Think I'll follow along on this thread. I have a 70 Firebird 350 that I'll be stuffing a 2000 Trans Am into. I plan on putting the LS1/6spd and dash into it plus as many other components I can use. How big a garage are you doing your work in (XxY)? Just curious as we're moving this summer and my workshop will get downsized (from 32x48).
Well, lets put it this way, I may qualify for the smallest garage ever for a project of this size to be done in.
My garage is 10' x 19'. In order to work in it I have to drag out the engine, 2 motorcycles, my tool box (recently brought home, quit my job as a motorcycle tech as it was cutting into my time to build this car...jk), and an engine hoist. The car is on 4 wheel dollies so I can move it around...Yes, I am dedicated and patient.
Ryan, who did your paint? I am in need of a trustworthy bodyman / painter. I'd love to check out your car sometime, PM me when you get a chance.
I have not seen my LH8 oil pan well over a month from BRP! Its apparently a bitch to get. Would of been nice to see a better eta. But its ok i can stare at my motor and imagine how it will look in here~
I have not seen my LH8 oil pan well over a month from BRP! Its apparently a bitch to get. Would of been nice to see a better eta. But its ok i can stare at my motor and imagine how it will look in here~
Anyone have any concerns re the LH8 pan being 2"+ deeper than an F Body pan? My Gen 1 Camaro with an LH8 would have it hanging 2" below the subframe. Subject to a cooling breeze, but kinda vulnerable.
Mark, by the way stay patient and keep up the good work. Hope to see done posts one day! I feel like im on the same boat as you. Lack time, money, have tone of patients and i have been on my car for the past 4 years. With problebly 1 more to completed.
I can report vastly on the LH8 pan, that is if i ever get it from BRP!
Last edited by frtupchevy; 04-13-2008 at 10:43 PM..
Reason: grieping
what’s the name of the order under? I just sent out 15 last Friday and ill check to see if yours went out.
I have batch of 50 on route that will let me send out all back orders and give me a stock of 17 ready to ship by ether late this week or early next week. I’m sorry about the delay its just a tough pan to get, it’s a production only part right now so any LH8 pan not on the original car means that a Hummer can go down the assembly line. I have worked with GM to get this back into into production and finally I’m getting some in from the new production batch. I have had close to a 100 of these come though the shop so far so I’m getting them out as soon as I can. Its been hard to set a ETA because I’m at GM’s will on these pans. I have even had GM dealerships order though me because it’s on a 6-month national back order right now.
I need an opinion here.... I am thinking about rebuilding this LS1 that I have to low compression for higher Boost. Anyone have suggestions on components I should use? I have looked at wiseco fo 8.5 or so to 1, but beyond that, what should I consider using in this motor? What kind of hp is the stock crank capable of? rods? etc? gotta decide soon!
I need an opinion here.... I am thinking about rebuilding this LS1 that I have to low compression for higher Boost. Anyone have suggestions on components I should use? I have looked at wiseco fo 8.5 or so to 1, but beyond that, what should I consider using in this motor? What kind of hp is the stock crank capable of? rods? etc? gotta decide soon!
Hi Mark,
Dont know if you got any answers to this, but the answers I get when the question comes up, is that there are folks with twin turbos with 1000hp output with the stock crank and rods. Only heresay though. Am sure there is some truth to it.
There are guys down here in Oz running twins on the VE/G8 6L GenIV motors in 1800kg cars, running low 11's on stock ~10.5:1 long motors. Double digit boost, but not sure how much. Pump gas.
Any forged slug will give you a margin for error, though with ECM controls these days, relatively easy to prevent knock.
Did your LH8 pan when you had it in hang far below the cross member?
The LH8 pan hung down about 2 inches, however, that was using the transdapt style motor mount adapter plates and no shims. I wanted to get the motor as low as possible for handling reasons, and when I did I saw how low the pan was and decided it was not the way to go. I want the pan to be no lower than the cross member. I also noted that the front of the LH8 pan is deeper than the F body pan, and hits the stock steering. I swapped the pan back to the F body pan as it has a more shallow front edge, and found that it was level with the crossmember, but also between 1/4 inch from touching it and just touching it on one corner. I figured that a little crossmember massaging will take care of that gap. I then realized that I hadn't taken into account that the alternator sits very low on the drivers side. I put it on and found that I couldn't steer. Damn. Ended up lifting the motor maybe 1 inch and all woes are cured, except the pan to crossmember clearance, but again, thats a couple minutes with a grinder and reweld the seam.
If I went to a rack and pinion front clip it would all be perfect, but for now, I can adjust motor mounts...
The headers are for a 99 camaro, they are JBA manifold replacement type. (pic in an earlier post) I know they aren't the best choice, but they were cheap and I have aspirations of a twin turbo set-up...
Last edited by Marktainium; 05-12-2008 at 09:42 PM..
Thanks for the explaination, I guess your engine mounts are set lower than the BRP mounts. I will ask phill@brp about how low the LH8 pan will be in a sec gen with his mount kit.
Great project and great info!
- How much room do you have left between the hood and engine?
- How far is the engine from the firewall?
- What brake booster do you use?
Peter, with the engine at a usable height, alternator and steering wise, there is roughly 2 inches between the throttle body and the hood, (stock hood) I think the brp mounts are even higher, from the looks of the pics anyway. There is lots of room at the back of the motor, but to move it back would cause issues with the shifter placement, plus the space between accesories and upper control arms. I am mounting my pro charger on the passenger side outboard of the stock belt tensioner, and am trying to keep it as low as possible, (no higher than the oil filler cap on the valve cover). I am currently using the stock booster, but plan on going to a hydro boost.
Last edited by Marktainium; 05-14-2008 at 01:28 AM..
Indeed, that is a lot of room you got there.
I have bought a A4 auto and corvette style accessories with brp mounts and no AC.
So I hope to get it back a few inches more.
