Pretty much got this thing ready to drop in. Trans is away being refreshed at the moment. Haven't decided if I'm redoing the hotside or not at this point. May see how the new setup does first.

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And?!?...

Nothing good!

Down on power an insane amount compared to last year... been to the track 3 times or so best of a 9.8 @ 144. Can't figure out what the deal is... 10mph down from last year at the same boost levels...

compression is good 160+ all cyls
Converter isn't slipping excessively. (under 6%)
I'v tried 10.5-11.5 afr's with not much of a change
tried 12-22* of timing without much of a change

I think is has something to do with the gen4 58t crank signal and the AEM... hard to say though. I ordered a megasquirt box to try.

Still good to have it out cruising the streets again!

Attachment 646128
Attachment 646129

Which is more than I can say.. Any ideas o. Why the powers down? Did you go with another 5.3. I thought I saw 4.8 in there somewhere further back...

No idea really. I didn't degree the cam on install, the grind could be off. Also the gen4 motor has a more complicated crank signal that the AEM doesn't seem to like. This could also be an issue.

I originally bought a 4.8. But I found a 08 alum 5.3 for 500 local so I had to jump on it. Still have the 4.8.

Tore the front of the motor down and put a degree wheel on the cam. It was way retarded. Ordered a new cam thinking the cam was off. (smaller 212/212 @112) Installed it. Same amount of retard. Tried new OEM gear set… same thing. I think the keyway on the crank was cut 6* retarded from where it should have been. (this may have been related to the (Drive on Demand crap) So I installed an adjustable timing set and was able to get the new smaller cam within .5* advanced form the cam card.

The cars a freekin beast now. Sounds totally different, cranking compression went from 160 to 195+. Old tune was lean, so I added 20% fuel. (which was a bit much as it’s low 10’s AFR wise) and dropped timing to 12*. With my boost controller all the way down I’d manage 12lbs earlier this year. Now I can’t get it under 16-17lbs. It’s very snappy and spools fast. Totally worthless on the street at these boost levels.

Vid doesn’t look like much, but this is with the trans in high gear (1:1 like 4th gear in a manual), 3.25 gear and 295/60 15 drag radials. Rolling into the throttle very slowly. GPS peaked 93mph that’s where the tires started to spin. AFR’s were in the low 10’s and as soon as they hit 11.0 the tires spun.

Next TNT is May 30th. We’ll see what this sucker can do!

Awesome work! Im picking up a 79 tomorrow, and Ive been thinking about throwing in my spare LS1 in. Do you have pictures of your engine mount set up and oil pan?

Motor mounts are just solid angle iron setup on the OEM pedestal. Running an Fbody pan unmodified and dropped the steering rod down 2" with some steel blocks to clear the pan.

Attachment 643777

Oh ok cool I'll have to think about that if I swap mine :icon_tup:

Made it to the track finally. Blew my charge pipes off 5 times and called it quits. Manage to trap 150 and a 149 on the video pass below. Spun bad both times. Seems to be unloading when the front end comes down. I tried adding more boost but then I'd spin on the line.

This is a 4-5lb t-brake launch. (9lbs to 5500 on the boost controller and ramps in 20-21lbs after 5500.

Need to get some sort of bead on the throttle body. Threw my slicks back on to try for next time as well.

You can hear the tires spin when the nose comes back down.

Getting faster again... Need to iron out the 60' and I'd have some 8 second passes again.

Unfortunately I didn't have the nice HD cam going. I guess it doesn't' work well at night. This was taken with an Iphone. Can't get much from it, other than the driver side is still coming up much higher than the passenger side. Time slip will be at the end of the video...

Strapped the front end down and played with the ladder bars a bit. Bars were setup neutral without driver previously. Now I have them setup neutral with me in the car. (slip fit FWD mount bolt on pass side bar with driver.)

Seems to launch pretty straight. Ithink with a some fine tuning on the bars and loosening up the straps a bit I'll get my 1.3x's back. I managed solid 1.40-1.44 60's all night. Kinda boring now just hooks and goes! :D

60' 1.43
1/8 5.89 @121.49
1/4 9.02 154.27


60' 1.40
1/8 5.84 @ 122.6
1/4 9.01 @ 155.4

Man, that's a monster of a car, I love it. Great job.

