LM7 C5 transaxle

So, I bought a late 85 shell last summer and stuffed it in the garage.  Been reading, researching, deciding and collecting.
Just picked up a C5 bellhousing,  torque tube,  transaxle and differential (3.15)

The car was automatic with a dropped transaxle so went with a 4L60e from the vette for simplicity and initial cost. Haven't had a project car in 20 years so looking forward to getting into it and showing my 14 year old how to do some stuff.  And both of us learn some other stuff.

I've been paying close attention to the guys before me who have started this particular conversion, you inspired me to do something a little crazy. Being Canadian helps too....

Trevor

you will be cutting the floor you know that ;D nice project

Oh ya....
Still haven't decided on keeping Porsche rear suspension or changing to Corvette. I found out Empi type 1 to 930 forged stub axles fit the car.  (Haven't seen anyone else go that route,  and wondering why?) Theres pros and cons to both.

Changing openings up off the shelf cv axles, brakes, sway bars etc. Keeping the Porsche means everything is decided except axle length.

the stub shafts you mentioned fits an early 944, your late 85 will have the aluminum arms and uses a completely different axle stub. to solve the porsche to corvette axle thing is actually quite simple, a corvette c5 automatic cv shaft uses the same splines on the axle bar as a 930 joint, you simply use the corvette inner tripod joint, use 100mm to 108mm cv adapters on the outer stub shafts along with a 930 cv joint, then measure the axle shaft and get whatever empi shaft is the correct length.

Thanks for the clarification sharkey, I've looked into those adapters  but never found any available seperatly.  Do you know a source for them or do people just have them made by a local machine shop?

have a look in the 924 section here at kevin924kevin's build thread, he had a set made for his.

I've seen those, they look good. Simple solution.

Picked up a rebuilt LM7 last night. All new and ran for 2000km last season.  ARP head studs and rod bolts, double valve springs. 243 heads, Texas Speed turbo cam.

I dont know that I'm going turbo but the motor is ready if I choose so. I might stick with that cam and just get it in and running or might pull it for an LS6.

A guy I know has a polished aluminum Lingenfelter intake I might be able to horse trade for, but I dont know if its 3 or 4 bolt yet. I got a TPIS ported LS6 dbw throttle body in a package deal from the Corvette guy I got the transaxle from.
I was planning on dbc for simplicity but not sure now.

I think I've bought enough parts now, time to start tearing it down so I can begin putting some in the car. I've got a few mechanic friends and mechanical inclined friends, so I'm going to stuff the garage fridge with beers and we'll see if we can take everything off / out in a Saturday afternoon.

How does the torque tube fit when it is much shorter? I have my car all cut and torque tubes sitting in it but the distance to the engine bay has me worried?

By the time you add the transaxle and differential,  the overall  length is very close. Clearance of the motor to firewall is minimal, I believe I've seen guys with as little as .25 to .5 inch.

So I picked up the suspension and brakes and everything in between from a C5, even though I havent been in the garage for a month or more...
Work and kids

Do you know if the later stub axle on our cars is a type 2?
An off the shelf, one piece, forged piece would be a better choice than an adapter.

our cv joints are type 2 on both early and late cars.

a one piece 930 stub axle for a late 944 would be great, it just doesnt exist.

I mean specifically the stub axle though, is it a type 2?
I've seen an Empi forged type 2 to 930 stub axle.

it gets a little confusing because there is a type 2 cv joint style, and there is also a type 2 vw bug. the empi stub axle you are referring to is to use 930 axles/cv joints in a type 2 vw.

Fair enough..... I got excited over nothing.
How's your car coming? I've been watching your thread.
I'm getting ready to move mine in the next week or two after it sitting for what feels like forever. Ready to get back at it.