mr.mustang214

iTrader: (8)

Hey everyone. I have been a member of LS1Tech for quite a while, but this is my first LT1 I have ever owned. Found me a 1993 Camaro z28 a4 hardtop through my local craigslist for a pretty good price. Figured I would try and start a small build thread. I know enough about cars to be dangerous, but I still have a LOT to learn, so plenty of questions will be asked through this process.

First off, some pictures from when I brought it home







First thing I did was remove all stickers from the doors and the lovely monster sticker on the center console. Had been recently painted a c6 corvette orange so paint is in pretty good shape. Quite a bit or orange peel that I should be able to color sand out of it.

Already had cc503 cam (untuned), looks to be mid length headers, and a shift kit installed. When I purchased the car, it would only run in limp mode with the MAP unplugged. after some searching I noticed the IAT sensor wires were disconnected. Reconnected those and plugged the MAP in and she would idle just fine. Went ahead and had Solomon mail me a base tune on a chip and got it installed. Ran pretty good, but was still quite rich.

Found some c5 z06 wheels from a tech member for a good price. They have some pitting, but I still like them a lot more than the black wheels. After all, this is a budget build for me.





We ended up purchasing a new house right around this time that happened to have a small detached garage, and since it was winter I decided to start fixing a few things that were bothering me. My list for the winter was oil pan gasket replacement, 3500 stall, transmission cooler, 3:73 gears, lS1 lid swap because of the ultra Z hood, BMR lowering springs, and some interior reviving.

Got the exhaust off, and transmission out. The headers were pretty rusty so i can't tell the brand. Are these considered mid length or shorties?



Quick photo when we were working on the pan gasket. Really wasn't too bad since transmission was out and all of the exhaust was off.



I ended up finding a spare 10 bolt with I believe 2:73 gears out of a 99 camaro , and the guy had a black berger panel just sitting in his garage so grabbed them both for $125. Internals of the rear are in great shape, so getting the housing sand blasted then painted and the 3:73s put in. The berger panel was in amazing shape as well. Really crappy picture but it's all i can get until she is running again and I can pull it out of the garage.



Picked up a used 3600 Edge converter so threw that on the transmission. Found a local guy selling front and rear BMR springs for $100, and as of last night transmission is in, LS1 radiator support has been trimmed and installed, and front springs are installed. I'll throw the rear springs on when I swap rear ends.

I will get some updated pictures tonight of the LS1 lid set up. Being a speed density car i'm still trying to gather parts to connect the lid to the throttle body.

I'm pretty excited for this build as this is the most in depth I have ever gone with a car, and so far have only spent around $3000 total on everything. That includes the car itself. I'll keep updating as it gets closer to running.

sweetbmxrider

iTrader: (13)

Loving that color.

fbody_brian

Sweet ride!
+1 on the color

mr.mustang214

iTrader: (8)

Thanks! I really like the color as well. What does everyone think about the ultra-z hood? I do like the fact that it allows the ls1 lid set up to be used, but i'm still a little undecided on it.

94zpearce

Love that hood.

MonmouthCtyLS7

iTrader: (6)

Looks like a fairly clean car, good luck with it.

Huntr1117

iTrader: (18)

The car seems to be in pretty good shape plus you only have 3 grand into it. Thats a steal. I think the hood looks great. Nice color too.

RealQuick

iTrader: (14)

Nice car. They look like RKSports headers.

mr.mustang214

iTrader: (8)

I appreciate all of the feedback!

Getting closer to getting everything back together. Finally blew the dust off of my old camera. Going to get some better pictures soon but at least here is a look at the LS1 lid set up.

91rs355

iTrader: (27)

Nice car man, love the color!

rynb15

car looks good, the new wheels look much better!

mr.mustang214

iTrader: (8)

Car is on the ground and running. Will get some updated pictures as soon as I can get it cleaned up. It's running super rich so once my ALDL cable arrives I will do some data logging and get it sent to Solomon for some adjustments. Haven't been able to get the 3.73 rear end put together so still running on 3.08 gears right now. This is my first time ever driving a stalled auto. i'm sure the lower gears will make it more fun.

duh

iTrader: (16)

On a set of 15" prostars, my 93 went 12.99 with 3.70 gears in a9". Stock engine, untuned. You should be able to hit that at least assuming you can grip.

mr.mustang214

iTrader: (8)

She definitely pulls pretty hard now. I had a local mechanic check my rockers arms just to make sure I did in fact adjust them right. Rather be safe than sorry. Unfortunately the closest 1/4 mile track (KCIR for anyone familiar with KC) closed down a while back. I have an 1/8 mile track about an hour away from me. Hopefully with some slicks I can at least get an 1/8 mile time and see how she runs.

mr.mustang214

iTrader: (8)

Made a little bit of progress over the last week. Car is running extremely rich. ALDL cable arrived so I immediately ran some data logs and got them sent to Solomon. Come to find out, I need to do a heated o2 sensor conversion. I'm still running the single wire o2 with the headers. o2 sensors and harness are on their way. Once that is done I will run some more logs and hopefully get the tune dialed in. I'm extremely happy with how this car has turned out. Of course there is still a bunch to do (finish 3.73 rear end, new rack and pinion, carpet, etc.).

And now for some updated pics.



A picture of the finished (for now) engine bay. It still needs a lot of cleaning. When the day comes that the motor needs pulled, the engine bay will get a fresh coat of black paint. I'm already sick of seeing the old red. Hopefully this picture will help others with speed density see a ls1 lid swap on an lt1 without the MAF. I had a hard time finding any pictures when setting mine up.





interior in progress. Whole center console and bezel around the gauges has been resprayed with SEM interior paint. Turned out really well. Image is dark, and the carpet needs cleaned so once the interior is done I will get a better picture. Still working on the dash pad...

And finally some cleaned up exterior photos. Love the stance with the lowering springs.





And finally a question. For the front bumper, should add the black around the headlights and foglights? I think I would like it better with the black but I just can't decide

MTN_Z

iTrader: (7)

I say yes to black around the headlights and foglights. Just looks better on LT1 Camaros.

Cahill93Z28

looks nice, +1 to black out the headlights

bufmatmuslepants

iTrader: (3)

I say don't black out the headlights without first trying it with plasti dip or black tape, I like it like it is. The good throws me off though, I've never been a huge fan of those. I think id body color the mirrors tho.

mr.mustang214

iTrader: (8)

Good point on trying with Plasti dip first. I had planned on doing it with vinyl anyways as it's cheaper than paint and my brother does that for a living. The hood is growing on me. I didn't like it at first, but now I can't picture the car without it. I have debated putting black on the scoop. I'll have to find a picture of the Camaro i saw with the ultra z hood with a black stripe running down it. Looked awesome

sweetbmxrider

iTrader: (13)

Black vinyl on the sides of the scoop might look cool if you keep the mirrors/etc black