Erod ls3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Thanks, that is my biggest worry...well...that, and cracking up before I learn to handle the horsepower. I talked with a couple of dealerships while shopping for the engine and they assured me it wouldn't be a problem, but...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Lets see, Which manifold would fit and which one flows better?
Manifolds can also be ported
Manifolds can also be ported
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Quick update...
They were all set to install the engine yesterday but the Corvette flex plate that comes on the engine is designed to work with a torque tube and doesn't fit the 4L70e & torque converter we're using. The correct flex plate will be picked up & another try made in the next day or so.
I'm turning blue holding my breath.
They were all set to install the engine yesterday but the Corvette flex plate that comes on the engine is designed to work with a torque tube and doesn't fit the 4L70e & torque converter we're using. The correct flex plate will be picked up & another try made in the next day or so.
I'm turning blue holding my breath.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,478
Likes: 1,230
From: Fredonia WI
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Don't sweat the delay, builds like ours always run into unforseen problems. When you get it back you should expect a few minor problems for the first six months or so. From that point on, nothing but fun, and you will soon forget about the delays altogether. I now have over 17,000 miles on my LS3 Hot Cam and have not had any issues at all for at least 9 months. Enjoy!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Cancer taught me a lot about patience & priorities.
I want it back yesterday, of course. But in the end this is all just for fun. The folks working on it are good people & pleasant to interact with. The swap itself, and all the little details, are interesting and I get to participate a little more this way than if it were turned around faster.
Enjoy the journey, eh?
More as things develop...
I want it back yesterday, of course. But in the end this is all just for fun. The folks working on it are good people & pleasant to interact with. The swap itself, and all the little details, are interesting and I get to participate a little more this way than if it were turned around faster.
Enjoy the journey, eh?
More as things develop...
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
If anyone's keeping score...filed my taxes today and did included CA use taxes for the engine, tranny, etc.
I feel like a sap, but now everything should be squeaky clean tax, smog, and karma wise.
Filing's one thing, still have to move some money around so the checks won't bounce when I mail them in.
I feel like a sap, but now everything should be squeaky clean tax, smog, and karma wise.
Filing's one thing, still have to move some money around so the checks won't bounce when I mail them in.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 48
From: San Marcos CA
If anyone's keeping score...filed my taxes today and did included CA use taxes for the engine, tranny, etc.
I feel like a sap, but now everything should be squeaky clean tax, smog, and karma wise.
Filing's one thing, still have to move some money around so the checks won't bounce when I mail them in.
I feel like a sap, but now everything should be squeaky clean tax, smog, and karma wise.
Filing's one thing, still have to move some money around so the checks won't bounce when I mail them in.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Truth is I almost never get away with anything so, when faced with an ethical dilema of this sort, tend to make the conservative decision.
Plus I had this fear in the back of my head of the BAR referee ratting me out to the Franchise Tax Board when he heard where I had the swap done.
I've 'rendered unto Caesar' & can sleep easy.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Yeah, that seems to be the consensus.
Truth is I almost never get away with anything so, when faced with an ethical dilema of this sort, tend to make the conservative decision.
Plus I had this fear in the back of my head of the BAR referee ratting me out to the Franchise Tax Board when he heard where I had the swap done.
I've 'rendered unto Caesar' & can sleep easy.
Truth is I almost never get away with anything so, when faced with an ethical dilema of this sort, tend to make the conservative decision.
Plus I had this fear in the back of my head of the BAR referee ratting me out to the Franchise Tax Board when he heard where I had the swap done.
I've 'rendered unto Caesar' & can sleep easy.
One thing, sales taxes are a deduction
Save every receipt, they add on. For 2011 I reported $2,100 on sales taxes
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Good point, though I think the last time I tried to write off sales tax I ran into some kind of % of income limit---either the sales taxes weren't high enough or I'd made too much that year.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,344
Likes: 48
From: San Marcos CA
Yeah I think the tax receipts have to be higher than your personal exemption since you would take the higher of the two...so it would have to be higher than $3700 or something like that. The personal exemption is basically covering the typical tax that most people would pay on the street over the year. I bet I have paid more some years.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
That's it, the fleet is grounded:
Vettes getting a new motor.
