Another LS3, T-56 swap into 1981 C3

[zimmej51]

Greetings to all - I've been a member here for about a year but haven't posted anything until now. I know there have been quite a few threads regarding the LSx swap into a C3, but I thought I'd add my experiences to the wealth of information here!

I actually started my build a little less than a year ago, just in time for the Photo Bucket Phiasco that wiped out a lot of info just when I needed it the most! The car was kind of a "barn find", an 81 4-speed with 46K actual miles. No damage, no missing parts inside or out and most surprising no rust other than some surface rust here and there on the chassis. It was the condition of the car that prompted me to do a full resto-mod.

This is my first attempt at posting with pics by uploading them to DC. I'll probably mess up quite a bit here at first so bear with me! Advise and suggestions are welcomed! So here we go....

[Maniacmechanic1]

I lost somewhere around 10,000 photos on Forums when Photobucket got Greedy.
Oh well.
I keep finding no material to post.

I use IMIGUR as a photo hosting site.
Works Great on the 3 different Forums I am on.
Real easy to use.
Uploads fast.
No Pop ads either.

[zimmej51]

Thanks I'll try that if uploading to DC turns out to be too clunky.

[zimmej51]

Ok this post is pretty much just to test out uploading multiple pics.

[zimmej51]

Well, it worked but it is a little clunky. I noticed something about a limit of 60 photos in a DC album. Don't know if you can have multiple albums with 60 pics each.

Meanwhile, I'll proceed with this method for the moment.

As I mentioned, I started this build last spring but I'm not done by any stretch, so I'll try to make several posts per day until I get caught up to the current build status.

Oh, and I want to give credit where it is due. This forum was a huge help in planning before PB went dark, so I hope that I can offer some help/ideas also. I'm not going to post every step of every process I did, but I welcome any questions/comments.

[zimmej51]

Here's a good puller for pittman arms. Brand is OTC, part number is 8150. Amazon has them for just under $50.

https://imgur.com/l1UiRJh

https://imgur.com/L2kLA90

[zimmej51]

Maniacmechanic1 - I set up an account on IMGUR, but haven't figured out how to post the link so that the picture shows up in the post. I just keep getting the URL. Probably something simple I am missing...

[Maniacmechanic1]

Click on Direct Link on IMIGUR.
Copy it the link.
Then go to Post reply on DC. Click on it.
The 3rd ICON on top of the Tool bar area from the far right, looks like a small mountain top, that is the Tool to click on next.
Click on it.
It will say Please enter your URL image.
Hover over it with your mouse Cursor.
Without touching the keyboard on your PC or laptop Paste your Direct link from IMIGUR, Your Picture.
Then click on Ok with the your Mouse Curser.

Add more photos if you want to in the same manner.
When done you can preview the post.
Then Click on Submit reply.

[Maniacmechanic1]

Its Copy & Paste over & over.
Gets easy with a few tries.

Most other forums is similar.
Just the Insert image tool is located somewhere else.
ICON is different than Digital Corvette uses.

[Maniacmechanic1]

[Night Stalker]

[QUOTE=zimmej51;3389977]Here's a good puller for pittman arms. Brand is OTC, part number is 8150. Amazon has them for just under $50.

That is a clean frame !

[zimmej51]

[quote=Night Stalker;3390065]

Originally Posted by zimmej51

Here's a good puller for pittman arms. Brand is OTC, part number is 8150. Amazon has them for just under $50.

That is a clean frame !

It has since been powdercoated, I'll get some more pics posted in a bit. The car is (was) remarkably virgin. There is no evidence of body repairs anywhere, and the chassis is completely rust free other than a haze of surface rust. I actually could have reused the body/frame attachment bolts.

[zimmej51]

Here's 3 pics I took tonight to give an idea of where I am on the project.

LS3 from 2010 SS Camaro
T-56 6 speed and bell housing from 98-02 F-body
Speed Direct upper A arms
Speed Direct Steeroids
Modified water pump housing to clear upper A arm
Modified crossmember
Everything powder coated, dust shields & caliper bracket re-plated zinc chromate
All brake lines fabricated in house using stainless steel tubing
Body lifting fixtures fabricated in house for 2 post lift
Differential upgraded to 3:54 and rebuilt by V-tech
Trailing Arms rebuilt by V-tech
Composite rear spring by VanSteel
Custom fuel tank by VetteWorks (uses OEM pump mounted to the right of the gas tank filler tube
LSx adapter plates by VetteWorks
Rear half-shaft using Spicer non-lubricating (no zerks), a little hard to find but I have a partnumber if anyone is interested.

I have recorded many measurements and tool partnumbers for all of these mods so far. Engine/trans placement proved to be a bit critical. Accordingly, I have learned many things about what WONT fit! I am more than happy to share what I've learned with more in depth descriptions and photos, so if anyone interested just ask!

[zimmej51]

Originally Posted by Maniacmechanic1

Click on Direct Link on IMIGUR.
Copy it the link.
Then go to Post reply on DC. Click on it.
The 3rd ICON on top of the Tool bar area from the far right, looks like a small mountain top, that is the Tool to click on next.
Click on it.
It will say Please enter your URL image.
Hover over it with your mouse Cursor.
Without touching the keyboard on your PC or laptop Paste your Direct link from IMIGUR, Your Picture.
Then click on Ok with the your Mouse Curser.

Add more photos if you want to in the same manner.
When done you can preview the post.
Then Click on Submit reply.

Thanks for the instruction, works great!

[zimmej51]

Here's another area where I spent a lot of time. This is the stock shifter base plate, original equipment on the T-56 from 98-02 F body. I have a lot of measurements and can detail the procedure I used to determine final shifter location.