Lazybones I forgot to WELCOME you so here it is WELCOME we’re all here to help you out and again learn from you!!
Just getting started on my rebuild. I'm going to learn a lot!
- Thread starter Lazybones
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
Hi Cadillacmac!
Oh gosh, if we had only respected and kept some of the cars that we thrashed back in the day. '68 Firebird, '70 LeMans Sport, '76 Firebird. I had a '33 Chev 5 window master coupe for a few years. Spent all that time looking for parts. It wasn't for sale but then, one day, out of the blue a guy came and offered me enough. Later, I find out there are few survivors due to the amount of wood in them and they are sought after because the in line 6 engine bay is bigger than ford's v8 engine bay. I have only seen one at a resto mod car show and instantly regretted my weak moment to give it away. Giving that up and trading in the '68 firebird for a Pontiac ventura both haunt me and make me wonder what was I thinking.
Sean Buick 76
I'm Awesome
Awesome project! I’m calling you Busy Bones!
I found some shorty headers at a local pick-n-pull on a 2003 2500, brought them home and realized that there was no way they could be used in my swap. Cleaned 'em up and sold for a bit more so no real loss. I purchased some long tube LS swap headers from Jegs. The D side fit good with no clearance issues. I may have some clearance issues down the road when I set up the transmission shift linkage. I had to trim about an inch he off he P side of the transmission "bell housing" for clearance.
I had imagined that the outlets would be symmetrical but in reality, they are not. The P side outlet is further back than the D side (no biggie really) and the D side outlet is about 2" lower than the P side.
I went to a local exhaust shop and they wouldn't commit to bending a 3" exhaust tube in 10" to make up the 2" difference in height without bringing it in to their shop so it looks like I will be either notching the existing crossmember or making a complete new one.
I had imagined that the outlets would be symmetrical but in reality, they are not. The P side outlet is further back than the D side (no biggie really) and the D side outlet is about 2" lower than the P side.
I went to a local exhaust shop and they wouldn't commit to bending a 3" exhaust tube in 10" to make up the 2" difference in height without bringing it in to their shop so it looks like I will be either notching the existing crossmember or making a complete new one.
Attachments
Other progress...
With the help of a 4 link calculator, I finalized the link lengths for the rear suspension to get the optimal (in my mind) street antisquat geometry and ordered the parts from Paul Hortons Welder Series. I feel some excitement at getting that done as there is a lot of information out there and not all of it aligns. I'm trying to get it right the first time as I have a hangup on doing things over and over and sometimes over again.
Isn't there a saying that if there isn't enough time to do it right the first time then there is always enough time to do it right the second time?
With the help of a 4 link calculator, I finalized the link lengths for the rear suspension to get the optimal (in my mind) street antisquat geometry and ordered the parts from Paul Hortons Welder Series. I feel some excitement at getting that done as there is a lot of information out there and not all of it aligns. I'm trying to get it right the first time as I have a hangup on doing things over and over and sometimes over again.
Isn't there a saying that if there isn't enough time to do it right the first time then there is always enough time to do it right the second time?
Drunkcanuk
I'm Awesome
Not sure how I missed this one, must be because it's in the introduction area instead of a normal build thread.
Anyway, looks awesome!
I'm just getting started rebuilding my LQ4.... certainly not as pretty as yours!!
Where abouts in Alberta are you?
I'm just north of Edmonton.
Anyway, looks awesome!
I'm just getting started rebuilding my LQ4.... certainly not as pretty as yours!!
Where abouts in Alberta are you?
I'm just north of Edmonton.
TreeGeared
I'm Awesome
Looking very good. When I installed my LQ4 I found that the stock exhaust (including manifolds) from my donor cleared everything with just a slight adjustment to a hanger near the aforementioned crossmember. You have headers so your situation is different. Those cross members do not have much section height to begin with so I would caution you on notching the stock member. If I had to I would add a hoop to bolt on over the top of exhaust pipe to keep everything rigid. Looks like you are more than capable of figuring it out, so please share your eventual solution.
Sherwood Park.
Yes, not really a fan of notching the stock crossmember. Right now I'm thinking of two possible fabrication solutions for a custom transmission crossmember.
1) I measured the space between the floor of the cab and the top of the frame on my stock running '96 C1500 RCLB and found it to be about 1.25". I could fabricate a member that hangs from the top of the frame and drops down in the center to support the transmission. (Sort of a V with wings)
2) Fabricate a crossmember that sits on the bottom lip of the frame, angles up and over the exhaust tubes then down under the transmission tailshaft back up over the second tube and back down to the opposite fame.
I am lowering the truck so I am reluctant to go below the bottom lip of the frame as I don't want something hanging down to cause an unexpected driving event later on.
Drunkcanuk
I'm Awesome
You wouldn't happen to be the fella grabbing the box off the brown OBS at Bucks last summer would you???
Similar threads
