My other little project
 

Some of you might know that I'm building this, but I've kept it on the relative DL in MN lately as I still want to surprise a few folks!

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...3/IMG_6996.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...3/IMG_7007.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...3/IMG_7011.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...3/SAM_0954.jpg


http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...3/IMG_6557.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...3/IMG_6645.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...3/SAM_1083.jpg

Engine is coming out this weekend and then the bay will be getting resprayed. After that I basically just need to slap it all together and get a tune on it!

Re: My other little project
 

Now that's more like it. I've seen a gazillion DSM builds, but the LSx stuff in cool japanese stuff really intrigues me. Makes me want to pull the 5.3 out of my Tahoe and slap it in my GSX or Lotus.

Re: My other little project
 

Looks like fun! How exactly does the exhaust go? Looks like it goes to the back then links up and comes back up front to the turbo?

Re: My other little project
 

Which LS motor is that?
Cubes?
Cam specs?
Iron or Aluminum block?
Turbo specs?

MOAR details!

Don't find many single turbo LS setups, hope it doesn't sound like a Subaru with the unequal length exhaust lol.

Re: My other little project
 

Thanks! These motors are ridiculously awesome. Cheap, reliable and they hold a lot of power!

Open downpipe :)

5.3L L33 (all aluminum), 9.9:1 CR, LS6 cam (204/218), Turbonetics TC76 (.96A/R, journal bearing, 65mm turbine wheel).

It's a completely stock, untouched 50k mile bottom end with ARP head bolts, LS9 head gaskets, Patriot Gold dual valve springs and an LS6 intake.

And thanks... I'm not sure what it's going to sound like but even with the open downpipe it's probably still going to be pretty quiet.

Re: My other little project
 

The way you talked about this in your other thread it was a runner/driver. Get this thing finished up, will be cool to see!

Re: My other little project
 

Fuggin sick. I wish I was smarter and knew how to do swaps like this.

And Andrew, it's an LS motor so chances are its going to sound kinda meh... :) I love the motors, just wish they sounded better lol. Personal preference I suppose. But awesome build man!!

Re: My other little project
 

Thanks! It actually was a runner/driver last summer, just with a 400RWHP LS1 and a T56 6-speed :)

Honestly, I came into this swap having never done anything with cars, so it's not rocket science. It's all been done before!

Re: My other little project
 

Now this is cool :) I enjoy LS swaps immensly! If my DD didn't just catostrophically break, then I'd be looking for something fun to swap. Someday I guess haha. Good luck with the project, can't wait to see it finished!

Re: My other little project
 

Saweet project!

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surprise ha!

Can't wait to see this done, so clean.

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I'm not a big fan of swapping rotary cars, but this'll be awesome when it's done.

Do work!

Re: My other little project
 

Where did you get an all aluminum 5.3? Impala SS or 2007+ Tahoe?

LS motors sound eh? They sounds exactly the same as any other small block V8 I'ver heard, and they are 100x more advanced than an old SBC. I wouldn't put anything else in a car, you get so much for so little money. In fact the domestic rags have been throwing cheap ebay turbos on old worn out junkyard LS's and getting 600whp out of them with no other changes than opening up the top ring gap. That's pretty stout in my book.

And there is a TON of info on LS swaps out there, I've got a full color book in my throneroom just on LS swaps alone. It really maps out every detail of swapping them into most any chassis.

Re: My other little project
 

Thanks guys.

The L33 is out of certain '05 Silverados. They are not very common and often get bought up (by people like me) as soon as they hit the market. They're advantageous over an iron block for multiple reasons:

- Lighter weight (obvious)
- Slightly higher CR (9.9:1 vs 9.5:1 of a standard 5.3)
- Stronger rods (don't know the facts here but it's what everyone says)
- Flat top pistons
- 862 casting heads (almost identical to 243 (Z06) heads)

I don't know about LSxs sounding bad. I like the sound just right. Sounds like a throaty V8 to me!

Re: My other little project
 

The newer Tahoes, etc. come with aluminum 5.3s but they're diplacement on demand motors which is not desirable for performance, so you end up deleting the whole system which is doable but expensive after you figure in all of the little stuff. I paid $550 for this motor all together.

The people that don't like these swaps either a) have never owned a Rotary before or b) are delirious lol. My weight distribution was still 50/50 last year.

Re: My other little project
 

I'm not knocking it, I love LS swapped cars and this is a great project, I absolutely love it!

But I disagree on the sound, there are much better sounding V8's (e.g. Mustang, SC400, etc). Different strokes for different folks, don't be mad old man :D

Re: My other little project
 

You usually just need valve springs and head studs, from what i've seen haven't heard about that opening ring gap thing before.
Great info!
[QUOTE=DavidPHumes;405705]The newer Tahoes, etc. come with aluminum 5.3s but they're diplacement on demand motors which is not desirable for performance, so you end up deleting the whole system which is doable but expensive after you figure in all of the little stuff. I paid $550 for this motor all together.

