54 Bel Air

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

54 Bel Air

slab · BRANT COUNTY, ONT

Looking forward to the LS swap pics!!

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

Not rocket science but I figured I would post the pics of the lowering blocks I made ( it was either spend $70.00 us + freight, brokerage and duty or spend a total of $35.00 cnd and two hours including installation)

Adslow65 · LINDSAY, ONT

Sweet car!! I like it... and lowering it really sets it off

Chris58 · WATERFORD, ONT

I love it. Those early Chevs and Pontiacs just lend themselves so well to customizing. Just knocking off the wheel discs and dropping it down gives it a whole different character. Right on.

dualquadpete · BLACKSTOCK, ONT

Ilike the "optional' 4X4 portable "parking brake"!! notice you can move it from front to back??? I'd think twice about LS swap unless your going to to all the Emm. equipment add on's [Cats, etc] Go with pre emm. engine & save yourself some headaches!!!

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

dualquadpete wrote:
Ilike the "optional' 4X4 portable "parking brake"!! notice you can move it from front to back??? I'd think twice about LS swap unless your going to to all the Emm. equipment add on's [Cats, etc] Go with pre emm. engine & save yourself some headaches!!!

The 4x4 is only there just in case my 7 year old happened to release the parking brake and take it out of gear!! as far as the ls swap goes i have no worries,( the 02 vette ls engine did not have an egr valve!) so cats and air pump...

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

hemi43 wrote:
Will you have to shorten/lengthen the torque tube?

Its leaving along with the rear end...Gettiing a TH350, real drive shaft and a 10 bolt form a 70 Nova, disc brakes up front.......

-- Edited by MADSCI on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 02:21:44 PM

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

hemi43 wrote:
workin class wrote:
I would have stayed with a six kooler and not another sbc. Your car have fun. That is what its all about.
It will be a lot more fun than a six banger, I can guarantee you that !!

You can`t compare an traditional SBC to the LS6 .......nothing except for the roller lifters will interchange.......235 6cyl Blue Flame 136 BHP looks cool.... not so fun to drive...LS6 carb conversion, cam swap...ect... 375- 390 drivable real world RWHP.....and it will take about 300lbs off the weight of the car with the engine,trans and torque tube swap....Looks Kooler......I to can guarantee it will be a s@#t load more fun to drive......Syracuse bound!!!

-- Edited by MADSCI on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 04:45:08 PM

-- Edited by MADSCI on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 04:46:55 PM

Jazz · THUNDER BAY, ONT

Likely have some steering linkages to add to get around the exhaust on the v.ate. I used lowering blocks on my truck but found originals on ebay for $20 with the u-bolts...to fit desotos and just about everything else

-- Edited by Jazz on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 03:40:11 PM

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

Now, back on track in line with the original post. If you are converting a Z06 to carb, are you SURE all you need as far as emissions is concerned are cats and an air pump? As far as the MOE is concerned, you need "everything emission related that came from the factory, installed and operating" ... I'd be worried I was missing something that I didn't think was emissions related but the MOE does? Something that only applies to fuel injection but is lost during the conversion to carb. I'm thinking stuff like "idle air control valve", map sensor, mass air flow sensor etc ... stuff like that that can't be installed when using a carb but was there when the engine was sold to the public. I am not familiar with the working of a Z06, I am just posting those items with the assumption that it might have stuff like that installed.

--

I should have been more clear in my first post...its a " GM Performace Crate Engine" and according to the MOE if it did not come with emmision devices none are required...I have several emails and calls with the Head guy at MOE and going by what "he"says things should be fine as long as I have the documents to support that the engine is a GM Performance supplied ......and I have all of the paperwork from when I bought the engine form Motorstate......however if asked it may have to go for a two speed idle test......no biggie, a pair of cats and a hour with the gas analizer before it goes for the test and it will run cleaner than it needs...I built a 402 Cube engine for a customer in 2007 that made just shy of 500 rwhp, with a big cam and still had the fuel injection and it passed the e-test no problem..

-- Edited by MADSCI on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 04:41:55 PM

-- Edited by MADSCI on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 04:43:50 PM

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

And so it begins..........out with the old and soon to be in with then new LS6 power!!

Me and my Jr hot rodder got good start on getting the old Blue Flame ready to pull.....only thing left is to undo the motor mounts, torqure tube and tranny mount.....believe or not my little guy did about half the work....lol

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Will you have to shorten/lengthen the torque tube?

workin class · FINCH, ONT

I would have stayed with a six kooler and not another sbc. Your car have fun. That is what its all about.

hemi43 · ONTARIO

workin class wrote:
I would have stayed with a six kooler and not another sbc. Your car have fun. That is what its all about.

