lol
absolutely beautiful build....I've never been a huge fan of people modernizing muscle cars, but this changed my mind. Very very tastefully done, and still pays homage to the original!
Just need to take some more pics of the final product!....as if you didn't take enough pictures during your build process, lol
Just need to take some more pics of the final product!....as if you didn't take enough pictures during your build process, lol
Sam
Sam
All the gauges work as well as the Driver Information Center in the gauge cluster. The only issue I'm having is the cruise control isn't working. I shows that it is on but will not engage. Oh well, I'll have to chase that gremlin down.
Driving the car is a ball. The seats are are extremely comfortable, power from the LS1 is great, although I'm not making huge power, it already sucked the doors off a friend's 69 bird with a pont 400 that was not stock, but the best thing is I'm getting about 23 mpg on the freeway. At 70 mph engine is turning just over 1900 rpm in 6th gear. I just love fuel injection. Suspension is firm and it drives like a new vette. Let me say from 1st hand experience back in the late sixties early seventies that these cars didn't handle the way they do now.
I still have a few more loose ends to clean up like finishing the trunk, get the cruise working and ironing out any electrical problems. This car is going to be a great cruiser.
Sam
Driving the car is a ball. The seats are are extremely comfortable, power from the LS1 is great, although I'm not making huge power, it already sucked the doors off a friend's 69 bird with a pont 400 that was not stock, but the best thing is I'm getting about 23 mpg on the freeway. At 70 mph engine is turning just over 1900 rpm in 6th gear. I just love fuel injection. Suspension is firm and it drives like a new vette. Let me say from 1st hand experience back in the late sixties early seventies that these cars didn't handle the way they do now.
I still have a few more loose ends to clean up like finishing the trunk, get the cruise working and ironing out any electrical problems. This car is going to be a great cruiser.
Sam
As for the cruise control, not trying to be a jerk, but do you know how to engage it? When I first got my 06 GTO, I had to figure it out, because it doesn't work like any other car I've driven.
You have to turn it "on," which it sounds like you've done, and then you have to set the speed to "engage" it. Something like "cruise engaged" will pop up on the DIC when you do this. Without sitting the car, I'm not positive, but I think you have to twist the piece on the turn signal stalk to get it to engage.
Really nice build. Everything looks like it's belonged there since they built the car.
As for the cruise control, not trying to be a jerk, but do you know how to engage it? When I first got my 06 GTO, I had to figure it out, because it doesn't work like any other car I've driven.
You have to turn it "on," which it sounds like you've done, and then you have to set the speed to "engage" it. Something like "cruise engaged" will pop up on the DIC when you do this. Without sitting the car, I'm not positive, but I think you have to twist the piece on the turn signal stalk to get it to engage.
As for the cruise control, not trying to be a jerk, but do you know how to engage it? When I first got my 06 GTO, I had to figure it out, because it doesn't work like any other car I've driven.
You have to turn it "on," which it sounds like you've done, and then you have to set the speed to "engage" it. Something like "cruise engaged" will pop up on the DIC when you do this. Without sitting the car, I'm not positive, but I think you have to twist the piece on the turn signal stalk to get it to engage.
Sam
Thanks, for the information. Yes, I believe I know how to work it. I can turn on the cruise and the DIC will show that it is on, but when I try to set the speed by turning the turn signal stalk "cruise engaged" does not come up. I think I've narrowed it down to either the clutch position switch, brake disengage switch or the turn signal switch. I haven't checked for continuity on the clutch and brake switches, but I did try to direct wire the turn signal switch to the cruise module to see if I could bypass some circuits with no results. Any thoughts or help is certainly appreciated.
Sam
Sam
I'm not really too familiar with how the LS1 cars worked, since on my 06 the cruise is handled internally by the ECM controlling the electronic throttle rather than by a separate module.
I've got the factory manual for my car if you need to know anything, but beyond the switches and how they're wired I doubt there's much commonality.
I think you're on the right track. I would have been surprised if it had been the turn signal switch, since you could get it to come "on." If it's not something to do with the clutch or brake switch, I'd figure you'd be left with the BCM. I'd imagine if it doesn't see everything it wants, it could shut down the whole deal.
I'm not really too familiar with how the LS1 cars worked, since on my 06 the cruise is handled internally by the ECM controlling the electronic throttle rather than by a separate module.
I've got the factory manual for my car if you need to know anything, but beyond the switches and how they're wired I doubt there's much commonality.
I'm not really too familiar with how the LS1 cars worked, since on my 06 the cruise is handled internally by the ECM controlling the electronic throttle rather than by a separate module.
I've got the factory manual for my car if you need to know anything, but beyond the switches and how they're wired I doubt there's much commonality.
On second thought... Does your cruise work if the Traction Control is off? I may have to fool the BCM in thinking its on somehow.
Sam
Last edited by SamHatco; Apr 19, 2010 at 05:08 PM. Reason: edit
Your right about the difference in the 04 and 05/06 cars. I think 04 is kind of a transition between drive by cable and drive by wire systems. I have the service manual also on the 04. I wouldn't even attempt a swap like this without it. I've been going to LS1GTO.com forum and snooping around to see what's happing to cruise issues, maybe it's tied to the ABS or traction control. I'll continue to chase this bugger down, in the mean time it doesn't hold me up from driving it, it's just annoying. I'd like to have all the systems work if they're there. Worst case I could get a stand alone system and wire it into the turn signal.
On second thought... Does your cruise work if the Traction Control is off? I may have to fool the BCM in thinking its on somehow.
Sam
On second thought... Does your cruise work if the Traction Control is off? I may have to fool the BCM in thinking its on somehow.
Sam
You don't have to tell me how annoying it is to not have the cruise. In my Dad's LS7 68 Camaro, it's basically impossible to add with the drive by wire. After we drove from Denver to Reno in one day, I think we were both limping we got there.
I really never drive my car without the traction control on, to be honest. A lot of the 04 owners I know always turn it off because when it kicks on in those cars it will literally push your foot up with the gas pedal. In the LS2 cars with the dbw, that's a nonissue. Does your DIC show traction being off or any ABS warnings? I could definitely see that being a problem here.
If it's something with the BCM, you could always just bypass it. GM has used those type of cruise modules for some time, so I'd bet it would work on it's own. You'd lose the DIC display, though.
