C4 + LS1 + T-56 = Good times!

[subtlez28]

Well, I have been working on it some lately. I haven't had as much time as I'd like for photos and posting, but here is an update:

The Good news:
I have finally started reassembling things!
I have the new Classic Tube fuel line in (which required the whole rear of the car off give or take).

I took off the rear facia (nightmare). Lots of hard to reach bolts and sweat and blood involved...

And dropped the rear bumper/gas tank assembly:


More on the gas tank in the bad news section...

I have had some help in the garage today in form of my 7 year old son Patrick!

So I was able to get all rear suspension back in. I replace all the consumables: new SKF hub/bearings, ARP wheel studs, Spicer U-joints. I picked up the whole rear kit from Banksi: rod ended camber rods, toe kit, and trailing arms.


I deleted the dust shields on the rear brakes, and I think I'll leave the rear wheel wells off.





Bad news:
When I dropped the tank I found the sending unit rusted to the tank. Two of the bolts snapped off. The sending unit was *******ized like the fuel line (pump replaced w hose). If you remember from early posts they also cut up the factory hardline to put an external pump under the rear axle...??? I have no idea why when the car has an internal pump. I intend to replace it with a nice Racetronics kit.



I do have a new sending unit from Corvette recycling. I just have to clean up the fuel tank 1st. Oh, and did I mention my local radiator/gas tank place stopped boiling tanks two months ago?!

[Bow Tie 67]

Good to see your making progress. Those parts look nice. I'm trying to get mine back together after fuel tank problems in June. My hopes are to make out to autobohn.

[bonecrrusher]

I had no idea thats where the fuel tank is on a C4...

Car is looking good - I'm digging the rear axle parts.

[subtlez28]

I did some work on the gas tank today. I drained it as much as I could and washed it out w water days ago. It still smells like gas but is dry. I was worried about going after the rust (explosion). Today I bit the bullet and hit it with a plastic media wheel on a drill. It cleaned up well, and no sparks...
I threw a quick coat of paint on:

Down side is the cheap bolt extractor kit I bought at AZ did not help w the two broken bolts. However I did bust several drill bits... Those tank bolts are hard!

I switched over the wiring on the late C4 sending unit. I just pulled the factory wires from the old 3 plug connector, the new 4 conector, and put the new unit wires in the old (3) connector. The new sender didn't even use the 3rd place, so I think I'm good.

I also put in my Racetronics pump and sending wiring (just 2 splices - it was for the 84 sending unit).

[subtlez28]

I got my new (to me) harness in yesterday! I originally had an S&P harness for the LS1 and 4L60E that came in the car. I was going to modify it for the T56. But then I found a great deal on a used S&P harness for an LS1/T56 combo, so I jumped on it.

For anyone doing a similar swap with an auto, my other harness is currently in classifieds.
$650 shipped.

[dusterbd13]

we have a very similar rod-end rear suspension in our track only c4. it may even be the banski, dont rememebr. it is the sam colors, though....

i dont like it. after a bit of time, it allws play with the rear spindles. you think its a wheel bearing, but its the whole spindle moving slightly. i still avent figured out a fix, but just be aware of this.


the rear faschia is a pain. after building a few C4's, i know all your pain.

good looking swap thus far. keep up the good work, and i give you kudos for teaching/spending tine with your son while doing this.

michael

[bonecrrusher]

Bump - any update on this?

[subtlez28]

we have a very similar rod-end rear suspension in our track only c4. it may even be the banski, dont rememebr. it is the sam colors, though....

i dont like it. after a bit of time, it allws play with the rear spindles. you think its a wheel bearing, but its the whole spindle moving slightly. i still avent figured out a fix, but just be aware of this.


the rear faschia is a pain. after building a few C4's, i know all your pain.

good looking swap thus far. keep up the good work, and i give you kudos for teaching/spending tine with your son while doing this.

michael

Thanks for the info and positive comments Michael!

I'm not really a fan of rod end parts to be honest. On the camber rods, the stock set up was expensive and a weak link though. I feel similarly about the toe rods. They need to be adjustable, and play is a bad thing.

However, from day one I have considered keeping the stock trailing arms. I don't see a big advantage in adjusting them, and if you don't need adjustment it is a liability. I also think a little deflection would be ok to soften the blow on the tires during hard acceleration.

The older I get, the more I like stock parts. I would really avoid heim joints on a street car, I learned that on my 02 Z28. But this project was intended to be a track car at heart, just barely street legal.

Bump - any update on this?

Sadly, no. It has been about a year since I have made any real progress. I did put it back on the ground, and shoved it into the corner of my garage. I have been playing w Jeeps and off-roading lately.

I did pick up a slick aluminum motor plate set up I intend to use for it.

I would really like to be racing again in 2012, so that is my goal now.

[Jim Nilsen]

Hi Shaun, good to see a post here from you. The Cormaro has been out getting a work out and I have to say the stock parts are holding up and the ride is as comfortable as it gets. The cornering ability is up there with all of the other cars that I thought I would always be chasing and falling behind. My tire temps were even across the whole tire up front and the camber is maxed out at about 3/4 to 1 degree is all. I thought I would have needed more but the temps tell the true story.

Am I going to have to get up ther and give you a ride to get you inspired.
Jeeps are fun and all but going off the track to get off road is much more fun. LOL. I had my 1st off track experience this weekend and I drove in the grass like a pro. the car is running great and now I need new mufflers after this weekend cause they are probably out of sound insulation from all of the high rpm's over the last 12,000 miles. Billy Spears said it sounded really loud at full throttle when I left the autox yesterday, its still somewhat quiet at idle.

