my swap, 6.0L LSX/T56 in a 1991 Z28 convertible

[BlueZee28]

I figured my swap has had enough progress that it's worth showing to you all now.

Just some specs on the block first off:

It started out as a 2000 LQ4 with the longer crankshaft, which I tore the block down to replace it with an LS1 crankshaft so I can use a T56. Well when I tore it down I found that the inside of the block was really nasty, the pistons and rings were about shot, looked like it hadn't had an oil change in 8,000 miles. So I decided to rebuild it.

The longblock parts list (I have the build sheet on the shortblock if anyone is interested in seeing that as well):

Mahle forged pistons with teflon coated skirts
Eagle forged I-beams
Texas Speed MS4
all new bearings and bolts
Melling race oil pump
25% underdrive crank pulley
milled 317 casting heads
Cometic head gaskets
PRC dual valve springs from Texas Speed
PBM chrome-moly pushrods
Scorpion 1.7 rockers
of course the heads got a thorough valve job and cleaning as well
the compression ratio is 10.6x:1 with the milled heads




















These were taken this evening, I bought a set of longtubes made for 3rd gen Fbodies with the LSX swap, they're made by Stainless Steel Works. I also had the valve covers powder coated in black chrome, got the intake put on and the fuel rails. Obviously I had to swap out the accessories and oil pan for that of an Fbody:








Here is what will be behind the motor, it has a Spec 4 with only 100 miles on it and an alum./steel Spec flywheel as well.







Here is a picture of the old 305TPI beast in there:





Primered:







Painted:




Tubular k-member:



[IMG]http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/bluezee28/LQ4%20swap


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I'm going with the 4th gen coolant and windshield wiper reservoirs:








And that pretty much brings you up to date. I will have the wiring harness next week, already bought and paid for it and had it shipped to a guy in North Carolina to have it re-pinned for my setup. As soon as that gets here and I get the hole cut in the firewall for the master cylinder, I am going to drop the motor and trans in the car for test fitment and cut the hole in the center console for the Hurst shifter. I *should* have it running by Christmas.

[screamin86]

Looks good man! Wish i could show some progress on my 383 build for my 82 and the planned 6.0/t56 swap for my 86 but i want/need a hose and shop first. :/

[thelsx]

nice dude keep posting.

[BlueZee28]

Thanks, I went a little paypal crazy yesterday. I bought an LS6 intake with rails and injectors from a member on LS1tech right after he posted it for sale, and I ordered all the fittings I need to make my own fuel line system with Russell Performance parts, just need to get some braided line from ebay now. I also ordered my adjustable torque arm. I got the pedals hung with the master cylinder last night too. My wiring harness will be here this week sometime and then I'm off to put it in the car and see how well she fits.

[RedHeartbeat]

I have days like that.

[phantom405]

Just to throw this out there....Guys that have used the cheap braided line complain of a strong gas smell. Most of the cheap stuff is just regular gates rubber hose wrapped in a pretty braided covering. Most recommend russells or aeroquip line.

[BlueZee28]

You can use a cheap line but don't skimp out on the fittings. I am using all Russell fittings, so I think I will be fine. We'll see

[phantom405]

I did just the opposite. The gas fumes were seeping out of the cheap hose is where the smell was comin from. Hope it all works out for ya man. Love the car. I'd love to have a badass 3rd gen

[BlueZee28]

I love it when the UPS/FedEx man comes, it's like Christmas haha.


I got some of the parts I ordered over the weekend today. And I got the wiring harness in as well, so I have a bit of things to work on this weekend now.

I decided to make my own fuel lines, so these Russell Performance fittings are going to be put to good use. I'm still waiting on two other fittings that are back-ordered at Summit though.



This looks like fun haha

[BlueZee28]

More progress and mods.


The UPS man dropped off my LS6 intake, which I promptly installed on the motor after removing the regular LS1 manifold. While I had the intake off the car I also put on the knock sensor wires which I had forgotten to do previously. Then I bent the coolant bypass tubes downwards just a hair, and took a sander to the bottom of the intake manifold so that it would clear the LS1 coolant bypass tubes. I should have gotten an LS6 valley cover and bypass tubes, but alas, it satisfies the need.




I also took the modified LS1 harness out of the box today and began plugging things in. My first impression was that this is going to be easy. After a few minutes of plugging stuff in and pulling back the loom to read the marked tape on the wires so I could figure out where they go, I got it down to this. The only things NOT plugged in now are the a/c wiring, o2's, trans wires, the red mass of wiring that will go to the 3rd gen harness, and the wiring that will feed down into the fender and under the dash to plug into the computer. Ok, well there's a few more wires still not connected to anything, but those are just a few things I need to figure out what they go to first, but the majority of the harness is hooked up and ready to roll. I also got the starter I picked up last week installed on the block, which I wasn't thinking when I put that on before hooking up the crankshaft position sensor. That was fun lol. I'm thinking I will get a set of fuel rail covers by the time this thing is running too. I would love to paint a set to match the body color of the car.












I also picked up one of the last pieces to the puzzle today, a red top Optima for $110.