'78 Grand Prix LSx swap + build thread + roof carnage

[motorholmes]

Too late! Just finished fabbing the driver side drip rail. Should have it all in primer by Saturday (after we get back from South Dakota).

I'm gonna chew on that idea of tucking the bumpers.. I've never seen this model of car with custom work done, other than when they cut out the center section of the front bumper. I do like the idea of some more (mild) custom body work though.

Thanks for the props guys! I know I'm on the right track here cuz I fall more in love with this car every week 🙂

 

[motorholmes]

Getting closer. Filled the crevice with long strand and skimmed with short strand. Used the short strand to fill the trim holes (by denting them in slightly and using a die grinder to rough up the metal). Should have a skim coat of Bondo on today, and probably a coat of primer.

 

[clean8485]

Looks good so far. I'm curious to see it completed. You don't see many of those GPs without the vinyl roof.

 

[G-Body_Vet]

I was BS'ing with an S-10 owner the other day and he had a 4.8 swapped in his '95. I must say, I really want to do an LS swap now myself. With a few minor things done and still needing a tune; he said the car runs a 14 flat and he averages 20mpg right now. He paid $100 for the longblock too.

 

[grandprixghost]

is the interior clean as the body?

 

[motorholmes]

He paid $100 for the longblock too.

I paid $250 for a complete running 65,000 mile 5.3 minus the accessories. It gets expensive when you have to open the engine up, so I'm just doing a cam and valvetrain. But I know what you've got into that big block! I'd stay with it if I were you, unless you're made of $$.

is the interior clean as the body?

It's not bad, but the driver's seat has a couple holes in it :x
I'm debating what to do about that.. I want to save the viscount seats. Maybe try to find a junkyard seat.
Need a headliner too

 

[G-Body_Vet]

He paid $100 for the longblock too.

I paid $250 for a complete running 65,000 mile 5.3 minus the accessories. It gets expensive when you have to open the engine up, so I'm just doing a cam and valvetrain. But I know what you've got into that big block! I'd stay with it if I were you, unless you're made of $$.

That's pretty much what this guy did. Cam, valve springs, different intake, Vette accessory drive and F-body manifolds IIRC.

Oh trust me, I'm not abandoning the 455 by any means! The LS will be for a future project. I have something in mind that I really want to do because I haven't seen it yet. The money tree hasn't been growing worth a damn lately either! :lol:

 

[motorholmes]

Broke the upper water neck trying to rotate it. Was going to monkey with it, but I'm looking into a LS1 style water pump to see if it will work with the truck accessories

EDIT: Used a new stock truck pump in order to be able to run off-the shelf parts in the future. See page 5 for results

 

[motorholmes]

LS6 yellow valve springs

I had to modify my buddy's valve spring compressor a bit. The one arm was trying to slip off the spring when I cranked it down. (DREMEL! )

Boat anchor for sale! It still seems like a sin to drop this engine off at the metal recycler

 

[motorholmes]

Motor is out! What a chore. That's my buddy Erik in the photo. It's so nice having a friend over to help with stuff like this.

I helped him with his ElCamino a couple hours earlier