I'm surprised at how well the dash seems to fit in mockup. I was expecting it too be way too wide as I thought the newer cars were much wider inside. It looks like it will be a nice look once you've got it fitted.
Damon is right; cutting the tunnel out of the donor car is a great idea to help with the console/shifter install.

 

Yeah I was surprised too. I tested fitted it like 5 years ago. And I bought it back in 2004 off ebay. I had no idea if was going to work at all I just knew that's the dash I wanted in there lol. It would have been such a pain to located the shifter and park brake with out the bracket from the 4th gen I'm just glad the guy the sold me the shifter and park brake lever let me cut out the floor for an extra $10.

So I'll finally get my ignition coil and module today via UPS. I can finally try and start this thing. I need a MAF sensor too, but It will start without it.

 

I Got a little update.

I wasn't able to get the car started. I figured that I had a bad coil or ignition module. Since I don't have any spark. I finally spent some time to diagnose the issue. I found that the distributor is no good. The optical sensor in the distributor isn't working. I removed the water pump to get to the distributor and removed it I found the cap and rotor had been replaced recently and one of the screws that holds the rotor had come off and the other was loose. I reassembled it however that wasn't the problem. So I have a new one on order from eBay. The dealer wants $700 for one of these things! Autozone wants $119. I paid $69 w/ shipping from eBay. got to love eBay.

 

Opti spark? I've read there a pain.

 

Yeah, Opti Spark. They certainly have there issues. Especially early Lt1's before they had the vent hoses. They would get condensation in there causing missfires, corrosion and what not. But the idea of opti spark sounds good. As far as I know It's the only ignition system that the computer "knows" Degrees of Camshaft rotation to 1 degree accuracy. Due to the 360 windows in the High resolution portion of the optical pick up in the distributor. I'll post some pics of what I'm talking about when I get a chance. I've slowed down on making progress on the car a little. We got a lot of summer time activities that don't allow much camaro time. Winter seems to me like a better time to be inside working on the car anyway. However there is some thing I want done before snow falls... I want to drive it down the street No hood,fenders or exhaust.

 

I got the new distributor in and it fired up instantly! It scared the hell out of me it started so quickly and it was freaking loud LOL. it only runs for a few seconds since I don't have the fuel pump wired yet. I also don't have any coolant in it yet either. But atleast it's making some noise now

I'm working on posting a video

 

Don't try to run that new engine very much without coolant! Wont take long top do damage, and you wont know it since the temp wont indicate without coolant in the engine.

 

Oh yeah I'm very aware of what would happpen. I just wanted to know it was capable of starting. If I had I filled it with coolant I would've had to drain the system to replace the distributor. I hate messing with coolant seems to always make such a mess lol. But This is kind of a mock up stage for the wiring and what not just to see whats working. I still need to bypass the VATS in order to get the fuel injectors and fuel pump working n e ways. It just runs a couple seconds off a shot of brake clean. I'm very excited. to me this is a huge milestone.

 

??????????? You don't have to drain the coolant to replace the distributor!

 

LOL unfortunately you do. I have a 4th gen engine the LT1. The distributors are on the front of the engine behind the water pump which is also driven by the cam and not a belt. The LT1 was GM's pioneer for reverse flow cooling system as well. It cools the heads first.