mistafosta Posted March 30, 2014 Share Posted March 30, 2014 I've posted this up on other forums, but I feel like since this IS the lsx forum I frequent, you guys might appreciate it a bit I've owned this car since I was 18 or so, and it has gone through MANY different motor combos. (Turbo i6, and about 6 different SBC setups) This final (Crossing my fingers on that) build is me doing what I ultimately wanted for it all the time, but could never afford to do. As I started, I found a TON of rot on my frame rails up by the engine, so I had to fix that before anything. Had to cut out rotten sectionsMy close friend, Liz, is an amazing welder. She welded up framerail re-enforcement and filled all the holes under my hood from years of small screws being used to mount stuff.After the welding was done, I POR15ed the whole underhood as best I could. I actually conned my girlfriend into doing most of it, hahahahahaha.Before:After:My original plan was to use a buick v6 GN motor that I bought from a car that ran 10.70s at low boost and 3900lb curb weight. Unfortunately when I opened that motor up, I found someone had essentially thrown a grenade in it. Almost every internal hard part was destroyed, crank, pistons, heads, ect ect. When I found out how much it would cost me to build a buick motor with the power I wanted, I realized I needed to scrap the whole idea and pick another powerplant.The "donor" motorAt this point I was picking up all the fuel system items, and re-wiring the car with a painless harness. Luckily I had my 10 second corvette to still mess around with so I wasn't too bothered by the set backs I was having. I took my time and made sure the wiring in the dash and for the lighting was absolutely perfect. So I was pretty much at a standstill until I could figure out a motor for this car after getting the wiring done for the most part. At this point, my friend (Infidel on here) came up with the shitty idea of taking the corvette engine and putting it into the datsun, that way I can save myself from spending the next two years building an engine.His car is the orange carI pulled the vette motor, after putting together a stock ls6 to replace it with. Sold my fancy clutch, headers, ect, and returned the car to stock minus my trans/rear and a 160 tstat.Old and newThis is after hours of cleaning the motor. It was a dirty pig.Bought a Mike's Ultimate TH400, and some other goodies for the drivetrainLiz made me a nice lil crossmember out of my old one for the car tooAnd in it went! Fit quite nicely as just a long block. Unfortunately there were other fitment issues down the road.I started to do the basics, put the manifold on, wire under the hood (Used a summit harness) and plumb fuel system tooI tried to make the wiring as clean as possible, I feel like the pictures don't really do it justice. Next up was the accessories fitting. I got a beautiful bracket from AandA Corvette, and heavily modified a stock alternator bracket from a c5 to fit my car with a mini alternator (hi output from a chevy truck. 105amp I believe)(Blower is reclocked now, obviously)I might lay the radiator down for more clearance to fit an intake to a filter, since this really is a street car despite what people seem to think.After the motor was pretty much done, besides fluids and intake/exhaust design I towed it to Scott's Speed and Custom to build be a custom trunk and get my cage up to certification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistafosta Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share Posted March 30, 2014 First, we felt that I didn't quite have the rear end that I wanted in the car. So I started by taking out the old suspension and rear end:Then I cut everything out, so we can start "fresh" While I was working on that, SS&C got to work on the intercooler piping and mounting. We ended up having to lean the radiator forward to clear the intake tube, so they made a nice new upper radiator support beam for me as well. Also they filled in any extra holes. While Scott was working on the cage/rear end I redid some stuff.My suspension up front looked like this:So I figured, I might as well do it right since the rear half of the car is going to be so nice. I bought a 5 lug setup, all new bushings, new trailing arms, and a nicer coil setup. Also some brakes, and a matching front set of Tel-Star rims.This is the result:Next up I wanted to tidy a few things on the blower up. I mocked up the new 8 rib blower pulley, so I could measure belt length, and I figured out where I wanted to put the blow of valve. (Its now welded in, just don't have pictures yet. I think I am going to powdercoat the piping black)I chose that location so that I wouldn't have fitment issues with whichever fan I decided to run.While I was working, Scott and Alex were plugging away on the main hoop. (We had to cut out all the old stuff, and now they are redoing it CORRECTLY.with how opened up the car is, Scott was able to remove the main hoop after tacking it