[bob_cat]

Made some progress since my introduction, so I thought I would start a thread to follow my project.

Current status of the car is as follows- Front clip removed, 305 and 200-4R pulled, exhaust removed. With the easy access as it sits, I will be going through the front end completely, including poly sway bar bushings and a set of poly body mounts. KYB gas shocks are going in all around. New steering components will be installed. Control arm bushings will wait as I'd like to swap in a set of 11" brakes which will require aftermarket upper arms. For the time being, I plan to overhaul the stock brakes with metallic pads. In the rear, the lower control arms will be boxed, and adjustable uppers will be fabbed or bought.

The engine is an '06 LQ4 6 litre. It will get a Z06 cam, double row timing chain, new valve springs, ARP rod bolts, a GMPP muscle car oil pan kit, and a 2000 LS1 intake. The front end will be swapped over to a Camaro water pump and balancer, with a KWIK Performance bracket kit. I just picked up the last of the parts, so the internal engine goodies will be installed as soon as I have time to work on it.

Once the engine is ready, it will be bolted to the TH350 and test-fit in the chassis, along with the Pacesetter F-body LS1 headers. These headers have been used successfully in other G-body swaps (according to the G-body forums), and they do look like they'll work. Only one way to find out though.

Once it's in, the engine will run off of an MSD 6LS ignition box and a Megasquirt ECU will handle fuel.

[Donovan]

I like it! Megasquirt huh?

Do you have the 3 speed crossmember for that TH350? Or just simply for test fit while the 200 4r is rebuilt?

Is that early Pontiac blue on the block? hehehe

[bob_cat]

Originally Posted by Donovan

I like it! Megasquirt huh?

Do you have the 3 speed crossmember for that TH350? Or just simply for test fit while the 200 4r is rebuilt?

Is that early Pontiac blue on the block? hehehe

Yeah, I'm using MS because it's what I know. I have it on my turbo Celi, so I know how to use it and have all the software already. I like the versatility it offers, it will run any sensors and injectors. I found out after I bought the MSD that it will also run my ignition as wasted spark, but I like the MSD wiring (simple!) so I'll use it.

I don't have a crossmember yet.... I'll either get one from the wreckers or the guy who bought the old engine. The 200-4R is sold, so the TH350 it is. I don't think I'll miss the OD, the car won't be a daily anyway.

I like the early blue. I'm going for a little bit of a modern/retro look, the headers will get white paint too.

[bob_cat]

A little progress today, went to the wreckers and got a crossmember, picked up a Walbro EFI pump at Mopac, changed the rear shocks for new KYB GR-2s, and pulled the couch... er, I mean, bench seat. While touring the GM section of the yard, I saw plenty of nice light looking buckets. Cavalier and Sunfire seats look okay, and some others too. I've heard of Camaro/Firebird seats fitting these cars, but alas, none there. If I get some time tomorrow, I'll take a small color sample from the interior and see what else there is in other parts of the yard.

I also researched the P/S connections today, adapters are available to convert both box and pump to AN fittings. This makes everything easy as pie. I'll probably use a Toyota remote reservoir for now, they're easy to find. Eventually I'd like a nice aftermarket aluminum reservoir, but that expense will have to wait.

I haven't touched the engine yet.... we have very nice weather right now so I'm drawn outdoors, and I also want to do a little garage cleanup before exposing the engine internals. Once I open it up, I want to finish in one session to avoid any getting any dirt or crap in the engine. Oh yeah, I also learned today that the GM muscle-car pan takes a new style filter, with metric threads. I want to have one on hand before the old pan comes off.

[mike nixon]

Observation, from memory the TH350 will bolt to the 2004r crossmember the postion just moves.

I assume you had the TH350?

A 700r4 would've given you a better lower gearset and an overdrive while being stout enough to handle what you're gonna dish out.

Nice looking car, I'm interested to see how it fits and runs when it's done. I've got an 82 waiting in the wings as a project. It'll probably go the stick shift route tho.

Mike

Mike

[bob_cat]

Originally Posted by mike nixon

Observation, from memory the TH350 will bolt to the 2004r crossmember the postion just moves.

I assume you had the TH350?

A 700r4 would've given you a better lower gearset and an overdrive while being stout enough to handle what you're gonna dish out.

Nice looking car, I'm interested to see how it fits and runs when it's done. I've got an 82 waiting in the wings as a project. It'll probably go the stick shift route tho.

Mike

Mike

When I advertised the engine and trans for sale, I promised the crossmember and mounts would go with. I plan on using the stocker as a pattern to make one up to clear dual exhaust anyway.

The TH350 is used, I picked it up cheap. It has a shift kit and a 2200 stall converter. It's only a temporary measure anyway, until I can afford a good built trans. Exactly what it'll be I don't know yet. Eventually, I want something that will stand up to turbo boost, likely a TH400.

Stick would be cool, but I haven't had an auto for a long time and want it for consistency in launching.

