Guest NESS89 Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 All right guys, so after a few months of buying all the parts I planned were needed for the swap (like the stand alone computer and harness, all the Russell fitings and braided line, filters, fuel pressure regulator, radiator, electric fans, battery,.....) we have finally began some real work on the Z. I pulled the old 2.8 in my cramed 1 car garage and had the car towed to a buddys shop (AAA is Awsome). There we took measurements of here and there and more measurements here and more over there. We got a wire hanger and bent the piece to roughly make a template of what we thought the transmission crossmember should look like. Then my buddy took it to his job and had it bent out of steel. We also cut, bent, welded and squeezed the new crossmember where the Corvette style motormounts would sit on. We had the engine sitting in then we pulled it out to tweak it a bit, then we put in back in, and repeated these steps like 5 times, atleast the forklift made it easier. Now we just have to bolt the new crossmember run the fule lines, do the wiring, get a custom driveshaft, fit the radiator, run the battery cables, and much more. Hopefully we get it running the next couple of weeks..... 2008 LS3 2002 T56 T56 Fittited for the braided clutch line LS7 clutch and flywheel Custom aluminum brackets for the Autometer gauges 4" Aluminum intake tube welded for the MAF Welded some -6 fittings into the gastank for the braided lines Plate Battery mounted behind the passenger side seat JTR Radiator and brackets Custom fitted and drilled and cut LS1 Camaro electric fans made to fit the JTR radiator, mounted up like they belong together. Fuel filter canister Motor hanging above the car Still has to go down and back a bit Crossmember just sitting there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 great pics. i am assuming the crossmember is just a mockup, and not the actual piece you'll be resting the engine on How are you doing your wiring, and since you're local, maybe I can bug you for a hand with my LS1 wiring, hehe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g9m3c Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 Awesome project! Can't wait for updates. According to that plate, you have a mighty small engine, though. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NESS89 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 great pics. i am assuming the crossmember is just a mockup, and not the actual piece you'll be resting the engine on How are you doing your wiring, and since you're local, maybe I can bug you for a hand with my LS1 wiring, hehe. Thanks guys! Yea that crossmember is just to see how low and back the engine has to sit and to make sure the steering clears. I doubt that one can hold the LS3 without the help of the forklift. The wiring should be simple because Im usig the standalone harness and compter from GMPP. I think its like 2 wires to hook up and connect a battery cable to the engine fusebox and thats it, Im not doing anything to the cars harness since all the lights work. And Im down to helping out wenever and werever i can. What part of the Bay are you in? Oh and finished the plumbing of the fuel lines today, just gotta tuck them up and hold them tight against the tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinhZXT Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Looking good. Sorry I didn't have time to get the measurements for my new crossmember for you. Mine is a 77 280Z anyway so there might be some differences. It's best for you to do the mock up and decide to where to put the engine, then build your own crossmember. Just make sure you don't drill holes into the frame rails like I did. I think my latest design for the cross member looks good, simple and strong. Check out my web site http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2079260/7 for pictures. Let me know if you need help with the wiring. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinhZXT Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 What is your plan for headers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 is that a surge tank or a huge fuel filter that's on left of the aeromotive unit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NESS89 Posted July 15, 2009 Share Posted July 15, 2009 Quote: Originally Posted by VinhZXT What is your plan for headers? We got the stock LS1 Corvette manifolds off a 2000 LS1 vette that were probably going to modify to see if we can get them to fit, if that doesnt work we know someone at sanderson headers that can get us some headers to test fit and see what works best. And if that doesnt work Ill probably have to go the custome headers rout. Quote: Originally Posted by auxilary is that a surge tank or a huge fuel filter that's on left of the aeromotive unit? Its an Aeromotive huge fuel filter, gotta make sure that gas is nice and clean. __________________ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NESS89 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 So we got the enigne mounted up in its final location. Just picked up the driveshaft the other day. Put power to the fuel pump and checked for presure throught the fuel presure regulator. We also modified the Camaro alternator bracket to work with the Corvette accessories and mount the alternator in the right location. Bought the upper and lower radiator hoses from Napa Auto, the upper hose is from a 99 corvette and the lower one is from a 79 mustang with a 429. We then removed the engine again to do some last minute grinding and to see where we are going to run the heater hoses. Will probably finish the last minute wiring today. Ill probably be ordering the headers from JTR soon since thats the last item that is left to get started on the exhaust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinhZXT Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hold your horse on ordering the JTR headers mister. You will be sorry if you did. The JTR headers won't work with the C5 mounts you have there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsicard Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 NESS89: Think SERIOUSLY about putting a "G" switch in series with the power wire to the fuel pump. No sense in feeding a possible fire with a broken fuel line in a crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NESS89 Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 Hold your horse on ordering the JTR headers mister. You will be sorry if you did. The JTR headers won't work with the C5 mounts you have there. LOL. I picked up the headers today and test fitted them on my engine with the Corvette mounts, and, the right side hit the mount. I moved the mount forward 1/4" and modified it a bit to make it work. Now it fits perfectly, tomorrow were going put the engine back in the car and i hope they fit in the car and clear everything. So far the left side looks like its going to clear but well see when i get it all in there again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinhZXT Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 The driver side header will not give you any problem. However it's all depends on how far and how low you set your motor. The steering shaft may get interfered with the left motor mount or possibly the alternator. You will also need to cut the square boss on the engine on the right side of the header in the last picture. Your driver side header will hit that boss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Dawg Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 wow, that's awesome! i want to do a v8 swap and i wish i had the know-how to do this myself, but i don't : ( sorry it's a non-sequitor, but do you know of a shop that would do a swap in the sf bay area? thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxilary Posted August 10, 2009 Share Posted August 10, 2009 and on a totally random note, I ran into NESS89 at napa today. small world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidistight Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Can I ask you what made you go with the LS3 over say the LS1? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage42 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Not to "nit pick" but I didn't know Chevy made such a small engine. OH WAIT, the engine size is supposed to be 378 "CI" (cubic inches), or 6000 "CC" (cubic centimeters), right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maichor Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Great. . . now that you pointed that out, he is going to have to stamp out another plate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage42 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Maybe a chance to fix a few other mistakes and make it look prettier in the process? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NESS89 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Can I ask you what made you go with the LS3 over say the LS1? Just because its a 6.2 out of a corvette, and because i got it brand new for $3200. couldnt let that deal pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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