Stepping up to a Vortec (LM7)

[badsamaritan]

only another small update, I finally got around to running the last piece of harness back to the rear of the FJ for the taillights etc. I messed with it for a few minutes and wasn't able to get them working but at least the harness is back there and secured. The tail lights are LED and have a weird 3 prong connector coming off of it. The harness is so beat to crap that none of the labeling is correct so I will have to play around a bit with the wires until I get it right.

Vetteworks guy called and has a pump ready to go. Looking to have him TIG the mounting ring on this week. If I can get all the AN fittings I need I should be able to give it fuel and do a test fire.

 

[allan man]

Looking forward to the first start.....post up a video if u can

 

[scrapdaddy]

I too would like to see what fittings, for the fuel pump, you came up with. I thought Vetteworks sells all the fittings, right?

 

[badsamaritan]

I too would like to see what fittings, for the fuel pump, you came up with. I thought Vetteworks sells all the fittings, right?

They do, but the fittings are made by Russel, and Earl's as well. Would be similiar to the ones I put on my fuel rails. You would be able to bet them at Jegs/Summit

 

[badsamaritan]

So finally something to report, Tank has been washed out and will be going to vetteworks tomorrow. they are going to cut the hole, and TIG on the mounting ring. The new pump should be here soon and I am in the process of ordering all of the fittings I will need to do the Fuel system. I am also in the middle of finishing up the rebuild of the 454 for my Chevelle, so I am hoping that this weekend I will get to fire both of them up. I will have pics and video if possible.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Sounds like a busy weekend, Good Luck!

 

[miko]

I am also in the middle of finishing up the rebuild of the 454 for my Chevelle, so I am hoping that this weekend I will get to fire both of them up. I will have pics and video if possible.

I'd love to hear that 454. My dad's '64 LeMans is next on the restoration list once I get my 40 in a better state in a few years. Nothing as manic as a 454 (only a 326 I think) but it'd be a nice stable mate for the 40.

peace*mike

 

[BurritoFed]

Suscribed awsome swap and rig .Im also in the south king county area and hope to see that rig out and about

 

[badsamaritan]

Suscribed awsome swap and rig .Im also in the south king county area and hope to see that rig out and about

Thanks Burrito, I have seen a lot more running around in my area the last couple of months. There are a few nice ones here in Maple Valley. I can't wait to get it done....summer's coming.

 

[badsamaritan]

Picked up my tank today from Vetteworks and I am pretty happy with the results. Pretty convenient to have Dan that close to my house. He has been swapping LS motors into vettes for a long time and knows a lot about these motors.

I am using a steel tank from CCOT that I bought last year which I didn't know was internally baffled. The tank is split roughly into 3rds by the baffles. Due to the size of the pump, tank straps, and seat brackets I am in the center 3rd and right above the sump part of the tank. You can see in the pic the circle I made where the pump was to be installed.

If you have one of these tanks you can see the spot welds along the top of the tank for the baffles, just make sure you clear those.

Tank and pump beforehand:

Mounting and trim ring installed:

Tentative pump inlet/outlet orientation

Stock LS1 pump from a 2002 Camaro (didn't need to be cut down or modded in anyway)

I will be removing the generic autometer fuel level sender that is in the stock sender location and capping that hole. I plan on using the pumps built in sender. I already have Autometer guages so I just need to buy the correct 2 1/16th 33-240 Ohm guage which is around $50. You can also change the sender on these to a 0-90OHM if you wanted to, there is a PN out there for that. It just clips onto the side of the pump, really easy swap. I didn't go that route because a new guage was cheaper $50 vs 100+.

I'll be ordering the rest of the fittings hopefully tonight and I'llpost the PN's for those on the first post.

 

[badsamaritan]

BTW the pumps that Vetteworks gets are used but he does test them before hand. I believe he told me a new pump is $200-450 depending on what you get. My used pump was $110 and looked brand new, didn't even have dust on the plastic cover.

 

[badsamaritan]

I'd love to hear that 454. My dad's '64 LeMans is next on the restoration list once I get my 40 in a better state in a few years. Nothing as manic as a 454 (only a 326 I think) but it'd be a nice stable mate for the 40.

peace*mike

I love these cars, though it is tough to have two mechanical addictions to deal with. I always fear one of these days I will have to choose to keep only one hahah

 

[scrapdaddy]

Nice job! good to know about that Camaro pump. Looks the same as my Silverado pump, only shorter.

Thanks for posting the fitting numbers.

 

[sgirt]

Great info! I used my Avalanche pump container. I may pick up one that you have for my under seat tank. It would be great to pump from either.

 

[allan man]

Great info here and appreciate you sharing

 

[badsamaritan]

Thanks guys, glad this stuff will help!

I got the Chevelle engine installed and running. I need to charge the battery then I can go for a test cruise. I swapped in a roller cam and man what a difference, sounds great and far less noise than with my flat tappet cam. Hope the test drive goes well

Ok back to the landcruiser..my fittings didn't show up in time but they are on the way. In the mean time I am going to put the trans cover back in, and then install the tank and the seats and get the interior mostly back together. I added a list of part numbers for the fittings and new fuel guage I ordered to the first post.

 

[badsamaritan]

quick walk around video of the Chevelle, going roller cam on this engine was a huge improvement. It is so much quieter in regards to valvetrain noise.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151530500930330&l=5010912380123380042

 

[badsamaritan]

Got the tank cleaned out and the pump installed, started working on the interior and getting it all back together. I picked up a foam gasket kit for the trans tunnel cover and some new bolts to hold it down.

Need to get some new bolts for the tank straps and a couple of various other things.

 

[badsamaritan]

Got the bulk of the fuel fittings in today and got some of them put together on the pump. The rest should show up tomorrow and I can start running hoses. I still need to wire in the new guage and test it.

Next up after the test run will be the cooling system. I have been looking at radiators and can't believe some of the prices out there. Is it worth it to go with say a BTB products LS swap radiator ($700 and no fans, wtf) or just get a generic aluminum 4 core radiator and figure out hoses?

 

[spotcruiser]

I used a 19x24 aluminum cross-flow Griffin from Summit (under $200) with my 5.7l and it works great. I originally planned on using something in the stock mount, but that would have been too high for the stock manual cooling fan, so I made a custom mount. With a stock nylon fan and the fiberglass shroud, it keeps the engine temps right where they need to be.