[82CEtuner]

I purchased a 82 Corvette Collectors Edition that was bone stock when I purchased it with 90k original miles. As soon as I purchased the car I knew that I wanted to change things on it even though they were good from the factory it was a 30 year old car and showed its age.

I would like to thank the following companies below for their contribution to my project.

CUSTOM IMAGE CORVETTES'S for my Ls1 swap parts and the amazing job he did on building the ls1-t56 drivetrain.

RevXtreme for providing me with a rear end and their great customer service!!!

This thead will show in detail all changes, upgrades, modifications made to my car from the engine all the way to the body and finish when I start it. I will start things off with the Drivetrain!!!

Well after months and months of planning speculating and decisions It has started. This idea started when I started talking to Josh (SUPERPOWERS) at CUSTOM IMAGE CORVETTE'S about options for a LS1 engine. I had planned for it mid year but then changed my mind after finding out I had a baby girl OTW. I did not think I would have the money. However looking over finances and talking with josh still we had a PLAN. The original plan was to take a LQ9 truck engine that I could get for dirt cheep and change out the intake and pulley setup, find a T-56 and swap it in on the cheep. However for some reason a LQ9 even though a great engine and with more HP just did not fit the lightweight LS1 I was looking for.

I then did some searching and found a GREAT DEAL on e-bay for a full pullout kit for a LS1, I made a offer and from then on the journey began. CLICK ON THE PICS TO SEE THEM LARGER!!!


From there the car went on its Journey to CUSTOM IMAGE CORVETTES. Almost every day he took the time to answer my questions, let me know what parts I needed to order, what parts he could order and get cheaper. The money started to get spent, and parts started to roll in. I will not go into detail to much on that.

After the car arrived Josh took it for a drive and told me it ran great, but after all it was still practically in its stock form

Well after josh got his hands on it this happened!!!





AND NOW FOR THE SNEAK PEAK OF THE VIDIO

Now you may be wondering, what is going to go in place of the Tired old 350? Here is the answer.




Now after finding my Engine and T-56(That's right converting from auto to manual) I figured I would stop right there but nope.

The great guys over at REVXTREME contacted me after I had asked them about building a beefy rear end later on down the road and said they might have exactly what I was looking for.
They had a IRON 79 RACE BUILD rear end with 4.11 gears and BIG BLOCK Yokes and were willing to let me have it at a STEAL of a deal. Sorry no pics of it I accidentally deleted them, I will get pics of that later.

Thanks again RevXtreme.

So now I have my 79 IRON rear to with 4.11s to hold up my new found HP in my ls1, so out with the weak stock 2.87 aluminum one. However now that I am changing the rear end to IRON I need some new half shafts. Well there are great finds on e-bay and I found these!!!!!.



These would be 3 INCH Heavy Duty Half-shafts with SOLID Spicer U-Joints. I got these at a great price, they are not painted but will find themselves with a nice powder coating the color is still a secret

So now I have my drive train completely sorted out. More will come on this later.

Now for some sneak peaks and other items I have purchased for the project.

NOW THIS I ALREADY HAVE INSTALLED



FULL VB&P Performance Plus Suspension, she drives in rails now!!!

The Interior will be getting updated with these!!



and just to threw in a few more items if interest



I have purchased everything in these pictures and this is by no means anywhere near what I have so accumulated so far.

Josh is a very busy man and has devoted a lot of time to answering my questions and did a lot of the shopping for parts for me and then just sent me the link so I could snag them up. I can tell you know there is no better person that I could have selected to do this swap for me.

The LS1 swap was The biggest step of my resto/mod, but I did undestand that with the added HP I wanted that the suspension was the first thing that needed tackling and that is why I had the VBP Performance plus package installed first.

 

[mjollnir]

Yeah first to answer, keep us posted of the accomplishments

Your project is pretty similar to mine (80-82+LSx) :cheers:

 

[superpowers]

I have been working on the LSx swap in my C3 vette for about 3 years now. My car is now in the last stages of a full body off resto mod/Pro touring build. I have since updated that car to an LS3 that has been bored, stroked, and forged and topped with the best components on the market today.

James and I are teaming up and during this build we will be posting lots of pics and videos and I will also be doing some tech write ups on the various processes that will be involved.

I will have a bunch more pics this weekend for James to add to the thread. His car is FULL of parts.

keep checking back for progress. My car is going to get painted next week and then I will get back to this build.

 

[MN-Brent]

Very Cool. I'll be watching this build. Love this shinola.

I may or may not be holding onto my C3, but if I do, this is the same direction Im taking.

I also agree with you on getting the lighter weight aluminum block. Just seems a better fit with the Corvette. :cheers:

 

[Lazyeye]

Jamessssssss Honey Pie puddin Darling, Oh wait I'm not begging the Wife. Sorry bout that when I start begging it is usually my wife I'm talking to. That being said Jamessssss can I have the valve covers and exhaust manifolds from the crossfire?Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee I'll be good from now on , I promise Pleaseeeeee!!!.......Later Jon

 

[mikeatlbc]

headers

Can you give us any mnore details on the headers? Do you have a link?

