LS1 Swap

[sweetbmxrider]

and thats how stock ls1's do it! even betta!

[edpontiac91]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Im really leaning towards sending it out. I guess its possible to knock it out in a few days, but its gunna be a biiiitch.

Alright, looking at three different different sets
Alston Racing gets fantastic reviews on TGO
UMI and BMR are tied for reviews. Some have said that welding in both the Alstons and the BMR's make the car super ridged, but why anyone would want to add that much weight to thier car unless they are pushing some serious power is beyond me.
Price wise, Alston's are the cheapest.

Hey Al, I am super anal about what goes into my car and by chance I wanted a set of SFC. One of the club members had a set of ALSTON's for sale and had heard they were pretty good from TGO. Had them installed (took about 4 hours to WELD them in properly) and was SUPER impressed with the way the car felt right away. It took away all of the bounce and shake over bumps and made the car feel like you were driving a much heavier car. They weight about 20 pounds but well worth the investment in what it can do to the ride quality of these rock N' roll beasts. I think all you need would be JUST the ALSTON's, as adding the UMI set would be great for a road race set-up, but overkill for a DD.

[BigAls87Z28]

What did you do for the evap? Did you pass legal inspection? PM me thatt answer.
If I swap out the gauge ill do the same for the tach just to keep it the same.

[LTb1ow]

yea and if you just swapped a new pump in the stock tank, couldn't you then run a regular either vacuum based reg or adjustable up front?

[BigAls87Z28]

Could do that, or could just get the Corvette fuel filter.
But I have the tank, and want to use the tank.

Ok, as far as the guages, Ive looked some aftermarket gauges and I think Im gunna go ahead and get new electric speedo and new tach, Sport Comps. Priced from work, it would cost the same.

[LTb1ow]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Could do that, or could just get the Corvette fuel filter.
But I have the tank, and want to use the tank.

Ok, as far as the guages, Ive looked some aftermarket gauges and I think Im gunna go ahead and get new electric speedo and new tach, Sport Comps. Priced from work, it would cost the same.

If you go that route can't you get a fuel gauge that would work with the LS1 sender?

[BigAls87Z28]

Yeah, but then Id have to get all the guages...800 bucks later!
Modding the tank or the gauge seem to be the better route there.

[BigAls87Z28]

I realized that replacing the Tach removes the oil pressure gauge!! Damn it, there is no end in sight...

[LTb1ow]

Cheap stall converters = bad bad news.

Yank/Vig = good news.

Simple.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by crainholio

I used an evap cannister from an '80-something Monte Carlo, no solenoid just an inlet and outlet. Plumbed the inlet to my car's existing steel vapor line, plumbed the outlet to the LS1s evap solenoid.

It has passed inspection at the local state-run inspection station every time. Blew cleaner tailpipe emissions than the wife's 2002 Land Rover in 2005 when I compared the printouts that year.

Hrmmmm...Guess Ill be hooking the factory charcol canister back up! good thing I didnt smash it on the ground into a million pieces.

Originally Posted by crainholio

The AutoMeter Sport-Comp speedo dial is a very close semblance to the stock speedo. Orange needle instead of white, otherwise you'd have to look very, very hard to see that they're different manufacture.

And as you've found, swap the tach = find a new place to put the oil pressure gauge.

Pic of mine in progress is attached. That little green printed circuit board at 6 o'clock was the front light, it's gone now. Set the guage back enough and it backlights via reflection off the steel bezel same as the other gauges.

hrm....looks very stock. I thought about just dropping it in the hole?

[JSPERFORMANCE]

Yeah we have done a couple...

http://jsspeedandcustom.com/gallery/...?g2_itemId=973

This is just the latest one to leave the shop.
It has working a/c all factory gauges, speedo and tach are correct stock gas tank with the stock fuel pump and filter, and if you didnt lift the hood you would never know the car isnt stock. (That is until you hit the go pedal)

I am not trying to down you but you are really not approaching this swap in the correct direction. If you want it to look and work like factory it is gonna cost some $$ in parts and labor as well (spent correctly of course). I have already re-wired two swap cars that "experts" adapted the factory 4th gen harness to work in the third gen car.. they were fire hazards to say the least..

