LSX is ready to be dropped in tomorrow (PICS!)
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
Wow, I just read this entire thread because I have a huge interest in it. I posted this week that I am planning an LSX Procharger next spring. glad I found your thread, can't see any pictures at work, just want to tell you I am a fan of yours for doing all of this and again I have not seen one single picture. good luck to you. Now I will have to go back and rethink my 35K budget
Wow, I just read this entire thread because I have a huge interest in it. I posted this week that I am planning an LSX Procharger next spring. glad I found your thread, can't see any pictures at work, just want to tell you I am a fan of yours for doing all of this and again I have not seen one single picture. good luck to you. Now I will have to go back and rethink my 35K budget
and maybe a track pass.Thanks man.
WOW, I just spent at least an hour reading this whole thread and all I have to say is, AWESOME build! Can't wait to see some vids of this beast on the street. And forget the budget, I wish I had half of the time and patience to get involved with something of this nature. 
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Just an FYI, I had FLP build my motor, install the blower, custom FMIC, big fuel system, tune, and bought several smaller items (motor mounts, $1K convertor, etc) and my bill was around $22K. I sold my "stock" motor (H/C SBE longblock), convertor, fuel injectors, etc. for around $4.5K. I had them build and install a 408 longblock w/ dart heads and Comp rockers, which is no LSX block but the difference would have only been a couple grand. There are no "budget" parts in my build either.
Just an FYI, I had FLP build my motor, install the blower, custom FMIC, big fuel system, tune, and bought several smaller items (motor mounts, $1K convertor, etc) and my bill was around $22K. I sold my "stock" motor (H/C SBE longblock), convertor, fuel injectors, etc. for around $4.5K. I had them build and install a 408 longblock w/ dart heads and Comp rockers, which is no LSX block but the difference would have only been a couple grand. There are no "budget" parts in my build either.
An update while I'm posting, the intercooler is installed, I'll post some pics later tonight
How much power did it make and what does it run at the track? Not saying you don't have a great set-up but there is a HUGE difference in price for what you need to run 10s and what you need to run 8s. I ran a best of 10.1 with about 10K invested, very good running car for what I had in it but it wasn't built to last. It sounds like you got a great deal but in my opinion, for that price its either a 10 second car that will last or a 8 second car waiting to blow, I'm trying to build an 8 second car that will last and I don't see how it's possible for under 35k. The only person that comes to mind is Kp, he has a very nice set-up that runs 8s, his set-up seems fairly simple but I have no idea how much he has invested. His car is about 1 in a million though, lol, I love his car if you can't tell.
But that doesnt count the thousands of dollars worth of parts that have been on and off the car that just plain didnt work or perform as I expected them to. THATS what costs the real money, not to mention the nickel and dime stuff, it was 600.00 for parts to relocate my battery to the rear, stuff like that you just cant figure what it costs untill you add up all the little parts.
Plus if you had to pay someone to do a car like mine from beginning to end the cost would be another 10-20K, I cant even say the number of hours I have in this thing. But its a hobby so I dont add them up, if you are paying someone they sure will .
As far as one in a million I dont think so, its so simple anyone can do a car just like it if they spend the time to perfect what is there, stick with proven parts and dont change combinations every two weeks.
But to be honest I have probably spent 60-70K total on the car (car cost 12K, 25.5 cage cost 7K so thats 19K right there) since it rolled into my garage four years ago. And this is a somewhat low dollar DIY build, but thats what its costs. Out of all that I have probably sold 10K of stock parts and stuff that I didnt use. Seems like a lot for what it is considering you can go buy a nice low 9 second 25.5 car for 25-35k, but doing it yourself and doing well with the car is a feeling that cant be bought for any amount of money. When it ends up winning a few races and being in a few magazines it makes it all worthwhile in the end - a least thats what I tell myself anyhow
If I was to duplicate my car I could do it for for about 30K in parts, thats not including the price of the car or the 25.5 cage but that would be everything else. But a lot of stuff I use is overkill, I dont like to push my car on the trailer, ever. Plus the car is legal to any ET I will ever run with it.
But that doesnt count the thousands of dollars worth of parts that have been on and off the car that just plain didnt work or perform as I expected them to. THATS what costs the real money, not to mention the nickel and dime stuff, it was 600.00 for parts to relocate my battery to the rear, stuff like that you just cant figure what it costs untill you add up all the little parts.
Plus if you had to pay someone to do a car like mine from beginning to end the cost would be another 10-20K, I cant even say the number of hours I have in this thing. But its a hobby so I dont add them up, if you are paying someone they sure will .
As far as one in a million I dont think so, its so simple anyone can do a car just like it if they spend the time to perfect what is there, stick with proven parts and dont change combinations every two weeks.