It will be a lot more fun than a six banger, I can guarantee you that !! biggrin

hemi43 · ONTARIO

MADSCI wrote:
hemi43 wrote:
workin class wrote:
I would have stayed with a six kooler and not another sbc. Your car have fun. That is what its all about.
It will be a lot more fun than a six banger, I can guarantee you that !!
You can`t compare an traditional SBC to the LS6 .......nothing except for the roller lifters will interchange.......235 6cyl Blue Flame 136 BHP looks cool.... not so fun to drive...LS6 carb conversion, cam swap...ect... 375- 390 drivable real world RWHP.....and it will take about 160lbs off the weight of the car....Looks Kooler......I to can guarantee it will be a s@#t load more fun to drive......Syracuse bound!!!

If you need anything machined, I'm just down the road. We'll see you at Syracuse. Will be camping again this year. smile smile smile

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

Jazz wrote:
Likely have some steering linkages to add to get around the exhaust on the v.ate. I used lowering blocks on my truck but found originals on ebay for $20 with the u-bolts...to fit desotos and just about everything else

-- Edited by Jazz on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 03:40:11 PM

No clearance issues as far as steering linkage.....Great find on the blocks, however I have never been a fan of cast blocks....and the set i made are 4" they only offer 3"......

DaveM · ONTARIO

I had a set of those cast aluminum blocks disintegrate on my S-10. I made some steel ones to replace them.

I agree on the wheel spacers/adapters, scary. Especially if they are not hubcentric to the wheel hub AND the wheel.

MADSCI, distributor or DIS box?

Curious to why no EFI?

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

DaveM wrote:
I had a set of those cast aluminum blocks disintegrate on my S-10. I made some steel ones to replace them.
I agree on the wheel spacers/adapters, scary. Especially if they are not hubcentric to the wheel hub AND the wheel.

MADSCI, distributor or DIS box?
Curious to why no EFI?
Hey Dave, MSD Control Box......as for the EFI one word "Budget".....lol ....actually i just wanted to do one with a carb set up, Im sure in a year or so it will be converted, seeing as i still have my tunning software......

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

So the LS swap is full swing........stock engine,trans and troque tube rear end gone.....now waiting for some rear spring bushings and shackels to bolt in the 10 bolt from a 70 Nova......

Dustman · LONDON, ONT

Lowered 54 chevy= evil and badass. Period
By the way, look into jaguar for front suspension, lots of info on the H.A.M.B. I just put one in my 47, which is very similar to a 54. I bought an entire jag and took the front end and a bunch of other little goodies, then parted it out and scrapped it. Ended up with the front end for free!

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

Finally the new rear spring bushings show up and i get them installed, Nova rear end now sitting on the springs, perches welded now just waiting for a free 1/2 hour to go grab some new u-bolts...

-- Edited by MADSCI on Tuesday 22nd of January 2013 02:01:51 PM

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

LS adapter plates...done...the plan is on the weekend to drop the LS into place.....

-- Edited by MADSCI on Monday 11th of February 2013 12:30:53 PM

-- Edited by MADSCI on Monday 11th of February 2013 12:31:56 PM

hemi43 · ONTARIO

Let me know if you need an extra set of hands.

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

hemi43 wrote:
Let me know if you need an extra set of hands.

Will do! Thanks Dan...

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

LS power ready for the 54..hopefully the Vette Manifolds work....if not I have another set off a 2012 Camaro, that dump at the back......find out soon enough!

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

So things went pretty smooth.....now to fab up the trans crossmember, get the new king pins installed and the front disc brakes....

-- Edited by MADSCI on Monday 18th of February 2013 10:53:25 AM

fatstax · COBOURG, ONT

just wondering, i might be putting a ls motor in something in the future, i see the carb intake solves one problem but since theres no ditributor what will you be running for ignition?

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

fatstax wrote:
just wondering, i might be putting a ls motor in something in the future, i see the carb intake solves one problem but since theres no ditributor what will you be running for ignition?

Three ways to solve it:

MSD makes a control box that uses the cam and crank sensor and a map( optional) that fires the stock coil system, its programable for your ignition curve or you use the supplied ignition curve pills ( however MSD did not do there homework when they made up the igniton cuves they went with the old way of thinking giving the engine a total of 36 degrees, the LSX engines do not like anymore than 24 to 26 max)

Second solution is there are a couple of companies that make a conversion kit that uses a small block ford distributor and fuel pump all front mounted...then just run a coil/msd ignition.