The people that don't like these swaps either a) have never owned a Rotary before or b) are delirious lol. My weight distribution was still 50/50 last year.[/QUOTE]

Agreed.

ITs true, lsx motor just sounds like a beast. no refinement at all.
1UZFE will drop panties.

Re: My other little project
 

I saw that, apparently my 2007 Tahoe has those same LS6 style aluminum heads, but mine has the iron block. If I was doing the swap on my GSX, I'd only want the full aluminum long block as well, I just didn't know they made one for the trucks. I think the newer 6.2's are all aluminum. I'll have to go look at my book again, it lists every possible combo of LSx based on vehicle and year.

$550? Wow, it'll cost me that just to freshen up my 2.4/2G head combo that's going in this month. Hmmmmm.

Re: My other little project
 

This is the only way I like rotaries! lol Swapped to something else.

Awesome project.

Re: My other little project
 

Really? :beer:

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Shut the front door! Tities i like this car

Re: My other little project
 

Ahh cool! That def counts, just stepping it up for this summer that's all :P

What else did you have done to the engine? 400whp out of a $550 motor sounds pretty nice. Did you get this from a junk yard? Pull it apart and do the rings as you're mentioning? Just curious what all you've done with this thing.

Re: My other little project
 

It was a 347ci (5.7L) LS1 from a Camaro in it last summer. It had a big cam (236/236), intake, 1 7/8 long tubes, and that was it! It doesn't take much, lol.

BTW I was wrong on the heads, I have 799 casting heads. The 862s are semi-comparable but not very similar to Z06 (243) heads.

Re: My other little project
 

243 are the C5Z (LS6) heads, right? not the new LS7 heads? 236 is a huge intake duration on a 5.7, why did you go to smaller displacement? I imagine that hesistated/jerked on the street at low throttle unless you had a really high LSA?

Re: My other little project
 

Yup, 243s are LS6 heads. I don't know what casing the LS7 heads are.

I'm running an LS6 cam in this car (204/118). The 236 was a poor choice even for a 347 lol

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Yea I run a 239 intake duration and it's almost unstreetable in a 427, I can't imagine in a 5.7 or less. Good luck on the build, should be a monster!

Re: My other little project
 

Thanks! It's super close to completion...

Today I finished securing the fuel and vacuum lines from the regulator to the bay:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1336338461

Catch can mounted to the firewall:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1336338508

And it will drain to the ground when needed:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1336338481

Re: My other little project
 

Mostly the head, the shortblock will be cheap.

Re: My other little project
 

So I decided that dumping my exhaust by the tranny would be rather loud and make the cabin hot... so I came up with this :)

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1336528056

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1336528068

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1336528078

My friend Nate and I are going to build the downpipe out of 16ga aluminum tubing. Another advantage to this is the ability to hide the 02 sensor within the fender and run the electrical under the car.

I'm going to get a trim ring like so:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...stTrimcopy.jpg

Re: My other little project
 

Aluminum downpipe is not such a good idea. Ever seen the exhaust gas temps on a turbo car?

Re: My other little project
 

I know/know of a few people who run aluminum downpipes with no ill affect...

Re: My other little project
 

One of the new developments is a lot more people running aluminum downpipes these days!

I hope to do the same thing but I might use 1-2 ft of steel for the downpipe section then switch to aluminum.

Looks good, its not that loud out the side but louder than I'd want for a street car.

Re: My other little project
 

Loving it except for the dump in front of the front tire. Full blown race car?

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Full blown street car and daily driver :nod:

I have an extremely high tolerance for loud cars. Truth be told it will not be that loud at all.

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I would say so! However, Turbochargers do make the perfect muffler :)

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I've had LEOs inform of the the contrary, usually in a non-civilized manner as well :D

Re: My other little project
 

I stopped in and saw it in person today, it's cleaner even then in the pics. It's going to be a monster for sure.

Re: My other little project
 

It was really nice meeting you Steve! I wish we had some more time to discuss your projects. I ended up having the BEST surf and turf at the New Scenic Cafe last night... next time you're up it's my recommendation (downside - $46 a plate x 2 with drinks, appetizer and dessert = $150. We don't go out much so it wasn't too bad). You should send me some pics of the Lotus :)

Re: My other little project
 

Unspecting Rotard at car meet: "Hey dude, sweet rimz. Watcha got done to that GXL? Just a N/A-T?"

Me: "Yeah, just a small turbo and a front mount!"

Rotard: "Ahh cool man. So why do you have those huge tires? And how did you route the exhaust for the fender exit? Is that a large street port I hear? My car just blew up again so I'm looking at doing another rebuild and was thinking about a street port."

Me: "Umm..."

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...g?t=1336938309

Re: My other little project
 

Is she up and running? Looks nasty ;)