with the way the carb and everything sits up top i dont dare raise it any. but i will smack the crap out of the crossmember

making progress,had some decent weather to go out and work. started grinding on the camaro manifolds. if i bolt it to the head i have 1/8" of clearance to the frame. do you guys think thats enough? if not then ill b smacking the frame with a hammer cuz i dont want to take anymore meat off the manifold and flange.

CTS-V pan on order from GMpartsdirect. should see it sometime next week hopefully. other than that not much to update.

If you need anything for the Malibu let me know. I just bought a 76 Laguna for the engine and I'm parting it out. The only thing I'm using on the wagon is the dash structure and the pad since its black and the wagon is green. Barf.

ill take some info on getting the dash apart? also the pan came in but its been raining all week so no chance to work fml

What do you need apart?

Just registered and subscribed.
I'm planning the same swap with either an LM7 or LQ4 for my 73 El Camino.

im taking apart the whole dash. gonna do something custom.

also fitting the oil pan as we speak. there is a bung that hits the cross member so it must be ground down. work has the perfect grinder.

got the pan on the motor, and just my luck the passenger side of the cross member hits on the bottom. im starting to think its warped or that the frame is tweaked. regardless i will have to take the motor out again and heat it and smack the crap out of it. then put it back in which i was trying to avoid. oh well just my luck. should b able to do that monday on my day off. will post pix of today later.

anyone have any idea what the weight of the front end is gonna be now that i have an aluminum block and heads instead of iron? looking into a QA1 coil over set up. same question applies to the back end

My LS1 is 390 with oil. The stock 350 was 510 or something like that? They told me to go down one spring from the description of what I wanted. So, say I want Autocross handling and that calls for a 450, go with a 400.. I'm putting 350# in mine. I lost the front inner fenders too though.

This page helped me a lot.

http://www.spohn.net/shop/1973-1977-...=1#description

As far as the back, you'll have to call them. I have a lil more weight back there than you.

Man, I'd just high polish those wheels and use them. I also love 8" Vette rallies on these cars. Here's my '78 Caprice, which is on the list for an LS transplant.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t...SCF28331-1.jpg

Brandon

thought u guys should know that since i have the day off i will be using today for mock up of the motor. come hell or high water i want today to be the last day im messing with the fitment. im going to take it off jack stands as well to see if that will change anything on how it sits in the engine bay. i will post pix tonight.

Vetteman: I love those cars also. I owned an 86 2 door and a 89 4 door in high school. Is that one an Aerocoupe with the big back glass or is it flat?

Brian: How'd it go?

Thanks. It's the Aerocoupe back glass. It's a 1978. I actually got it when I was 16 because they used it as a loaner at that dealership in the picture and it was on the backlot in the weeds waiting for the junkyard/crusher and I asked if I could have it. I've been driving it ever since.

Brandon

sorry for the delay boys. had a ton more on my plate than realized, and most recently my old man is in the hospital with after effects from his most recent heart attack.

but as for the car the engine went in. drivers side mount bolted up with ease. passenger was sitting high by a 1/4". i put the old girl on all fours and it fell into place. havent checked 100% yet but i believe the pan is just touching the crossmember, but it follows it wonderfully. hoping to get into it again tomorrow but the way the sky has been looking probably not.

need some help guys.

i made some crappy spacers to go between the block adapters and the mounts,
the material is 1/4" thick. so after thinkingabout it i've elpmoved the motor more than a 1/4" up.

i have to move it up a bit so i have some room. looking for 1/4" between the pan and crossmember.

any ideas and help is great right now since this is the first nice day ive had in a week.

do i need to move up the mounts on the frame? are the aftermarket pieces that will move the motor up without much hassle?

Sounds like you just need taller frame pedestals. 1/4" on the engine side and on the frame side is a little too much for me personally. That puts all the load on 8 little washer sized spots. But that is just my thoughts. I'd just find taller mounts or add a 1/2" plate under the frame mounts. But I have a overbuild everything mentality/background. Haha

Took it back out last night. Put in some 1/8th" washers between the mount and adaptor. Fits way better. Gotta bolt the trans back up tonight after work and double check everything for final fitment.

it fits, not sure exactly how much space i have but its at least more than 1/8". just need to put the rest of the motor back in and will be able to fab exhaust and then hopefully ill b able to really clean it all up. pix tomorrow when the weather is supposed to be sunny for a change

sorry for the wait guys, those washers did the trick. i have a 1/4" of space all around the oil pan. threw the top end on and accessories and double checked it all. cant find an issue yet. gotta do exhaust. any time i start getting on a role with this car, rain starts, fml