Thanks... New shiny turbo to try out this weekend.

Old turbo was a T4 1.10AR 83/74 exh wheel. 74.5mm cast compressor.

New turbo is an T4 1.25AR 87/77.5 exh wheel. 76mm billet compressor.

Attachment 641754

Popped the silencer ring out. Should be obnoxious! :yup:

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With the 5.3 I went several 8.9x passes at 159ish with the new turbo at 24-25lbs. Then blew the HG. Blew it bad enough that it took out the deck and head.

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So I tossed an a spare 4.8. Upgraded from an ls1 to an ls6 intake and went to a Treadstone intercooler from a cheapo china IC I was running. Went 9.1 @ 150 at 19lbs for the rest of the year! Pretty impressed with the 4.8's performance. After the race season was over I damaged the #8 rod due to a clogged fuel injector.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...a4bb0dc838.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...547d65858b.jpg

https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps6d1f81f4.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...c9eea6d1bb.jpg

Putt together a forged 6.0 for this season and re-designed my hotside. Also added a 12pt cage and parachute to keep the tech guys happy.

370 cubic inches ready to go!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...a546042ce0.jpg
https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b...psf49babfe.jpg
Attachment 632333

Cage and chute. Even got the window net to make it all legal like.


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https://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b...psf6alkrcd.jpg

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New hotside...

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wow!!! this thing is a beast!

Played with brakes/struts a little saturday.

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Got the new 1985 RX7 Struts on with the bigger spindles. This allows me to run a "Big Brake Kit". Came with a adaptors to run the 87+ Turbo Rx-7 brake Hubs and calipers. Ordered reman calipers form RockAuto (4 piston calipers) with OEM brake lines. Went with the Hawk HP+ brake pads.

New caliper plate and slip on adaptor for TII RX-7 hub and bearings.

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Attachment 631677


Had to cut the oddball 1.25 M10 fittings off and install M1.0 fittings. Other than that, everything bolted right up.

New M10 1.0 fitting.
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Threads right into th TII factory replacement tubing
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New personal best ET, 8.88 @ 156! 19lbs creeping to 21 in the upper RPM. 12* of timing. Still doesn't hit the tires like I think it should. I'll have several videos up shortly. Logging back pressure now as well. Seeing 2.3:1 at peak boost. I think it's time for a bigger exh. wheel!


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/ls1tech...7b7fc3065f.jpg

RX7 is still alive and kicking. Someone made me an offer on teh old engien combo so it's sporting a 500$ bone stock 4.8 with a small cam and larger T6 1.32 S480 turbo.

Our local 1/4 track was closed this weekend so a friend offered to tow the mazda to a new (newly reopened anyway) 1/8th mile strip in Ark City Kansas. "Mid America Dragway"

No real other changes and it's back to dead hooking 1.3X 60's with the 4.8/S480 combo. Only a few runs but basically all the same. 5.7x- 5.8x @ 120-122 mph. @)lbs of boost and 14* of timing. Got to run a few other really nice LS swapped vehicles in the vids below. The Chevy II was running 5.5x @ 128 with twin S366's at 25lbs with nice heads, intake, cam setup. Chevelly was a SBE stock headed 5.3 with a baby cam and LJMS S480.

Couple vids





Attachment 748858

This was the run against the Chevelle above. Was trying to prove I could cut a light with the 4.8 spooling the big S480... Almost worked!


Attachment 748859

What an awesome car, have a question for you.
 

What an incredible job you have done. I have an aluminum 5.3 I am putting into an FB. What oil pan did you use? Looks like one from an LS1 Camaro. One more question, where did you get the front brake kit from?
thanks JEB

If you do stock F body pan you need to modify the drag link but that is pretty easy

Great thank you. What do you need to do to the drag link?
thanks

I found the info on the draglink
 

GRANNYSSPEEDSHOP.COM

i think I will modify the truck oil pan instead.
thanks JEB