Little update; ordered a cheap set of foxbody 5.0 headers and picked up a used offroad h-pipe for cheap. The ford flanges have 2 holes to mount to the 5.3 heads, even though the headers sit about an inch back. Its giving me an idea if this setup will work with a set of ls flanges. I'll have to grind a bose on the block but other than that, I believe this will work.

 

nice!

 

Thanks Man! First ls build, wish I would have delt with one of these sooner!

 

Since the irs came with the tail pipes already, I have been keeping an eye out for a set of irs Magnaflow mufflers and flow tubes. Was figuring I would be building a set of flow tubes and modding the tail pipes to accept a set of universal muffles. See the irs mufflers from Magnaflow slip into instead of over the tail pipes. Any who, I found a set for what a set of Magnaflow mufflers would have cost!

 

Got my ls flanges, studs and 30# @ 43.5 psi injectors in.

 

So I found some nylon spacers for the fuel rails and they turned out great. BTW they are .750 tall.

 

Looks like your making nice progress

 

Its about to hit a wall I believe. Trying to get everything together to start building my house at the end of the year. Plus I have decided not to buy a car to drop this in until I get my shop built which will be at the same time as the house. I keep finding perfect canidates but I keep biting my tongue lol
But the engine progress should be steady though......

 

nothing wrong with that, home, and family where always first for me. Cars will come and go.

 

Very true!

 

Ok, I'm back at this! Just ordered a Comp xr273hr and the Pac 1218 springs. Here are the cam specs:

Basic Operating RPM Range:
1,600-6,600


Intake Duration at 050 inch Lift:
220


Exhaust Duration at 050 inch Lift:
224

Advertised Intake Duration:
273


Advertised Exhaust Duration:
277

Intake Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio:
0.530 in.


Exhaust Valve Lift with Factory Rocker Arm Ratio:
0.534 in.

Lobe Separation (degrees):
112

Grind Number:
XR273HR
Its smaller than I was planning but I believe it will provide a nice strong power band and work well on the track for my driving style.

 

Was able to pick up more suspension parts local at good prices!
No pics but found a set of 03-04 cobra H&R Race springs for $100! I been hunting for a used set for a while but every set was $200 plus used! Happy for the score and meet a nice guy with a slick 01 cobra!
Second I done really well on, a complete 03 GT front end pull out for $100!
Local guy wrecked it and bought a roller to swap his drive train in. Was able to keep all hardware with it.

 

Seen this wide body fox, figured it was share worthy. The first pic is altered and the second compares the original.

 

Got a few odds and ends done. Ported, 90 degree mod and shaved the blade screws on the throttle body.
Also reassembled the intake manifold and is ready for final bolt down. The only issue is where I added spacers to the fuel rails it raised the cross over fuel line up. No big deal, I'll just run the harness under instead of on top!

 

Finally have the cam swap and long block done.
Installed:
Comp xe273hr cam
Pac 1518 springs
Brian Tooley 7.4 pushrods
Cloyes timing chain
Melling high volume oil pump
CTS-V oil pan and pickup
Felpro gaskets

 

So I been struggling not to buy these but the urge was too great.
Ill bolt the k member up soon and see how the steering rack fairs.

 

Whos headers are those?

 

They are ebay special!
They look like copies of JBA knock offs that fit a 2010 Camaro. They're 1 3/4 primaries with 2.5 collectors and made out of stainless T304. I have used cheap ebay stainless headers on test stand engines and was extremely impressed. Not the cleanest welds in the collectors but have thick flanges that are straight. Theyre not Stainless Works or American Header quality but they are literally a 1/10 of the cost. As soon as I get the k member and rack bolted up, I can more confirm they may fit. The 2010 Pacesetter headers fit everywhere but the steering shaft BUT these look and seem like they have more room in that department.
linky:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251938386961?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

So I finally got around to pulling apart the front k member assembly. Seems the k member where the rack bolts on was damaged a while back, not enough to cause drivability problems but enough for me not to use it. I did run across a tube k member for a good price a few days later. The headers did hit the stock k member enough they couldn't be used, I will try the tube k member. Anywaay, here are some pics:

 

Just a pic whoring update. Since I need an ls1 steering pump for my brackets, I will eventually buy a turn1 pump. I also traded my GT brakes for a set of Mach 1 13" brakes with 100 miles on the turned rotors and pads. The guy needed the smaller GT brakes for ease of running 15" skinnies.