Blackbird LT1 Conversion Underway
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Blackbird LT1 Conversion Underway
UPDATE 1-30-09 New pics added, see below
Some of you remember my matte black '85 "Blackbird"..where my shop did a carb conversion, etc. etc.
Anyhow... with my '96's LT1 sitting on a stand, I decided to do a conversion to Blackbird going from a conventional L98 style SBC/ 4+3 manual, to an LT1/TH400 (better for drag racing). A couple of pics below:
Engine on the stand with carbed LT1 intake.
And in the car, with some more work to do yet...
More to follow, including trans swap as it happens.
Some of you remember my matte black '85 "Blackbird"..where my shop did a carb conversion, etc. etc.
Anyhow... with my '96's LT1 sitting on a stand, I decided to do a conversion to Blackbird going from a conventional L98 style SBC/ 4+3 manual, to an LT1/TH400 (better for drag racing). A couple of pics below:
Engine on the stand with carbed LT1 intake. And in the car, with some more work to do yet...More to follow, including trans swap as it happens.
Last edited by RacerX70CC; Jan 30, 2009 at 03:07 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Looks nice. I've never really understood the carb'd LT1 though. Without the opti it's basically a SBC with reverse flow cooling. Seems like the reverse flow cooling wouldn't be enough to offset the limited choices for intakes. Maybe it is, I don't know. Carry on!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Trans conversion pics
TH400 conversion underway... We fabricated a C-beam mount, rather than build two crossmembers
Wide angle view:
Closeup of fabricated C-beam bracket:
Coupled with the solid engine mounts I got from NitrousSam, there's ZERO deflection in the engine/trans... the only weak link now is the Dana 44
Shifter installation underway... pics to follow...
Wide angle view:
Closeup of fabricated C-beam bracket:
Coupled with the solid engine mounts I got from NitrousSam, there's ZERO deflection in the engine/trans... the only weak link now is the Dana 44
Shifter installation underway... pics to follow...
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Latest pics
Fitting the shifter... Used a B&M Street Bandit and lowered it to better fit with the factory console.
Wide angle of the shifter and fabricated mount.
A steel "safety plate" was added to the shifter mount to help deflect any errant pieces of drive yoke or U-joints in the event of failure (safety loop still to be fabbed for the C-beam)
Closeup of the shifter...
The shifter will be inside the floor with the tunnel filler sealed to prevent heat/fumes from coming into the driver's compartment.
All that's left is to build the harness for the electric water pump and fan switches (SPDT switches) - one position is for normal street driving (ignition hot), and the second is on a battery hot for between rounds cooling when at the track. The switches will be mounted in the top of the console where the 4+3 OD switch was located.
More to follow...
Wide angle of the shifter and fabricated mount.
A steel "safety plate" was added to the shifter mount to help deflect any errant pieces of drive yoke or U-joints in the event of failure (safety loop still to be fabbed for the C-beam)
Closeup of the shifter...
The shifter will be inside the floor with the tunnel filler sealed to prevent heat/fumes from coming into the driver's compartment.
All that's left is to build the harness for the electric water pump and fan switches (SPDT switches) - one position is for normal street driving (ignition hot), and the second is on a battery hot for between rounds cooling when at the track. The switches will be mounted in the top of the console where the 4+3 OD switch was located.
More to follow...
Last edited by RacerX70CC; Jan 30, 2009 at 03:09 PM.
