Chevy Beretta LS swap and RWD conversion - budget 4.8/5spd 1996 Z26

[woody80z28]

I’ve always wanted to do a V8 RWD conversion to a Beretta. I had a 90 GT back in the mid-90’s as my daily and loved it. Can’t wait to see this completed!

I really love the styling of them...they're just super sharp.



I guess all my updates come in the form of videos now...haha

I've been impressed by some of the cheap China stuff, but some of it is definitely junk. You're taking a risk, but I'm still under $1000 for a running LS that will fit under a car hood. I think that's pretty good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl5iyGHqLAs

[ryeguy2006a]

Good deal! I'm looking forward to seeing the work on the RWD conversion.

[woody80z28]

Cleanup the Z26 and it's...ok. I expected it to me more minty! You know, being a junkyard jewel and all. haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIAasNtGW_g

[jaybee]

Just subscribed to your YouTube channel. I like the posts here, though...I get more out of things when I can read the text and study the pics.

[woody80z28]

Just subscribed to your YouTube channel. I like the posts here, though...I get more out of things when I can read the text and study the pics.

It was a little unnatural to do the videos at first, after almost 20yrs of posting photos...but I'm finding now I don't have photos of anything any more and I have to screenshot videos to get anything. haha

Pretty unfortunate that my old man's mega blaster blew a bunch of grit into the rear axle internals. So I had to pull it all apart and clean it up. Kind of a nightmare...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uct3Rgs-aUA

[woody80z28]

Ok, I just bought the stuff I need for rear suspension from Barnes4WD and Speedway. Gonna end up doing coilovers instead of messing with the stock style coils, and maybe even a 3link instead of the torque arm I was thinking. The hole for the VSS in the Explorer center section would make a nice spot for the 3rd link. Maybe tap for a heim right there?


Barnes has threaded poly bushings that I'm going to make the LCA and Panhard bar out of. I got the hex tube ends in LH and RH so they will be easily adjustable on the car, and if my bracket placement on the rear axle isn't 100% perfect it can be squared up.


Speedway has AFCO "hot rod" coilovers for relatively lightweight vehicles that are pretty small overall. And there's enough room to nestle them in. It should work pretty well. I went with 200lb springs that should be about right. I bought them in pieces, but it's basically these with yellow springs. That way the ride height and the spring rate are both easily changeable. There's no adjustability in the shock valving, but the Beretta is gonna be a tire burner. The Camaro will be the competitive one.

[woody80z28]

More progress on the Beretta.

The internet can't agree what the center section of the Ford 8.8 is, but after some testing and one good source (Hiltsy torque arm kit)...I determined it's probably nodular iron. Also found a way to MIG it successfully with stainless wire. That means I can build my torque arm mount and weld it up. I also gotta weld the tubes to the center section. Don't want to end up spinning the tubes like the Camaro (quick 2008 clip of that failure too). haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOl56x9C-EY

[wfo guy]

Stainless works on both of the steels you mentioned. I ended up using that more often than nickel rod years ago.

[woody80z28]

Just finished up the tubes and they seem to be ok. Preheated to 200-240 and gave it a little bit of post heat. No cracking that I've been able to see.

Now I'll put the mild wire back in and replicate my cardboard angle in metal and then stainless weld the bracket to the housing. Yeeee yee.

[woody80z28]

More rear axle progress! Got the lower control arm mounts trimmed, drilled and welded up. I also lathed my tube ends down to match the .120 tube I'm using for the LCAs and torque arm. Cut all the explorer brackets off and tried to see if I could reuse the shock brackets for coilovers, but that wasn't gonna happen. I need the coilovers a fair amount below the axle centerline. So I found an adjustable mount for cheap! $25 straight from China I'm sure, but it looks like they'll work decent. I'm gonna weld them pretty close to the LCA brackets and weld a brace to span the gap. I picked up "shock mounts" for the panhard bar also. I think that will work out nice. Seems to be coming together, and still looking good on the budget. Probably have it driving for 1/3 the sale price of the ol' SS. haha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nckaWK5oAgo

[woody80z28]

You know there's video coming soon...but I'm too excited not to post these pics. The axle is done! Ready to install under the car. Mounts for the lower control arms, torque arm, panhard bar and coilovers are all done. They're all adjustable so I can dial them in perfect in the car. The 3.73s and LSD are back in and my Motorsports Tech custom order Explorer 5x4.5 to Beretta 5x100 hubcentric and wheelcentric spacers are on. I also tested my 15" slicks and they clear the Ford brakes by a mile.









Did get the first half of the video done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGvRswSSICc

Measuring for the the adapters and making them work on the axle. That whole axle was pretty rusty too, so I blasted and rebuilt the calipers for $4 a side. And I picked up some more truck parts for it!





Just finished the lower control arms tonight but forgot to get a pic. Adjustability will be sweet.

[Alwhite00]

Looks great

[woody80z28]

Thanks, I'm excited to be making good progress lately.

I actually got my car in my old man's garage finally and did the FWD delete! Got his lift functional a few weeks ago. Heat will be done this week. Sucks working in the cold when I'm used to my heated garage, but that lift is awesome already. I appreciate the room too, cause my garage is pretty full with the Camaro.

Time to start cutting and get all this stuff in there. I'd love to have it done by May 21...that's the day I sold the last one. But Auhust 29 (when I bought the new one) is probably a more realistic goal. haha


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sZUbO6Qe38







Byyeeeeeeee

[woody80z28]

Got the rest of the video up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzDmbUo-s9Q



And a little taste of the next one...

[syborg tt]

What a freaking awesome project.

[woody80z28]

What a freaking awesome project.

I'm excited to actually make good progress on it lately! Took a long time to get my old man's garage done enough to start it, but I've been gettin-r-done at a pretty good clip now. Finished is so much faster than perfect. haha

Axle is in now, but it still needs the panhard bar..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZvg9NwLvu0

[syborg tt]

Looks cool

[woody80z28]

Panhard bar and rear axle are finalized. Figuring out the rear ride height.
https://youtu.be/Du1pdVQISFE


But this is the part that has me really excited!

[ryeguy2006a]

Very cool man! I hope to see it out at some car shows this year!

[Alwhite00]

I love that you used the stock wheels. Great build.