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Let the planning begin......

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seekins

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Discussion starter · #1 ·



I put money on my first Camaro in the morning to seal the deal, A 68 Roller factory 4 speed car that will be turned into a pro touring ride. I won’t be able to go and pick it up for a couple weeks and its going to be torture....:sad:

Only thing that need repaired body wise is the normal floor and trunk. Quarters and everything else are solid and it even has a decent paint job. At lease before it was taken apart by the current owner. Not that it wont get changed too...

After the rust removal..
Smoothed out firewall and relocation of some components, install power steering, power disc brakes and give the suspension work over. That should keep me busy thru the winter. Sell my snowmobile this winter and install a LS1 with a 6speed…Im sure I will have a TON of questions :hurray:
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Well not yet....

I should be able to pick it up within a week or two. In the mean time i will be gathering new power steering and brake components. I have a complete CNC / fab shop so im sure i can make something work :)
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Thanks again

its already begun. I'm going to snag complete LS1 brakes , an AC/heater box a IROC steering box and get on it. Luckily i don't have much sheet metal work to do other than the trunk and floor.
 
#10 ·
I would seriously consider and LS3. WAYYYYYY WAYYY better than the ls1. It puts the ls1 to shame. I have driven cars with both engines and the ls3 even just sounds wicked.

Check out prices for both at the time you are buying an engine because i gaurantee they will be close no more than a grand maybe 2 apart. It hardly cost anymore money to build the thing. You are basically paying for developement work.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
I have a couple modified snowmobiles i am going to sell this winter and that will buy my engine/tranny. Toy money gets to stay as toy money and I should have between 6-7k for a drop out engine and 6 speed so we will see what i end up with. . My wife wont notice the smaller "install" parts :yes:

My goal is to get it ready for the engine/trany from now thru this winter.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Conversion wise, how different will the LS3 be than the LS1? only thing i am really concerned about is having the proper AC pump. Looks like the electrical is taken care of already. How about headers that will fit in the 68? I believe the ports are quite a bit different than the LS1's. I am going to call a few places today and see what its going to take if it is different.

I have *almost* everything except the engine and 6speed and i am all about doing it one time. I will seriously look into the LS3. I was thinking about a supercharged LS1, but can be persuaded .......

More pictures:
Not sure why this one turned out crappy?
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#15 ·
I see by your firewall that's not a factory-air car--you can't use the stock LS1 or LS3 AC compressor with a Vintage Air system. You also can't use the stock compressor mounting location unless you either A) use an aftermarket subframe like the AME one, or B) put the engine in a really stupid location (forward and up) and hack a chunk out of the stock subframe.


I'm really happy with the kwikperf.com compressor bracket I used to mount an SD508-style on my LS1. My writeup of the compressor install is here: http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1009714
 
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#16 ·
Also in your budget, don't forget about getting the T56 rebuilt with upgraded syncros/keys/pads/fork/etc as needed (depends on year/model it came from). I think that needs to be done even on brand new T56's...
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
Thanks for the help.

Is it possible to modify the factory subframe to keep the original mounting?

I spoke with vintage air and he says they are working on a LS bracket. I will most likely end up building one if i cant modify the subframe.

From speakin with them i got the inpression that the unit mounted under the dash and ther were only some bulkhead fittings that stick out of the firewal? I plan on smoothing out the firewall and dont want to remove anything that i am going to regret later.

It almost sounds like i need to get all of the parts im going to need and mock up the car before modifying everything. Thats not going happen because im going to need to do this in stages and planned on engine/tranny last. I can round up a smallblock and 4speed but not a LS for quite a while.
 
#18 ·
ya its under the dash but it comes with an ugly looking plastic box and flat peice that take up about a 4 by 12 section where an original ac box would be or around there. I am smoothing mine and installing a bulkhead.

As for the difference between the ls1 and ls3. The LS3 has way way way more potential it can be stroked to high 400 cubic inches. The heads are capable of around 300 cfm and alot of porting work. It has variable timing to increase fuel economy and power in situations and it will have a quieter valvetrain and induction system. Although you might want to look into it if there have to be any modifications done electrically for the computer because its pretty advanced or if it all comes with it.

There is a kit for 5 grand they make for the corvette ls3's thats supposed to put them at 1100 hp. Its a twin turbo bolt on kit for that. So you could always buy that later install it with a little bit of custom piping.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
I have been looking into the LS3 and it’s definitely more expensive. Im not sure if its going to be for me or not. My goal for this car is to be very nice daily driver, BUT I do want the power of a LS3. Im just thinking its going to be cheaper to add 100hp to a LS1. I want this car to be nice and clean like the Ring Bro's car. That car gave me a ton of inspiration and some great ideas to do some custom stuff i havnt seen.

Im not sure what to do about the AC. Im finding mixed reviews on the Vintage system. i spoke with Classic Auto Air and they seemed very helpful. Their kit looks clean from what i have seen.
 
#20 ·
Radcannon said:
ya its under the dash but it comes with an ugly looking plastic box and flat peice that take up about a 4 by 12 section where an original ac box would be or around there.
Click to expand...
I have the Vintage Air system but I'm not aware of this 4x12 piece.

On a retro-fitted LS engine, you can mount the compressor high or low but as mentioned earlier, at least if you go with a high mount, you won't have any worries about frame interference.

That being said, I know others have mounted it low without cutting their frame but I don't know which frame mounts/stands they used, or which compressor. (stock vs other) I have a picture of this but can't find it! I believe it was an S&P kit. It was user Streetk14's car.
 
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seekins
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