And so it begins !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wayneosan]

Man, I'm just getting caught up. Dyno is working, and last but not least, four days left to get two race cars ready for the trip up to Englishtown. I'm not going. After the cars are done, I'm taking ? days off to START THIS DANG PROJECT!!!! My wife is even bugging me about driving it. I'm not sure how long I'm going to get to call it "mine."

 

[warpdriv]

My wife is even bugging me about driving it.

Mine has been bugging me too. We are married to some good women!!!

 

[wayneosan]

Getting around

Ok guys, here's the deal. I'm starting on this tomorrow and working until my fingers fall off.

I am going to the other shop to get some scales so I can corner balance / weigh the crusher before I yank out the engine. I guess just for giggles.

I'm going to try like hell to at least get the engine and trans in the thing. I have Thursday all day/night, and Friday day. Then I have Saturday morning, early, and Saturday afternoon. (girls soccer game at noon) Then I have all day Sunday. Well, actually, I'll work Monday too until I get the engine in. How's that. I'm sure I could use an experienced hand man handling that heavy pig, so pm me or shoot me an email if interested. Wiring is sitting in garage waiting to get installed.

I am concerned, I have some sheets of .250" aluminum and a TIG laying around, but no Camaro oil pan. I don't want to buy another oil pan, but maybe KIRK has some insight on this for me??? I got a truck engine. I thought that pan would clear?

I don't have my cam either, just the valve train. So, looks like it's getting installed stock for now, and I'll slap the cam and blower in it later.

I got too many irons in the fire currently, I need a few to get done.

 

[wayneosan]

Pulling eng as we speak/type...

Here is the truck weight on the scales. I'm trying to find my camera, but they may have taken it with them to Bonneville.

wet with no driver

left front: 1225 ish lbs.----------------right front: 1235 ish

left rear: 1100 ---------------------- right rear 1070

4630 TOTAL WEIGHT.


Can't wait to see the difference with the LS engine.

My truck is COMPLETELY stock as of this post.


BTW: I just received word from Bonneville that they went 264MPH on the first run with 10 lbs of boost. I think it make like 1200 hp at 15 lbs, so that's the next run.

They are trying to take the record at over 300 mph blown gas.

ehh, I stayed behind to work on my Land cruiser. That's more fun!! This is MY project!
It's nice being able to actually work on my own project for a change. I'm kind of giddy...

 

[kirk]

Ok guys, here's the deal. I'm starting on this tomorrow and working until my fingers fall off.

I am going to the other shop to get some scales so I can corner balance / weigh the crusher before I yank out the engine. I guess just for giggles.

I'm going to try like hell to at least get the engine and trans in the thing. I have Thursday all day/night, and Friday day. Then I have Saturday morning, early, and Saturday afternoon. (girls soccer game at noon) Then I have all day Sunday. Well, actually, I'll work Monday too until I get the engine in. How's that. I'm sure I could use an experienced hand man handling that heavy pig, so pm me or shoot me an email if interested. Wiring is sitting in garage waiting to get installed.

I am concerned, I have some sheets of .250" aluminum and a TIG laying around, but no Camaro oil pan. I don't want to buy another oil pan, but maybe KIRK has some insight on this for me??? I got a truck engine. I thought that pan would clear?

I don't have my cam either, just the valve train. So, looks like it's getting installed stock for now, and I'll slap the cam and blower in it later.

I got too many irons in the fire currently, I need a few to get done.

How much lift are you running? The steering tie rod and driveshaft flange are the points to watch. You can always use bumpstops....

 

[wayneosan]

Lift in the engine? hehe.. jk...

I'm going for more of a street use vehicle. 2" to 2.5" at the most.

How much lift are you running? The steering tie rod and driveshaft flange are the points to watch.



You can always use bumpstops....

Hmmmm.....

 

[kirk]

Lift in the engine? hehe.. jk...

I'm going for more of a street use vehicle. 2" to 2.5" at the most.





Hmmmm.....

Man at that low of a lift you will be shaving that pan and also the tranny pan. I am notching my tranny pan after my exhaust is finished. I would consider holding your motor centerline 1" to the driver side to help the cause. Also if you decide to change pans it will be doable with pulling the motor. The pan that I had in there that reall looked bad was from a Hummer3 v8 which I think is very close to the truck pan in shape.

 

[wayneosan]

I'll have a looksie in a few more hours. Rad/condenser out as well as throttle, cruise, wiring; ergo, taking time trying not to break anything so I can sell the remaining parts if anyone wants them.

Motor was actually recently rebuilt. Not just a head gasket. I'll post some pics later, I found the camera. It's going to be a late night tonight.....


EDIT: Another reason I love living in Texas. 180k on exhaust and the nuts and bolts just come right off. No rust.

6:14pm: contemplating engine and trans assy coming out together, or separate. I do have a forklift available.. I'll get a pic.

When I have clean hands again, or this weekend, I'll post some pics.

 

[warpdriv]

Pull it all at once. Easier.

 

[landroamer]

Nice

I have a 1991 land cruiser with a 1996 lt1 5.7 that I am going to install in the next 2-3 months, interested to see how this goes. should make an awsome combo. cant wait to see.

