67 Firebird-Part 2

[rickpaw]

After finishing and driving my Firebird for more than a year with the old school Pontiac drivetrain, I kind of grow tired of coming home smelling like raw gas due to an exhaust leak (I think). So I decided to do an LS swap on the car, and put the entire drivetrain for sale to fund my swap. The Mustang I was working on will have to take a back seat.

Shortly after the drivetrain was sold to a local Firebird enthusiast, I picked up a complete 5.3L/4l60e combo supposedly with 81,000 miles. I did a leak down test and the percentage loss was around 14% for all the cylinders (cold engine) so I think I'm good. Going to use the motor as is (maybe change out the timing chain/oil pump).



The old Pontiac motor ready to come out.





LS mounts from DSE.





Ordered the Mast oil pan, since DSE said the truck oil pan hangs too low and interfere with the frame. Funny the new oil pan costs as much as the entire engine.

[rickpaw]

DSE mounts installed







Just as I suspected, the truck oil pan hangs too low, and contacted the cross member before the mounting holes on the pass side got lined up.



I guess I have to pull the motor back out, and install the Mast pan, which came today.

[rickpaw]

Worked on the fuel tank over the weekend. Got the pump and sender mounted in the tank.





I decided to make an access hole in the trunk in case I need to remove/replace the fuel pump/sender.

[rickpaw]

The sheet metal around the access hole kind of flexes a bit, so I made a trim ring using my new bead roller to help stiffen it up a bit. Not the prettiest, but it works.

Welded in place.


Then I made an access cover panel.



Ordered fuel lines and an fittings. Hoping to wrap up the fuel system in a week or so.

[rickpaw]

Quick update.

Mocked up the Mast pan, which cleared everything







Quick shot of the engine/tranny in car



Initially I was going to mod the T400 crossmember for the 4l60e, but turned out I had to cut it up too much, and it was additional work that I did not want to do. So ordered new BMR crossmember from Summit, along with Dynatech headers. Also I ordered a new fuel injected tank set up from Tanks Inc.

[geberhard]

Tu, really sweet! I also dig the access panel idea big time! How did you make the pannel?

[rickpaw]

Tu, really sweet! I also dig the access panel idea big time! How did you make the pannel?

Woodward Fab bead roller and 22 ga sheet metal.

[LUV2XLR8]

what's the part numbers on the AN fittings from Fragola?

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

Another asian dude with a musclecar?

man thats rare!

[rickpaw]

Another asian dude with a musclecar?

man thats rare!

Yup, I've shocked a few people.

[68400BIRD]

Great job Tu. Keep the updates coming. Your on the second round and mines still stuck in the garage.

[rickpaw]

Thanks Rob.

[im4u2nvss]

Nice progress! DSE mount kit works fine with stock subframe?

[rickpaw]

Nice progress! DSE mount kit works fine with stock subframe?

Works so far. There is a member on here, i think he goes by tango68ss, who has the same set up.

[rickpaw]

Mounted Brian Finch's dual vent, and relocated the battery back to the trunk.



Lines ran for fuel tank. Just have to figure out whether I want to keep the fuel rail inlet on the driver side (stock), or flip it 180*.

[rickpaw]

I decided to mock up the truck accessories, and to my surprise, it's too tall. It's probably due to the DSE mounts, since I've reads over LS1tech that some used truck accessories on 1st gen F-body and it clears.



Time for new LS accessory drives. I really want VA front runner set up, but the price is way out of my league at this point. I may have to get the Holley set up.

[rickpaw]

Quick update

Mounted the BMR x-member. Overall the parts fit great, but probably will install much easier if the subframe is out of the car.



Also started running lines for the fuel system. Got Corvette fuel filter/regulator, Swagelok compression fittings







About $200 worth of braided line/AN fittings.

[68firebird]

Thanks for posting all of this!! I'm hoping to do this conversion at some point. I can't believe that that oil pan is $500!!

[rickpaw]

Thanks for posting all of this!! I'm hoping to do this conversion at some point. I can't believe that that oil pan is $500!!

You're welcome. Regarding oil pans, I looked at Holley/F-body oil pans as alternatives and found that Holley oil pan mimic the shape of the stock oil pan best, but by the time the baffle kit is added, it will push the cost to $600. You can skip the baffle kit ($200), but I want to track the car in the future and don't want any oiling issue. The F-body pan is cheaper, but based on my measurements it will be tight fit with the DSE mounts. The Mast oil pan is nice design wise, but the casting on my pan is pretty rough looking, not something I'd expect from a $460 part. Plus, it eliminates the 2 lower belt housing mounting holes.

Something to think about.

[SamHatco]

Hey, Tu, making great progress. You'll be up and running in no time.

Sam