Build thread 76' LS1/4A

[duffinatur]

I don't think I'll rebuild my whole build thread, but I have a lot of pics sitting on Flickr, so I'll high light a few here:

What I started with:
This bird was originally a 79' 301 non-turbo, dark blue w/ light blue velour interior, hardtop.
I bought just off the rotisserie and the seller put it together enough to roll on a trailer:
2013-03-27 14.24.36 by

As she sits now:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jFaoS5]20200820_190455-1 by

[duffinatur]

2013-03-28 19.50.43 by

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWNJun]2013-03-31 17.47.28 by

Smoothed the firewall:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWDEXT]2013-10-22 18.13.54 by

Donor Trans Am:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWM4KE]2013-04-10 17.31.34 by

Donor engine after top half re-furbish:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWJhta]2013-09-01 14.58.05 by




Alternator relocation:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2gFnP1p]20190723_165802 by

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2gFnPcm]20190720_191611 by

[RamblerRacer]

Very nice. Interesting to go to the 76 nose rathe than a 78 or early TA.
Very cool car

JT

[duffinatur]

Very nice. Interesting to go to the 76 nose rathe than a 78 or early TA.
Very cool car

JT

Thanks!  I was recreating my first car - a Goldenrod yellow 76 T/A...w/ a few upgrades.

[duffinatur]

BMR upper and lower tubular control arms and QA1 adjustable coilovers
20190713_132437 by

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2gyZaSc]20190713_132421 by

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2gyZb6y]20190703_152356 by

[url=https://flic.kr/p/28qQsc1]20180624_160024 by

Adjustable G-Braces: (at some point but I've also updated everything else you can see in the pic)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28LjjWD]20180702_213722 by

[scarebird]

I always wonder why guys chop up their crossmember to mount the alternator low when this solution is here.

[duffinatur]

Got the sub frame cleaned up:
2014-07-03 18.53.22 by

Installed the engine for test fit: I think I may still have a rub on sharp turns due to some body flex from the rag joint)
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMj9p]2014-07-03 19.22.00 by

Got it running!
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWNUTP]2015-05-11 18.10.09 by

First upgrade was losing the PCV system and going with an LS6 set up:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMguw]2015-04-03 19.05.27 by

But that caused a steam line issue...easily fixed:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHfrE]2015-04-03 19.08.11 by

[duffinatur]

Next came a fuel system, I went with the Vetteworks kit:
fuel fitting by

And then test fitting an exhaust system;
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMkpk]2016-07-24 17.10.46 by

And then a rear disc upgrade: have since upgraded these again, but this was a good starter kit from Right Stuff:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWNVut]2013-10-12 18.52.36 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWJtv5]2013-10-12 18.51.55 by
I went with this kit because it could work with my 15" wheels...which I later upgraded to 17" US Mags Bandits
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHekG]2013-10-14 18.52.59 by

[duffinatur]

Next came the wiring:
20170814_200448 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Y9AXUh]2017-09-04 18.57.16 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHdWR]2017-08-28 19.41.52 by
Speed hut gauges:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWDRjQ]2017-09-27 19.33.11 by
G6 power/heated seats:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHdUM]2017-09-14 19.25.17 by

[duffinatur]

Refurbing the dash was a chore but I got it done fairly quicker than sending it off:
2015-10-03 17.16.44 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHpin]2013-10-06 16.30.14 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMqqN]2013-10-06 16.30.09 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWE2PT]2013-10-05 19.03.13 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMqm4]2013-10-08 20.24.27 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHphf]2013-10-06 18.45.03 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWE2Md]2013-10-08 20.22.09 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHpfr]2013-10-09 20.01.40 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWJCXB]2013-10-12 14.22.43 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWJCWE]2013-10-14 17.03.03 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHpcL]2013-10-14 17.03.15 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMqhb]2013-10-22 18.20.16 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWP662]2013-10-22 18.42.15 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMqfY]2013-10-25 22.55.46 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWP64P]2014-08-02 20.06.20 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWHp94]2014-08-03 11.45.55 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWJCR4]2014-08-03 15.32.19 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMqcg]2014-08-03 18.16.42 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWMoLa]2014-09-23 19.13.37 by
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kWE19Z]2014-09-23 19.11.51 by

[duffinatur]

Needed some more vacuum for my brakes so I tried this and I'm pretty happy with it20200714_150208 by Elwood Duffey, on Flickr

[RamblerRacer]

Excellent work on the dash repair.

