LS1 V8 fd conversion progress thread

[antnicuk]

I may need your services yet:guinness

no problem,  do you have a tow bar?

[Jit]

brilliant! Nice one dude! must be well satisfying tio hear her start!

[Grub2000]

Must be nice to hear it running, I certainly enjoyed it

A few questions:

1 - Did you consider getting a wiring loom converted by Hinsons? (This would be the hardest part of the project for me so I was looking for the easy way out)
2 - Is it legal to run the Hinson exhaust without a cat?
3 - After import tax etc. would it have been any cheaper to get a custom exhaust system built over hear? (excluding headers)

[Spartacus]

Must be nice to hear it running, I certainly enjoyed it

A few questions:

1 - Did you consider getting a wiring loom converted by Hinsons? (This would be the hardest part of the project for me so I was looking for the easy way out)
2 - Is it legal to run the Hinson exhaust without a cat?
3 - After import tax etc. would it have been any cheaper to get a custom exhaust system built over hear? (excluding headers)

1) When I considered the wiring I knew that the pre 2004 pcm instructions were tried and tested, and I thought that by the time I needed instructions for the 2004 type pcm they would be available on line too. But as it turned out I had to work out the wiring mostly on my own. So now I would say that unless you are opting for a LS2 which I can’t comment on, the wiring is relatively easy, maybe more so for the 2004 type. And if you went this route I\'d be happy to help out with what I’ve learnt along the way.
You should also take into account, anything you do yourself you tend to know inside out which could be useful in the long run should anything go wrong. Also it works out a whole lot cheaper. This can also be applied to Hinson’s fuel/cooling systems etc.

2) It\'s legal to run any exhaust without a cat as long as it passes the relevant emission tests, i.e. an imported pre 95 rx7 wouldn’t need a cat to pass. If you had a UK type rex or a post 95 you might still need a cat.
But generally speaking the LS engines are very clean.

3) The problem I had was that I had no way of getting the car to anyone else over here to make the exhaust system, and I wanted an as easy a life as poss so I went with Hinson\'s.
If you could, my recommendation would be to get Hinson’s headers and Y pipe then get the rear section and back box over here.

By the way mine is now in one piece, MOT\'d and had its first run. But with the house move and Christmas I\'ve had a bit of a rest. With any luck the next update and pics won’t be too long in coming.
Anything else I can help with don’t hesitate.

[RobMatthews]

So spartacus have you had to modify the steering or anything for the exhaust or has it been a straight fit?i know you would have to alterthe power steering pump position

[Draco]

would be great to hear it running and see it in the flesh Spartacus..... if you dont mind me in asking how much has or will it have cost you in total?

[Spartacus]

So spartacus have you had to modify the steering or anything for the exhaust or has it been a straight fit?i know you would have to alterthe power steering pump position

Rob, the only thing I needed to do on the steering was turn the top universal joint around to clear the exhaust manifold and get a new power steering line made up with one end from the Mazda and one from the GTO. The power steering pump hasn’t been moved but I did relocate the reservoir so it fitted under the bonnet.

Draco, to be honest I haven’t kept a strict record of the costs but it has been well under £10k inc the cost of the car to start with.

[antnicuk]

oh good,  you can sell it to me then:)

[Spartacus]

oh good,  you can sell it to me then:)

Wouldn\'t be quick enough for you;)

[Ricco_04]

Excellant thread, love the build of the car, all looks nice and clean :cool

[antnicuk]

Wouldn\'t be quick enough for you;)

thats what superchargers are for!   got a procharger and a vortech in the workshop  :2eek

[Spartacus]

thats what superchargers are for!   got a procharger and a vortech in the workshop  :2eek

:rollin wouldn\'t that look nice sticking through the bonnet:2Confused
I only have about 3mm spare above the throttle body now!:2eek

[Grub2000]

Where did you source your Supra FP, Corvette FPR, and Thermostat?

Also, did you get the Fbody mounts from the same place you got your engine from?

Oh, and am I going blind, or do Hinson no longer do the full exhaust?

[Grub2000]

Is the FPR and filter the same thing? can you source filters in UK or do they have to be shipped in from US? How often do they need changing?.

[Spartacus]

Where did you source your Supra FP, Corvette FPR, and Thermostat?

Also, did you get the Fbody mounts from the same place you got your engine from?

Oh, and am I going blind, or do Hinson no longer do the full exhaust?

I came across a great guy on one of the US forums who helped a lot. I put some cash into his paypal account, found out what I wanted and where from, and he ordered those parts for me in the US and shipped them over in one box.
The fuel pump was from RX7store.net, FPR was from Napa (I think) along with some other fuel connectors and the stat was from Summit. I would think that eurovettes (also good guys) here in the UK could get most things American as that is where my Vette rad came from.

When I ordered my engine and box from Cleveland pick-a-part I asked that the sump etc was swapped for an Fbody type and that they included the Fbody engine mounts.

Yep, looks like the full exhaust is now missing from Hinson\'s website. As I said before if I did it again I don’t think I would get the whole system anyhow, just up to the Y pipe. If you really wanted it, drop him an email and see what he says.

The Vette filter is also a FPR and according to the Vette websites it shouldn’t need changing for 36,000mls which is just as well as I put mine in the same place as the Mazda one. Others have put them on the side of the subframe where they can be got at easier. Again I should think that eurovettes would be able to get them over here.

So are you going the LSX route too?:Thumbsup!  How far along are you?