If you don't work on that Vette soon I'm gonna come up and see if I can break in those tires for ya!!!!

[subtlez28]

Hi Shaun, good to see a post here from you. The Cormaro has been out getting a work out and I have to say the stock parts are holding up and the ride is as comfortable as it gets. The cornering ability is up there with all of the other cars that I thought I would always be chasing and falling behind. My tire temps were even across the whole tire up front and the camber is maxed out at about 3/4 to 1 degree is all. I thought I would have needed more but the temps tell the true story.

Am I going to have to get up ther and give you a ride to get you inspired.
Jeeps are fun and all but going off the track to get off road is much more fun. LOL. I had my 1st off track experience this weekend and I drove in the grass like a pro. the car is running great and now I need new mufflers after this weekend cause they are probably out of sound insulation from all of the high rpm's over the last 12,000 miles. Billy Spears said it sounded really loud at full throttle when I left the autox yesterday, its still somewhat quiet at idle.

If you don't work on that Vette soon I'm gonna come up and see if I can break in those tires for ya!!!!

Good to hear from you also Jim!

Glad to hear you are tracking your car. You should try some High speed autocross with MCSCC if you haven't. You could run Street Modified. It is a class that won't nickel and dime your for modifications (obviously you have a lot). You are classed by engine size (SM is 5.7 and under) and need 140 or higher treadware rating. The class is occupied by late model vettes (C5s). I think your car would stack up well.

To anyone else interested in competing in the Midwest, High Speed Autocross is a one lap from a stop of a full road course (no cones). Cars are spaced so there is very little chance of contact. Competition is by times. Practice sessions in the 1st part of the day are more like HPDEs.

Here is a link:
http://www.mcscc.org/

[Van B]

We were sitting on the patio at Siebkens in Elkhart Lake having a beer after the MC road races last week Saturday and I heard a guy at the table next to us say your name. He sounded like he had been your Autocross instructor and he said you were an example of a guy who caught on fast. Told my buddy Mark, "that's the guy I got the L92 from".

Now get that car back on the track!

[subtlez28]

We were sitting on the patio at Siebkens in Elkhart Lake having a beer after the MC road races last week Saturday and I heard a guy at the table next to us say your name. He sounded like he had been your Autocross instructor and he said you were an example of a guy who caught on fast. Told my buddy Mark, "that's the guy I got the L92 from".

Now get that car back on the track!

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I haven't been on here much. I'd love to get this car on the track for 2012, but might need to narrow my focus some!

That is awesome you are getting 599 HP out of the L92!! Narrowing my focus might mean selling the C4 and doing the L92 Buick. I promise I will track that one day!!

[subtlez28]

I'm sure I'll regret this later, but the truth is I have not made this car a priority in too long...

Would anyone who has followed this build be interested in taking over?
I'm fairly close to completion. Things that come to mind it still needs:
1- Engine mounts or plate
2- Wiring, keep in mind I have a nice plug and play engine/trans harness and ECU
3- Clutch hydraulics (have the parts)
4- Seats (the only part I really do not have at the moment)

I have new:
-Melrose Swap headers
-Dewitts LS1 Swap Radiator
-Water pump, balancer etc
-Laser cut Aluminum dash w Auto-meter Guages

Completed:
-D44 inspected and installed new rear hub/bearings and ARP studs
-Full Banski rear suspension
-Racetronics fuel pump , new classic tube fuel line
-Liberty Face-plated T56 six speed with C-beam bracket
-98 LS1 with LS6 intake and stand alone harness/ECU
-C5 front brakes
-17x11 front and 17x13 rear wheels/tires

$10k would take it home with the LS1, T56 and all mentioned parts. I have much more in it!

I would consider trades up or down (plus or minus cash). Manual trans C5, G8, GTO, CTS-V or LS1 F-bodies come to mind.

I've been pretty candid with this thread. No surprises.

I don't "need" to sell it, but I have been facing the reality I don't have time for this project at the moment...

[andrewb70]

Don't make me drive up there and finish this damn thing for you. You have another 100 hours of work to do, max. Get to it.

I may be interested in that T56 :-) Shoot me a PM if you want to part it...

Andrew

[subtlez28]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Andrew! I figure this will either get it out of my garage so I can work on the Buick, or guilt me into completing it. Either way is a win!

[andrewb70]

Thanks for the words of encouragement Andrew! I figure this will either get it out of my garage so I can work on the Buick, or guilt me into completing it. Either way is a win!

That's the problem with having too many projects because it splits attention, resources, and time. I guess it all depends what you want to do with the car. If you want to race, the Corvette is a much more capable machine. If you want something cool that will perform admirably and draw people's attention, the do the Buick. Either is cool, you just have to decide what's important to you. I am serious about that trans. It will work in my Cougar project...

Andrew

[subtlez28]

That's the problem with having too many projects because it splits attention, resources, and time. I guess it all depends what you want to do with the car. If you want to race, the Corvette is a much more capable machine. If you want something cool that will perform admirably and draw people's attention, the do the Buick. Either is cool, you just have to decide what's important to you. I am serious about that trans. It will work in my Cougar project...

Andrew

Andrew

I'm thinking the entire C4 running gear would be cool in the Cougar. LS1/T56 and IRS = sweet. Take it off my hands, LOL.

[dusterbd13]

how much fir just the drivetrain? ive got a datsun 280 z it would be perfect in.

[brrymnvette]

How much for it without the engine/trans and wiring?

[subtlez28]

Sorry guys. I am not willing to part it out. It is an all or nothing deal.