together and getting all the angles perfect. Then he TIG welded it on a welding table to make sure it remained perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistafosta Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share Posted March 30, 2014 cage is pretty much done except for door bars, and the frame is in the car. 4 Link is welded in as well. Once we get shocks/springs we will set the suspension up and start the tin work.I ordered a belt for the blower, and finished the front brake lines. Still have to do a bunch of little stuff under the hood though. Got a belt measured up and it fits perfect. This tensioner setup has a manual and spring tensioner built into it. Pretty snazzyI powdercoated the piping black, I think it cleans up the underhood a bit. Also changed my coil mounting design. The driver side coils were hitting the alternator and there just wasnt a clean way for me to relocate the one coil. I may relocate them somewhere hidden, but for now this is how they will sit. Scott made progress on the cage and tin work as well. The cage will be getting certed next week and the tin should be done as well. Getting close, finally. Heres some updates. Got the car back home from Scotts. They did AMAZING work on the cage, tinwork, and painting the interior. I couldn't be happier. We still have to set up the rear end and do a final weighing of the car before I can go racing. (Though, I may have gotten to do an initial weighing just to see how much the car weighs. Its pretty light ) Also there is a TON of work left to do at home, which I have been doing almost non stop since friday.Back in the garage, getting started.Seats fitted, door bars done. (Done at Scotts)Still have so much to do under the hood. Chased some wiring gremlins, including not one but TWO bad relays on my summit racing LS1 wiring harness. Was not happy about that, but Picnic George hooked me up as always.Fuel tank installed for the last time. (I hope)All this rear end, no more fragged rings and snapped axles for me! Running fuel system, since its a street car I ran check valves so that I don't have to cycle the pump to start the car. To keep my weldon in line I got a fuel pump controller. These new ones are TINY, seems to work well to keep the pump at a quiet level.Speaking of fuel pumps. Also, if anyone is looking for a nice compact prefilter, summit carries these and they are not expensive at all.Carpets are for wussies. I think the bedliner interior really turned out well.Fuel lines, CHECK! Battery cables and extra grounds, CHECK CHECK.Snazzy battery box that Scott built for me. And the obligatory shutoff switch for when I visit the track.I like the HIDs, will help a lot for night driving. The old headlights were tragically bad...Getting closer.... Car has been home about a week. Got it running, and buttoned up almost everything. I still have some track only stuff left to setup but I will do that when I have time/money. All the little bits and pieces I had to use at the end here cost me an arm and a leg. Don't know when I will be able to afford the exhaust system...Yes, I know I have the most wrecked hood ever. I'm gonna try to wetsand it so its presentable until I find a good cowl hood setup for the car. First time testing. This was after 3 hot laps, and no adjustments allowed since the track was about to close (Early ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistafosta Posted March 30, 2014 Author Share Posted March 30, 2014 (edited) I have since gone 9.3@147 with a 1.32 60' with the D1SC as well. The car likes to wheelie on radials I found out though: http://vimeo.com/40401224 I changed quite a few things on this car as time progressed, as you all know is bound to happen with project cars. Different fuel pump (Holley Dominator, which I cannot say enough good things about), and many different attempts to eliminate belt slip. I bought an F1R and attempted to turn up the car a few notches, but ran into massive belt slipping issues. I figured out the car would need a 10-12 rib belt setup with a flip drive or a cog, which would end up being a $2000+ investment, and that I would be much better off with a different intercooler setup. So I did the math and figured out that turbo is the way to go. After selling all my blower parts, and buying all the turbo materials, I am making a profit so far. In the end I think the changeover will end up costing me about $1000. I'm going to be using a BW S484 with a billet wheel, and should be making around 1100hp with this setup. (Motor is ready for it) Should be doing mid 8s this year, once I get it back together. I'll take pictures when I get the turbo stuff rolling if you guys want. Edited March 30, 2014 by mistafosta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattd428 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Looks familiar I'm stuck in the finish the cage section on my car. How much power did the supercharged setup put down? Edited March 31, 2014 by mattd428 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texis30O Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 That is no B.S. Well built car. I can't wait to get my LS swap on the road.