1987 Olds 5.3L LS turbo swap
- Thread starter GBodyscuffle
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Alright guys, got my wastegates mounted and their dump tubes mounted and welded up. Went ahead and ordered most of the stuff to finish the exhaust tonight. Also making a 4in downpipe this coming weekend. Here are some pics of current progress..
Opie Knievel
Rum Fueled Midnight Mechanic and Moderator
Thanks man lol. hoping to get the downpipe made and installed this weekend and start on the rest of the exhaust then some cold side work. Maybe yall will get to see my aluminum tig skills lol
Alright, finished up my downpipe and I have started on the rest of the exhaust from there. It's 4in from the turbo down beside the trans, then it goes down to 3in and my plan is to run a single outlet behind the driver side rear tire. Putting in as much time with the car as I can afford to at the moment, trying to make it ready for this spring.
My downpipe turned out okay I think. No its not perfect but I made it and it is mine lol. Looks rough but will work all the same.
My downpipe turned out okay I think. No its not perfect but I made it and it is mine lol. Looks rough but will work all the same.
Opie Knievel
Rum Fueled Midnight Mechanic and Moderator
Looks good to me man! Keep kicking *ss on this project. I can't wait to see how this car sounds and drives.
Thanks man lol. I'm super excited to hear this thing too. I'm running a 3in race bullet muffler. It should sound pretty healthy lol
Well folks, I have sort of an update. I finished the exhaust, its hung and routed to the rear over the axle, it is not the prettiest and sits a hair too low for my liking but it will clear and be legal. I drilled and tapped the oil pan for my return line fitting, waiting on some extra stuff to come in before I can finish that and the feed line to the turbo as well.
I pulled the transmission out this past Sunday to install dowels that I completely over looked the first 4 times i put the transmission in test fitting lol. I admit I made a mistake, these things happen. But on a side note, I can pull the transmission and reinstall by myself in less than 3 hours start to finish lol. That will help me some day...I think? Also ordered a remote mount trans cooler from derale. Interested to see how that looks and works.
Ran into a snag on my auto meter temp and oil psi install this evening. Im stubborn like many men and did not follow directions and therefore it has bitten me back. SOOO, I need a different temp sender than what comes with the gauge. Also need to probably remote mount my oil sender or find some kind of fitting to raise the sender so it clears the valley pan bolts. Instructions from autometer for LS applications states that you mainly can use the oil pan block off/oil cooler block on the side of the pan. But since I am using a ict billet oil feed plate for my turbo, I think my best bet will be to go with it in the factory sending unit location like before.
Have some misc. stuff coming this week... trans dipstick, new flexible engine dipstick, throttle cable and some other goodies.
Also a few weeks ago I was lured onto the snap on truck that comes by my bosses shop to rape our truck mechanics.... I bought a tool box. Either the best or worst financial decision I have made thus far in life (other than building a turbo LS gbody lmao) but man oh man is this a sweet tool box. I know alot of people have said why not just get something cheaper...my reply is well Idk it looked good on the truck and the price sounded so good paying weekly lol. But whats said is done and I won't EVER and I mean EVERRR need to get a bigger tool box because I run out of room or this one wears out. Both of which are highly unlikely. And if it wears out it has a lifetime warranty. Honestly though, so far it has been a great investment, I know not everyone likes snap-on but in a way its a good way to get really nice quality tools and being able to pay on them and build your credit if youre like me starting out with next to none. BUT if you ever can afford to do it, you will not miss the money spent because you will be in love with your toolbox/tools. PSA: if you buy the one I did and decide to move to a new home or shop as a mechanic, plan on hiring a roll back to move it for you lmao.
Anyway guys, I have been pretty busy just not posting much. I am really hoping to order a new rear end in a couple weeks and have this car running and driving by middle of March or early April. Wish me luck!!!
I pulled the transmission out this past Sunday to install dowels that I completely over looked the first 4 times i put the transmission in test fitting lol. I admit I made a mistake, these things happen. But on a side note, I can pull the transmission and reinstall by myself in less than 3 hours start to finish lol. That will help me some day...I think? Also ordered a remote mount trans cooler from derale. Interested to see how that looks and works.
Ran into a snag on my auto meter temp and oil psi install this evening. Im stubborn like many men and did not follow directions and therefore it has bitten me back. SOOO, I need a different temp sender than what comes with the gauge. Also need to probably remote mount my oil sender or find some kind of fitting to raise the sender so it clears the valley pan bolts. Instructions from autometer for LS applications states that you mainly can use the oil pan block off/oil cooler block on the side of the pan. But since I am using a ict billet oil feed plate for my turbo, I think my best bet will be to go with it in the factory sending unit location like before.
Have some misc. stuff coming this week... trans dipstick, new flexible engine dipstick, throttle cable and some other goodies.
Also a few weeks ago I was lured onto the snap on truck that comes by my bosses shop to rape our truck mechanics.... I bought a tool box. Either the best or worst financial decision I have made thus far in life (other than building a turbo LS gbody lmao) but man oh man is this a sweet tool box. I know alot of people have said why not just get something cheaper...my reply is well Idk it looked good on the truck and the price sounded so good paying weekly lol. But whats said is done and I won't EVER and I mean EVERRR need to get a bigger tool box because I run out of room or this one wears out. Both of which are highly unlikely. And if it wears out it has a lifetime warranty. Honestly though, so far it has been a great investment, I know not everyone likes snap-on but in a way its a good way to get really nice quality tools and being able to pay on them and build your credit if youre like me starting out with next to none. BUT if you ever can afford to do it, you will not miss the money spent because you will be in love with your toolbox/tools. PSA: if you buy the one I did and decide to move to a new home or shop as a mechanic, plan on hiring a roll back to move it for you lmao.
Anyway guys, I have been pretty busy just not posting much. I am really hoping to order a new rear end in a couple weeks and have this car running and driving by middle of March or early April. Wish me luck!!!
Opie Knievel
Rum Fueled Midnight Mechanic and Moderator
Good to hear you're making progress on the car. If Snap-On didn't offer payments I don't know if they'd ever sell some of their stuff! Lol. $20K tool boxes. What the hell? I couldn't bring myself to pay some of their prices. I will say they have some nice stuff though. You probably won't ever wear that box out. Did they include delivery?
Great update. Let's see some pics of that toolbox!
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