myko

I am starting a new thread from my teardown and repair thread on this car. Here is a link to some of the questions and problems I had while starting the frame off restoration: http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...storation.html

I have a 2006 GTO LS2 and T56 dropout for the car. This included the engine accessories, petals with DBW accelerator, computer, engine harness, MAF, O2 sensors, tranny and motor mounts, drive shaft, electric fans, fuel pump, and gauges from the car.

I have a lot of work to do and will need a lot of help.

donnie1956

Nice, Got my 6.0 LS running in my 78. I just installed Digital Dakota gauges. Blast to drive. When are you remounting body? Are you going to have A/C? How are you going mount the stock gauges?

myko

In preparing for the swap I have read Chevy LS Engine Conversion Handbook and several threads here and on LS1.com. The book was not too helpful but other members have been very helpful.

Of course I have read the Sticky swap threads and helpful threads from similar swaps (PM me if there is one I forgot to add to my index):
SUPERPOWERS sticky http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...directory.html
gatorbcn sticky http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...-their-c3.html
Gordonm http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...o-my-72-a.html
riggs74 http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...under-way.html
Neptune75 http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...s-ls-swap.html
CWerner http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...od-thread.html
Corey68 http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...s2-6speed.html

donnie1956

I did my swap the hard way. I had 6.0 Lq9 rebuilt and mated to a 2004R I already had. I used the holley accessory brackets and Holley ECU for the swap. I have a thread going on vettemod.com titled ls swap in 1978. Got a lot of help from Garys 68

myko

Here is the LS2 with the factory exhaust and mounts in place. The exhaust hits the steering box and the A/C and alternator hit the A-arms.




After removal of the A/C and alternator the exhaust is the limiting factor.


Finally, after removing the manifolds you can see why the oil pan needs swapped to a rear sump with the engine from the GTO and stock steering.



I see a lot of guys putting in tubular A-arms and rack and pinion steering. Does anyone know if either of these conversions will allow me to run the accessory brackets or oil pan I have? I would rather upgrade the chassis than buy aftermarket engine parts for similar cost.

myko

I plan to fit the drivetrain then set the body on for fitting. I will pull it to run fuel lines, etc anyway so if I need to mod the trans tunnel I can do it easily. I hope to have A/C but that will happen after the car is running. I am deciding on the gauges. I may try to modify the GTO speedo and tach to fit in an extra stock bezel I have so I can use them.

donnie1956

http://www.holley.com/20-131.asp I used batwing oil pan and exhaust manifolds off 2003 C5.

Gordonm

I am using the stock 09 Corvette LS3 pan on mine with a R&P steering. It is tight but it fits without an issue. I also went with Vintage AC and some brackets

myko

I was looking at F-body and batwing oil pans when I cam across the Chevrolet Performance 19212593 kit. $135 for the pan, tray, and pickup. I checked the dimensions and it is 8" deep compared to 5-6" on the F-body and batwing. But all parts included seems pretty nice for the price. Going to look at some measurements when I get the LS swap mounts in tomorrow.

I like having the Holley bracket option. I will skip trying to make one for that price!

Did these fit with the stock steering box?

7T1vette

With an 8" deep pan, what road clearance will that leave?

myko

That is what I am worried about. If anybody has used this pan, please chime in with results. The Holley retrofit pan is 6" deep for an extra 2" of clearance. But it costs $644 vs $135 for the Chevy kit!
A stock SBC pan is just under 8" deep. The difference would be negligible if the LS block and the SBC are similar with regards to distance from mounts to oil pan rails.

Chevy Performance19212593


Holley Retrofit 510-302-1


F-body, Batwing, and truck pans

donnie1956

I installed the jeep box steering conversion and have plenty of room between box and exhaust manifold. Looking at the batwing pan it gives the most ground cleareance. What are you plans for steering,stock R&P or Jeep-Borgeson?

myko

I rebuilt the PS control valve, cylinder, and have new hoses. The stock box is tight so I was hoping to stay stock and upgrade later if I wanted more response. I know it will be a harder job after everything is together but it will spread the cost and give me a comparison with this setup.

I have read the threads on Borgeson conversion and I am tempted. I also looked at the Borgeson 800108 (Delphi 600) box http://www.jegs.com/i/Borgeson/153/800108/10002/-1 as it says it is a bolt on with 12.7:1. I think I have read somewhere that the Delphi was the smallest box made for GM cars. Does this require extra parts and would it give extra clearance?

donnie1956

The jeep box fits fine and looks like the stock box would have also had enough clearance. I will take a couple of pictures tonight.
Here is a used oil pan. http://ls1tech.com/forums/parts-clas...-oil-pans.html

Garys 68

Skip the performance pan, it's way too deep. Your best bet is a vette or f body. I'm pretty sure the vette batwing pan will require the vette Z06 exhaust manifolds in donnies pic. The pan wings are contoured to fit the exhaust.
Both the vette and GTO mainifolds flow as well as most headers, so they're a good choice.
I went with the batwing pan because used ones are cheap, about $100 complete compared to $250 for f body.

Hodge

I am using C5 manifolds and a batwing oil pan. Check out my blog:
http://www.hodge-rulez.com/Hodge-Rul...g_the_LS1.html
http://www.hodge-rulez.com/Hodge-Rul...cessories.html

7T1vette

If you use the stock steering box and the fit is tight with the exhaust manifold, you need to put hi-temp synthetic grease in the steering box and fit some kind of heat shield between them. That will, at least, lower the temperature that the steering box 'feels' and the syntetic grease won't be melting every time you use the vehicle.

myko

Thank you. The blog is very helpful. Particularly the part about the water pump mods. How did that work? I was just looking for LS water pumps with fittings out the front or electric pumps.

I got the Transdapt motor mount kit yesterday. Had to drill a little to get the plates to fit. Then powder coat and install. Here is the clearance of the water pump. I still have the GTO pan on, I just lowered the steering assembly out of the way.

myko

I will probably have to do something like this if I use the GTO manifolds. Even with the Borgeson conversion it would be a tight fit. I hope to have enough space for the factory heat shield with whichever configuration I land on.

I haven't found any pics or dimensions to compare the C5 manifolds to the ones off the GTO. I see pics of the Borgeson box in your blog but it is tough to see how much space was gained. Have any pics of the old and new boxes side-by-side?

donnie1956

You need to drill and tap the heater fittings for 90 s. The get a straight thermostat fitting. Thought I had a picture but can't find it. Here is the clearance for my jeep box, with C5 manifolds.