I have removed the steering knuckle for the motor installation. It is really beat up and needs replacement. Anyone have any suggestions for a replacement part?

The instructions call for lowering the steering rack to allow for clearance to the oilpan during engine installation. Looks like I can drop the cross car member by removing 4 bolts to the frame rails and 3 bolts to the lower crossmember. Has anyone done this before? Any hints/tips? Keep in mind I do not have a lift. Jack stands, floor jacks and engine hoist.

 

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Heres what I did with my LS3.

Also, I fired mine up last night. I know, No video etc it didn't happen... However, you can make up your own mind if it happened or not.

Heres pics of it installed already two days ago. I still have to do my exhaust work (the straight long tube headers are loud) and a better intake custom tube, tuck some wires, and reinstall some interior pieces. etc...

 

^ so awesome Stu!

I BELIEVE lol

try to start a thread to document your review/progress/etc

 

Congrats Stus35.! I'm jealous. What did you end up doing for your harness? Do you have a plan for AC? I did get my motor mounted this weekend, but I have a fit issue with my trans bracket. Need to sort that out this week.

 

Amazing work! BTW I love the unique Stillen bumper and carbon sides.

 

This thing really came along fast! Well done and good luck the rest of the way!

 

What is the clearance under the car on these LS swaps. I'm getting ready to partake in this awesome adventure, but I've never seen what the underside of the car looks like. I know the motors sit aobut 2-3inches lower than OEM, and at my ride height, that's a variable I'm concerned about.

 

With my fueled racing kit the oil pan does not go below any of the cross members and the headers tuck up sweet. So my feel is that the swap does not change how low you can go. I'll post a pic later today.

Stus35. Has the Silky kit maybe he can comment on his too.

 

Nice Work! Is there space for a Twin turbo, Single turbo or supercharger, wihtout body modifications? p.s. Awesome experience to share with your boys, they are going to love riding in it.

 

My impression is that there is room for either option......I do think that Brew-haha is doing a TT....do a search on his build....its so sick

 

good stuff!!!! you have a straight shot from above the engine, wanna see radiator clearance.

 

This past weekend I made a bit of progress……Not as much as Stus35 though. This is my first big build and I am forced to spend a lot of time just looking, thinking, learning and researching each step. I was able to get my boys involved again, it’s fun to see them getting excited about the build.

I did have some issue getting the fitting out of the block that the OEM oil cooler connected to. Finally did get the drain plug out but the threads were damaged…..ugh. Looks like the fitting was cross threaded when it was originally put in. The good news is that the aluminum of the fitting was much softer than the block aluminum. I ordered a Chevy Performance drain plug #809-11609289 direct from my local dealer and inserted it the next day….whew the threads in the block were buggered up a bit but the plug found the threads and went in fine. With that completed I could mount the motor mounts to the motor in preparation for motor install.

The instructions for the Fueled Racing kit call for dropping the cross car beam so the oilpan clears the steering rack. I Removed the 4 nuts on the crosscar member, 2 nuts from the lower control arms, and 4 nuts from the support. With the nuts off the shocks push the entire crosscar assembly down and out of the way. I lined up the engine/transmission and inserted the headers from below before bringing up the crosscar assembly. I inserted the mount bolts (nut and washer is a real PITA to line up and get started from inside the crosscar beam. Then with my floor jack under the crosscar beam and the hoist still in place I was able to raise the engine assembly and get all the bolts to line up……took a little finesse between the hoist and the floor jack. Reassembled all the fasteners. Now I’m in the process of checking all the alignments and clearances. Headers and bellhousing seem a bit tight on the driver side…..Headers are also too close to the stock fuel lines on the passenger side where they enter the engine bay….Fuel lines will need to be re-routed…I am having some issues with the trans mount bracket as the transmission mounting location does not match with the transmission that I have. I talked with Todd at Fueled Racing and imagine we will get that sorted out this week.
The rear coil pack on the passenger side interferes with the false firewall. I Massaged the area sheet metal, trimmed the coil pack bracket and the post on the valve cover to get good clearance. Not beautiful, but I now have the clearance I wanted.

 

pics

 

I'll try to snap one tonight....sits back further that VQ ... should be room for the oil cooler and the trans cooler