New convert under way

Thank you,the cross member plates are 1/8 in. in the center of the CM is sq tubing 1/8 in wall. I am using TPC engine mounts, great product. What u have to do is make some steel wedges for under the mounts and weld to CM. drill the hole and good to go.You must transfer the mount location measurements from the alum CM to the steel CM. Rob for the axles i am using the emphi chrome moly CVs bigger balls hardened,up to 30 degree of angle on these. I will have the vette axles shortend and resplinded to start with. Then i will send u the specs for a set of fancy axles. Should be back at it on a regular bassis in a few weeks. Just going to order the GM control kit, finish the pan and do a few shipping damage repairs and let there be life. Any thoughts on spring weight for the rear with the extra trans weight. How did the Perana Bros hang there vette trans? Just cant seem to wrap my noodle around this one. I must be missing something on this, considering what i am doing, this should be easy. Thoughts people. Thanks.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL AND ALL THE BEST IN THE NEW YEAR.

Merry Christmas everyone and all the best in the new year.

So the holidays are over. Stripped my motor down.New oil pan in route from TPC. Purchased a new Fast 102 intake. Next R&R the cam to the new factory GM hot cam. Change out the rockers add the new accessory drive kit and harness and cross fingers, it should run. I plan to send the motor out to be dynoed and tuned, that will be a fun day. Once that is complete, i should be able to couple it up to the trans unit, install, fab trans mount, and it gets closer.

Just an update on my progress, it has been slow but forward, the fab shop is bending up my new trans tunnel covers, i have a hole host of new parts for my LS3, a couple of items to go then the motor will go out for assembly and dyno. I have solved my trans mount issue, once the motor is back it will be time to fit the entire drive line and suspension, happy days ahead.

Looking forward to seeing the progress.

Well just back from Nascar in Fontana, heading down to pick up the balance of the parts i bought my self fo x-mas. Picked up today the last of the custom metal pieces to finally be able to finish the trans tunnel and stuff. I will post some pics of the new toys, and will start to update the progress on a regular basis.

Well made it down to pick up my new cam and springs, new FAST 102 intake and matching feul rails. I purchased a brand new accesory drive kit complete, and my oil pan from Eric at TPC. Cam and acc are GM products. Next is harness and tubes, then she is ready for assembly and dino. Slow and steady.

Question, has anyone done any reinforcement to the lower shock mount of the trailing arms. Do to my torsion bar delete and the mid section removed, plus the extra weight of the trans, i have concerns with snapping the shock bolt. Any thoughts out their?

There is a Co. making a stronger shoulder bolt set. If you can weld alum. make up a double-sheer mount and then use a regular 10 or 12 grade bolt.

I just put Racer's Edge mounts on my car, still with torsion bars. But it seems to be the usual way to do it with a torsion bar delete. Haven't read any horror stories.

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Thanks all, I thought about an extra welded in place bracket, and I think that will be my best choice. I can visualize what is needed.Eric, the oil pan fits perfect, it has real nice clearance on all sides.thank you. I will post a few pics. The rack fits nice, just have to do a new upper bracket and that will fix that. I am sending my trailing arms out to have the new bearings pressed in. slow and steady wins the race.

Hello all, progress has been slow do to work and family. I will snap a bunch of pics in the next little while and post. Interior metal work just about ready for final welding. Motor has been stripped and ready to go out for assembly and dino etc. Should be a good 550 Hp when done, but the dino will tell the tale. This has been a hell of a project, but no regrets. I woyld not change a thing at this point.

Just an update moving along but it has been slow do to heavy work load.

Had a great weekend working on the car. Trans tunnel is all ready for welding, and all the mount brackets for cage and x member finally ready to go. Pulling the motor this week and it goes out for some love. The next time I see it, will be a runner. I will post some picks when everything is welded up. Progress finally.

Awesome build. I really appreciate the detailed info regarding teh transmission swap. It's looking like you may have just made my decision for me

Well got some time in the garage tonight and pulled my rack out and took it completely apart and cleaned and ready for the new mounting bracket.  The design will wok perfect and not interfere with the oil pan.should look very factory. This will complete this mod. One off the list. Started stripping the under coating off the Trans tunnel to get it finalized for the new top of the tunnel. Still need to fab the bump out for the shifter but the new opening is cut. The panels fit very nice and once seam coated you will never know it was changed. Then it will be time to fab the new sheet metal to close the balance of the floor in  and the area where the seat was. The hole area behind the front seats will all be nice and flat. Dropping the rear trailing arms off this week to have the new bearings pressed in. When I get them back I will install the new bushings and they will be good to go. Motors out and all new bearing rings etc being done. Need to check my  torque tube bearings. Progress at least.

Got my cross member and rack back today. The mod should be plenty strong. Next they will box in my front control arms. Motor is coming along nice. Tough to get LS parts in Canada. I will post some new pics next week of the progress in many areas.

Well got some time this past sunday to work. The trans tunnel is coming along nice. Fabed the bump out for the shifter, 4 1/2 hours for this little area, but very pleased with the finished result. I wll have to take some pics soon and post. Got all the undercoating removed where needed. Dusty job. From the fire wall back the first 2 section of tunnel fit real nice. The progress continues.Parts for my engine are finally in, So i can drop off at the engine builder this week so he can continue.

Well, had another productive sunday on the car. I managed to get the first two new sections of the trans tunnel welded back in. I am pleased with the finish. I will have to update the pics of the progress. Decided to have Eric make me a set of tubular manifolds out of stainless. The fire wall plate is done. My shims for my motor mounts are being cut, i had a test sample dropped off. Fits like a glove.

Just a quick update. Motor is completely redone and good to go. Once the tube situation is sorted out it will go to the dyno in the new year to be tuned. Trans tunnel is coming along nice. New shifter location and such is installed and looks real nice, lots of work to make it look like it was never altered, or removed. I have been slow on the pics, but will update over the holidays.

Well the motor is home and complete.

Well Santa (me ) brought me a new wiring harness. The complete unit with DBW throttle pedal etc.. now it is clutch time. I am going to order the factory LS7 complete clutch kit. This is rated for 550 HP should be good to go with this. Need a couple of new sending units, and its run time.

Nice, you only have what, 6 months to finish before the thaw up there

LOL we are sitting today at -11C ( 51.8 F ) so not bad. Heated 4 car garage life is good and warm.