Truck's getting a new tranny.
Today while passing a bus to make a right turn in the van I clipped the curb & gouged a big cut in the right front tire.
Only has a doughnut spare so guess I'm getting tires Monday morning instead of heading to work. I looked at the tread yesterday and decided it needed new tires next week anyway so it's just the timing that's inconvenient. (Was going to wait til the truck came home.)
Some times you just gotta laugh.
I'll show my youngest how to change a tire tomorrow.
Vettes getting a new motor.
Truck's getting a new tranny.
Today while passing a bus to make a right turn in the van I clipped the curb & gouged a big cut in the right front tire.
Only has a doughnut spare so guess I'm getting tires Monday morning instead of heading to work. I looked at the tread yesterday and decided it needed new tires next week anyway so it's just the timing that's inconvenient. (Was going to wait til the truck came home.)
Some times you just gotta laugh.
I'll show my youngest how to change a tire tomorrow.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Just doing my civic duty. 
Consider the EROD swap a voluntary contribution to the economy.
The rest is just part of the joy of keeping up older cars rather than flipping them every few years.
Definitely need to get my spending back within the bounds of my salary soon, this can't go on indefinitely.
Consider the EROD swap a voluntary contribution to the economy.
The rest is just part of the joy of keeping up older cars rather than flipping them every few years.
Definitely need to get my spending back within the bounds of my salary soon, this can't go on indefinitely.
Last edited by 3D87C4; Apr 8, 2012 at 08:13 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 844
Likes: 8
From: Butler PA
This is one of the best threads I've read on CF since I joined 10 years ago. You beat cancer, you'll beat this install.
Two questions: 1. Would it be cheaper to remove a C5 body and
swap a C4 body in its place?
2. Would this swap be cheaper in another state?
Thanks for sharing this with us.
God bless.
Two questions: 1. Would it be cheaper to remove a C5 body and
swap a C4 body in its place?
2. Would this swap be cheaper in another state?
Thanks for sharing this with us.
God bless.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 6
From: Los Altos CA
Thank you. Chemo, radiation, the skill of my doctors and luck beat the cancer, I was just along for the ride. The swap is progressing nicely, it's the taxman, kid's college tuition, and my other cars that are making my life interesting this week.
As for your questions:
1) I've no idea as the the costs or feasibility of a C4/C5 body swap. Simply buying a C5 would definitely be cheaper. This was my Dad's vette so I'm sticking with it for sentimental reasons.
2) The swap isn't being done in CA---I couldn't find anyone closer with C4/LS swap experience or would take this project on. Parts and labor vary from place to place, but the transportation cost eat into any savings, so overall it's a wash.
The main things driving the cost of this project choosing a new EROD LS3, tranny, etc. instead of swapping used components from a donor vehicle. My L98 was low enough mileage I didn't feel swapping in used components would improve the long term reliability of the car & referbishing a donor engine & tranny would drive the costs up to the EROD area.
As for your questions:
1) I've no idea as the the costs or feasibility of a C4/C5 body swap. Simply buying a C5 would definitely be cheaper. This was my Dad's vette so I'm sticking with it for sentimental reasons.
2) The swap isn't being done in CA---I couldn't find anyone closer with C4/LS swap experience or would take this project on. Parts and labor vary from place to place, but the transportation cost eat into any savings, so overall it's a wash.
The main things driving the cost of this project choosing a new EROD LS3, tranny, etc. instead of swapping used components from a donor vehicle. My L98 was low enough mileage I didn't feel swapping in used components would improve the long term reliability of the car & referbishing a donor engine & tranny would drive the costs up to the EROD area.
Last edited by 3D87C4; Apr 8, 2012 at 08:14 PM.