LS2 into an 80 series

[djroberts]

Got some updates that are worth talking about now.

After bolting the engine/trans assembly together we found that, after sitting the engine in the car, it wouldn’t fit without doing one of the following:

->Recess the engine into the firewall. Not a good solution.
-> Keep the engine proud of the firewall. Still not good because the stick come out under the dash and the floor und the driver would have to cut away to get the engine high enough. Ugly!
-> Space the engine forward about 6.5 inches from the front of the gearbox. This was the best option and instead of making an adapter i have filled the space with a ranger splitter – this will essentially give me a split shift. I already have the eaton-fuller shifter handle and air ram too.

So this weekend i am on a roll. If i am lucky, i may even have the engine mounts made by this afternoon.

Also have custom wiring by Killalux – he was great to deal with.

Also ordered me a pair of Strattos seats.

None of the headers i have will fit – even the nice ones from the usa i ordered. Looks like a custom jobbie.

Photos to come tonight!

D.

[crankycruiser]

Sometimes its easier just to follow the crowd, instead to trying to be different

[80's_delirious]

Got any pix out info on the range splitter?

[djroberts]

The biggest trouble we have been having is moving the engine/trans around and being able measure accurately. Yes we have a forklift and an engine crane but both are not really great – leaky hydraulics you see. So to beat this i made make shift mounts which bolt to the engine and sit on top of the rails, we sat the engine in the bay and installed the rear cross-member. We then used packers to lift/shift/tilt/ the engine into a position where we are happy for it to remain for the term of it’s natural existence. We can also measure now in mm rather than m.

It feels really good to see it sitting in there.

So we have plenty of room around the engine – cylinder head removal should be easy. My thermo fan setup fits and the routing of the hoses should be no drama. The engine sits about 40mm higher than the marks kit which means the a/c compressor is nowhere near the inside rail and there is a healthy 40mm clearance everywhere else. The gear stick also comes out where it is meant to and the transfer lever will be easy. Oh, and the starship ‘enterprize’ (vacuum housing for transfer) will fit beautifully between the floor and the chassis rail. Rear drive shat is the same length and the front one will need to be lengthened about 70mm. I’m thinking about using a double cardon for the front because with the suspension and transmission lift i have the drive line angles are now in the order of a 5 inch suspension lift.

I know the engine isn’t bolted in yet but, just seeing it in there has given me a huge boost of ‘get off your arse and do it’. I can almost hear it now..

I have to do the chassis repair around the steering box and when i do that i want to drop the panhard mount down to compensate for the lift. Anyone seen this done?

Anyhow, I’ll make some crappy little brackets for things like the throttle peddle, computer etc. this week and next weekend the bolts will go in!

-D.

Crap, forgot about the Ranger splitter question (because I’m ignoring Crankycruiser ). It is a unit made by advanced adapters in the USA. They used to be available in a 27% overdrive and 17% under-drive. The under-drive is now unavailable but that didn’t really bother me. They were most popular back before god invented factory optioned 5 speeds (or overdrives) and has become somewhat a relic but i think the concept is still fantastic. Not overly popular now days and not cheap either but it certainly solved my problem. They are 7.5 inches long with synchromesh and no neutral. This splitter will use an air shift – it’ll be like driving an 18 wheeler!

http://www.high-impact.net/transmission ... rdrive.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[georgey]

Would you be interested in selling those block huggers?

[crankycruiser]

I had to re do all my panhard mount after i tore it completely out of the chassis.... definatly do it with the motor out.. (sounds like u have lots of opportunity to do it)

Also u cant drop the panhard and level it out unless u do a high steer at the same time. the drag link and panhard need to be parallel

[djroberts]

Twenty months it has been since i first pulled the 80 apart. Nearly 5 years since i first decided to under take this project but we are nearly there! There was more work to this project than i had anticipated but it is now finally paying off. I honestly cbf writing everything down so i will let the pics talk for themselves.





































More pictures to come.

[jackass]

looking good a buudy did this same mod to his 80 goes abit to good for the rest of the driveline

[Shadow]

Is that the corvette accessories driveline, waterppump balanced etc?

[MUD000]

Good to see your getting there. Will be good to see it finished
Cheers Dan

[djroberts]

Thanks Dan! I know it has been a long time coming but it is nearly there. I am just having some issues with sensors and the controller... I wish it had a dizzy and a carby because i would thrashing the shit out of it right now. I'll be up your way to get the engineering done so i might swing past and catch up

Shadow, yes it is the corvette kit. I machined the lower air con mount to provide a little more clearance on the steering box (i think it was about 5mm both on the compressor side and the engine side of the bracket). I also fitted a second compressor for air using the kwik performance brackets.

Whats been done to date:

Engine mounted and mounts painted

Rear transmision cross member fabbed for better clearance.

Headers over the top of the rails on both sides, black ceramic coated.

Nv4500

ranger splitter

TD60 transfer case with vacuum 4wd

AU fans and painless performance dual fan controller (very nice i must say)

1/2 stainless fuel delivery line - that was a pita

bosch in tank pump

panhard mount dropped, chassis strengthened, steering box spaced out

And not one thing from marks.. yet. though i might use their vss interface doodad.

over and out, Dave

[djroberts]

And my friend (who doesn't like the sound of cannon fire):

[djroberts]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7xdZ_vR ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IZVO5OH ... e=youtu.be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[djroberts]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S27oZrfI2e8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;