C4 + LS1 + T-56 = Good times! by subtlez28

By stevegolf
( 2 )

5 minute(s) of a 26 minute read

11-1-2009

Trey, I haven't located pics of the LT1 C4 set up yet, but..

A member of another board who is doing a similar project suggested fliping the C5 stands.

Flipping the stands moves the contact spot ahead ~4.5". The bushing lines up with the bosses on the block, so flipping to the front mounting bosses is easy to calculate even without C5 stands.

The bad news is on the passenger side the stand interferes with the C5 A/C bracket. The good news on that is the part of the A/C bracket it contacts doesn't seem necessary. It is that furthest back ear, I don't yet know why it couldn't be ground off, or even what it is for...

That far left hole is just kind of floating back there.

Not an issue for me, as I do not intend to run A/C.

Now, moving my mounting location ahead 4.5" puts me just behind the flat surface of the cross-member. This would be an easy location to add a plate. 

Only down side it the flat surface of the crossmember is 2.5-3" higher than the current mount location. I want to raise the engine, but not quite that much. Although I would think using something other than the C5 bushings would solve that.

The C5 stands bushing location is about even with the top of the pan. My f-body pan hangs ~5.5" below (a C5 pan ~5" according to the conversion pan sticky). The C5 bushings are ~3". So if the cross member hangs 2.5" below the bushing, I'm set.

More good news is that by moving the mount back 4.5", I can run flat between the 3" bushings and not hit the pan (no cut out required).


4/5/2010

Wow, time has flown. Not much progress over the winter except some parts gathering.

I picked up 4 17x11s and 315/35/17 Kumhos from DTD. I will run these on all four. The 36 mm offset is close, but it looks like I will need to run a small spacer. I went with the Kumhos as I intend to run street tire class.

I also picked up some other cool and surprisingly expensive parts like LS1 ARP head bolts, crank bolt and flywheel bolts. A road race oil pan baffle from Improved Racing. A Fel-pro gasket set. Clutch hydraulics. A used T56 bell housing and mini starter. New water pump, tension pulley, and idler pulley for the C5 accessory drive.

Over the last couple days I finished grinding off the old mount system (this was an early LS1 conversion). I plan to make new mounts from angle iron coming off the crossmember, and C5 stands flipped forward. This will be similar to LT1 mounts, and have been successfully used by other swappers. I cannot use the speed hound conversion mounts as my original mounts were cut off during the previous swap.

The old cut off mounts were plated welded to the cross braces and frame:

It took more time and effort to grind these off than I expected...

 

I also dug the Liberty Face-plated T-56 out of its crate. Face-plating is a process where the syncros are removed (except for 5th and 6th). This will allow for extremely fast upshifts (think motorcycle or Jerico trans).

I bolted on a stock f-body hurst shifter. Then I mounted the C-beam adapter bracket... This was no easy feat. I had to batter it into position. I tried using a rubber mallet but eventually resorted to beating it into place with a BFH... So much for the pretty powder coating. Once in place I had to use this C-clamp to torque it into a position where the 3 bolt holes lined up.

Hopefully I will make more progress as in the next couple days. 



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