A little LS burnout
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
A little LS burnout
No not what you are thinking. No tire smoke yet on my project. I have been working so much on it then went away for a week and just can't get back into it. Just a little burned out on it. Some personal things going on also.
So to get back on track I promised another forum member I would do the auto to 5 speed swap this winter for him. I contacted him and he is bringing the car to me Saturday. It is a Keisler RS trans so I will document some of the swap here so you can see. I think he got the hydraulic clutch setup with it also. My wife is traveling next week so I have plenty of time to do this. Problem is no steering column in my car as of now and I have to move it to the other side of the garage. Jsut got the steering column back out and will throw it in today and push the LS project aside for a week or so. I need to order some parts and get a new driveshaft made for mine so it will give it some time for parts to arrive.
Just thought it might be interesting for a little change of pace.
So to get back on track I promised another forum member I would do the auto to 5 speed swap this winter for him. I contacted him and he is bringing the car to me Saturday. It is a Keisler RS trans so I will document some of the swap here so you can see. I think he got the hydraulic clutch setup with it also. My wife is traveling next week so I have plenty of time to do this. Problem is no steering column in my car as of now and I have to move it to the other side of the garage. Jsut got the steering column back out and will throw it in today and push the LS project aside for a week or so. I need to order some parts and get a new driveshaft made for mine so it will give it some time for parts to arrive.
Just thought it might be interesting for a little change of pace.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,992
Likes: 56
From: Antioch IL
Gordon, I can not wait to read the write up of the swap. As for your LS project I hope you get inspired to finish it soon. I too have had little motivation my self I ordered my interior for my '81 from al knoch in Nov. I got it all in in early december and I still have not even touched the car to many family health issues. good luck with the auto to 5 spd swap.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 6
From: springfield ohio
Gordonm, I know what you're saying, I was burnt out at one point. To do the swaps in a tasteful way that looks and performs fantastic, it takes time, money and patients, and once you've completed something, you see a better way, only to tear back into it and change what you have already completed. I hate to see you getting burned out on the LS swap because you have kept me motivated to finish mine. I'm am close to finishing mine, but it seems to drag on longer and longer. For me, like you, we aren't going to be happy just swapping in a motor with out going above and beyond to make the end result as good or better than we anticipated the finished product to be.
I hope you regain momentum on the LS project after you have taken care of the things that you need to take care of. Just think, the LS is going to be a blast to drive this Spring/summer.
Riggs.
I hope you regain momentum on the LS project after you have taken care of the things that you need to take care of. Just think, the LS is going to be a blast to drive this Spring/summer.
Riggs.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 590
Likes: 2
From: Fairfield CT
Morale booster
Man, I know what you guys are saying!!! It's good to know that I'm not the only one. Sometimes I think I'm taking two steps back to one step forward....but it's getting there. Let's coordinate a date/time to tip a brew at the same time, take a breath, and admire our projects. After all, they wouldn't be where they are if we hadn't taken them that far.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Ha, replacing the turn signal pivot made me nearly burn the 78 to the ground. I can't imagine rewiring a 40 year old harness to accept a motor design from just a couple years ago.
Find some solace in that you'll have one of the cleanest swaps ever - probably cleaner than quite a few professional TEAMS of installers.
Find some solace in that you'll have one of the cleanest swaps ever - probably cleaner than quite a few professional TEAMS of installers.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 4
From: Miami FL
It was the first time in 3 weeks I worked on my ride since coming back from Kissimee NCRS & Mecum. Still need to wash it and refit the windows I but I got a lot done today and then noticed the rear caliper bleeder screws are also in the wrong position on the bottom so air will never completely bleed all the way out 
How the hell the shop here in South Florida noticed the C5 front calipers had bleeder screws on the bottom when it came back from the shop that did all the work on my ride but then totally miss the rear calipers need some TLC also is beyond me. Looks like I will be bleeding the rear brakes soon again to get the last bit of air out of the system.
Only a few more turns of the wrenches I keep telling myself also but almost every time I do I find something that needs to be reversed engineered. So discouraging but keep up the good work on your ride. I can't wait to see yours done and I really like your valve covers.
How the hell the shop here in South Florida noticed the C5 front calipers had bleeder screws on the bottom when it came back from the shop that did all the work on my ride but then totally miss the rear calipers need some TLC also is beyond me. Looks like I will be bleeding the rear brakes soon again to get the last bit of air out of the system.Only a few more turns of the wrenches I keep telling myself also but almost every time I do I find something that needs to be reversed engineered. So discouraging but keep up the good work on your ride. I can't wait to see yours done and I really like your valve covers.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
From: Up North ;-) Alabama
Ha, replacing the turn signal pivot made me nearly burn the 78 to the ground. I can't imagine rewiring a 40 year old harness to accept a motor design from just a couple years ago.
Find some solace in that you'll have one of the cleanest swaps ever - probably cleaner than quite a few professional TEAMS of installers.
Find some solace in that you'll have one of the cleanest swaps ever - probably cleaner than quite a few professional TEAMS of installers.
The comment "made me nearly burn the 78 to the ground" sorry but that made me laugh out loud!! 
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 2
From: Ocean County NJ
G,
Sorry to hear about the burnt out LS feelings but happier than a pig in **** that you are swapping my trans!
I'm confident once the trans is in and you see how happy I am with it, you will get the motivation to finish your LS swap.
Thanks again!!
Andy
Sorry to hear about the burnt out LS feelings but happier than a pig in **** that you are swapping my trans!
I'm confident once the trans is in and you see how happy I am with it, you will get the motivation to finish your LS swap.
Thanks again!!
Andy
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Starting to get the fever back on the LS swap. I am almost done with the RS conversion for the above forum member and am anxious to get back to the LS swap. Just needed a little break on something different. The RS 5 speed conversion went well. Just waiting for a few small steering column parts now and it should be ready to roll.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,207
Likes: 26
From: Ocean County NJ
Starting to get the fever back on the LS swap. I am almost done with the RS conversion for the above forum member and am anxious to get back to the LS swap. Just needed a little break on something different. The RS 5 speed conversion went well. Just waiting for a few small steering column parts now and it should be ready to roll.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
When I'm done with the 5 speed and mine is at least running you can bring yours out. It should not take that long. Maybe a couple of hours. I'll let you know when we can do this.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
Likes: 602
From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
If I was closer Gordon you can do my BTO OD swap to help you get the fever back... =)
Or maybe a trip to cali is in order to help the fever ..LOL
Good luck with the swap..
Or maybe a trip to cali is in order to help the fever ..LOL
Good luck with the swap..