 

[80vettel82]

hmm funny....I was just logging in to make a thread on T56 swaps. I wanted to find out how hard it was...how much modification/fabrication was needed to make the swap. When I logged in first thing I saw was this thread. It should be very helpful. Good luck and keep us updated. artyon:

I still make my thread...I dont want to be hijacking yours :thumbsup:

 

[82CEtuner]

That's what we are here for 80vette.

If the guy that buys the engine does not want the exhaust manifolds then I am sure we can work it out I will let them go for like maybe shipping plus 5 bucks for josh making the trip to ship them. The valve covers will more than likely go with the engine. but we will see if the engine buyer does not come through the entire engine may get parted out. It has a lot of new stuff on it like brand new alternator, distributor cap, K and N air filters new plugs and brand new plug wires.

I will talk to josh on it and will contact you if things change.

 

[mrmarchuk]

congrats on finally starting it my crossmember and transmission mount came in today and im still waiting (patiently) for the engine mounts, might drive down to my friens hhouse tomorrow to grab his cherry picker and engine stand (2hour drive each way) that way i can start with my swap as well


but as for now, i just got 2 bottom wisdom teeth pulled so im not doing any serious work while on this pain killer medication :laughing:

 

[82CEtuner]

Awsome, I wish I was where you are on the body work though, my body and interior needs alot of work. but one thing at a time.

congrants on your swap I know at one time you were going to get rid of the whole car and the donor car, glad you changed your mind.

 

[mrmarchuk]

they both seem like quality work i guess i should start with the engine removals asap to make room. i WAS going to keep both cars in the garage for the swap but i dont really have room so im going to have to move the corvette back into the rain while i pull the ls1 and then move the camaro (which has no wheels) back outside and tarp it up for the winter. OR i could just cut the camaro in half and leave the front end in the garage then my garage will definitely lookl ike a chop shop lol:huh:

full garage:

 

[superpowers]

Why don't you just get the drivetrain out of the Camaro and then scrap the car?

 

[mrmarchuk]

Why don't you just get the drivetrain out of the Camaro and then scrap the car?

thats what i'll end up doing but i want to keep it until im done with the conversion that way i have plenty of time to pull whatever else i might need off of it (the ls1 front brakes etc)
man its a beautiful saturday but i cant be working ont he car today (doc said no strenuous activity for 36-48 hours ) :huh:

 

[mikeatlbc]

I can hardly wait... I feel like I'm five and I'm waiting for Christmas

 

[mrmarchuk]

so my friend dropped off the cherry picker and a spare stand today, on the agreement that i hold onto his engine for a while since i live in a house and he has an apartment so he doesnt have room for it. Anyways, hopefully i'll start dismantling the camaro soon (we're tackling his engine this weekend, he's building up a boost engine for his 2009 civic, crazy kid wants 600hp) and i'll make sure i post plenty of pictures :thumbsup:

 

[superpowers]

good. Get that car stripped! I will get your shocks and mount plates out to you next week.

 

[mrmarchuk]

good. Get that car stripped! I will get your shocks and mount plates out to you next week.

nice. looking forward to it tomorrow i'm going to help a buddy tear apart his engine for his boost car and maybe after we'll get some stuff out from under the camaros hood :thumbsup:

 

[82CEtuner]

interior

Well figure its time to update this with a little bit more stuff. Gut the entire inside to prepare for installing the new harness and pedal assembly.

Luckally for me he already has a harness pre-made for a 82 with a LS1 and autometer gauges I figured there were going to be some wiring issues.

Some other issues that arose while the interior came out.
1. The dash was so brittle that it broke in half.
2. The car has actually gotten so hot that the sound deadning material is practically melted to the floor.

I do not plan to replace the interior at this moment and time due to my budget, but it will definitely be in the works for next year along with body and paint.

Here is a shot of my decrepit carpet, it has definitely seen better days but it will stick around for about another year. The best thing was knowing that I do not have any birdcage or floor pan rot. You can also see part of my VBP duel spring taken out.

 

[82CEtuner]

The Engine Bay

After he removed my tired old 350 this is what was left with in the old 30 year old engine bay. Note all the nastiness, Grease and other gunk. Also the brake booster and MC are standing out in all their rusted glory.

got to work and gutted the ENTIRE engine bay, if it was not needed it was removed permanently, which for the most part was everything anyways LOL. then took on the painstaking and backbreaking work of de-greasing and pressure washing the engine bay.

Things are looking pretty good here, not much surface rust, and things cleaned up nicely.

First things First started taping off the engine bay.

Also here you notice that the stock radiator housing is not even in bad shape which is unusual for these cars, eventually it will get replaced when I get a aluminum dewittes radiator but for now a stock f-body one will take its place.

Now for the finishing touches. First a shot of PRIMER.

and now the finally, a nice coat of gloss black to make sure that LS1 and all the shinny new stuff looks real good under the hood.

Now whats under the hood is ganna look better than whats on the outside LOL but after all that,s ok to us car guys anyways

 

[SixtyNine]

Wow! Looking great man. I know you are excited!! I thought I was ahead of Josh a little bit, but man he moves fast. That's good though because it is keeping me motivated. Your engine bay looks so much better. I'm planning to brush mine with POR15, hopefully this weekend.

How hard was the VB&P front suspension install? I still have to do that to mine and I'm kind of dreading it for some reason. The rear wasn't too bad.

One day we will all have to meet up at a show or something for a C3 LSX convention...artyon: