Ditto that. I've had quite a few "oh crap" moments. I just expect them now (then it doesn't feel so bad 🙄 sort of).
The build looks awesome, so keep your chin up, and just push through.
Hutch
BUILD THREAD The Mullet Maurader, The Epic of the LS swapped Buick
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Ditto that. I've had quite a few "oh crap" moments. I just expect them now (then it doesn't feel so bad 🙄 sort of).
The build looks awesome, so keep your chin up, and just push through.
Hutch
Thanks Hutch, I’ve had an eye on your build and you do some pretty awesome work too. I think we are all pretty fortunate to have this unique community that supports us and has such a great pool of experience to help when we get stuck. Such a wide range of experience from old school Olds to modern Efi. Can’t say I’ve been on a forum like this before.
Got one of the last pieces of the puzzle today. I really am getting annoyed waiting on parts. ☹️
Hopefully get some stuff done tomorrow. Our weather up north has been snow and sleet. Fire up the garage heater and get the frame bolted up finally so I can mock up the engine and trans with the hot side. 😃
Hopefully get some stuff done tomorrow. Our weather up north has been snow and sleet. Fire up the garage heater and get the frame bolted up finally so I can mock up the engine and trans with the hot side. 😃
Subscribed.
I'm anxious to see photos and how the new Wilwood front brake upgrade goes.
I'm anxious to see photos and how the new Wilwood front brake upgrade goes.
Finally got my remaining bottom end parts in today. Short block almost done.
Some LS7 lifter p*rn.
A little pistons in the holes and read for boosty boosty.
And the ARP stud goodness ready for head bolt down tomorrow. 😃
Trans kit is in so the stand is needed for manual and RWD conversion this week. Things are happening. 😃😃😃
Some LS7 lifter p*rn.
A little pistons in the holes and read for boosty boosty.
And the ARP stud goodness ready for head bolt down tomorrow. 😃
Trans kit is in so the stand is needed for manual and RWD conversion this week. Things are happening. 😃😃😃
Weekend finally wound down enough to get out in the garage.
Got the head studs all in. Had a few dirty threads so it took some time to chase all the M11x2mm threads. Then cleaned up the heads a bit and opened up my gaskets to discover I’m kinda a moron and only ordered one. So one head is installed.... 😕
Then I installed some power added to the pistons.
Off to the dealer for another gasket tomorrow. Hopefully it takes less than a month. 😡
Got the head studs all in. Had a few dirty threads so it took some time to chase all the M11x2mm threads. Then cleaned up the heads a bit and opened up my gaskets to discover I’m kinda a moron and only ordered one. So one head is installed.... 😕
Then I installed some power added to the pistons.
Off to the dealer for another gasket tomorrow. Hopefully it takes less than a month. 😡
Motor is almost there.
Build recap for those who wanna do something similar.
2005 LQ4 block approx 80k km (50k miles)
Stock pistons
Stock Gen 4 rods
Stock Crank
L92 Square port heads 823 casting
LS9 head gaskets
Gen 4 truck intake
LS7 lifters
LS6 timing chain and dampener on the stock LQ4 sprockets.
Brian Tooley stage 2 turbo cam.
Brian Tooley 0.660” springs (not yet installed)
Comp magnum pushrods to install
Bottle brushed the bores
Fresh Manley moly rings gapped to 0.028”
Fresh crank and rod bearings with stock clearances.
Stock LQ4 oil pump.
Edit: ARP studs on the heads and mains. Not needed but heck, it’s gonna get abused.
I didn’t need to do the big heads but it was gonna have a LSA blower and they flow 320cfm so When they popped up on kijiji I figured why not. This should be a monster at 12psi.
All in around $1500CAD for the rebuild with cam and springs. Ballpark.
Add $800 for the heads and $500 CAD for the pan and it’s gonna be around a good SBC rebuild cost wise for much more. This combo would make an easy 500 ponies before the turbo and I plan to find out.
The $200 eBay headers look like they are gonna work mint. Even 304 stainless!
Gotta dog out my valve covers from the old 317 heads....
The L92/L76 truck manifold is a known winner and this is a good reason why.
Got a few more goodies on the way to round this girl out but I can’t wait to get it in place.
Build recap for those who wanna do something similar.
