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

[G-Body_Vet]

I read somewhere that the G-body is the easiest Lsx swap. That's a crock. I've got less than 1/4" clearance on the oil pan, the heater box (even with a shaved valve cover!), and the power steering pulley! Now that's tight. You'd think I was trying to stuff this motor into a pedal car or something. Those motor mounts took me 3 days to perfect.

Did you keep the stock pan & accessory drive from the 5.3 or go with something different? Any particular reason why you chose carbed over FI?

 

[G-Body_Vet]

Danke bro. I can't do stuff like some of you guys though. I gotta tear it apart and put it back together and drive it within 6 months or I hang myself. I have friends like you guys that work on cars for 4-5 years.

I used to be the king of the down & dirty, 1 day engine swap. It's amazing what you can accomplish with a little drink on hand! I got tired of throwing junkyard sh*t together and my GP is the first car I've ever had apart this long. It's going to be well worth it though in the end.

 

[85GPLef41]

nice build! Glad to see it coming along nicely. What trans dapt motor mount plates you use? I just ordered the 4595 1 in setback plates.

I read somewhere that the G-body is the easiest Lsx swap. That's a crock. I've got less than 1/4" clearance on the oil pan, the heater box (even with a shaved valve cover!), and the <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=power+steering" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Link added by VigLink" class="vglnk">power steering</a> pulley! Now that's tight. You'd think I was trying to stuff this motor into a pedal car or something. Those motor mounts took me 3 days to perfect.

Did you keep the stock pan & accessory drive from the 5.3 or go with something different? Any particular reason why you chose carbed over FI?

x2

 

[CruizinKev]

Danke bro. I can't do stuff like some of you guys though. I gotta tear it apart and put it back together and drive it within 6 months or I hang myself. I have friends like you guys that work on cars for 4-5 years.

Did you ever get your crossmember figured out? I was thinking about that when I put mine in. Mine goes kinda diagonal, the driver side being farther forward than the pass side (much like the stock one). But it doesn't fit too well either But what does any more?

no still haven't figured out the crossmember thing. I think I' ll cut and weld to make it fit 🙂 but tho I'm still looking to get a motor

 

[motorholmes]

^^Last 4 posts:

LS1 Fbody oil pan, truck accessories with a custom A/C bracket and a 1991 Caprice A/C pump.

About the carb.. The last v8 project I built was a LS6 powered 2000 Sierra. That was a lot of fun doing the Hp Tuner stuff but this time around I just missed having a carb to play with. It's been 20 years since I had a carb'd hot rod, and frankly I've never had one worth a dam anyways. I was kinda poor for many years, then I had 2 kids . Besides, I want to prove to myself that I can get 400hp and 25+ mpg with a carburetor. I miss my LS6 pickup though.

Send those 4595 plates back! I had to grind the leading edge of both plates to get them to fit, and then realized the holes for the bolts to mount the clamshells are worthless because there is webbing in the block right behind the holes. I ended up essentially with the non-setback mounts after I drilled the holes and ground out the indentation. And my mounts are still toward the front of the A frame. If I had to do it again, I'd skip the Trans-dapt and just fabricate everything, maybe with some Speedway bushings or something. Would have taken much less time.

 

[pontiacgp]

By the way, I've got a hot idea for the taillights on the Riviera.. For those of you who are tired of looking at the *ss end of the car in my sig. Getting rid of the grampa tails and fabbing up something much meaner.

you can't change the rear on that Riviera... :shock:

 

[motorholmes]

Ohhh it's just a minor change! Just a wee little unnoticeable change. I'm not doing some goofy LED stuff or anything. I think you might even maybe sorta like it. It's a set of GM tails from another 60's era car. Just a little leaner and a bit meaner.

 

[pontiacgp]

That should be interestiing...there is just something about those cars that were designed with no computers and were build by men and women and not by robots. Those cars have character and no need to change them.. 🙂

 

[motorholmes]

I hear ya. I'm just hoping to have the time, patience, and develop the skills necessary to do the car up right.

 

[motorholmes]

Got more stuff

Hooker LS1 cast iron manifolds and Jegs dual exhaust kit

Spek Air/Fuel gauge