, and keep the pics coming.
72LS1Vette Project Gets Started
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
72LS1Vette Project Gets Started
We've been gathering parts since we bought the 72 and finally got the body off before the weather turns bad up here. Having a 1-car garage presents many challenges as I need to work with 2 frames and have the body in a safe place for the winter. Here is the solution we came up with:
The rolling chassis fits underneath the body and there is room to work on the chassis, even if it's not all that comfortable.
This is why the body had to come off:
Of course no project would be complete without one of these to start off:
Luckily we had just started the lift when that happened.
Rick B.
The rolling chassis fits underneath the body and there is room to work on the chassis, even if it's not all that comfortable.
This is why the body had to come off:
Of course no project would be complete without one of these to start off:
Luckily we had just started the lift when that happened.
Rick B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 7
From: Fort Pierce Florida
Awsome. That frame is definitely rusty!! See the T56....do you have the LS1 yet? If you need any help there are a few people on here who have done it or are in the middle of one. I fall into the latter.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Originally Posted by SuprJames
Awsome. That frame is definitely rusty!! See the T56....do you have the LS1 yet? If you need any help there are a few people on here who have done it or are in the middle of one. I fall into the latter.
I think my son has some pics of the frame that we're going to use. It's in much better shape than the original!
My engine isn't going to be nearly as nice as the one in your car but I think the frame might turn out almost as good. It's going to be so much easier fitting the engine and trans onto the bare frame especially since the LS1/T56 transplant isn't an exact science yet. We're looking forward to doing the fun stuff like bolting on the new suspension pieces and getting the motor and trans in place.
Make sure you get some sound clips when you fire up that supercharged beast for the first time!
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
The LS1 is out of a 2001 Camaro. We believe it has a non-original cam but don't know what it is. It does have the LS6 block and I believe the 2001 Camaros had LS6 intakes also. The kid we bought it from claimed he did a 11.7 1/4 mile run on slicks so the motor should be making an 'adequate' amount of power.
The trans is a T56 from a different 2001 Camaro. There is going to be crossmember and driveshaft work needed to graft it in. I have motor mount adapters so the engine should bolt right in. There are probably 100 other details that need to be attended to in order to complete the project but fitting the trans is one of the biggest.
Rick B.
The trans is a T56 from a different 2001 Camaro. There is going to be crossmember and driveshaft work needed to graft it in. I have motor mount adapters so the engine should bolt right in. There are probably 100 other details that need to be attended to in order to complete the project but fitting the trans is one of the biggest.
Rick B.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by 72LS1Vette
The LS1 is out of a 2001 Camaro. We believe it has a non-original cam but don't know what it is. It does have the LS6 block and I believe the 2001 Camaros had LS6 intakes also. The kid we bought it from claimed he did a 11.7 1/4 mile run on slicks so the motor should be making an 'adequate' amount of power.
The trans is a T56 from a different 2001 Camaro. There is going to be crossmember and driveshaft work needed to graft it in. I have motor mount adapters so the engine should bolt right in. There are probably 100 other details that need to be attended to in order to complete the project but fitting the trans is one of the biggest.
Rick B.
The trans is a T56 from a different 2001 Camaro. There is going to be crossmember and driveshaft work needed to graft it in. I have motor mount adapters so the engine should bolt right in. There are probably 100 other details that need to be attended to in order to complete the project but fitting the trans is one of the biggest.
Rick B.
Sweet. I wish you well, and look forward to progress.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
Having a 1-car garage presents many challenges as I need to work with 2 frames and have the body in a safe place for the winter.
Best of luck with the restoration
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
This is the second time we've done this in this garage. The first time was a 79 project that we ended up selling after my son found the 72. The 79 body resided on our old boat trailer for a couple of years while we rebuilt the frame in the garage. The new frame is on the boat trailer now but it is going into the garage ASAP.
We weren't as 'sophisticated' in removing the 79 body. We used 4 old car jacks and ratcheting tie-downs to raise the body. We're using the same tie-downs but decided to spring for a chain hoist this time.
NOTE: I don't recommend either of these methods to anyone!
Rick B.
We weren't as 'sophisticated' in removing the 79 body. We used 4 old car jacks and ratcheting tie-downs to raise the body. We're using the same tie-downs but decided to spring for a chain hoist this time.
NOTE: I don't recommend either of these methods to anyone!
Rick B.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 9,078
Likes: 7
From: DFW TX
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by 72LS1Vette
The LS1 is out of a 2001 Camaro. We believe it has a non-original cam but don't know what it is. It does have the LS6 block and I believe the 2001 Camaros had LS6 intakes also. The kid we bought it from claimed he did a 11.7 1/4 mile run on slicks so the motor should be making an 'adequate' amount of power.
The trans is a T56 from a different 2001 Camaro. There is going to be crossmember and driveshaft work needed to graft it in. I have motor mount adapters so the engine should bolt right in. There are probably 100 other details that need to be attended to in order to complete the project but fitting the trans is one of the biggest.
Rick B.
The trans is a T56 from a different 2001 Camaro. There is going to be crossmember and driveshaft work needed to graft it in. I have motor mount adapters so the engine should bolt right in. There are probably 100 other details that need to be attended to in order to complete the project but fitting the trans is one of the biggest.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Originally Posted by Budman78
I've got that same block. A lot of people don't know the F-Body came with a LS6 with LS1 heads. They actually dyno highier than the same year vette.
The guy I bought the T56 from had a Hot Cam in his LS1 that sounded awesome.
Rick B.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by 72LS1Vette
Sweet. I plan to get the car dyno-ed to see what I actually have. There is an expensive Meziere water pump on the engine so someone spent some $ on the engine along the way.
The guy I bought the T56 from had a Hot Cam in his LS1 that sounded awesome.
Rick B.
The guy I bought the T56 from had a Hot Cam in his LS1 that sounded awesome.
Rick B.
That's good to hear...I have a Hot Cam in my 405. I'm excited.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by hwcoop
Wow, and I thought I was cramped in my 2 car garage
Best of luck with the restoration
Best of luck with the restoration
into the driveway. Working a body and chassis in a 1 car garage ...
that is tighter than the proverbial "crab's ***" (water tight).
Good luck getting her started.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Why can't we all be blessed with new, big, stocked, and equipped garages? I know...it'd be too easy...but man it's be nice.
Rick B.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by 72LS1Vette
The plans for my house had a 2-car garage but the original owner decided to squeeze the house onto a lot that was too narrow for the design. The whole right side of the design had to be modified to fit the lot and the 2nd garage was a victim. My sons keep lobbying for a shop out where the pool used to be and maybe one day we'll convince my wife. Until then it's Yankee ingenuity.
Rick B.
Rick B.
My girlfriend wants to build me a glass garage like seen in the house of Ferris Beuler's friend Cameron.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by BB72
I just bid on a house for us last night with a huge shop, huge to me anyways. Beats the dusty, dark non-heated thing I'm in now...I hope it works out.
Is it in Canada or in the States?