1979 Camaro Z-28 5.3 turbo build

[zbadone79]

I've had this Camaro since 1987 and it has been through a few engines. Basic 350s and 383s. Anyways, went through a divorce last year and decided to pick up a 5.3 LS truck motor across the street from the court house on the day I filed my paper work. A project to take my mind off of the other stuff if you know what I mean. I saw an article in HOT ROD about a cheap turbo build for this type of engine set up. The power and drive ability seemed awesome.
So I am pretty much done with it now but some of you may want to see the work I put into it, so here it is.

[zbadone79]

https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=113262&stc=1[/IMG]

[zbadone79]

https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=113264&stc=1[/IMG]
This is what my engine bay looks like now. The build is a 5.3 truck motor 140000 miles, LS9 Cam and springs, Corvette exhaust manifolds flipped up, t76 Turbonetics turbo, Tial wastegate/BOV, TurboSmart boost controller, Alcohol Injention methanol kit
113269the 5.3 I started with
113270 ZR1 LS9 cam vs stock truck cam

[zbadone79]

113265 large Ebay intercooler and tubing kit. Removed front clip and modified latch mechanism to support intercooler

[zbadone79]

113266113267113268 Homemade T4 merge collector

[Zanie]

Nicely done. clean install.
I dig the rubber bumper second gens!

[RLJ676]

This is really similar to what I'm wanting to do on my 72 next spring. I assume you fabbed the plumbing yourself?

Which truck motor did you use, only change the LS9 cam? Did you use stock accessory drive from the truck? Did you have a custom tune or use like the FAST EFI 2 LS? Mind sharing about how much $$$ you have in and what you expect the output to be if you haven't dyno tuned it? Did you change your fuel tank or run inline fuel pump? Sorry for all the questions haha.

I am thinking takout LS, 5.3 to 6.2 whatever I get a deal on ($1500 or less, then whatever cam etc upgrades I need), the FAST EFE LS (about $1500), and then this turbo kit or similar for $1500: http://www.cxracing.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CXR&Product_Code=TRB-KIT-CAMARO-LS1-IC&Category_Code=Camaro

Hoping for $5k to have all the parts. Having been there/done that any input on my ideas, no way to package that kit as is so I'd assume some fab/modification necessary.

[Justin@EntropyRad]

Dang nice setup

[zbadone79]

It is a stock 5.3 out of a 2002 Silverado. I changed the cam and valve springs on the engine itself. I also change the timing chain and added a Trick Flow tensioner to it. Because it is an LS9 cam I had to change the timing cover for the use of a new cam position sensor. I also replaced the oil pump and installed a Camaro oil pan. The intake is a stock LS1 with 80lb Bosch injectors and Professional product fuel rails with a boost referanced Aeromotive regulator

The front accessory drive is from Wegner with AC. Very nice setup - about $2500. The motor mounts are from Dirty Dingo and I really liked the ability to slide on the mounts and put the engine wherever I wanted it. The computer and harness are from PSI. It is a 2002 LS1 computer made to fit the truck sensors and also control the 4l80e trans.

All of the plumbing was done by me and a learning experience for sure. Alot of Ubends and pipe were used. Learned to weld doing all of this too. I used TIAL wastegate and BOV. Very good quality but expensive. It is being controled by a EBOOST2 controller from Turbo smart and also has Methanol injection. The full tune has not been completed yet.

The fuel tank was modified and I added a Tanks Inc kit to it. They now have there own tank that you can run. Good stuff there.
113283113284113285

[zbadone79]

113323113324113325113326113327

[Zanie]

Really nice install.
Who's push to connect hose are you using?

[LUV2XLR8]

Did you use your factory 79 harness or did you install a new one?

[zbadone79]

Most of the fittings are Red Horse from the parker store, but I also used alot of Summit Racing fittings too. They worked well. I used the original car harness for headlights taillights interior lights and windows. I also had to tie in my Vintage air harness. The engine/computer harness is its own entity just sharing the battery

[zbadone79]

113493113494113495 Cleaned up the firewall on both sides

[zbadone79]

113565113566113567113568

[PhillipM]

Nice job! Have to laugh. Saw the pic of your car outside and i quickly scrolled back up to confirm. Yup AZ. It's funny how you can just see houses and know it's in your home town.

[RLJ676]

Wow great job. The welding is what pushes me towards supercharger.

[MTZ28]

Nice work, always amazes me how much plumbing can fit under a hood. How do you like your front seats, I'm in the process of ordering mine for my 80. Are those the A4's or CR1's? What's your overall opinion of them? Any info is greatly appreciated.

[instro84]

nice second gen!

[70TWO NOVA]

Nice job! Have to laugh. Saw the pic of your car outside and i quickly scrolled back up to confirm. Yup AZ. It's funny how you can just see houses and know it's in your home town.

Lol I was thinking the same thing. Nice second gen btw. I have an NA 5.3 in an 80 Z28 and love it

[zbadone79]

Yep, Gilbert AZ!! I love the seats so far, even though they are black vinyl in the AZ summer. The seats are RRS seats from Corbeau. They are mounted on the Corbeau brackets. The first thing I noticed is how tall they are in that car. I do like the seating position better than the stock ones but I put on my helmet to make sure that I fit in it okay and I do......thanks to my TTops. Everyone that has sat in the seats likes them. It says they fit a 38" waist. I am 36" and it is a good fit 38 might be tight.

[gray86hach]

Did you have to mod the floor to clear the fuel lines out of the pump

[zbadone79]

Everything fit fine without modding the trunk pan. No rattles and no restrictions in the lines

[gray86hach]

Ok that is good to hear. I was going to order one of the efi tanks they have but I have a really nice tank in the car so saving $250 will be good.

[zbadone79]

I did some cleaning on the Camaro. It's been sitting a bit. Had to do a clay bar and some polisher work, but cleaned up nicely. Doesn't get driven as much as my C15 these days, but I still love it. 217858217859217860217861217862217863217864217865