LSJ 73 Resto Mod - The Flying Burrito

[wardharris]

TRULY A "CAN AM" CRUISER

 

[elkaholic]

 

[wardharris]

TECH STUFF

No photo this evening, but the body / frame have been lowered and the engine is now placed between the frame rails in the engine compartment. Good clearance except for steering rod/column and front diff. Will kick the motor over to clear steering and swap out 'Vette oil pan for cast aluminum item off a Vortec.

And then there are the exhaust manifolds. Turns out this motor was shipped with Camaro, not Corvette exhaust manifolds. The 'Vette manifolds dump straight down in the middle of the bank, tucking close to the block. The Camaro pipes exit at the rear of the block at an angle. Result is we had to buy a set of correct OEM pipes to clear the frame on the 73.

One thing that did prove helpful is the accessory kit on the front of the motor - narrower and more compact. Tor can be seen below, showing where the idler pulley goes on a Vortec - two or three inches further out than the 'Vette.

 

[wardharris]

Sam -
As some readers know, I live close by the BC border (on the Washington side) and am something of a closet Canadian..... resulting from decades of cross-border business dealings, socialization and domestic entanglements.

And there is a historical context - if not for James Polk and aggressive colonization of the Oregon Territory during a period of joint administration, we of the "Pacific Northwest" could be Canadian citizens of "Lower British Columbia."

At any rate, my affectionate contribution to the musical segment of the Burrito Build Thread....

 

[elkaholic]

Don't get me started on Mr. Python's Flying Circus ... we'll get thrown outta tech




Too late ....

 

[wardharris]

Don't get me started on Mr. Python's Flying Circus ... we'll get thrown outta tech

Now THAT is a real 70 Series

 

[wardharris]

TRANNY TECH

A spanky new H55F with OEM bellhousing bolted to adapter (aluminum thingy at right of photo)

Contents of the Marks kit with clutch, adapter, etc.

Here's a view from bottom of bellhousing

 

[sadam_husain]

awesome project mate I'm envious as anything over that LS3, what computer and loom are you going to use with it and what about firewall clearance are you going to move things forward or do a bit of panel work to clear the heads, did a similar swap with an LQ4 into my FJ75 a few years back there were a few tight bits to work around to get it all in there

 

[wardharris]

Thanks, sir. High praise, given the source. I was aware of your LQ4/FJ75 and it was one of the inspirations for the build.

Computer and wiring are GM OEM from the eRod kit - complete set of bits for completion, at least on the engine side.

So far, so good on clearance, other than steering column. As for the firewall.....The Marks kit keeps everything from the bellhousing and back in the original location (we are using the OEM tranny crosspiece) and the spacer/adapter from the Marks kit moves the engine to the front about four inches. I stopped by the shop this morning before the motor went into the frame/body. Torfab says there is plenty of room, including between rear of motor/heads and firewall.

 

[sadam_husain]

you just managed to sneak that post in with the pics of your marks adaptor before I hit the send button so yeah that'll make for nice firewall clearance and a tidy proportioned looking install I can appreciate your steering shaft clearance we're RHD down here so there's a ton of room when the shaft is on the other side of the engine


have you met Allan Gray from Terrain Tamer yet I got the opportunity to meet him last year when he was over here in NZ representing Terrain Tamer at an agricultural expo he's a fantastic bloke just the same in person as he is in all their promotional videos and youtube stuff he talks 4wd stuff non stop he wasn't too impressed with me sticking chevys in my cruisers and told me off he's a true diesel man at heart but we still had a great long talk about everything 4wd

 

[wardharris]

you just managed to sneak that post in with the pics of your marks adaptor before I hit the send button so yeah that'll make for nice firewall clearance and a tidy proportioned looking install I can appreciate your steering shaft clearance we're RHD down here so there's a ton of room when the shaft is on the other side of the engine


have you met Allan Gray from Terrain Tamer yet I got the opportunity to meet him last year when he was over here in NZ representing Terrain Tamer at an agricultural expo he's a fantastic bloke just the same in person as he is in all their promotional videos and youtube stuff he talks 4wd stuff non stop he wasn't too impressed with me sticking chevys in my cruisers and told me off he's a true diesel man at heart but we still had a great long talk about everything 4wd

No contact with Allan yet, though his spirit infuses the Terrain Tamer enterprise. I have no doubt that the LS gasser will fail to meet the standard, but they are a polite crew

The clearance issues around the motor should get resolved this week. Also planning on some chassis mods and clearance for drivelines, exhaust, etc. We will install a Terrain Tamer suspension kit and have purchased sliders and belly pan from Jason Hugh at Cruisin' Offroad. Here are some snaps from his website.

 

[wardharris]

PROGRESS

These are Hooker manifolds. Still kind of tight on the steering rod, but good clearance from firewall.

 

[elkaholic]

Looks good in there Ward!

 

[cruiserdan]

Yummy.

 

[wardharris]

Yummy.

For a Chev.

 

[wardharris]

Very cool oil pan designed for Hummer H3, Colorado, etc. oil filter integrated/recessed into pan.

 

[wardharris]

View of engine from beneath. Hummer pan in place. Plenty of room on passenger (right) side of rig. It clears the differential nicely, as well.

 

[wardharris]

 

[elkaholic]

Looks like good progress is being made ...

 

[wardharris]

Looks like good progress is being made ...

Yessir. Torfab crew is doing awesome work planning, sourcing, executing.