LS1 V8 fd conversion progress thread

[Spartacus]

Good luck to you I will be doing the same as soo as I find a good RX-7 as a shell. I will be using an LS2 out of a 06 GTO and thanks for reminding me on the sump. Would have totally forgot sourcing that one and then standing there dumb like nothing when it doesnt fit.

Also the windage tray, dipstick tube and dipstick :Thumbs-up

[DRAGON]

What was the cost of the engine Sparticus and if you want more power what would be the next step, engine wise?

[rx7veilside]

skys the limit dragon..i think hinsons have turboed the ls1 or conventional pistons/cams etc.the only limit is traction and the rear diff

[Spartacus]

What was the cost of the engine Sparticus and if you want more power what would be the next step, engine wise?

You could always go for a LS2 to start with @400bhp and around 400lb-ft torque or spend the money on some heads and a cam for similar results. The lsx range of engines have lots of potential for tuning with hundreds of companies selling all that you could ever hope for. My engine/box + extras package was $5000 to give you an idea. Here is a short vid of one of Hinsons cars dyno runs with a LS6 and some figures.
 http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/HSC_DynoPullSmall.wmv

[antnicuk]

oh,  now i see why you are going for a v8  

[Spartacus]

oh,  now i see why you are going for a v8  

LOL you do?:2Confused Me? I\'m innocent.........ish

[CraigN]

who cares about the power V8s sound the dogs danglies

[Jit]

what sort of budget have you set aside for this project phil? Assuming you complete it yourself and you get stung on duties for everything you order?

[Spartacus]

Good question:rolleyes: , however I don’t really have a strict budget as such but I have estimated that the engine/box/ecu/engine harness etc  package will cost £3500 landed, All the mounting parts plus full stainless exhaust, new master cylinder, new clutch line, poly engine and transmission mounts +bits and bobs from Hinson’s £2950 landed.
Then around £200 for a rad and fan, £100 for intake, £200 for fuel supply, £150 for battery relocation, £80 for basic ecu mapping, £200 for adapting the power steering hoses and air-con hoses.

This is roughly the main costs for a LS1 V8 conversion using the more popular torque arm setup and using ready made bolt on extras. But, and it’s a big but you can adjust these costs up or down depending on how much you either want to find or make yourself or if you want extras like carbon propshaft etc. Mine will be a bit more due to opting for the different rear diff mounting (which I might add Antnicuk and his hero cousin:god who was like watching Luke Skywalker with a light sabre, apart from he used an angle grinder, have helped out with greatly today:Thumbs-up ).

[Bulla]

Hows the conversion going Spartacus ?

Bulla

[Spartacus]

Update and more pics coming soon (ish):Thumbs-up

[Spartacus]

Just as a quick comment on the cost of the conversion, the prices that I have already mentioned are obviously offset with the sale of all the rotary parts you will no longer require IE engine, gearbox, ppf, prop shaft, all the inlet and exhaust systems, cooling etc etc.

The good news is that now most of my parts have turned up, the exhaust manifolds and prop shaft had a nice month holiday in Memphis before being found and sent on, and the engine/gearbox came in what only can be described as a small wooden house.

While I have been waiting for the parts I’ve been doing some prep work for the conversion, taking out the now unused engine bay wiring, removing a couple of now unused tabs on the inside of the frame rails, taking out the aircon rad and pipe work (to be replaced following engine install) to give more room to fit the engine.

The other necessity is to weld around the front transmission tunnel brace mounts, as these will become a gearbox mount for the 6 speed T56 as Mazda only have around 6 to 8 small spot welds holding them onto the underside of the car. You don’t need to strip the inside of the car out to do this, just lift the carpet from the sill area and get a couple of bricks pushed under the carpet and above the area to be welded. I must admit I did have one of those garden sprayer things full of water just in case.

Now one thing tends to lead to another when you start any type of work on these cars whether it’s a conversion or just general improvements. With that in mind and as I will need to remove the front and rear sub frames anyway I decided to replace each and every suspension bush. And while I had the suspension apart it made sense to bead blast all of the components.

Here are a few pics of what’s been going on.

Next instalment soon.

[BlitzBoy]

looking good, more pics of the new engine and gearbox please

[CRAIG R]

Hi Spartacus
Could you tell me what customs charged you for the engine/box etc and if there were any other hidden costs after shipping fees.
Also the same for the parts from Hinsons.
Many thanks
craig

[Spartacus]

The total charges for shipping the engine/box door to door were £1130 If you pick it up at the dock you can save £130ish. All of Hinson\'s parts cost £310 to ship but that doesn\'t include tax\'s etc, as they are smaller items in 3 packages which were lost for a while you take your chances with the charges.:rolleyes: