Well it's about time I start another project thread since my first time didn't go as planned. This will be my second attempt to stick an ls1 into a second gen, first was an 80 Trans Am, this one a 81 firebird. First time around was tough since at the time I bought the car our hours at work were cut back for a few months and eventually it branch was shut down completely. Had offers to relocate to either Austin or Houston but I wouldn't have made it comfortably, so I declined.

I did some trading transmissions from 6 speed to auto and back to 6 speed making money off of them both times. Eventually I sold the body of the car, the the ls1 and six speed combo, I made my money back and then some. Plus I kept the parts that I had bought, and restored like sub frame, a arms, the whole front suspension pretty much, plus c5 brake kit from kore3.

At the same time I had been daily driving my ws6 got three years and felt it was time for another project since my new job allowed for such thing. Found a 1981v6 firebird in good shape for about 2k, a couple weeks after that while searching for a motor I found me a nice torch red c5z with a 402 for a good price so I jumped on it. Now I had the perfect donor now in my ws6, took out the motor and transmission and sold the car.

Substance over style will be my approach to this project, meaning getting it running and driving as good as possible, without worrying about looks, that will come at a later time. In the next six months I started taking the v6 out, buying parts, buying parts, and did I mention buying parts? I am reusing the one inch set back plates from car shop Inc from the previous project and some other parts like steering linkage from ptfb.com and an iroc steering box. As to not make the first post too long the next few will be about what I have done to the car so far. I will update with some pictures soon.

Edit: sorry about the large pictures, uploading from my phone and I don't know how to resize them.

 

Here's the car and the donor in the background.

 

So out went the little v6, making room for the ls1.

 

Out went the ls1

 

I eventually ordered some parts.

 

The headers are from stainless works, 1 7/8 and they fit perfect with car shop 1 set back plates and the welding looks great.

 

Holley 750dp and intake installed.

 

those welds looks good

 

They sure do, they're in great shape. Too bad the c5 brakes won't fit. Thinking of ordering year one 17 inch snowflakes to keep the same look. I would love some 18 but not sure yet

 

I had to do some trimming to the alternator, it was hitting the engine mount plates. Took about a quarter inch off and fit perfect afterwards. Eventually I want to get some 1/16 and make a cap for it.

 

Got some reason I thought you said wheels. but he's they do look good.

 

I ordered some fan and fuel pump relays and alternator kit from Ron Francis wiring. At first I ordered the wrong alternator kit, I gave them a call and they sent me the correct wire (Brown wire) right away and just sent mine back when I had the time. Great guys to deal with here.

 

Getting the fuel pump and cooling fans relay, not a worrying expert so it took me a while between this and the gauges.

 

In an attempt to keep the engine bay with the last amount of visible wires, I took the circuit breakers from the relays inside the car. I used existing screws locations under the dash on passenger side.

 

That WS6 looks clean - did it get scrapped out?

 

I sold it as a roller. It's already out on the streets again, ran into the new owner a couple times and some friends have seen it at the track.

 

I ordered my auto meter gauges from car shop Inc as well. They were a little tight in the gauge bezel so I got some sand paper and ten minutes later I got them all to fit nice in there.

 

This is what the back of the gauge bezel looks like, again it's my first time at such thing. I later found a harness that would have helped keep everything cleaner but it all works nite and I can use that money elsewhere.

 

And now some cool eye catching stuff.

 

Ridetech and Detroit Speed stuff, this is going to be fun.