Budget is not about spending as little as possible, its about spending the right money in the right places.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by JSPERFORMANCE

Yeah we have done a couple...

http://jsspeedandcustom.com/gallery/...?g2_itemId=973

This is just the latest one to leave the shop.
It has working a/c all factory gauges, speedo and tach are correct stock gas tank with the stock fuel pump and filter, and if you didnt lift the hood you would never know the car isnt stock. (That is until you hit the go pedal)

I am not trying to down you but you are really not approaching this swap in the correct direction. If you want it to look and work like factory it is gonna cost some $$ in parts and labor as well (spent correctly of course). I have already re-wired two swap cars that "experts" adapted the factory 4th gen harness to work in the third gen car.. they were fire hazards to say the least..

Budget is not about spending as little as possible, its about spending the right money in the right places.

Thanks Josh.

One thing that the Firebirds have over Camaros is that they have electric speedos in 87 where Camaro doesnt get it till 90. Makes that whole speedo deal different...makes me wish I had an 87 TA...
Swap looks clean Josh.

[BigAls87Z28]

Originally Posted by crainholio

The speedo is an in-dash model. I bought an extra plastic instrument housing (white part the gauges mount into) at the junkyard, opened up the rear of the speedo area, and mounted the unit in place using its two threaded studs.

Or you could just drop it into the hole, but then you'd need to connect the front light (no huge deal) and you'd have this big 5" oddball speedo sticking out of your instrument panel.

You connect it to 12VDC ignition switched, 2 grounds, and the PCM's speedo output (original purpose was for the Traction Control System or the ABS, I think) goes to the Square Wave input terminal on the speedo.

Put the speedo into self-calibration mode, drive 2.00 miles, then click it out of calibration mode. Done.

Are you saying you have to cut out the back of the white guage holder? I think this would be a good deal still. Im not 100% on that Cable X box.

[Frosty]

Like Josh said it's about spending the RIGHT $$$. Chris(the owner of that blue Firebird) spent the right $$$ on the right parts to make the swap as seamless as possible.

To do a swap like that the RIGHT way isn't cheap but worth it IMO.

[BigAls87Z28]

Eh, Im not tryng to find the cheap way out either. I want to find the best way to do things, hence the question.

[Frosty]

I wasn't saying you were being cheap or anything. Was just making a general statement.

[BigAls87Z28]

I gotta see your car in person man. Thank you.

[BigAls87Z28]

Engine bay is primed. Gunna sand and throw another coat of primer on to get rid of some of the real crappy spots.

The car was in an accident with my father some 20+ years ago. Sanding down some of the parts show a little body filler. Gunna hit up some of the spots, and then lay down a few coats of Bright Red! Should be a pretty sight.

[BigAls87Z28]

Layed down some paint. Surprised by how close it is to the stock color.

[Blackbirdws6]

Red was the right choice. Lookin good.

[BigAls87Z28]

Thank you. Ill try to snap some shots today when I get home.

[Featherburner]

Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6

Red was the right choice. Lookin good.

[deadtrend1]

just get UMI SFC's. You really dont need to use that little third piece for it that goes above the exhaust. It 2 points will be fine.

[KirkEvil]

Im not sure why everyone thinks red was the right choice. All you can compare it to so far is a half painted engine bay against newspaper wrapped fenders....

I wanted it black

[BonzoHansen]

Originally Posted by KirkEvil

Im not sure why everyone thinks red was the right choice. All you can compare it to so far is a half painted engine bay against newspaper wrapped fenders....

I wanted it black

LOL, I wasn't going to mention the masking or lack of full dis-assembly but since you opened the door. Labor is free.