BritishV8 Forum

From my perspective there isn't much of anything to update. I just got back from vacation and getting my car ready for Omaha is behind schedule, which is surprising.

There isn't any lack of excitement to progress on the LS4, just a lack of time until after the meet. I have been refining my planning going forward. One thing I'm going to do is visit the junkyard at some point, find a 2.2 S-10 and actually measure the clutch mounting surface of the flywheel to the bellhousing mounting surface of the block. If I'm going to have a flywheel made I want to make sure that measurement is correct for the S-10 bellhousing that will be used. I'm also in the middle of researching options available for fuel injection among other things.

As things happen I'll update the thread if there is interest.

Regards

Scott

Oh, I think there is interest.
You probably have a bit of leeway on that flywheel face measurement, however much adjustability there is in the HTOB.

Jim

Scott if you can pull this off without a huge amount of jiggery pokery you can be sure that lots of other guys will replicate your work.  Consider your project as the beta project!!  If I ever do another engine swap project I will consider going with the LS4 if this thing works out.  I can see it now a TR4 with an LS4.

Cheers
Byron

A question recently came up about motor mount bosses on the LS4. They appear to be different than an LS1 block but there shouldn't be any issues using what is there. Here is a picture of both sides of the block. Top picture is of the left side of the block, bottom of the right side.

Regards

Scott

I will take photos of my ls1 and post up soon to see if there is a difference

. There are some differences, but if you get the plates they make you can bokt up either one I believe.Top photo isdriver side. Bottom photo passenger side. Looks like dip stick hole is different too (right behind the starter). In my photo it is taken out on the passenger side.

Sorry for the sideways photos. My camera in my phone does this because of the pixels count.

Thanks Calvin!

More LS info:

http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1075693-my-budget-ls-engine-swap-guide-1500-a.html

That is a very good thread to read Carl....Good find!

Flywheel ordered. Fabrication of the starter mount is underway.

I was going to hold off on sharing this until it was a little further along but decided now was good.

I was able to complete the initial mock up yesterday afternoon. Before anyone asks, I'm not going to use plywood....I was thinking of using maple or oak instead.

Here is the mount. I'm going to use angle iron on the right side with the lower bellhousing bolt securing things on that side to the block.



Here is a picture of the only modification to the block I believe will be needed. Sorry for the blurry image but this is the rear fixturing boss that is mentioned earlier in this thread.



This shows the starter in place. It's pretty close to it's final position but will need to be tweaked once the flywheel is in place. I think it looks like it belongs there.



The next steps are fabricating the mount in steel and completing the angle iron brace and shims. The flywheel is still a few weeks away from getting here and the final assembly will have to wait until then. There are, of course, many other details. Let me know if you have any questions.

Scott

Wow, that is fantastic Scott! Can't wait to see the final mount. Are you going to use any sort of an end brace on the front end of the starter? It would add a lot of rigidity if you do.

For maple you might want to see if you can get some burl. The tight grain and complex grain patterns should help to prevent splitting ;-)

Jim

Jim

Thanks. Yes, I'm absolutely going to brace the starter. I'm going to use a 3" muffler clamp around the end of the starter and fabricate a mount using the back two oil pan bolts to secure it to the block. It should be very rigid.

Scott

Scott, Looks Good!

Ran across someone who dyno'd their modified LS4 other day:

http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum3/HTML/000123-22.html

About 8 or posts down...interesting numbers.

Hey Scott and clan,

A  5.3 ls engine will come within 10 HP of an ls1(5.7) when you run the same mods or pretty close from what I have read in Carl's post.

I have been seeing 5.3's go for $850 on Craig's list around here. Get an ls6 intake and an ls1 computer, wiring harness, and your off to a new swap with great power potential.

Scott, I don't know if you knew there is a LS4 forum for the FWD cars. Lots of motor info.  http://www.gmls4.com/index.php/board,16.0.html

Check out this picture of Bill Gaulin's LS1 in a MGB. He added about 2" to blockhugger headers similar to what Ryan did with his 302 Ford to make them RV8 through the fenderwell. I like the open breather also. I would move those coils off the valve covers, smooth them out and paint them black with silver fins.

QuoteScott, I don't know if you knew there is a LS4 forum for the FWD cars.

Jim, thanks. Yes, I've visited the site many times.

Here's the starter mount in steel. Need to wait until the flywheel is in place before finishing the mount.



While I'm waiting for the flywheel, I've moved on to the FI harness. Had a fun day at the junkyard last weekend. I'm looking forward to building it.



The flywheel is scheduled to be made this week so I hope it is here the following week.

Scott

Scott, I found this link interesting. Going from LS4 to LS3/7 MAF and 4" intake. TB on LS1 and LS4 is 78mm,LS2 and LS6 are 90mm. LS2 intake is lower in height than LS1 or LS6 for better hood clearance.  http://www.gmls4.com/index.php?topic=2073.0

Thanks for the link Jim. An intake/throttle body/MAF/cam will be phase 2 in a couple of years. I'm going with the stock intake and a 2000+ Northstar throttle body/MAF to start. The diameter of the Northstar throttle body looks like an exact match to the intake, FYI.

On a somewhat related note I had a few minutes last night so I weighed the LS4 with a digital bathroom scale a couple of times and got a rough weight of about 375 lbs. This includes the intake manifold/fuel rail, throttle body and starter...FYI.

Scott, I was in Hastings(book store like Barnes&Noble) the other day and there were 2 books on LS swaps. Not just into other vehicles but parts swap from one LS motor to another. Lots of info. You might already have them or could find them on Amazon. I didn't buy them as I don't have an LS motor but ,thought I'd let you know and others contemplating the swap.

Jim, thanks for the information. I'll be looking into those books. I really appreciate you taking the time to mention stuff like this. It's very helpful.

On a related note, my flywheel is done! Just waiting for it to arrive.

Cool,Scott! I looked up LS swap on Amazon and it showed 3 plus an interesting one on LS performance.

Scott, Just a bump to see what you're up to. Did you check out any of those books, I may buy one today. Most importantly, did you get your flywheel? Just curious.