Can you machine it down?

 

Do you mean machine the block? If so it is backward from that. LSX engines do not have block material surrounding the flywheel like the old SBC. The flywheel protrudes out the back.

 

PM sent. I might be able to give a lil help.

 

I just checked out your web site; Very Cool!

 

Hey guys I started putting some info and links here http://www.melroseheaders.com/produc...ers/C4_LSx.php

Please take a look and see if anyone can add anything.

Hey COPO I put a link to your LS conversion page. If you are not cool with that please let me know and I will remove it.

 

BFTD

This thread got me inspired to get back in the garage and after my car. It is an 84 that was once a running LS1 swap. It was one of the 1st, and uses C5 mounts. It has gone through a couple 700R4s and a 4l60E as I understand. I purchased it (ebay) to build a street legal road race car. My plan was to flat black it, but the two tone is actually in pretty good shape.

It had C5 Z06 wheels all around. I picked up some LS6 heads and an LS6 cam, thinking I would build a C4 Z06. But, I ended up selling the rims and putting 17x11s all around (they were a good deal, but chrome doesn't really fit the build..).

Sadly one of the owners between the original builder and I took out the built LS1 and left a stock 98 LS1 in its place. It was backed by a 4L60E but was a non-running basket case when I purchased it. I sold off the 4L60E, and am in process of adding a T56.

I gutted the dash plastics, HVAC, and have been cutting down on needless wiring in the name of simplicity. You wouldn't believe the amount of wire I've cut out! I deleted the radio, power mirrors, power locks, but may be stuck w power windows, again in the name of simplicity.

I picked up this nice water-jet cut aluminum dash on here complete w auto-meter gauges.

The build plan is street legal, but spartan, all business, and scary fast. New f-bodies and Vettes are really nice, but they just don't scare you the way old muscle cars do. With the deleted sound deadening, big HP, loud exhaust, good brakes and capable performance... I think this will scare the crap out of the non car enthusiast, and hopefully even scare me a little.

Next step is to pull the LS1, check it out, and maybe change the offset. It is moved to the driver's side quite a bit. I also want to check on the sections added to the frame for the C5 mounts and fix some questionable fuel and brake lines.

I'm not real proud of these photos, as it is a work in progress. Complete with messy garage and parts piled on the car (don't worry I have the carpets on the roof protecting it). But I thought some of you would get a kick out of it, and I wanted to prove I actually have this project I keep talking about.

I don't know why the previous owner painted the valve covers blue, but they will go gray or black soon.


I'm thinking carpet delete and fabricated door panels. Pretty much all business and flat black inside. I may black out the dash, but it is so pretty...

 

subtlez28, looks like you have Trace's original car. A two-tone
blue '84. It has changed a little since the last pictures posted
here but there is no doubt in my mind about it being the same car.

I believe this was the first LSx C4 reported on CorvetteForum.
As I recall, it was on the road back in 2001.10.xx.

.

 

Sweet, clearly it has some history. It is from Texas (by way of Florida, then WI). I tried reaching the builder when I got it with no luck. I also almost bought it a few years ago when it was stranded at a closed shop w a bad trans in Houston(?). I wish I did now, because it still had the built engine (and I'm sure other cool stuff that was swiped off it since) then.

I'd love details on it especially suspension wise, so if anyone could put me in touch with the builder that would be great!

I found a nitrous line, and I know it had a built LS1 once... no doubt in my mind why it ate 700-R4s! I'd love to hear more of its history.

 

Look familiar?
.

 

That is definataly it!

Though, it had black C5 seats (w no seatbelts), and later C4 black door panels and carpet when I got it.

To add insult to injury I see it had a harness bar then, and I'm pretty sure it had a good stereo that was stripped when I got it...

Oh, and an exhaust...

It looked so great with those C5 Z06 wheels (sellers remorse)! I may end up putting 18x10.5 C5 Z06s back on it (all around). I just didn't want the staggered set. I like to turn, thus big rubber belongs up front to!

 

I think it's a great idea personally and one that will catch on sooner or later. If I wasnt knee deep in debt with modifying my 93 I probably would have started this conversion right now. I would have loved to drop a fully built ls7 with a fast xfi and custom everything I needed to under a beautiful ZR1 c4 body or even a coupe. There is no denying the c4s beautiful lines (if modded correctly which sadly 90% are not).

Having said that, If you are looking to sell headers why not just built better headers than whats out there? Build some stepped headers for the LTX guys with a proper merge collector (wow theres a first !! something the c5/6 guys have had for 10 years.. cough LG) and I bet you would sell more. Ill leave you a deposit right now if you do.

 

I talked to the GM tech at Classic Motor Group. He said to use the stock vette bell housing with their pilot bearing. There is one BH to engine bolt that does not line up at about the 2 oclock position that can be re drilled in the SBC1 BH if you want to. The guys at CMG dont want to do "engine swaps" and could not offer any info other than coupling the LSX to a SBC BH and trans. IIRC he also said that they stock a BH that mounts the LSX to the TKO 500/600 (same input shaft and bolting dimensions as DNE 4+3 ect.) I hope I got all this right.

I was calling them about replacing my 4+3 with a TKO600rr.(3395$) (ne1 want a greasey 4+3 w/ bad od n 2nd syncro?)

 

Slalom4me, would you send me that pic of my 84, so I can keep it on my photobucket?
BTW, I tried to PM you, but your box is full.

 

If they have a BH that will work with a 4+3 and persumably its available replacements (Richmond and their own TKO) that would really go a long way towards making the LS an option where it is needed most, in the very early cars.

The expense of the swap increases significantly if you consider that 84-88 cars would need to also purchase a ZF.

Attention Melrose, perhaps it will be worth your while to research this a little more. They may offer you as a business and possible vendor a "loaner" to test fit. Of course the challenge is finding someone to volunteer a 4+3 and an LS to test...

 

Just a reminder we are licensed on and sell the aluminum GM 3899621 bellhousings for the 11" clutches.

 

Great! there we go. A SBC bell will apparently work with the exception of 1 bolt hole (and the pilot bushing). But I like the idea of haveing them all engineered in, like the one Chris at Melrose offers.

 

Do these or the classic motorsports/keisler bellhousings all have provisions for the slave and throwout bearing fork then?

An LSx with a TKO should be pretty stout, not to mention a lot easier if you just get to use the stock 84-87 clutch hydraulic setup.

 

An option to keep in mind is a hydraulic TO bearing, I dont know if the stroke volume of the stock MS is correct to operate one though, I do like the idea of haveing that all tucked inside the BH, away from the headers. The Porsche guys use it often, using C5, Ram and maby others. Their swaps are pretty tight.

 

Absolutely, in fact that is the default type it seems now. However if these BH allow factory hydraulics, it is one less thing to have to change. That is all I am saying.

To find out if the factory hydraulics could work with a hydraulic TO would also be valuable information.