But to be honest I have probably spent 60-70K total on the car (car cost 12K, 25.5 cage cost 7K so thats 19K right there) since it rolled into my garage four years ago. And this is a somewhat low dollar DIY build, but thats what its costs. Out of all that I have probably sold 10K of stock parts and stuff that I didnt use. Seems like a lot for what it is considering you can go buy a nice low 9 second 25.5 car for 25-35k, but doing it yourself and doing well with the car is a feeling that cant be bought for any amount of money. When it ends up winning a few races and being in a few magazines it makes it all worthwhile in the end - a least thats what I tell myself anyhow
But that doesnt count the thousands of dollars worth of parts that have been on and off the car that just plain didnt work or perform as I expected them to. THATS what costs the real money, not to mention the nickel and dime stuff, it was 600.00 for parts to relocate my battery to the rear, stuff like that you just cant figure what it costs untill you add up all the little parts.
Plus if you had to pay someone to do a car like mine from beginning to end the cost would be another 10-20K, I cant even say the number of hours I have in this thing. But its a hobby so I dont add them up, if you are paying someone they sure will .
As far as one in a million I dont think so, its so simple anyone can do a car just like it if they spend the time to perfect what is there, stick with proven parts and dont change combinations every two weeks.
But to be honest I have probably spent 60-70K total on the car (car cost 12K, 25.5 cage cost 7K so thats 19K right there) since it rolled into my garage four years ago. And this is a somewhat low dollar DIY build, but thats what its costs. Out of all that I have probably sold 10K of stock parts and stuff that I didnt use. Seems like a lot for what it is considering you can go buy a nice low 9 second 25.5 car for 25-35k, but doing it yourself and doing well with the car is a feeling that cant be bought for any amount of money. When it ends up winning a few races and being in a few magazines it makes it all worthwhile in the end - a least thats what I tell myself anyhow
Thanks for clearing that up, I was starting to wonder how all this stuff was adding up to so much but now I feel better. I figured you had to have a lot of money invested to have a car that runs so flawlessly but I had no idea you had that much in it. I'm in the same boat as for the wasted money on parts that get swapped out and the little things adding up. Over the 5 years I've owned it, I must have spent over 40k. The stupidest thing I did was get it with such low miles, 14k and paid 25k for it. I wish I new I was going to do all this stuff because the car still only has 30k on it and all the close to new stock stuff was pretty much junked. I should have got a cheap high milage vehicle to start with. I had no idea this would happen though, before this car all I had ever done to a car was an oil change, lol.
How much power did it make and what does it run at the track? Not saying you don't have a great set-up but there is a HUGE difference in price for what you need to run 10s and what you need to run 8s. I ran a best of 10.1 with about 10K invested, very good running car for what I had in it but it wasn't built to last. It sounds like you got a great deal but in my opinion, for that price its either a 10 second car that will last or a 8 second car waiting to blow, I'm trying to build an 8 second car that will last and I don't see how it's possible for under 35k. The only person that comes to mind is Kp, he has a very nice set-up that runs 8s, his set-up seems fairly simple but I have no idea how much he has invested. His car is about 1 in a million though, lol, I love his car if you can't tell.
I make 740 RWHP on 13 psi, obviously not even pushing it hard at all. My motor and fuel system are built to handle 1000 HP easily, I limited it by using a D1SC. IMO my car is a 9 second car thats built right. The math says mid 9's, still need to go to the track again with the new race weight. If I wanted to go 8's I'd need a bigger head unit, better tranny, and the safety stuff (cage) and ALOT more experience than I have..
I think the next power jump will be adding a small N2O shot. 75 shot will probably net me 120-150 RWHP.
Thanks for clearing that up, I was starting to wonder how all this stuff was adding up to so much but now I feel better. I figured you had to have a lot of money invested to have a car that runs so flawlessly but I had no idea you had that much in it. I'm in the same boat as for the wasted money on parts that get swapped out and the little things adding up. Over the 5 years I've owned it, I must have spent over 40k. The stupidest thing I did was get it with such low miles, 14k and paid 25k for it. I wish I new I was going to do all this stuff because the car still only has 30k on it and all the close to new stock stuff was pretty much junked. I should have got a cheap high milage vehicle to start with. I had no idea this would happen though, before this car all I had ever done to a car was an oil change, lol.
Finally some update pics
Remote mount oil filter:
It's a big mother:
Then the intercooler weld job, looks very good, thanks speed inc!
Unfortunatly I didn't cut my holes in the intercooler big enough for the 3 1/2" pipe sooooo
Before:
After I hit it with a grinder and smoothed it out:
Then the install:
And now I got my birdy back
Tomorrow I'll finish the pipe work and hopfully get to the shifter.
Remote mount oil filter:
It's a big mother:
Then the intercooler weld job, looks very good, thanks speed inc!
Unfortunatly I didn't cut my holes in the intercooler big enough for the 3 1/2" pipe sooooo
Before:
After I hit it with a grinder and smoothed it out:
Then the install:
And now I got my birdy back
Tomorrow I'll finish the pipe work and hopfully get to the shifter.
