79' Malibu Build Thread

[patmckinneyracing]

Nice going with the work. Yeah I just mocked up my electric fan and it's just as close as yours is, but hey, it fits. Are you running the 700r4 or 200-4r?

 

[79loserbluebu]

Right now it has a TH350, when the 6.0 goes in, it'll be getting a 4L60E. Originally I was going to find a 2004r and put it in, but since I'd have to change the driveshaft and trans crossmember, I may as well step it up.


The new build specs

Engine
Stock GM LQ4 block
Stock pistons, rods, rings
Thunder Racing TR224 cam 112LSA
Comp 918 springs
7.400 hardened pushrods
Katech rod bolts
2002 Z06 243 cast heads w/ hollow stem valves
Pacesetter 4th Gen F-body headers
Kwik performance accessory bracket kit w/ LS1 F-body accessories
LS1 fan
Ported and polished TB & MAF


Trans
Finish Line Performance Stage 3 4L60E
Yank 3600 stall converter

Rearend
Either Moser or Superior axles
Switching back to my GM 3.73 gears, the Richmonds have more noise than the GM ones

Interior
Dakota digital dash
Painless 60608 LS1/4L60E mechanical TB complete vehicle harness


I was going to ditch the AC but decided to keep it. Teardown will begin after I finish doing the lower intake gasket on my daily S10.

 

[TURNA]

Looks real nice. Love to see some more pics

Where did you get the seat covers from?

 

[79loserbluebu]

If I remember correctly the covers were from www.opgi.com . I thought they had pictures up but I guess not. They are really nice actually. I bought the new foam seat buns off of eBay recently so I can make them look perfect. Unfortunately the spring in the bottom of the driver seat poked a tiny hole into the cover so I'll need to get that fixed some how.

 

[81_2dr_bu]

nice build ,,,looking nice ,,,, i also used that ron sessions book to redo my th350 did it last winter ,,did the 4 bushing deal on the sun shell really good book very detailed with pics etc ,,, this was my 1st time dealing with a trans and drove it this summer and has worked fine ,,,,layed down 6 or 7 burnouts and held together fine ,,,,, i am a bit late on this build thread but i will pass this along i bought my bushings from http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com they sell bushings individually as well as thrust washers and the bearing style thrust washers ,,,,, i went with a tci master rebuild kit

 

[79loserbluebu]

Yup that's where I got all my bushings for my rebuild. I ended up putting the trans in before I put the car away last year, it wouldn't downshift by itself but it had a really strong upshift. Ended up taking it back out and putting the factory one back in with a shift kit, and put the one I went through on the street for the junkmen to take.

Lesson learned, don't rush when building a transmission :lol:

 

[81_2dr_bu]

good idea to keep them if possible ,,,i have 2 th350s all the internals i saved and i have another th350 core and the 1 i rebuilt in my car ,,if anything happens i will have a spare ,,,,,

 

[79loserbluebu]

Well finally some progress! Ripped the engine and trans out in a couple hours. Made a mess all over the garage floor and left it there for a couple days before I cleaned up today. I bought a blown up LS1 from a buddy who works at a dealership, for $50. He didn't know any specifics of the engine, other than it made noise. Ripped it apart hoping to find nothing, ended up finding several spun bearings, a snapped rod, and almost all rod bolts stretched. The engine had a lifter noise and they decided to tank it and replace it with a GM longblock. Well actually, ended up I made out like a bandit, the engine had an LS6 intake on it so that means it was an 01-02' F-body. Also, the replacement engine must have been an LS6, because he gave me a brand new LS6 valley cover, with the integrated PCV inside to solve oil consumption issues. 8) The valley cover did not fit the LS1 so I was skeptical of notching the block for it on the engine I'm using, however the taller truck block had enough room for the PCV to clear. So JACKPOT!

Anyways, gutted the cracked LS1, used is as an 80lb. mock up engine. Worked out perfect as seen in pictures. Also purchased a rear license plate pocket from blownbigblock over at maliburacing.com. Love the way it looks, a little more adjusting and it'll be perfect.

I read a thread over on LS1tech about a 70' GTO Judge clone, with a turbo LQ4 in it, and the guy bought a dual passenger side outlet rad off eBay. I gave it a shot and got lucky. Had to make some new mounts, as well as modify the core support and isolators. I actually had to cut the rubber pieces on bottom because the rad is much thicker. And then I had to drill new holes on the support to set it in place.

I'm using the largest trans cooler that B&M makes, along with a very large radiator, and an AC condensor from a Regal/Cutlass, needless to say it wasn't going to be easy. The stock "X" radiator support braces weren't going to work, so I whipped up some with the vice and a couple tubes of pretty thick 3/8" steel tubing. I may remake the one going from upper driver to lower passenger because it is a little short. I also had to slightly notch the header panel, but with the grille on you can't tell the difference. I don't really know how much the X support braces help, but I just love the agressive look. It will all be painted black, along with using all anodized black fittings and black braided nylon line.

Also included is a couple more pictures of my interior. I am doing some new seat buns, but I don't want to put the seats back in with the reclining backs with no trim 🙁 . I'm having a very hard time finding the trim I need, I may just have to break down and buy the $140 set off of eBay.

Alright enough typing pic time

License plate

Interior

Radiator

Trans cooler, condensor, braces

PERFECTION

Rear end setup

And the ones you've been waiting for

Driver side header

Passenger side header

Firewall

A/C box and coils

And the money shot 8)

The wierd thing about this swap so far is the simplicity of it. Last time putting headers on an SBC in this car, I struggled for hours. This time they fell right in. I will need to ding the primary on each side that touches, but not nearly as bad as the Hooker headers I had last time. I bought them in the crappy paint so I can get them coated and not have to damage the coating.

The best thing so far though, is the fact that for months I worried about A/C heater box clearance. With the F-body coils, shorter spark plugs, and the MSD bendable wires, the wire actually sits in the little indentation on the heater box. I never get this lucky!!

Hope you all enjoy. Progress may be slow for now. I'd like to get a bare 4L60E case so I can mock everything up before painting the frame. I may take the time to figure out the PCM and fuse block mounting, and get my Dakota digital dash set in place and the wiring run for that.

Thanks for checking it out!

 

[Blake442]

Lookin' good! I wish I could do the same swap on my wagon...

I know Minnesota is kinda far, but if you're ever in the area I've got a smoked 4L60e you can have.

 

[3XBrownCutty]

Nice job!! looks real clean already. i like that alt. bracket.

Ive really been thinking about a turbo LS motor myself 8)