[bob_cat]

I have a few days off work, so I've been working on the car.... The frame horns and crossmember have been cleaned and painted, shocks and steering parts installed, poly sway bar bushings are in. The engine work is almost done- the cam is in, timing chain, and half of the valve springs. Today I plan to finish the engine work off, button everything up tight, and test fit the engine and trans.

Enjoy....

[bob_cat]

Oh yeah, I picked up some seats, guy says they're from a Sunbird. They're pretty comfortable, though I'd like a better color match. The good part is, there is now room for a shifter.

[bob_cat]

Well, I managed to get the engine in for a test-fit, and it confirmed one thing- I have a lot of work to do.

To mount it so that the trans tail is in the original location, the A/C module had to come out. I'd planned to delete the A/C anyway, but now I need to fab some kind of heater setup (the G-body heater box won't work either, unless it's modified). This is Canada, you know.... it will need a defroster at the very least.

The headers are good news/bad news. Drivers side fits, period. No mods required. Passenger side, not so much. It looks like one tube will need to modified, possibly even cut out and rerouted. More on this as I figure it out, once the engine location is finalized.

These pics were taken before I realized I'd put the trans mount bolt in the wrong hole in the Energy Suspension trans mount, which has 3 holes. The mount was shifted to the passenger side about an inch.... by the time I discovered this I was ready to call it a night. Hopefully correcting this will make the header fit a little better.

[BruceWilkie]

Summit and Jegs have dual exhaust G-body crossmembers for a variety of transmissions. Pretty reasonable. Nice project. I have original buckets in great shape but interior is chocolate colored. I dont think I can dye them so will just get recovered at some point. There are lots of G-bodys down here with buckets. Mostly Monte Carlo's but quite a few Olds Buick and Pontiacs came with bucket seats. Most Malibus and LeMans have bench seats. Keep looking, they are pretty comfortable.(and they fit right)


I'm building a twin turbo 406 ci Pontiac motor for my 84 GP. Probably turbo 400 maybe 4L80 if I change rear gear ratio. I have a early olds/pontiac rear with 3.08 and posi to fit under it. I will be modifying the rear frame to fit at least a 315/60 tire and possibly Art Morrison street style 4 link if I dont just box thelower arms and relocate them. Aftermarket adjustable uppers if I dont go the A.M. route.

If I go EFI I'm going to try Ford Mass flow with tweecer software eec4 computer. I've been studying my options and this seems to fit my "homemade" plans rather well.

I really like the G bodies. Couldnt quite afford one when they were brand new.

[bob_cat]

Originally Posted by BruceWilkie

Summit and Jegs have dual exhaust G-body crossmembers for a variety of transmissions. Pretty reasonable. Nice project. I have original buckets in great shape but interior is chocolate colored. I dont think I can dye them so will just get recovered at some point. There are lots of G-bodys down here with buckets. Mostly Monte Carlo's but quite a few Olds Buick and Pontiacs came with bucket seats. Most Malibus and LeMans have bench seats. Keep looking, they are pretty comfortable.(and they fit right)


I'm building a twin turbo 406 ci Pontiac motor for my 84 GP. Probably turbo 400 maybe 4L80 if I change rear gear ratio. I have a early olds/pontiac rear with 3.08 and posi to fit under it. I will be modifying the rear frame to fit at least a 315/60 tire and possibly Art Morrison street style 4 link if I dont just box thelower arms and relocate them. Aftermarket adjustable uppers if I dont go the A.M. route.

If I go EFI I'm going to try Ford Mass flow with tweecer software eec4 computer. I've been studying my options and this seems to fit my "homemade" plans rather well.

I really like the G bodies. Couldnt quite afford one when they were brand new.

Cool, sounds like it'll be a rocket.

I'd love some stock buckets, but whatever hits the yards around here usually isn't worth putting in a car.... I'll just keep my eyes open, but these will do for now. I'm saving the skins from the bench, maybe some day I can either have them sewn up to fit the new seats, or have the material matched.

Anyway, I managed to get the engine in it's proper place today, with mounts in place. Everything clears pretty well, but the passenger header needed some serious massaging to fit. Not perfect, but it'll work. I'll post pics later.

[bob_cat]

Well, I now have the mounts figured out. The engine location is finalized, trans is exactly where it needs to be to reuse the driveshaft, and the headers will fit after all. The power steering pump is close to the steering box, but nothing touches. The hose in the pics is too long, but it shows the general idea.

When I pull the engine again, I have a few holes to drill for the mounts. Some finishing touches to the engine and trans, and I can reinstall it for keeps. That will leave just a few problems to solve (like a throttle cable, etc.), the plumbing and wiring to finish, and then I can finally drive this thing. I really can't wait, with the work done to the chassis it should handle much better, and definitely have a lot more power.

