Installing a LS1 in my 1977 Camaro
#12
What a great looking install! I've never been a fan of the LS engines simply because of the ugly coil packs on the valve covers, but now that they have some nice looking covers like the Edelbrocks you got, I sure have changed my mind! I hate seeing the various tin and carbon fiber covers that hide the whole engine in most cars using this swap.
Looking forward to seeing the rest of this project as it goes forward!
Looking forward to seeing the rest of this project as it goes forward!
#13
What a great looking install! I've never been a fan of the LS engines simply because of the ugly coil packs on the valve covers, but now that they have some nice looking covers like the Edelbrocks you got, I sure have changed my mind! I hate seeing the various tin and carbon fiber covers that hide the whole engine in most cars using this swap.
Looking forward to seeing the rest of this project as it goes forward!
Looking forward to seeing the rest of this project as it goes forward!
After Sunday off and a funeral yesterday, I was back at it today. The transmission is in!!! My buddy has a very nice transmission jack that I have used nearly as many times as he has. Nevertheless, it was the usual fight getting it to mate with the motor. All's well that ends well.
After getting it bolted up, the bolt on the rear crossmember was a little over an inch forward of the bolt hole. The adjustable motor mounts helped out here. I wasn't quite able to get all of it, but I did get within less than 1/2".
When I installed the driveshaft, I still had plenty of spline left so it should work fine. After putting the car down, I hooked up the shifter and that part was done.
While the car was apart, I had the radiator cleaned and tested for leaks. I cleaned up my fan and installed both the radiator and fan.
Because of needing to use a bolt hole on the front of the head to lift the motor, I had not been able to install the alternator. Got it installed and then installed the belt and tensioner.
Now that I had all of that in place, I could work on the air intake. Problems here!! I tried a connector from the throttle body to the MAF in a straight line. Now I did not have enough room for the twin snorkel. It was nearing the end of the day, but I did try installing the snorkel directly to the throttle body with the MAF at one end of the snorkel. Once I add the filter to both ends, I will have an unbalanced look. I plan on working on this tomorrow to see if I can come up with a solution that both looks good and will work. Any suggestions?
#14
I think I'd add a section to the other side long enough to balance them, or cut one side that the MAF is on, so it's shorter.
#15
[quote=1971BB427;545041]I think I'd add a section to the other side long enough to balance them, or cut one side that the MAF is on, so it's shorter.[/quote
For symmetrical reasons, I am thinking of blocking off one side and make one of the intakes fake. To really confuse people, I may install a second MAF on the fake side.
For symmetrical reasons, I am thinking of blocking off one side and make one of the intakes fake. To really confuse people, I may install a second MAF on the fake side.
#16
I can't steal a pic but heres a link. Spectre Performance - Official Site
Here are some more options. I agree the MAF should first off the TB. Sprectre has just about every combo possible. They also make a kit that comes with a bunch of elbows and some foam inserts to hold it together so you can mock it up as you go. If you mark it up, you can mail it back to be welded and polished by Spectre.
Here are some more options. I agree the MAF should first off the TB. Sprectre has just about every combo possible. They also make a kit that comes with a bunch of elbows and some foam inserts to hold it together so you can mock it up as you go. If you mark it up, you can mail it back to be welded and polished by Spectre.
Last edited by 77nomad; 06-15-2011 at 12:32 PM.
#17
I can't steal a pic but heres a link. Spectre Performance - Official Site
Here are some more options. I agree the MAF should first off the TB. Sprectre has just about every combo possible. They also make a kit that comes with a bunch of elbows and some foam inserts to hold it together so you can mock it up as you go. If you mark it up, you can mail it back to be welded and polished by Spectre.
Here are some more options. I agree the MAF should first off the TB. Sprectre has just about every combo possible. They also make a kit that comes with a bunch of elbows and some foam inserts to hold it together so you can mock it up as you go. If you mark it up, you can mail it back to be welded and polished by Spectre.
Had a bunch of running around to do today so not much accomplished. I did get the coil covers mounted and installed one of the air cleaners so I could get a feel for how the motor will look.
As you can see in the photo below, the passenger side of the snorkel is very close to the compressor. To move the snorkel out, I have a 1" throttle body spacer on the way.
The Edelbrock water pump that came with the front runner kit takes the late model LS thermostat housing from 2004 up. I test fitted it today and it angles away from the motor which would make for a very weird hose to get it to the radiator. I have a housing that is straight out from the front of the motor on the way. Since the water pump works in the reverse of one on a small block, the hose from the thermostat housing goes to the bottom of the radiator while the return is at the top. I may have to custom make that hose as it must wind around the air intake and the front runner kit.
#20
The MAF takes up much more than in inch. I tried it with the MAF there and there isn't enough room between the snorkel and the cooling fan.