deja

Looks like we're pretty much on the same path still. The LS1 looks so cool in there. I won't have to pull my engine again, I hope. I used a saws-all, an angle fringer and a big sledge hammer to get rid of the tunnel mounts.

I was pretty sure I had to "beat" on the tunnel, but didn't think I had to cut that whole mount bracket out, thought the ears would be enough. Another thing you might do before installation is beat the passenger side tunnel corner back some so the cooler lines will fit without hitting. My tranny has been rebuilt and it doesn't look like it has the stock lines. They are in two sections, short ones coming off the tranny and longer ones that ran to the radiator. But this setup probably won't hook up to my JTR radiator anyway so I'll probably make new ones from hard brake line. I will probably run them along the engine block to minimize the bends and to keep them away from the headers. I'll post some picts when I'm done. Oh yeah, there is no way the stock dip stick would fit, I ordered a Lokar flexible one.

Big day today. I was up before the dawn, literally. Off to Home Depot to buy a 2x6 to sit the front tires on so the engine hoist will clear the suspension. Found that out when we pulled the old engine. At 8:00 we started the install. All went pretty well until the motor mount bolts would not line up with the cross member standoffs. I had slotted them and enlarged them to 1/2 but we were way off. I thought at that point I had them installed wrong, but no. We pulled the driver's side off, plate and all. We loosely bolted the whole assembly on the standoff and lowered the engine back down. It was a bit of a struggle getting the holes on the plates to line up with the block, tough to finesse a SBC, but we finally got them to go. Then the tough part. I had cut the ears off the old tranny mounts but that wasn't enough to clear the 4L60E on the passenger's side. Driver's side was fine. We cut the whole tranny mount out about 3/4 of the way up and beat on the tunnel to clear the cooler lines. Fortunately my buddy volunteered to do all this without removing the engine, just lowered the back of tranny as far as we could. I haven't mounted the tranny yet, I think I want to beef up the floor a little rather than just running bolts though it to hold the mount. One thing I really noticed was how bad my frame rails a bent. I had seen it before but didn't realize how bad they are. I think some Baddogs are in the very near future. I'm getting there, still a lot of work ahead of me but this was a huge step. The garage looks cavernous now that the engine and tranny aren't sitting in the middle of everything. Tomorrow I'm going to reassemble the front of the engine. I had taken everything off to fix the optispark problem and thought it would be an easier install if I just left it all off. NASCAR is in California so its on later tomorrow right?

I haven't installed mine yet but they are built for the LT1, be sure to specify all that when you order from JTR, Sanderson will build them with "D" ports and angled plugs.

Thanks Jody, that's going to save me a few bucks since I already have the fans.

I just received Sanderson huggers from JTR for my LT1. If you specfy "D" port whem you order JTR will fix you up.

I think the hose in the square is a heater hose with the purge valve. AC is on the other side.

I noticed that in your picts. Is that a JTR radiator or the equivalent (fin area 20.75 x 17.5)? I was thinking I may be able to squeeze my Z28 fans in there staggering them like you did using a homemade bracket.

I ran a stock radiator and a fan in my old setup. It would start to get warm in the summer if I sat still but never overheated. I was NOT running AC however. I would have doubts if the stock radiator could keep up using AC. I am changing to a JTR radiator for my LT1 setup.

You are the fabricator................ koo, koo, kachoo!

Did you do that on a CNC? You should produce them, probably sell a ton of them. How did you do the serpentine belt?

That's what I was thinking, but I'll look at them both way and decide. With the spacers on the block first seems like half the plate would like it was just hanging in space, we'll see. My next one is the tranny mount. I really don't like the idea of just sandwiching it between the floor boards. I think some better support welding is going to happen.

There must have been something in the wind last night. Nobody acted like an ******* and all the runs were close, good show.

Good to clarify that. I have Sandersons from JTR so maybe that won't be a problem for me.

I don't know how much forward the johnscar mounts would put your engine. Search for Bartman. In his signature there is a pict of his setup using JTR and the Bower AC mount. You can see where the mounts sits close to the corner of the tower.

So you think that is a nicer, better way to configure it.

That will probably work but from what I have read you would need to buy a Corvette compressor too. I just went through this search and thanks to many including Bartman I ordered this: http://www.bowersrodshop.com/info_pulley.htm Also at Bartman's warning you need to "message" the driver's side shock tower to get some more clearance for the mount if you're using JTR mounts. But the nice thing is the kit includes the AC delete for the original compressor position and the correct belt and all the mounting hardware. Price isn't all that bad. I haven't received mine yet.

Very good point. And I'm going to be a pretty much stock setup. I agree, eveything I've gotten from Mike is way beyond what I expected, dude does awesome work. I'm going to bolt it up both ways and see what looks the best to me and make sure the block huggers clear.

Oh yeah that pump is not going to work, not near enough psi.

You've been at this much longer than me and obviously you haven't dropped your engine yet, LOL. I'll check it both ways.

Seems like that would put a lot of stress on the plates.

Thanks guys. Taking it all the the store sounds like a good plan.