time for a new project: 1978 malibu LS swap
#41
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: New Hampshire
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Ordered these same top mounts that you did and cant get them to fit the mounts on the bottom that I have. Was wondering what company the mounts on your frame are??
and is your firewall extremely close to the back of the block?? also had an issue with the bolts that transdap being way too long and actually hit the webbing in the block, did you have that issue as well?? thanks.
and is your firewall extremely close to the back of the block?? also had an issue with the bolts that transdap being way too long and actually hit the webbing in the block, did you have that issue as well?? thanks.
#42
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Location: New Hampshire
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Had a couple of questions on the mounts you used. I ordered the same set and still cant get them to line up with my moroso mounts on the frame. I was wondering want mounts u had on the frame?? And wondering why you went with a 1" setback?? mine seems way to close to the firewall. thanks.
#43
the car had the moroso lower mounts but they were probably from the early 90's when the car was first built. i ended up switching the trans dapt mounts out for the moroso solid upper mounts eventually but had to modify them by elongating the hole. the engine is close to the firewall but clears (there is no a/c box) and i dont remember about the bolts (was almost 2 years ago lol)
#44
finally updating this thread, its been a while. unfortunately for my buddy, life happens - bought a house, had 2 kids (with a 3rd literally due within the next few days) his brother and I decided he needed to make a pass in this car before it sat for another year. I don't even know where to begin but ill try to keep the randomness to a minimum.
it still has the stock 5.7 LS1 I picked up off here for him probably 5 years ago. I went through it, put a .620ish comp cam, lifters and pushrods in it and bolted on a set of stock truck 243 casting heads I had as spares. his brother donated his old powerglide and converter, afco adjustable front shocks, and driveshaft. the car was at Rhodes custom auto for a cage, frame notch, and exhaust probably 3 years ago. since it came back it had no interior because I took it out for the chassis work - so last weekend we put the interior back in with a new carpet. got the Fbody LS1 alternator to charge using a 470ohm resistor, did an alignment, set the anti-roll bar up and fixed a bunch of little stuff. last night I mounted a set of 28x10.5 ET drags on some mickey Thompson wheels, changed the 4yr old oil, tried to program the MSD 6LS but couldn't get the laptop to communicate with the box. it was late so we said "**** it" and put the #6 race chip in it and would try again in the morning.
took the car to the track this morning, messed with the MSD some more, figured out it was a bad USB cable. got a new one and set up the timing table with 30* total timing and he made a shake down pass to the 1/8th and went 7.1 off the trailer (he hasn't driven since 2006 lol)
took the power valve out of the carb, squared the jets and bumped the timing to 32* and went 11.12@121, changed a few more things and went a best of 11.009@almost 123mph. not record breaking but a lot quicker than I guessed it would go.
depending on what happens over the summer we plan to spray it in the fall so we'll see how that goes. overall im happy with how this car came out and glad to see one of my best friends be able to race the car he had to put on the back burner in favor of being a responsible adult.
it still has the stock 5.7 LS1 I picked up off here for him probably 5 years ago. I went through it, put a .620ish comp cam, lifters and pushrods in it and bolted on a set of stock truck 243 casting heads I had as spares. his brother donated his old powerglide and converter, afco adjustable front shocks, and driveshaft. the car was at Rhodes custom auto for a cage, frame notch, and exhaust probably 3 years ago. since it came back it had no interior because I took it out for the chassis work - so last weekend we put the interior back in with a new carpet. got the Fbody LS1 alternator to charge using a 470ohm resistor, did an alignment, set the anti-roll bar up and fixed a bunch of little stuff. last night I mounted a set of 28x10.5 ET drags on some mickey Thompson wheels, changed the 4yr old oil, tried to program the MSD 6LS but couldn't get the laptop to communicate with the box. it was late so we said "**** it" and put the #6 race chip in it and would try again in the morning.
took the car to the track this morning, messed with the MSD some more, figured out it was a bad USB cable. got a new one and set up the timing table with 30* total timing and he made a shake down pass to the 1/8th and went 7.1 off the trailer (he hasn't driven since 2006 lol)
took the power valve out of the carb, squared the jets and bumped the timing to 32* and went 11.12@121, changed a few more things and went a best of 11.009@almost 123mph. not record breaking but a lot quicker than I guessed it would go.
depending on what happens over the summer we plan to spray it in the fall so we'll see how that goes. overall im happy with how this car came out and glad to see one of my best friends be able to race the car he had to put on the back burner in favor of being a responsible adult.
#48
aside from the car being done, best part about all this is when he used to bracket race it went 11.50's with a solid roller 355, racegas. now its lighter, runs on pump gas (so its cheaper for him to race), its faster, requires no real maintenance if he doesn't spray it and it can be driven.
#50
took this back to the track again last weekend with his brother driving this time - he ran the same 11.50 index class I do. went 11.33 first pass lifting @1000ft, 2nd pass we added almost 150lbs and it went the same ET lol. ended up getting 2 bye-runs due to someone breaking so he lost in the semis with an 11.46 to the other guys 11.49
aside from the alternator crapping out the car worked well.
aside from the alternator crapping out the car worked well.