How is that for a project?
Well,
Most folks around know that I have been interested in an LS swap for my vette.
Final choice is a GM Crate LS7 plus a 4L75E transmission. Goal is to keep my 69 looking reasonably stock. Stuff an LS7 under the hood and play!
Lets go!
In my mind, the first step of the swap is to provide some whoa before adding all that go. Alan, here was kind enough to help me in what I need to refresh my brakes will a little more capability.
Early 2017 saw me putting new Cryo treated rotors, aggressive pads, and dumping all the rubber brake lines in my baby! She was also treated to a complete e-brake rebuild with stainless parts! Sadly mid install I was called to help my daughter replace an alternator in her Subaru. Doing the simplest mindless thing I popped my back! OMG! I walked her and her hubby through the reinstall of the alternator and almost had to crawl to my truck and drive it home. What a miserable ordeal. I was broken for almost a month! I now have great empathy for folks with back issues. That was my first and pray it was my last.
Sitting on the new quickJack
Wheels off and new parts are in!
Old setup!
Removed calipers
New pads, rotors, lines, and ebrake!
Spring 2017 finds me LS shopping. Oh how hard it is to decide on crate vs a used motor. My neighbor is a professional mechanic and is pressing hard to get me to buy a used motor from a wrecked vette. Even found a few. Price is tempting. Something in me kept saying don't do it. Just go crate. I was literally slowly driving myself crazy over the choice. My bride finally just told me to be honest with myself and what do you really want? Well, crate. Comes with a warranty, has been tested, and you know the entire history.
While deciding, my new baffled fuel tank and internal fuel pump have arrived and I installed!
I forgot to take pictures but here she is mid progress of fuel tank swap!
Pulling the trigger. It would seem GM has a monopoly on the LS7. Maybe price fixed? Who knows. Wherever I looked the price was the same. I even went to local dealers parts department and was shut down on price. No deals. Yikes. I assumed since paying cash SOMEONE would negotiate. Nope. Finally found a rebate on GM motors and pulled the trigger on a connect and cruise kit that included the tranny of my choice, LS7, wiring, and necessary computers.
Transmission is here!
then . . . . .
LS7 is here !!
September 2017
Time to sell the extremely reliable Ramjet I've had in my baby for years!
Craigslist wins again! First person to look made an offer for my motor, 2004R, radiator and fuel tank. Offer accepted. I drove my vette to his house. 4 hours later my car is stripped of the drivetrain.
Buyers garage
Work done!
We dragged her up onto his car trailer and back home we went.
October 2017
My son, neighbor and I pushed the car into the driveway since the engine hoist is to tall for my garage. We bolted the tranny and motor together and slipped the unit into my vette!!!
Note the clutch!
Now removed!
Engine and trany together!
Installing motor mount adapters!
Here we go!
Hmm, this isn't working . . . .
Notice the much steeper angle now! Much better . . . .
Unfortunately the oil pan did not fit because of the steering. Dang. So she was to sit in my driveway on jack stands, motor and tranny blocked in place but neither mounted.
Surprise!!!! Doctor visit, surgery, and more downtime. Yes my baby sat in the driveway on stands. for over a month. She even saw snow. Covered. Yes. even set a SB hood on her to protect the motor from the elements.
So I ordered and received steeroids! Rack and pinion.
Another friend had pity on me. OR maybe it was the car.
Came over and said lets drop out your steering, mount the motor and tranny, and get that car in the garage! Yeah right! I can barely walk. Can't lift, and you'd end up doing all the work, thanks but I can wait. Well, that did not sit with my buddy and under the car he went. The day was nice and I became a tool gopher. Well the ones I could lift anyway. My bride assisted with others. Finally tie rods to rag joint were gone! Pushing the car back in the garage was done by my bride and buddy. I was still broken. FYI Try pushing a car 30 feet with nothing to keep the front wheels from turning! That is a trick! LOL! ( well I laugh now ) OH yeah it was pouring rain by then!
Back in the full little garage. Still wet. Still SB hood. Still sitting.
More waiting while my body healed.
Ah Finally the OK to do things.
Put my car back on jack stands nice and high so I can work in her.
Installed the steeroids! Yes!
installed accessories!
My radiator with dual fans has arrived!
Just waiting for the radiator support rubber gaskets to arrive to put the radiator in!
Still a long ways to go but I am getting close!
Pictures come to this post shortly!
Scott
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