Now to the really interesting part and the up to date stuff. On October 15th 2014 I pulled the car into the workshop and pulled the motor out. Now originally this was done because I was expecting to lightly rebuild the motor and remove the ####ed balance shaft which made the car sound like someone had thrown stones in the motor. I had planned to basically replace every gasket I could, remove the balance shaft, install a double row timing chain and put a new performance harmonic balancer on.
This plan seemed solid before the 15th and a good plan of action in preparation for the SC-14 Charger until *cue dramatic music* a couple of weeks prior I purchased an LS1 255kw motor with loom, ecu and T56 for quite a nice price. I have been checking eBay for probably a year just looking and messaging a couple of people to see what they’d say with nothing coming from it. Then this motor and box popped up at a fair price so I messaged the guy, he said he’d knock $300 off the list price so I said I’d come down and see the motor and hear it run as it was still in the car. I went down there with a plan of action. In one pocket was $200, in the other was $3000. After hearing it run and seeing it was what it was meant to be I hit him with an offer. $3000 cold hard cash right there right then. He ummed and arred but eventually said “deal”. So bang, I had bought myself an LS1 and 6 speed, a combination I had been researching and contemplating for a long time. The timing couldn’t have been better, mere weeks from my 22nd birthday and almost exactly a month before I could throw my P plates in the bin I had purchased a V8.
Now fast forward back to the 15th, my car was sitting in the shop minus one V6 motor. I had an LS1 at home and a car with no motor. Then the decision was made, after calculating finances and weighing up the options I decided I would be stupid to rebuild the V6 and put it back in only to potentially pull it out in 2015 again to do the conversion I had deep down always wanted to do. It had been decided, LS1 and T56 in, L27 Buick V6 and T5 out.
I had already figured out the combination I wanted to run in terms of the conversion itself which is. Pacemaker LS1 to VN VP VR VS Headers, Tuff Mounts, Malwood Automotive LHS Starter Relocation and Malwood Under Dash Hydraulic Pedal Box. Within a week of making the decision to LS1 all the things these parts were ordered and on their way.
As it sits the LS1 is outside of the car as I mock up the trans and start relocation kit, a V8 subframe was purchased and modified to suit and I’ve received all the parts to physically mount the engine and trans.
Here are some pics and descriptions.
Stay Tuned.
TLDR; V6 was noisy, bought a V8, pulled out V6 with intention of putting it back in, realized that was dumb, murdered a hooker, spent cash on conversion parts, commenced operation LS1 all the things.
255 KW LS1 and T56 Purchased
V6 Out
Motor mocked up on V8 K Frame with Tuff Mounts
Sump Clearance, Or Lack Thereof
Sump Clearance, Or Lack Thereof 2
Solution to sump clearance
Modified K Frame
LHS Start Mocked up
LHS Bellhousing Adapter installed with longer dowels
I will add more pics of the parts I’m using soon.