Pictures of my LS1 T56 build (final product)
 

I finished my swap a while back and never got around to putting any sort of thread over here. I am on the V8RX7 forum all the time. Here is kind of a rundown of my setup.

2002 LS1 from an SS Camaro, with a T56 6speed
JTR long tube headers (1.75")
Custom 2.5" 304ss exhaust into 2 2.5" magnaflow cats into a Racing Beat dual tip
Retained Power steering
Retained A/C (my lines aren't installed but will be by the end of the week)

Tien Flex suspension
All new load bearing OEM bushings
All new pillow balls
Rotary performance toe links and trailing arms

Coversion Equipment
Jim Lab/Dyno-tested subframe built to use LS2 engine mounts (going new LS3 in the not too distant future)
Justin Samberg rear diff mount
Justin Samberg front radiator/intake/condenssor combination
Hinson Tranny mount

I use SPA gauges, the one Defi in the pictures will be replaced with an SPA in a week or so. The conversion I did over about 4 months in my garage. I got the subframe in July and finished the conversion at the end of October. I lost my rotary to an overboost due to a wastegate line failure. FWIW I loved the rotary, but I like driving the RX7 more. It is a sweet car and deserves to be driven, the LS1 takes daily abuse a lot better than the rotary does and my almost completely stock car (exhaust only) put down 327whp with the new intake would probably be around 340whp as the straight ram makes a difference.

The stereo setup in my car is an Alpine deck with their IMPRINT technology, Focal Polyglass components and a JL 10w3v3 sub...the system is powered by a JL Audio 450/4 amplifier.

My car started life as a Black on Tan touring... I swapped the tan for black base seats and carpet a year or so ago.

The wheels are Motoform Circ (previous owner choice) I powdercoated them and it really made them a lot more attractive IMO.

Rear divider fits over the amplifier so everything appears stock

And some pictures of the finished car.

I still need to adjust my bumper gap. I had it off the car last week and didn't get a chance to tighten it up before these shots.

Enjoy.

Looks great.

Thank you. It means a lot coming from you. It seriously does!

I went through two radiator/intake setups, two subframes and three versions of my midpipe before I settled on stuff that satified me from a fit/finish standpoint. Lots of pain and hassle, but worked out in the end I think. I did my best to keep the car a street car, and that is hard for me because I always want to make stuff into race/track cars.

very nice, I really like the intake/radiator enclosure

It is fully boxed from the side and the bottom as well.

Great stuff Cosmo.

Always loved how you setup things, your rotary was a work of art. Great job on the swap, I'm sure its living up to your expectations :)

Now, whats this about an LS3? Details?

F'ing Hotness!!

Crate LS3 with harness and ECU for well, lets just say ridiculously cheap...

Sure beats a cam/head swap on LS1...and I would have my LS1 to sell to offset the cost. It is probably my next mod :) along with a new clutch.... however far down the line that might be.

I have a feeling that after the power level I am at the dominos fall quickly. After about 350-400hp (cam only on the LS1) you need brakes, I would need wider tires and wheels, I would probably need a new diff, for sure a clutch...etc. So I am enjoying the setup as is for awhile.

However, I set the subframe, radiator, intake and rear diff mount, up to accept the LS2/3 change as a direct swap.

That looks really nicely done. I love Justin's rad and intake setup. It is really nicely done.

The exhaust works looks great too. Very well fitted and professional looking.

Those power levels are a lot of fun with this chassis.

There's a gentleman in Orange County with an '08 C6 with all the bolt-ons making 450rwhp on his LS3. On a car like your FD, say goodbye to Z06's. :lol:

Got any drag slip times or estimated ET with this setup? Does it feel twitchy or overloaded suspension wise on the gas?

If you can get traction! I would need a few thousand dollars in other upgrades to truly run 450whp effectively. The FD is so balanced right now that up-ing the capability of the engine will sort of throw things out of whack. I know I will have too much power for my brakes and tires as it is borderline right now. The diff would also be at the extreme limit with a 450whp LS3. The low end torque kills the Mazda diffs.

It drives the same as with the rotary from a handling standpoint, solid on throttle inputs and very direct. The steering is great on the car, I have about a degree and a half of front camber and it will follow road crown and ruts, but it isn't twitchy by any means. If you floor the gas in the lower gears basically all you see is the tach jump to redline and smoke in your rearview. Drag racing the car requires patience in the lower gears because of the torque. With the rear diff mount there isn't any drama though, no wheel hop, just tires spinning or tires hooking.

The first version of the bumpsteer kit that shimmed the outter rod ends was replaced with an inner kit that revises where the tie rods attach to the rack and it totally took care of the bumpsteer problem. Proper steering geometry is now attainable even with the LS2/3 oil pan and pickup (which requires a really LOW mount subframe.)

Most people with this swap and my power level can run a low 12 second pass in the 115-118mph range. If you run a slick and know how to drag race you can pull high 11s with the pretty stock LS1. A 400whp car can hit the 10s (again, with traction)

Here is a listing of all my expenses and revenues from selling parts. Overall my total swap has cost about $5400. If we say I would have spent $3000 to rebuild the rotary and I would have kept most/all of the parts I had on it, then my swap only cost me $2400.

It is still a nearly $14k cash outlay but I was lucky to recoupe a lot of that.

Cozmo, this is a clean swap. I agree with you 100% about driving the car... This is a car that needs to be on the road, rotary or other wise. Between you and Nolan, I am very impressed with the cost of these swaps, especially for the power levels.

I love my turbo rotary, but there is so much to worry about with turbo cars, rotaries especially.
Great job.

I'm not a drag-racer by trade. I always get some mph going before I start thinking about mashing the throttle. Tried the drag strip once in the C5, going sideways in 2nd gear wasn't fun.

I would think if you're going to spend the type of coin to land a 450rwhp+ Ls3 in your FD, you would also upgrade the rest of your drivetrain/suspension/brakes. It's common sense as they are actually more important than power anyway.

Take me for example. Once I get the money saved up to do the engine swap I want, I'll have already redone the entire rest of the car to handle the 450-500rwhp N/A that I'm looking for...

Looks very, VERY nice and clean.

Lemme know when you wanna part with the LS1 I've been looking for one... forseriously.

I dont drag race either...and I set this car up for the road course, which is what I have done with all my other project cars. I was basically saying that I didn't want to go over 400whp without doing the brakes, wheels and tires, first....

I can agree with that completely. :icon_tup:

Here is my dyno chart of the totally stock engine. The new intake should have picked up about 10-12whp at this level. At the 400whp level, it picks up 20whp. My clutch was also slipping a bit so the run only goes to 6000rpm. I needed to rebleed the hydraulics.

Also a couple of detailed pics I had in my other thread.

very nice

need 2 more posts

now i can pm you

Hey Brian,

Looks great!

Might be going for sale....

My bank announced yesterday they are merging the AZ and NV charter, and cutting expenses (nice way of saying layoffs)...since further down in the press release they said they will not be making loans, my position becomes pretty dispensible. At least I am underpaid so I will be one of the last to go, but that is just a matter of time at this point. And probably a lot less time than I am thinking. At any rate the clock is ticking.

I will place a for sale ad up in the proper section and over on the V8rx7 board and also on Autotrader. Price isn't finalized yet but I am thinking $19,500 is a pretty firm price but also a starting point.

Even if I do lose my job tomorrow I will not give this thing away. I own it outright with no lien. I drive it daily and it is one of the best setup sportscars for DD that I have ever driven. Just the right blend of everything.

If I find a new job in the meantime I am keeping it, but I have to start marketing at this point as much as it pains me.