1950 LQ9 conversion

[Kabwe]

Kabwe.

I meet that guy with the Caddy 2 years ago and that thing was the best car at Route 66, he had a 5.3L setup that he was selling for a great price but I already had my engine/trans already...

Hopefully I'll have my truck ready in the next couple months, it's body work time.[/QUOTE]

Yeah Homer is a very nice guy and he has a couple of nice rides, but nothing as nice as that caddy.

[Kabwe]

I checked out you build a while back. I found it on the internet how is it going? any updates?

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

I checked out you build a while back. I found it on the internet how is it going? any updates?

It's been slow coming but I've started the body work now, I've Epoxy primed the fenders and doors and will be starting the filler work on them this week, once finished I'll work on the hood, I killed my grinder trying to strip the old paint off so I need a new one, do you know what is the best method to strip the paint from the underside of the hood without getting it blasted? I can use the grinder with the red abrasive pad but that won't get into all the little areas that need cleaning.

BTW: Your build is looking good. Is there a preference to using the camaro clip as opposed to the Mustand II?

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by Tri5Nerd

It's been slow coming but I've started the body work now, I've Epoxy primed the fenders and doors and will be starting the filler work on them this week, once finished I'll work on the hood, I killed my grinder trying to strip the old paint off so I need a new one, do you know what is the best method to strip the paint from the underside of the hood without getting it blasted? I can use the grinder with the red abrasive pad but that won't get into all the little areas that need cleaning.

BTW: Your build is looking good. Is there a preference to using the camaro clip as opposed to the Mustand II?

Have you tried the aircraft paint striper? It works really well. Just wear some big rubber gloves and long sleeves cause man this stuff burns when its on your skin. We striped a 56 chevy with this stuff and man it was easy. You can buy it at autozone. The way I use it is like this you use a brush to apply the stripper only brush on in one direction. Then you have it all on cover with plastic (you don't have to do this but I find it keeps the stripper from drying to fast) and then scrap off the old paint with a putty knife. Then I use a power washer to wash it down. A water hose is okay also, but I'm kind of addicted to tools.lol Man this stuff works great and its fast no time at all.

As for the Mustang II vs. Camaro clip there is nothing wrong with either in my opinion. I've done volares, Gm clips, and Mustang II and all are nice if done right with my perference being GM clips and Mustang II. I done the Mustang II this time because of the ease of installation. I had a volare clip on this truck, but when I started thinking I may want to bag the truck later I sold that frame and done the mustang II on my new frame.

[b.sharp]

Kawbe,

Would you mind to p.m. me a number I can reach you at? I have some questions about your door rebuild. BTW that truck is looking real good. I have decided to turn mine into a 4-wheel drive instead of the hot rod I first intended on. I love hot rods but I really need a 4-wheel drive also. So I'm going to have the best of both worlds.

Thanks again,

B.Sharp

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by b.sharp

Kawbe,

Would you mind to p.m. me a number I can reach you at? I have some questions about your door rebuild. BTW that truck is looking real good. I have decided to turn mine into a 4-wheel drive instead of the hot rod I first intended on. I love hot rods but I really need a 4-wheel drive also. So I'm going to have the best of both worlds.

Thanks again,

B.Sharp

Sure I will do that right now.

[Detroit3100]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Are you saying your engine is setting to high now?

My trans tunnel is what I am worried about now. I think it will go about 1/2 that high and forward another inch or so.

I wish GM would get in gear so I could be getting a 6L80 tans

progress is slow but I won a MAP sensor on egay for $16...now I hope it works

[Kabwe]

Yeah I had to buy one off of ebay but I paid 35 bucks I think.

[cajundragger]

anymore pics? Im about to mock my ls6/t56 up friday and hope to have it in for sure by this weekend...

[cajundragger]

what oil pan did yall use?

[Kabwe]

I used the oil that came with the 5.3 engine, but I think I'm going to modify it because it hangs about 2 inches lower than my crossmember.

[cajundragger]

I think Im going to use a Camaro one...I have dimensions from street and preformance and its like the same as the truck pan but the sump is not as deep...

[Kabwe]

So the camaro one is a rear sump also? If so I will do the same

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

So the camaro one is a rear sump also? If so I will do the same

I would go with the Camaro pan it seems to fit better. That's what I have and it cleared the crossmember.

[Kabwe]

Thanks for the heads up on the Camaro oil pan, I will start looking for one. Here is a pic of the engine, trans, and ride height mockup ( I use round stock instead of springs and shocks because springs take time to settle. I running coilovers waiting on time right now). It all has to come back out so that I can blast and paint the frame. Its nice to have it sitting on four wheels again its been so long even though its going to be strippe back down.

[cajundragger]

think I can fit long tubes in there?

[Tri5Nerd]

Yeap, just get some Pacesetter long 1 3/4" long tube, get the racing kind that has no EGR connectors if you're not going to use the EGR stuff. You will need to do a little massaging on the drivers side where the primaries merge with the collector, it needs to be move in about 2".

[Detroit3100]

I am going to try and use OBX long tube headers.

I have to post some more pics of the new mounts I made.

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by Detroit3100

I am going to try and use OBX long tube headers.

I have to post some more pics of the new mounts I made.

I don't know much about the OBX but the Pacesetter long tube tuck really nice with the Camaro clip with minor mods.