2005 LQ4 block approx 80k km (50k miles)
Stock pistons
Stock Gen 4 rods
Stock Crank
L92 Square port heads 823 casting
LS9 head gaskets
Gen 4 truck intake
LS7 lifters
LS6 timing chain and dampener on the stock LQ4 sprockets.
Brian Tooley stage 2 turbo cam.
Brian Tooley 0.660” springs (not yet installed)
Comp magnum pushrods to install
Bottle brushed the bores
Fresh Manley moly rings gapped to 0.028”
Fresh crank and rod bearings with stock clearances.
Stock LQ4 oil pump.
Edit: ARP studs on the heads and mains. Not needed but heck, it’s gonna get abused.
I didn’t need to do the big heads but it was gonna have a LSA blower and they flow 320cfm so When they popped up on kijiji I figured why not. This should be a monster at 12psi.
All in around $1500CAD for the rebuild with cam and springs. Ballpark.
Add $800 for the heads and $500 CAD for the pan and it’s gonna be around a good SBC rebuild cost wise for much more. This combo would make an easy 500 ponies before the turbo and I plan to find out.
The $200 eBay headers look like they are gonna work mint. Even 304 stainless!
Gotta dog out my valve covers from the old 317 heads....
The L92/L76 truck manifold is a known winner and this is a good reason why.
Got a few more goodies on the way to round this girl out but I can’t wait to get it in place.
Last edited:
Good day in the garage today. Made some real progress.
First off, the battle of the body mounts is over and I won. Little PSA for all the frame off newbs as I had to learn this the hard way, again, tie the frame ends together when you weld the frame. Had a bit of a fight with the passengers side rear two mounts not wanting to line up. Welded up a little spreader bar with some square tube and all thread bar and quickly had it handled
Installed the poly motor mounts in the stock clams and slapped her in. In the process I quickly learned that the el cheapo eBay turbo headers want to make sweet love to the AC box. 😠.
But she looks pretty darn good in there.
Gonna start a separate LS swap thread for the motor install since I’m using all the Holley swap stuff. Figured it might be helpful for someone in the future.
Front suspension install begins in about half an hour....
First off, the battle of the body mounts is over and I won. Little PSA for all the frame off newbs as I had to learn this the hard way, again, tie the frame ends together when you weld the frame. Had a bit of a fight with the passengers side rear two mounts not wanting to line up. Welded up a little spreader bar with some square tube and all thread bar and quickly had it handled
Installed the poly motor mounts in the stock clams and slapped her in. In the process I quickly learned that the el cheapo eBay turbo headers want to make sweet love to the AC box. 😠.
But she looks pretty darn good in there.
Gonna start a separate LS swap thread for the motor install since I’m using all the Holley swap stuff. Figured it might be helpful for someone in the future.
Front suspension install begins in about half an hour....
Decided to wait for suspension install day, do my transmission reassignment surgery instead.
If you don’t think you can redo a 4L80e or TH400 you should really try it once. Stupid easy to disassemble and work on.
First I fabbed up one of the ugliest trans clamps imaginable. And put the trans on it.
Then pull things out and put them in order and in the right orientation to go back in.
The main goal tonight was to swap the output to a 2wd slip style. It actually took about 30 minutes to get this part done.
Then to start installing the Trans-go stage 3 manual shift kit. On reassembling I discovered I somehow lost a C-clamp I was going to use to compress the spring pack for the direct drum so things have ground to a halt for the evening. Oh well. I should get her all back together tomorrow, quick trip to the local Chinese tool retailer should hook me up with the correct tools.
If you don’t think you can redo a 4L80e or TH400 you should really try it once. Stupid easy to disassemble and work on.
First I fabbed up one of the ugliest trans clamps imaginable. And put the trans on it.
Then pull things out and put them in order and in the right orientation to go back in.
The main goal tonight was to swap the output to a 2wd slip style. It actually took about 30 minutes to get this part done.
Then to start installing the Trans-go stage 3 manual shift kit. On reassembling I discovered I somehow lost a C-clamp I was going to use to compress the spring pack for the direct drum so things have ground to a halt for the evening. Oh well. I should get her all back together tomorrow, quick trip to the local Chinese tool retailer should hook me up with the correct tools.
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