Project: Chevette Turbocharged Ecotec...

[West Texas Z]

I think this is an awesome build, but I'm not a fan of the white grills in the front. IMO, I would put a front mount intercooler behind the black pieces. Just my .02.

Would look killer too. KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB!

[dafabricata]

My question why what little wiring that goes to the back would you actually need?
Other than a fuel pump wire,, unless it uses a pulsewidth modulated fuel system to regulate fuel pressure.
I cna possibly locate some wiring diagrams from local dealer MAYBE, but I would need a vin possibly.
Then I can actually decipher what all you may need. The big problem is being able to hack the ECM as it may be a lot harder to do thant you may want, now a very sweet way to rengineer it and its set up to control boost and such is Megasquirt. DIYauto has a ready done computer and I think it would actually work with what you have but I would have to read the wiring diagrams first.
PM me if you want me to do some digging on the lectronics and wiring.
Lee Abel
AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE

Any help is better than what I've got goin on!

Please let me know.......

[dafabricata]

I think this is an awesome build, but I'm not a fan of the white grills in the front. IMO, I would put a front mount intercooler behind the black pieces. Just my .02.

Would look killer too. KEEP UP THE GOOD JOB!

Thanks! The grills are painted silver....... The front mount intercooler will be mounted below the bumper.
I'll be making the lower valance outta carbon fiber and will be mounting the intercooler in its location ....

[[email protected]]

very very cool. i've always wanted to do this motor swap in a vega. very kick ass.

[TnBlkC230WZ]

There is a place that speciallizes on converting LS wiring harnesses for muscle car installation. Perhaps they can convert yours. I'm trying to find it, but I can't.

[va72mlibu]

This has to be the best updated and quickest build thread on pro-touring.com ever. Im astonished at the progress really. Good job!
It looks so cool with the bumpers tucked in like that. Awesome!

My theory is that the car was done 3 months ago and DF is just releasing the pics a few at a time.

Really is amazing how much you get done in such a short time

[Badmonkeyinc]

Lookin good bro - thanks for the link to the build.

Ok...may be considerd un-holy and more gasser than pro touring...but for a cheep front end you can get the staight axle out of any 2wd Jeep XJ (Cherokee) Section and sleve the tube to the width needed and fab up the new suspension arms. If the motor is tucked back in the fire wall far enough the axle tube could clear the oil pan, or you could use the stock knuckles and make a drop center section...out there I know...

For the rear end, you could look for a Zuki Samuri rear end. They are very narrow and el'cheepo! it's like a shunken 9" so welding up any sort of linked rear suspension to the housing is easy...The offroad after market supports it with lockers and all the gear ratios you could want.

It could get you on the road untill you can build a narrowed 9" or crib an IRS out of a late model SUV...

I gotta get by your shop and check it out in person!

[dafabricata]

Spent yesterday setting up the rear valance for fiberglass and then it will be overlaid in carbon fiber. Its still all fiber glass..I will post pics when completed..(probably be a while)

I also hated the way the car was sittin up so high....looked like a gasser, which is fine, but I like low. I just removed the springs completely and the lower A-arms are resting on the bumpstops.

For a little more than 2 weeks worth of work, I'm pretty happy with the progress. The car looks much better in my opinion, especially with the front bumper narrowed and recessed and TUCKIN' 13"s!!!!

I'm going to pick up my Spearco intercooler/polished pipes tomarrow. It will be interesting to see if it will even fit behind the bumper and between the bumper brackets. My friend went to pick it up last week and their ebay sales rep. was sick and for some reason it couldn't be released......even though he had my reciept showing it was paid in full and just needed to be picked up from their other location from which I got the engine/trans.

[dafabricata]

Well I had to cut up the front bumper a bit more than I planned...I made the openings even with the hood grills and transition from the lower valance. I had to do this to allow a direct flow of air to the intercooler. I think I will be extending the middle bumper section down to the lower valance and will be adding a curved piece that will be welded to the bumper and will cover the endtanks and will transition into the intercooler...(Hard to explain, I post pics when further along.
I really wish I coulda kept the bumper the way it was....it looked so nice!
I had to do absolutely nothing to the bumper brackets in order for the intercooler to fit. I have about 1/8"-1/4" On either side of the endtanks between the bumper brackets stand-out tubes. I used 7/16" solid round stock for the intercooler mounts, drilled and taped one end and welded them to the bumper brackets. Fits great but I need more stainless intercooler piping....this intercooler was off a Cobalt SS and the tubes are definetly not meant for this car or engine.

I also called Jegs today to see where the hell the Chassis/12pt. Cage was that I ordered 2 weeks ago. WELL....."All we have on the computer is the tub kit you ordered".......WHAT!!!! The guy even read everything back to me gave me a total, took my card # and said it should be there by the end of the wek or at the latest the end of next week if something is not in stock.....
SO, I had to REORDER the $h!t. The chassis rails should be here this week and they have to band up the cage and then ship it out. I was pretty upset to here this! I guess I'll have to look on the bright side and keep working on the body and other stuff that needs to be done before I get too sidetracked on the chassis and cage.

Heres some pics of the intercooler and clearance shots......

[Code Red]

wow its strange seeing a intercooler on a chevette

[dusterbd13]

wow. just wow.
that is an awesome chevette. and i give my buddy crap for building an AMC spirit. after this, ill have to tell him to take it up a step. gotta keep up with DF!
Michael

[Fuelie Fan]

If it's anything like earlier ecotecs, what you'll need is the body control module and ignition switch, as well as the associated wiring. It's an anti-theft thing, and unfortunately it's over a comm bus instead of being a simple analog or digital input.

[TonyL]

not to mention the fuel pump cutoff that detects roll overs and crashes.

[matthimself456]

Man seems like everyone had just figured out EFI and GM throws us direct injection. Im confident you'll make it work, though. Lots of resource here.

Freakin cool build by the way. The "Bad Seed" that Hot Rod magazine did a while back gave me all kinds of crazy ideas.

[dafabricata]

I've been doing a lot of cleanup on the car lately. That Zeibart rust coating is a major pain in the ass to remove! and messy as hell! I want it clean though. Might I add the stuff works great!!! I cant believe just how little rust this car has!
I bought some 1x1 square stock today to do the fender support braces and the core support brace. I think that will be my weekend project....along with more cleaning.
The rear valance is coming along and should be ready for carbon fiber by next week(been lazy about that one)
I recieved a bunch of gussets and brackets in the mail today.
Heres a few pictures of the headlight buckets done in carbon fiber.....I still gotta do another coat of epoxy.

[dafabricata]

This came today....

[Code Red]

looks like fun times

[dusterbd13]

and the project suddenly turns much more radical. good luck, sir.
Michael

[va72mlibu]

I admit I was skeptical at first, but this thing is gonna be AWESOME!!!

[trapin]

dfabricata...a very interesting project indeed. I'm about an hour from Ann Arbor, I'd love to come out and see this thing as you get closer. From the posts I've read it seems you're in a bit of a situation in regards to transplanting the Ecotech drivetrain. If you want I can put you in touch with a guy here at GM that is involved with GM's performance engines, he might be able to help you with that and I know he'd be quite intrigued by your project.

I think what's most interesting about this project is that we're getting to see "what might have been" had GM played their cards correctly in the 1980's. The Ecotech drivetrain, suspension upgrades, and refinements to the car's fit and finish are all indicative of how we build cars today.