[chevyrestoguy]

Man, following this thread is ruining me! I was all set and ready to build a 496 for my '55, but after seeing this thread and also after getting the latest Car Craft (May 2007), I might be changing my mind. It seems that Chevy is offering the badass (310 cfm ports, 15 deg valve, big valve) L92 aluminum heads for $798.50 a pair COMPLETE. Car Craft had to buy rocker arms, stands, bolts, and LS-6 valvesprings also, but it only came to an extra $250. So, for a little over a grand, you've got a set of heads that match the numbers that the aftermarket heads have for a third of the price. Also, GM has a carb manifold for $299. As far as a Big Block buildup, I'm looking at over $2600 for aluminum heads and intake. That $1250 difference in price between the two could go towards finding a 6.0 shortblock.

So what I'm getting at.....Car Craft took a stock 6.0 bottom end, bolted a set of L92 heads, intake , 850 Holley, and a mild cam (228/230 @.050, 571/573 lift on a 112 LSA) and made 551 horsepower! What I find so cool about this combo is that- 1: it's all aluminum and lightweight. 2: You are making big-time power with a relatively mild combination. 3: The LS series engine technology is extremely impressive. 4: Car Craft built this combo for $4999. Yeah, that's alot of scratch, but 550 horsepower for that money with mostly brand-new high tech parts is impressive.

My younger brothers are big LS-series fans, and I drove one of their cars with a stock 5.3 long block, long tubes, mild cam, and an LS-6 intake with 4.10 gears, and it was a rocketship. I became a LS-series fan as soon as I romped on it and it went sideways in second gear. GM really did their homework on this motor, and if you ever get to see one torn down to the bare block, you will be blown away at the cool details they put in it.
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Mercedes-Benz Cls-Class

[Tri5Nerd]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Man, following this thread is ruining me! I was all set and ready to build a 496 for my '55, but after seeing this thread and also after getting the latest Car Craft (May 2007), I might be changing my mind. It seems that Chevy is offering the badass (310 cfm ports, 15 deg valve, big valve) L92 aluminum heads for $798.50 a pair COMPLETE. Car Craft had to buy rocker arms, stands, bolts, and LS-6 valvesprings also, but it only came to an extra $250. So, for a little over a grand, you've got a set of heads that match the numbers that the aftermarket heads have for a third of the price. Also, GM has a carb manifold for $299. As far as a Big Block buildup, I'm looking at over $2600 for aluminum heads and intake. That $1250 difference in price between the two could go towards finding a 6.0 shortblock.

So what I'm getting at.....Car Craft took a stock 6.0 bottom end, bolted a set of L92 heads, intake , 850 Holley, and a mild cam (228/230 @.050, 571/573 lift on a 112 LSA) and made 551 horsepower! What I find so cool about this combo is that- 1: it's all aluminum and lightweight. 2: You are making big-time power with a relatively mild combination. 3: The LS series engine technology is extremely impressive. 4: Car Craft built this combo for $4999. Yeah, that's alot of scratch, but 550 horsepower for that money with mostly brand-new high tech parts is impressive.

My younger brothers are big LS-series fans, and I drove one of their cars with a stock 5.3 long block, long tubes, mild cam, and an LS-6 intake with 4.10 gears, and it was a rocketship. I became a LS-series fan as soon as I romped on it and it went sideways in second gear. GM really did their homework on this motor, and if you ever get to see one torn down to the bare block, you will be blown away at the cool details they put in it.

Don't lose you head now, I saw the article and I've been looking at doing the same thing with a 6.0 LQ9 motor that I have, however there's other ways to go about getting the same horse power, with the EFI setup. I've priced some stuff.
A L76/l92 car intake manifold, complete with fuel rail and 40lb injector with drive by wire throttle body can be had for $529.
L92 heads and rockers are $1050 or you could get CNC ported set with dual valves springs for $1499, this has showned to produce >30HP over the stock head.
A killer cam for another $500, Cometic gasket and ARP head bolts another $300,
For $2379 or $2828, you can get a more effiecient setup, that's what I'll be doing with the 6.0L after putting some miles on my 5.7 LS1 motor.

I'm sure if you look around you can find a 6.0L motor for under a $1000, so for around $4000 you can have a nice setup.
A word of caution, make sure you have the rearend to handle this kind of power. I have a 9" with 3.70 gears and a 4 link.

[chevyrestoguy]

Thanks for the info on the EFI. Is there any limitations with the EFI if you're running a big cam? Most systems have a limit to where the MAP can accept the low vacuum signal that a big cam inherently produces. As much as I like the EFI, my truck has kind of a street-rod gasser look and I think the carb would look fit the look better. My truck has a narrowed 9-inch with a 3.70 posi, also. It has been narrowed with 29x15.50 tires, but is a leaf-spring set-up. It was originally going to be a shop truck thrasher, but I wanted a big tire and the low-buck thing went astray.
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IOLITE VAPORIZER

[Tri5Nerd]

From what I've read, most cams in the low 230 duration range will work very well with this setup, You could always run without the MAP and get a speed density tune. But if you're the street rod type then go for the carb but remember you'll need the MSD box, that's pricey.

[Detroit3100]

I am getting motivated again. My wife had our fourth son 4/21/07-william. So I have been distracted. I kind of figureed out my trans, traded w/a guy of craigslist.. Kept the AWD transfercase as a spare for the SSS.



now I can weld up the transcross member.
How much angle should I have in the engine?? Any way to measure it w/o an angle tool?

[solidaxel]

How about the driveshaft clearing the rear crossmember behind the cab, will you have enough clearence?