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistafosta Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 Looks familiar I'm stuck in the finish the cage section on my car. How much power did the supercharged setup put down? It made around 750hp at 13lbs with a D1SC. I got the little D1 up to 15lbs before swapping it out, so I'm guessing 780-800? It was a long painful journey though, since everything I did fought be along the way, and I had no other vehicles to use as a reference or guide. I imagine the turbo setup will be a lot easier hahaha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zfan1 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 How much interior space did you lose going with a mini tub and solid axle. I have seen a few Z's converted and my 6' 1" 190 lbs frame was cramped to say the least when trying to get in the seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 I feel like I've read this before........ LS1tech? Either way, Sweet car, can't wait to see the new setup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistafosta Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 How much interior space did you lose going with a mini tub and solid axle. I have seen a few Z's converted and my 6' 1" 190 lbs frame was cramped to say the least when trying to get in the seat. Im 6'2" 240 so I'm no small guy. Lost about 2-3" legroom. Its a tight fit but not too bad. I've driven from san Francisco to reno for hot August nights with it and the space wasn't bad at all. Sunny, I posted this on ls1 tech awhile back, so that's probably why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Infidel Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) I am 6'2@270 and I literally cringe when mistafosta asks me to drive it around. It's.... "coszy", but once your in there it isnt too bad. If the door bars are pinned there is no way I could climb in there. Edited March 31, 2014 by The Infidel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) Hell Yeah for us big Guys ! I'm 6'0@260. I have Mazda RX8 powered seat in my 260z. Sorry, I don't mean to get off topic. You car is Awesome ! Edited March 31, 2014 by Daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zfan1 Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Thanks for the info, I have given it some thought swapping to a solid axle set up. I have an R200 LSD plus a spare one, never broken one yet, just cv axles. I really like your set up, very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thezguy Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 How much power you plan on running through that R200? Id be curious to see how long that R200 LSD will hold up at 800+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Infidel Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 How much power you plan on running through that R200? Id be curious to see how long that R200 LSD will hold up at 800+ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistafosta Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 How much power you plan on running through that R200? Id be curious to see how long that R200 LSD will hold up at 800+ r200 is long gone, I have a 9", which should hold up to around 1600hp.. Infidel has my old differential in his car now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thezguy Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 The question was zirected at Z fan i thought he was one of the guys trying to run a FI LS motor in an S30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistafosta Posted April 1, 2014 Author Share Posted April 1, 2014 The question was zirected at Z fan i thought he was one of the guys trying to run a FI LS motor in an S30 For some info, I ran a nitrous SBC setup with 600rwhp on mine without any issues. Slicks, 6 speed and launching off the limiter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thezguy Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 For some info, I ran a nitrous SBC setup with 600rwhp on mine without any issues. Slicks, 6 speed and launching off the limiter. Thats good to hear. I will be putting mine to the test in the a month or two.. althought it will be high way runs at well over 600rwhp it will be interesting to see if it holds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zfan1 Posted April 1, 2014 Share Posted April 1, 2014 I have run a built R200 (extra clutches) from old group buy with CV axles and Modern Motorsports billet stub axles for close to 8 yrs now. I have broken/snapped 2 or 3 CV axles but nothing else, knock on wood! I am guessing around 600 rwhp max. My Turd ran low 6's in the 1/8th and 9.70's in the 1/4 mile plus a whole lot of street action too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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