Ls1 in a 61 vette
Tom,
I recall an article in either Vette or Corvette Fever several months ago - ls1 into C1. I am out of town, can try to look it up in new years if needed. Most conversions I have been following have been into C3's (what I have been looking for as what I am doing)...
Steve
I recall an article in either Vette or Corvette Fever several months ago - ls1 into C1. I am out of town, can try to look it up in new years if needed. Most conversions I have been following have been into C3's (what I have been looking for as what I am doing)...
Steve
Corvette Fever: Feb 06: 57 with a crate 405 Z06 engine
62 with a LS1/6-speed
Corvette Fever July 2005: 58 with a 5.7 TPI
Corvette Fever March 2005 65 with a crate Ram-Jet motor/5-speed
Vette Magazine Nov 2006 66 LS1/6-speed
Corvette Fever: 62 with a complete C5 interior and drivetrain
Corvette Fever June 02: 62 w/custom chassis and Ram-Jet
61 w/C4 frame and LS-1/6-speed
Vette Mag Oct 2002 62 w/C4 suspension LS-1/6-speed
Vette Mag June 01 60 w/LT1 Motor/6-speed
Vette Mag Mar 2001 56 w/LS1/6-speed
54 w LT1/700R4
Corvette Enthusiast: Dec 04: 65 w/03 LS6/6-speed
Vette Mag July 2000 62 w/LT1 auto
Check out Paul Newman Car Creations http://www.newmancarcreations.com/
Corvette Correction http://www.corvettecorrection.com/
Vette Mag March 02: 62 w/95 C4 suspension LS1/6-speed
62 with a LS1/6-speed
Corvette Fever July 2005: 58 with a 5.7 TPI
Corvette Fever March 2005 65 with a crate Ram-Jet motor/5-speed
Vette Magazine Nov 2006 66 LS1/6-speed
Corvette Fever: 62 with a complete C5 interior and drivetrain
Corvette Fever June 02: 62 w/custom chassis and Ram-Jet
61 w/C4 frame and LS-1/6-speed
Vette Mag Oct 2002 62 w/C4 suspension LS-1/6-speed
Vette Mag June 01 60 w/LT1 Motor/6-speed
Vette Mag Mar 2001 56 w/LS1/6-speed
54 w LT1/700R4
Corvette Enthusiast: Dec 04: 65 w/03 LS6/6-speed
Vette Mag July 2000 62 w/LT1 auto
Check out Paul Newman Car Creations http://www.newmancarcreations.com/
Corvette Correction http://www.corvettecorrection.com/
Vette Mag March 02: 62 w/95 C4 suspension LS1/6-speed
Originally Posted by tshands
Thanks. Martin, if you can get the issue date of that conversion, I'm sure it would have some useful info for me.
Also Feb 2007 Corvette Fever (I subscribe, not sure this issue is on the street?) is the 2007 vette-rod guide and article about a properly framing a C1 - major problem in modifying original 53-62 vette is the '49 chevy front suspension....
Turns out all the items I noticed seem to use aftermarket frames vice original C1 frame. Seems they go that way to get more modern suspension and brakes, rack and pinon steering....
Hope this helps some..
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TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 426
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX
Billy Dawson builds a real nice frame and is a great guy to boot! SRIII motorsports also makes a nice chassis for this conversion as well.
Here is a couple of pics of a 59 that I built with the SRIII chassis.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...3/P0000974.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...3/P0001385.jpg
The chassis in the background is also a SRIII chassis and it is going under a 65 Corvette convertible.
Regards, John McGraw
Here is a couple of pics of a 59 that I built with the SRIII chassis.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...3/P0000974.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-...3/P0001385.jpg
The chassis in the background is also a SRIII chassis and it is going under a 65 Corvette convertible.
Regards, John McGraw
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Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks John for the response. I have been searching the net and your photos were some of the very first I came across. Needless to say, I haven't been able to concentrate on much else since. Your work is exquisite and is exactly the type of conversion I want to do. I'm going to go the frame replacement route as you did but noticed in a previous post you said the SRiii frame was somewhat visible below the rockers. Is that still the case?Also, I noticed on the SRiii website you could get either C4 or C5 suspensions or maybe even a combo. I'm prob going to order a frame in the next couple of weeks and wondered if you had a recommendation. Appreciate your advice very much and hope you don't mind throwing me a bone or two in the technical arena. Happy New Year. Tom Shands.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 426
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX
Hi Tom,
Yes, the frame does hang a little below the rockers on a SRIII chassis, but the trade-off is incredible rigidity of the chassis. Billy Dawson's frame tucks completely up behind the rockers, but does not have the WOW factor or technical sophistication of the SRIII frame. You really can not see the frame unless you are looking for it, and the coilovers on all corners, make it ride and handle like a dream.
Billy's frame uses stock style C4 transverse springs, and is probably a little easier for the novice to build. He welds on mounts for things like bumper mounts, while SRIII makes you fabricate your own bumper mounting. It is not a big deal to me since I knew exactly how I was going to mount them, but for some people, it is a negative. Mike may actually be welding on the mounts now after enough people have bitched about it, you should probably ask.
You can use C4 or C5 front suspension, and the geometry of the C5 stuff is better, but the C4 stuff is easier to find. I used C4 suspension on my 59, and I am happy with it, but I decided to go with C5 fronts on my 65, and went with a Dana 44 rear instead of the Dana 36 like my 59 used, as the 65 will have over 100 more horsepower than the 59. He also makes a C1 chassis that uses a complete C5 running gear, but I prefer the C4 rear setup.
Regards, John McGraw
Yes, the frame does hang a little below the rockers on a SRIII chassis, but the trade-off is incredible rigidity of the chassis. Billy Dawson's frame tucks completely up behind the rockers, but does not have the WOW factor or technical sophistication of the SRIII frame. You really can not see the frame unless you are looking for it, and the coilovers on all corners, make it ride and handle like a dream.
Billy's frame uses stock style C4 transverse springs, and is probably a little easier for the novice to build. He welds on mounts for things like bumper mounts, while SRIII makes you fabricate your own bumper mounting. It is not a big deal to me since I knew exactly how I was going to mount them, but for some people, it is a negative. Mike may actually be welding on the mounts now after enough people have bitched about it, you should probably ask.
You can use C4 or C5 front suspension, and the geometry of the C5 stuff is better, but the C4 stuff is easier to find. I used C4 suspension on my 59, and I am happy with it, but I decided to go with C5 fronts on my 65, and went with a Dana 44 rear instead of the Dana 36 like my 59 used, as the 65 will have over 100 more horsepower than the 59. He also makes a C1 chassis that uses a complete C5 running gear, but I prefer the C4 rear setup.
Regards, John McGraw
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
thanks for your valuable input. it's great to be able to communicate with someone who has been thru this successfully. Will be ordering a rolling chassis from SRIII very soon, and , like you on the '65 , no reason at all not to go with the LS2. Take plenty of pictures as you do your '65, as I know you've got quite a following that will be anxious to see it progress along. Again, thanks. Tom Shands.