Last but not least use a camaro computer, and a painless harness, and run the factory fuel injection...thats what i did back in 2002 see the pic below....

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

Well found some time to get a few things done, new king pins and disc brake conversion....way to easy to do both of these jobs....the king pins were straight forrward and the disc brake swap was a breeze......after removing all of the old drum brake set up the new brackets bolt right up, install the bearing adapter on the spindle, then new bearings for the rotors and everything else bolts up with no issues..........time for some flex hoses and a new master and the brakes are done aside from the parking brake handle...disc brake swap brackets $190 from ECI plus $60 for new bearings and seals...... drilled rotors 79 camaro, hawk pads and 79 camaro calipers all free from a very good friend!

-- Edited by MADSCI on Sunday 24th of March 2013 07:31:17 PM

sasquatch · NORTH BAY, ONT

Lookin good, thanks for the pics update!!

shag766 · FOXBORO, ONT

MADSCI wrote:
And so it begins..........out with the old and soon to be in with then new LS6 power!!
Me and my Jr hot rodder got good start on getting the old Blue Flame ready to pull.....only thing left is to undo the motor mounts, torqure tube and tranny mount.....believe or not my little guy did about half the work....lol

well i read the whole thread and you are doing a heck of a job, BUT, this is the post i liked the best. good for you guys.

janies dirty 37 · SOUTH RIVER, ONT

Nice job for sure!

janies dirty 37 · SOUTH RIVER, ONT

I agree, thats the best part.

I had my 11yr old boy "steering like he stold it" the other day..........While me and my daughter pushed it out of the shop. lol
Mercedes (my 16yr old daughter) has designed some new art work for the doors.(I'll try and throw up a pic later).

I like getting them involved in anyway.....planting the seeds. lol

Janice

-- Edited by janies dirty 37 on Thursday 2nd of May 2013 10:58:06 AM

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

So a little further along, manifolds now fit, shifter and emergency brake installed...

fatchuk · ST MARYS, ONTARIO

Car is looking great and It's just great to see you working with your young fella..thats is the best part for you both..Great stuff..

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

So a little more done.....Throttle pedal and cable done.....and the New rad is going to work out, perfect with a little relocation of the lower tube...

CRGRS 66 · Member

Cool build! Looking forward to following your progress, nice power plant!

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

So now on to the wiring......pretty simple 12 circuit kit....75% installed in about 3 hrs...some old skool looking gauges and the grill and bumper finally back in place...I can almost see the end..................well ok I still have to do tranny lines and cooler, battery and cables,exhaust,seat belts,wiper motor,hoses,rebuild carb, finish off the wiring......Syracuse???? Hope So!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adslow65 · LINDSAY, ONT

Sweet... good job! It always gets exciting when the end is near... Good choice on the front disc brake conversion too, best thing I ever did on my truck... for the money and time invested its well worth the improvement in stopping power!! The car looks awesome can't wait to see it all finished, congrats

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

Well some parts finally showed up so a few more things off the list!

hemi43 · ONTARIO

One month before Syracuse !!

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

Well it finally Lives................now to tie up the loose ends see if we can get some time on this baby to work out any bugs and hopefully make Syracuse!

Pro Stock John · Member

So how loud is that Holley blue pump, can hear it over the engine when it's idling?

Did you use F-Body accessories?

MADSCI · NEWCASTLE, ONT

John I used f-body balancer, water pump, tensioner and a Alt bracket from Speedway....yes the pump sux....way too loud!!

fatstax · COBOURG, ONT

so as you are still using the coil over plug setup, how are you running the ignition system?

hemi43 · ONTARIO

MADSCI wrote:
John I used f-body balancer, water pump, tensioner and a Alt bracket from Speedway....yes the pump sux....way too loud!!

I can even hear it over here !! wink

Pro Stock John · Member

I poked around last week and it looks like a 5.7 LS1 swap might be my best bet. I don't want to add the weight of an iron block and while the LY6 would be a nice swap I'd only get one of those if the price was right as I'd have to change out the lifters. LS2s are not cheap either.

I need to check my shelves to see what I already but I think I already have a water pump and alternator from a 4th gen. Do you have power steering?

slab · BRANT COUNTY, ONT

great build. Thanks for posting

JohnnyBgood · ST CATHARINES, ONT

Can't believe you got all that done so fast. Good stuff and nicely done. Now you have to shave a few inches off that roof to get her like your avatar .......