My 57 Pro Street

[Kim57]

Originally Posted by OKGMC4

Everything looks awesome and I'm happy another tri five truck is being turned to the dark side. (injection) I just can't wait to see it in the engine bay. I HAD to use a camaro pan on my 5.3 because the truck pans are hella deep. In the engine section of this site there is actually a sub category for LSx swaps. Have you tried posting on there to see if anyone has any good suggestions on the pan issue?

I've been in that thread. The biggest problem I had with my set up is that I have a chevelle clip. There is a ton of very good info in there though.

Originally Posted by 65Pickup

Saw this on one of 67Chevy's posts, but I know the money is more the issue, these pans ain't cheap and your solution looks sound. Good info though.
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...-oil-pans.html

I've read that thread. It has a ton of good info on the different pans.
Kim

[Kim57]

Well I finally got it in. It turned out to be a bigger pain than I expected.
The original frame stands put the engine too far forward and my power steering pump wouldn't fit. I ended up using some after market stands and cutting them down to fit. Had to move the engine back about 3"s. I was able to get everything to work except for the stock AC pump which was on the lower passenger side. They make a bracket to raise it so that won't be a problem.
Got the oil pan to sit level with the cross member.
I still need to get the cab back into position. I need to modify my firewall now that the engine is farther back than expected.
I still need to do the final welding on it all but it was a good day over all.
Here's a few pics to show what I ended up doing.
Kim

[65Pickup]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I've been in that thread. The biggest problem I had with my set up is that I have a chevelle clip. There is a ton of very good info in there though.

A Chevelle clip , I guess that's why no LS people weighed in, that would make your set up unique. Looks like your well on your way. Viva la progress.

[drivea55]

Man Kim!

your fab work is really nice!

soon we shall see the power plant installed eh?

keep up the good work

Brian

[oldman3]

Kim, install looks great, nice job. Without going back in your post, I believe you have a camaro clip, correct?...Jim

[Tri5Nerd]

It's looking good. Why don't you just put a notch in the crossmember? That's what I did to make my fit.

Tri5

[_Ogre]

looks good kim. making progress!

[Kim57]

Those are nice pieces.
Kim

[ambryatim]

Kim, question about your engine mounts.....Did they end up being cut the same length?? I know you are using a Chevelle clip in all, but in mine I am using a 78 TA clip. I have seen some people use the old 68 Camaro frame mounts (actually the same mount for the C10's and Blazers and a few other vehicles too) but, they seem to be using 2 of the same mount and for some reason I cannot get the same distance on either side....if I do it is either not centered or not level.

Thanks Tim

[Kim57]

Tim
They are the same length.
Here's how I did it.
I took pieces of wood the same width as the front of my oil pan and put them on the cross member and let the front of the pan rest there. I used my floor jack to raise the rear of the trans until I got a downward angle between 1 and 5 degrees.
I made sure everything was centered and level side to side and cut the mounts to fit in the space.
It took a lot of time and I checked everything a bunch of times before I tacked it in.
If I were you I would try and measure the front clip to make sure it's symmetrical from side to side. It's possible the factory had the engine farther to one side to make room for things. I would think any extra room would be on the drivers side.
I ended up moving my engine back 4.5"s from the stock location for my clip so my P.S. pump wouldn't hit my steering box.
Hope this helps.
Kim

[Kim57]

I made some more progress on the truck.
Seeing as I had to set the engine back farther than expected I needed to make the cab fit around it. I made a new cad dolly to make the work a little easier.
Lots of measuring and painters tape and I had something I thought would work.
I find it better to cut as little as possible at first. It's always easier to take more out than to add it back in.
Kim

[Kim57]

This was the first go around.
The trans is still hitting and I didn't like how it fit around the heads.
Kim

[Kim57]

After a little more time with the cut off wheel I'm almost there.
It's hard to see the difference around the heads but I made the lower part of the opening a little straighter.
Every thing fits but I'm going to open the trans a touch more.
I just have to get a set of headers now and make sure they're going to fit.
Kim

[Tri5Nerd]

Looking good Kim.

Tri5

[ChuckDriver]

Awesome work Kim!

[oldman3]

Nice job, like the way it looks....Jim

[Daze57]

very nice work !

[Kim57]

Thanks for the kind words guys.
Kim

[Kim57]

Making some progress on the fire wall.
I started by making a template out of some heavy card stock and cutting a couple pieces of 16 gauge. After tacking them together I honestly hated how it looked. The 90* looked bad.
Kim

[Kim57]

So here's the fix.
I took some more sheet that I had bent. I used my shrinker/stretcher to create an outside curve and an inside curve and then welded them together. I took my original piece for the back and cut it to fit my new piece.
Sorry i didn't get more pics of the process but I just got caught up in making it work. Got it all in and it's much more appealing to the eyes.
Kim

[Kim57]

Here's the pics of it around the engine. I still have to final weld it but that's for another day.
Kim

[hotrod1]

Kim:

That looks great. How did you bend the radius on the straight piece? What gauge did you use?

Is that piece overlapped on the firewall? If so, will you just fill it?

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Looking Good!
I ran across this several weeks ago and forgot to post it on here when you started to mock it up.
http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.c..._Firewall.html

[Kabwe]

Kim,

Once again you did a great job on that firewall everything is looking top notch.

[jimig1]

Looking good! I like seeing others progress. It helps me get going. You have mad fabrication skils.