New convert under way

The wide body conversion, is not to bad, but you need a good metal guy to fine tune when it get to the end. You have to extend the front fenders, do a custom hoop to mount the front end. The rear quarters are a slow process, cut fit remove cut fit etc. They are pretty close to where it needs to sit. Custom gas cap area, to keep the body smooth with no openings, but all and all not bad, i think it should look really sharp when complete, i hope anyways. This hole project is alot of reading and R&D, but would not change a thing, truly enjoying myself. I am removing a lot of metal in the process and replacing certain areas with alum. I am trying to be around 2500 lbs or less when complete.

kevin924kevin wrote:The wide body conversion, is not to bad, but you need a good metal guy to fine tune when it get to the end. You have to extend the front fenders, do a custom hoop to mount the front end. The rear quarters are a slow process, cut fit remove cut fit etc. They are pretty close to where it needs to sit. Custom gas cap area, to keep the body smooth with no openings, but all and all not bad, i think it should look really sharp when complete, i hope anyways. This hole project is alot of reading and R&D, but would not change a thing, truly enjoying myself. I am removing a lot of metal in the process and replacing certain areas with alum. I am trying to be around 2500 lbs or less when complete.

Awesome! Thanks! Where did you source all of the body panels? I was curious about the cost and quickly looked online for OEM body panels and came up empty-handed.

All the body panels came from a porshce recycler in California. I am into them for around 3000.00. They are off a 2010. The hood is alum. The nose and tail i bought out of Quebec Canada. The rear quarters came complete with rockers etc.

kevin924kevin wrote:would not change a thing, truly enjoying myself..

Well said!

General question, what is the lowest part relative to the road surface. (What hangs the lowest.) Modded oil pans what are the dims. I can not use one from Eric for my application. So any info would be nice. Thanks.

Kevin,

As i merely start my 948 conversion, i have been combing the forum to glean as much as i can. just spent a good hour or so reading all nineteen pages of your story since 2011. Truly great vision here with this car.

incredible build, when i come to winnipeg in the future i will have to see your build.

wiser's clap.

Please feel free to contact me. It has been a slow go lately, my work has been crazy, which takes away build time. but still going forward.

Well, been awhile. work has been very busy, but now its time to get back at it.Progress has been slow with the busy year we had. Need to do a little cutting and grinding and then the final welds for the cage and engine bay repairs can be done. This is the focus at this point, then it will be time to couple the trans and motor and set into place. My next purchase is the GM drive by wire kit to make this motor run. In a perfect world by x-mas it should be sitting on a set of new mocossins and be a runner. Fingers crossed.

Kevin: You are very creative! I can't wait to see the final product.

My question concerns the crossmember. I saw your photos (and copied them to guide me in my LS1 project). But I don't see the engine mounts you used. Did you go with the mounts supplied by Texas Performace? That would make it easy for me (and others) as they've really done a nice job engineering them.

Another question: what gauge steel did you use to reinforce the steel crossmember?

Many thanks in advance for your reply.

Robb

Kev, did you ever finalize the axle solution? Great work BTW.

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.