 

[TwoTonic]

I'll have a looksie in a few more hours. Rad/condenser out as well as throttle, cruise, wiring; ergo, taking time trying not to break anything so I can sell the remaining parts if anyone wants them.

Motor was actually recently rebuilt. Not just a head gasket. I'll post some pics later, I found the camera. It's going to be a late night tonight.....


EDIT: Another reason I love living in Texas. 180k on exhaust and the nuts and bolts just come right off. No rust.

6:14pm: contemplating engine and trans assy coming out together, or separate. I do have a forklift available.. I'll get a pic.

When I have clean hands again, or this weekend, I'll post some pics.

Subscribed

Wayne,

They will come out together if you're patient-- it's actually easier that way. The T/C is a monster by itself, as is the transmission.


Great thread!

Glad to see you went iron block-- is the only way to fly in these trucks... the problem with the AL blocks is that the yards all think they 'are a Corvette engine'! In reality, all the trucks since '00 got alloy heads, not iron, and the weight savings is less than 90#. For an FJ, if you're pulling out 600-750# of Toyota metal what's the difference??? You're still going to end up with lighter, more powerful Cruiser. And, all those 8xx or 317 heads from the trucks have the same 'cathedral ports' that the Corvette and F-Body engines got anyway. The price difference is staggering-- the last 5.3L FE Block we bought was $465, fully dressed, for a 300HP engine. If it were an "LS1", then the yards will ask 5x-8x the money for the same 300HP... and the only real difference is a savings of 80# of weight!

We've done a number of late-GM swaps into 60s and 80s, so please PM if you run into issues... there's a potential clearance issue on the transmission you'll want to know about before you get too far. The AA guys never seem to know too much about how to use the Mark's parts, but there are ways to deal with it.
I can also assist on tach/cruise/e-pedal issues, if you run into a questions. E-pedal is the ONLY way to go on these swaps-- it's always in the right gear and you never have that hunting-delay of the Toyota box.

Anyway, great swap... keep the posts coming. You will LOVE the resulting truck and so will the Mrs.

TT

 

[wayneosan]

Pics pics pics!!

TT, thanks! I'll send you a message when the time comes.

ahem. that would be tomorrow.


yeah, I just figured there was going to be some clearance issues. I got the welder ready. Lots of grindy tools too.

here's some pics. Tomorrow morning, I'll begin to assemble the tcase to the GM stuff, and hopefully I have everything I need or at least in town if I need to run get something. If the pan doesn't clear, i found an FBODY with an orange tag on the side of the road....


Any way... here's some pics.... I got clean hands and need to go home now...!

Picasa Web Albums - Wayne Potts - Crusher Project

 

[TwoTonic]

QUOTE>> If the pan doesn't clear, i found an FBODY with an orange tag on the side of the road.... <<

Another great thing about TX, don't those Orange Tags on cars by the road mean "Fair Game"?
It's like drawing for an Elk Tag every year out here in the Rockies! Have at it, gentlemen!

 

[wayneosan]

MAJOR UPDATE 16 hours into work

Here's a few pics. Clean engine bay, work from today installing tcase and mocking up for drive shaft check.

NOTE: there is a MAJOR issue, that will be overcome, but the front drive shaft does hit at this ride ht. I will make another one at my favorite drive shaft shop I always use. You know them as "good ol' boys" they always take care of me.

The front drive shaft hits the transmission pan real bad.

Thanks to TT who brought this to my attention I immediately installed everything in the truck to check before getting all excited and finishing the project. I might have to actually modify the pan as well with my low suspension travel. Kirk and anyone going over 6" may not have this problem. Also, I know that I will have to modify the aluminum pan where the oil level sending unit is. I may have to remove that boss as well. I noticed that the oil pan at stock ht might also hit the steering rod.


All this being said, being that I do stuff like this for a living, THESE ARE JUST MINOR ANNOYANCES!!

BTW... THE ENGINE IS IN AND RESTING ON IT'S OWN MOUNTS!!!!!!!!!!
ALMOST DYNO TIME......
oh wait, I'm getting ahead of myself.....

 

[slow91fj90]

This is awesome. Keep up the good work.

 

[wayneosan]

More pics...

Me stabbing the assembly; the "junk yard dogs" broke my map sensor and crushed the MAF and dented the starter. I had a lot to fix. SHE'S GOOD TO GO though.

Hood clearance is minimal. That pic is me taking a shot with the hood closed. The Vortech badging will hit the cloth insulation and evap will have to be rerouted.

Keep in mind I am using the truck engine. Just a basic 5.3 out of a 1500. I'll have to reread my post, I think it's an 05'.

I'm getting excited. I just need to pull it back out, finish a few welds, paint the mounts do some grinding and then stick it back in.

I'll get pics of the cutting of the output shaft and of the front driveshaft clearance issue. Kirk has a good pic, but I didn't know if you realized it, you can actually see how it might hit the pan in that situation. Hope TT elaborates on the trans situations. If I can get a good drive shaft built, I'll keep the specs.

 

[wayneosan]

A couple more... Sorry, I'm excited

It just was made to go there.

 

[warpdriv]

Home streach!!!

 

[wayneosan]

Autumn has a soccer game now, but this morning she and I painted the frame and I hacked off the output shaft and final assembled everything. This afternoon the power plant gets dropped in for the last time!!!

 

[Moby]

Good work!