JT

[ryeguy2006a]

The car has come a long way Duff. Nice work.

[duffinatur]

Thanks, Ryan.

[duffinatur]

20210605_144023 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/150977513@N06

Spring project:
Terminator X Max
Heads - 862 ported w/roller rockers OR decked 853's (soon to be ported), same valve train as 862's - still deciding which
LS7 lifters & trays
HF oil pump
New timing set
LS2 style timing damper
New Valves, springs, hardened push-rods, rockers, guides, seals, keepers, etc
All new gaskets
ARP fasteners
BTR stage 2 cam
New 25% underpulley (balancer)
New oil pan gasket - only because I damaged the current one

[duffinatur]

20210606_152148 by Elwood Duffey

Got her all torn down w/only 1 issue. I tore the oil pan gasket getting the timing over off. This led to further tear down as I
couldn't get the darn oil pan out.  It looks like it should just make it if I could raise the engine a little,but no joy. First I I
couldn't reach behind the headers and still hold a wrench. So I took the headers out. Then the motor mount bolts were
seized in the clamshells. Took a good two hours to get them both out and raise the engine as far as it would go...

Even after all that...that pan is NOT coming out without removing the engine or at least getting it out of the engine bay high
enough to get the new gasket in. It's much easier to clean and "mod" a few things with the pan all the way out. I'm more than
halfway there now and would pull the connected trans as well so I might just do that and take the opportunity to repaint a few
things and clean the engine bay.
I just dread dragging my cherry picker from my shed out back, that's a PIA

My other option is to reach between the block and pan to unhook the oil pick up and slide the new gasket in, but I'm not as
confident in getting a clean surface or not dropping anything into the pan (fastener, tool, etc)

Talk about mission creep...geeesh.

[ryeguy2006a]

Bummer.. Sorry to hear that Duff. Not sure if it's too late, but you may want to shop around for some 243 or 799 heads while you are swapping them. You'll be way better off with those high flow heads. They can be found in 07+ 5.3's and 4.8's in the JY, pretty easily. I picked up a set about 2 years ago for like $70 bucks.

[duffinatur]

Appreciate the advice Ryan, but there's more to the choices I'm contemplating on the heads:

I haven't been able to find a 243 set.

The 862's were virtually free, so I took some time to port them fairly aggressively, replaced
the springs and rockers, lapped the valves and cut the reliefs for the larger rockers. These offer
higher compression than just about any LS heads, but have smaller valves. I don't plan on any
power adders or turbos, so they might be OK.

The 853's would be decked, ported, and tanked for about $200 which would put them on par with the 243's.

I already have both of these sets so not much more $$ out the pocket.

OR I could find a set of 243's...which I haven't for less than 575.00. Around here it's pretty tough to
get just the heads off a JY motor, they're only selling the engine whole everyplace I've checked.

It's a tough choice but not one I need to make today

Here's some of the port work on the 862's
20201006_224034 by

[Nexus]

Very cool stuff!!

[duffinatur]

getting there... just waiting on a few parts
20210610_093237 by

[ryeguy2006a]

Looking good Duff! I chickened out porting my stock heads, so instead I bought a supercharger haha

[5th T/A]

Nice job on all the upgrades while keeping the exterior stock looking. Even though I owned a 73, 75, 78 and now an 80. I was always a big fan of the nose on the 76’s.