[Socrates]

Very cool project. You're using MSD 6LS ignition box and a Megasquirt ECU instead of the factory ECU, eh? Please post some detailed info on how this works out for you. The guy a share a warehouse with put the Megasquirt on his RX7 and on his 914 Porsche and the MS has been largely a debacle. He has probably 100hrs in building the wiring harness, logging data, fussing with this and that parameter, only to have the MS somehow loose control of the timing on the Mazda (locked up around 60deg, obviously not a good thing for a Turbo car), which ended up cracking the "block" or whatever it is that the rotary engine has. The MS on the Porsche needed 100's of hrs of troubleshooting to get working. I still think the Webbers run better.

My next project I think will be a 1969 Trans Am clone with a nasty LSX engine and T56. I'd like to be able to tweak the computer with a Megasquirt in real time rather then dumping a few Benjamin's and mailing the factory ECU off every time I upgrade or tweak the engine. If you can pull this off I'd be interested to see how you do it exactly, which version of MS you use, which sensors, etc. Thanks for posting the conversion thread.

[bob_cat]

Originally Posted by Socrates

Very cool project. You're using MSD 6LS ignition box and a Megasquirt ECU instead of the factory ECU, eh? Please post some detailed info on how this works out for you. The guy a share a warehouse with put the Megasquirt on his RX7 and on his 914 Porsche and the MS has been largely a debacle. He has probably 100hrs in building the wiring harness, logging data, fussing with this and that parameter, only to have the MS somehow loose control of the timing on the Mazda (locked up around 60deg, obviously not a good thing for a Turbo car), which ended up cracking the "block" or whatever it is that the rotary engine has. The MS on the Porsche needed 100's of hrs of troubleshooting to get working. I still think the Webbers run better.

My next project I think will be a 1969 Trans Am clone with a nasty LSX engine and T56. I'd like to be able to tweak the computer with a Megasquirt in real time rather then dumping a few Benjamin's and mailing the factory ECU off every time I upgrade or tweak the engine. If you can pull this off I'd be interested to see how you do it exactly, which version of MS you use, which sensors, etc. Thanks for posting the conversion thread.

Sorry to hear the MS horror story. My experience with it has been the opposite- from the first day it's been a Godsend.

When I was modding my Celica, I started with a factory turbo motor (22RTE) swap. Everything came from the donor truck, including the electronics. It ran well until I started upgrading. After a cam change and going to a ball-bearing turbo, the thing barely ran. With the efficient turbo gulping air quicker than the ECU could respond, it had the worst lean stumble I'd ever seen. Any tuning tricks I learned were either inneffective or minor improvements.

Installing Megasquirt changed all that. I built my own ECU and made an adapter harness to plug it into the stock connectors. I only control fuel with it, in order to keep tuning simple I did NOT, and never have run ignition off it. It requires some time and attention to tune, but it wasn't long before my car was running stronger than I'd ever imagined it would. The ECU's flexibility allowed me to raise boost and upgrade injectors to the point that my little 2.4 liter truck motor was pushing 3000 pounds to a 13.94 at 98 mph.

I have run that car on MS for 5 seasons with no problems that could be attributed to the ECU. I expect to have the same success with this project. If you look around the net, you'll find a guy going by Parish who ran an LS truck motor (5.3 I believe) with the MSD/MS combo and boost in a Ford Fairmont with great success. Here's a link-http://www.diyautotune.com/cars/cust...h_fairmont.htm

[bob_cat]

Sorry I haven't posted much, but I've been busy with work and family. I have been working on the car a little here and there, though nothing really worth a pic yet.

I have the engine and trans out of the car again. The engine is buttoned up and ready to go, trans will get seals, filter, and a drain plug installed before it's done. The Megasquirt EFI harness is mostly done. The car harness has been trimmed of A/C and the 305 crap, and been rerouted to fit the new setup. Shifter is installed.

Most of the parts for the swap are collected and need to be installed. I have to: mount the battery in the trunk and run cables, install the fuel pump and wire it, run fuel lines, etc. An e-bay aluminum rad is on its way.

Long story short, all that's left is a bunch of work to put it all together. I have no outstanding puzzles to solve (that I know of yet ), just gotta get my ass in gear and get it finished.

[ponjohn]

Very cool indeed!

Why did you choose the th350?

John

[bob_cat]

Originally Posted by ponjohn

Very cool indeed!

Why did you choose the th350?

John

Cuz it was cheap. It's a stopgap anyway, eventually the car will get a built TH400, stronger driveshaft, and a better rear-end. For now, I just want to get the swap done and see how the engine runs.

[bob_cat]

Hah! Bet you guys gave up on me!

After busting my ass on it for the last few weeks, the car is running and on the road....and goes like hell! I WILL need a diff soon, and better tires. With the 2.73 peg leg it broke the (1) 14" tire loose today as the cam came on in first gear, about 3500 rpm. Still needs tuning, too!

I am blown away with the LS motor. They are all you hear about, and more. I will post some pics in the next couple of days.