TAALA 1 Build Thread

[bradentaala]

Introduction
I purchased this car 4 years ago and decided to do a frame off. Well one thing led to another (as you'll see in the pictures) which resulted in buying pretty much ALL new metal. I've had a Jeep build (TAALA 2) consume all my extra cash over the last couple years...but it is time to start back up on TAALA 1 (the Camaro).


Table of Contents


Phase 1


Phase 2


Phase 3

[bradentaala]

The purchase

67 Camaro, 454, 350 turbo, 10 bolt rear. This is where I started...

[bradentaala]

Tear Down

Well it started with "Let's just replace the quarters for now" to ripping all the metal off and starting over.

[bradentaala]

Recovery

[bradentaala]

Recovery Continued

[bradentaala]

Power Plant

Well I stopped by the storage unit to get the numbers off of my LS1 engine i initially purchased. Now that i'm wanting to do the LS2, my current one is going up for sale to help fun towards the new engine, although i'm very very tempted to put the LS1 into my jeep... hmmmmm.

Anyway, here are the numbers i pulled off the engine:
Block #: 12561168
Head #: 241
Intake # 12573572

I have no idea what this engine is worth...maybe some of you would know. Anyway, it looks like it has an LS6 intake (that must be good) haha.

[bradentaala]

Wheels


These are the original set i got (boyd coddington's smoothy II........i think). Now that I'm doing mini tubs i'll be running a 335 (maybe a 345 if i can get it to clear) so these won't work anymore. They are dirty from sitting in a storage unit for years, but they'll be up for sale also. Who knows how much i should sell them for. the rear has g/force 285/40R18's and there are no tires on the front wheels yet.

[bradentaala]

LS2/T56

Well I just bought an LS2 out of a 2006 GTO with a T56 6 speed trans. The engine has 31k miles on it, Patriot heads, and LT headers. Can't wait to get this mounted up...

[bradentaala]

2006 GTO LS2/T56 running (before being pulled and shipped) Can't wait to get this thing bolted into my car!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxioj...ature=youtu.be

[bradentaala]

2006 GTO LS2/T56 running (before being pulled and shipped) Can't wait to get this thing bolted into my car!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxioj...ature=youtu.be

[bradentaala]

Last night i pulled the harness off the engine/transmission and mounted the engine on a stand. I ordered a new oil pan and pick up tube since the GTO pan won't fit in the 1gen subframe. Pulled the clutch off, and it's a least a stage 3 monster clutch Looks like it has some life left, so I won't be replacing the clutch...yet.

[bradentaala]

Some axle parts came in today Strange 3rd member and axle shafts (35 spline, true-trak).

[bradentaala]

Got the new oil pan on and started a rough fitting of the engine. This is going to be interesting with the A/C condenser and alternator on the bottom....

[bradentaala]

Well, I haven't reported anything new for a while....but I finally have some to report.

First off, I have a few things on the way. Rear wheels will be here tomorrow. Rear tires will be here Friday. New engine mount plates (moving the engine back 3") will be here Friday. MGW shifter will be here Friday (short throw and moving the sifter 3-4" forward from the GTO location). Vintage Air system shipping out Thursday.

Rear tires I ended up with:
345/30r18 g-force t/a drag radials


Rear wheels:
Boyd Coddington SOB 18x12. 5.5" bs


Art Morrison rear clip installed. Ford 9" assembled (brakes and all). Axle under the back.

[Aficionado]

[QUOTE=bradentaala;981082]Got the new oil pan on and started a rough fitting of the engine. This is going to be interesting with the A/C condenser and alternator on the bottom....



I ran into a similar problem with the
A/C compressor location putting an LS3 in my C3 Corvette. How'd you wind up dealing with that?

[bradentaala]

I ran into a similar problem with the
A/C compressor location putting an LS3 in my C3 Corvette. How'd you wind up dealing with that?

By moving it. I did a bunch of research and found a few guys that moved the compressor forward and hand a custom harmonic balancer made... but i didn't want to deal with that. So end solution was mounting the compressor high. I'm have new motormount plates on the way pushing my engine back farther since i've moved the compressor. I might move the alt. high also if I can't get the engine as far back as i'm wanting (and also because if i ever have to change it, it would be a huge pain down low).

How did you end up dealing with the issue?

[bradentaala]

Rear wheels showed up today!!

18X12 w/5.5" backspacing.

[Aficionado]

By moving it. I did a bunch of research and found a few guys that moved the compressor forward and hand a custom harmonic balancer made... but i didn't want to deal with that. So end solution was mounting the compressor high. I'm have new motormount plates on the way pushing my engine back farther since i've moved the compressor. I might move the alt. high also if I can't get the engine as far back as i'm wanting (and also because if i ever have to change it, it would be a huge pain down low).

How did you end up dealing with the issue?[/QUOTE]

We're still hammering some of that out...literally. The pulley system I'm running has the compressor low and the alternator high, and we've had to modify the frame to get the compressor to fit, in addition to having a custom balancer made--which, as you correctly surmised--is a royal pain. It only took three to get it right on my engine. Frame mods have consisted of cutting and re-gusseting the frame where the front crossmember meets the side, as well as part of the lower control arm mount (none of which I minded, since there's a new frame in the near future.)

We've also had to weld up a custom a/c fitting to be able to clear the upper control arm, and relocate the heater hose inlet and outlet on the water pump. All in all, took the better part of a weekend to get it done, working with an experienced fabricator.

All of which to say....I understand why you went with high.

[bradentaala]

By moving it. I did a bunch of research and found a few guys that moved the compressor forward and hand a custom harmonic balancer made... but i didn't want to deal with that. So end solution was mounting the compressor high. I'm have new motormount plates on the way pushing my engine back farther since i've moved the compressor. I might move the alt. high also if I can't get the engine as far back as i'm wanting (and also because if i ever have to change it, it would be a huge pain down low).

How did you end up dealing with the issue?

We're still hammering some of that out...literally. The pulley system I'm running has the compressor low and the alternator high, and we've had to modify the frame to get the compressor to fit, in addition to having a custom balancer made--which, as you correctly surmised--is a royal pain. It only took three to get it right on my engine. Frame mods have consisted of cutting and re-gusseting the frame where the front crossmember meets the side, as well as part of the lower control arm mount (none of which I minded, since there's a new frame in the near future.)

We've also had to weld up a custom a/c fitting to be able to clear the upper control arm, and relocate the heater hose inlet and outlet on the water pump. All in all, took the better part of a weekend to get it done, working with an experienced fabricator.

All of which to say....I understand why you went with high.[/QUOTE]

Yeah. I just decided it wasn't worth the hassle to get the engine to sit as far back as I wanted (for weight distribution). Glad that it sounds like you've finally finished it up and have everything where you want it! My next hurdle is insuring the rear 345's fit without rubbing the new frame back there..... always something. ha ha

[bradentaala]

Tires got here Friday, mounted over lunch, and bolted under the car after work. Rolled the car onto the trailer and took it to the shop for final body work and paint. Planning on doing gloss black, no rally stripes. I'm happy with these 345's under there!