1970 Chevelle LS2/MN12 swap

24705 Views 32 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Bowtie70ss, May 9, 2010

Bowtie70ss

Discussion Starter · Nov 2, 2009

I have gotten a good start in my 70 Chevelle LS2 swap. I started a thread over on LS1 tech http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1196836-70-chevelle-ls2-melba-toast.html to detail my progress. I got the engine and transmission from a 06 CTSv Cadillac. I am running hydroboost brakes combine with 12 inch LS1 brakes on a 4 corners. I am also going to do a JGC steering box swap along with a couple of fat sway bars and tubular control arms front and rear. It should be a load of fun. Anyone have a spare set of C5 Z06 wheels laying around?

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Bowtie70ss

Discussion Starter · #2 · Nov 29, 2009

5

The tunnel is done(ish) I still have some welds to grind down and to make it look good underneath once I take the body off of the frame.

I got the clutch master mounted and all of the bracket welded in. I had to cut and move the rod mount point. I still need to build a pedal stop to keep from over extending the push rod and breaking the clutch master. I also mounted the hydro boost and cut the pedal mount off. I threaded the rod on the HB and installed a aftermarket mount point and clevis pin.

I also installed my tubular lower control arms and cut a coil off of each side of my front springs. I plan on coil overs eventually but I'll have to make do for now. I love the way these control arms make the car look. They will go great with the LS1 front and rear brakes and the Baer eradispeed rotors.

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stealth71

· #3 · Nov 30, 2009

Looking good. Planning on having this at CB'10?

BB_Mike

· #4 · Nov 30, 2009

Keep up the good work dave. That will be a very fun car to drive when you are done with it!

Bowtie70ss

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 10, 2010

3

Been a while since I updated anything on here so here are a couple of pics. One of my Metco arms, calipers, sway bar, and one of my wheels. Also the box everything is sitting on contains my Pypes 3" stainless exhaust that I got on a GP thru Swift performance. Oh forgot that the hub adapters I bought so I can run the Z06 wheels are there too.

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stealth71

· #6 · Mar 10, 2010

Looking good.

Bowtie70ss

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 1, 2010

3

Here's an idea of the stance with the Z06 wheels

The wheels are power coated with OCC Wet black. They are attached to my newly self built 12 bolt. It is loaded with 3.55 gears, GM posi unit, Superior axles with 1/2 inch screw in studs, and LS1 brakes. I also disassembled and powder coated the calipers.

You can see my hydro boost, hydraulic clutch, and new($20 pull and pay) late model Camaro wiper motor. I have a little tweaking to do on it yet.

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GenPac

· #8 · Apr 1, 2010

Procomp tubular arms?

Bowtie70ss

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 1, 2010

I got the control arms from a local swap meet, they are no name ones. They seem to have robotic welds and to be very well made. I am swapping out the cheap looking ball joints for some tall ones. They are much heavier than the stock ones.

JChilders

· #10 · Apr 1, 2010

looks great

stealth71

· #11 · Apr 1, 2010

Making progress.

93Polo

· #12 · Apr 1, 2010

Looking good

Which style motor mount plates are you running? Did you have to notch the frame for the AC compressor? I assume all the Accessories are C5/6 stuff.

stealth71

· #13 · Apr 1, 2010

I think he made the adapter plates and yes he notched the frame for the AC. More pics on the ls1tech build thread.

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GenPac

· #14 · Apr 1, 2010

Bowtie70ss said:
I got the control arms from a local swap meet, they are no name ones. They seem to have robotic welds and to be very well made. I am swapping out the cheap looking ball joints for some tall ones. They are much heavier than the stock ones.

Not trying to start anything, they just looked familiar. Here's a pic of these arms offered by SouthwestSpeed, made by ProComp. I was considering buying them, so I called SWS and asked them about their claim:

SWS said:
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PLANT THE TIRES TO THE GROUND IN HARD CORNERING ALLOWING THE SUSPENSION TO KEEP THE PROPER GEOMETRY

Reply I got was they have no technical data about them nor any specifications of how these arms are modified from OE, other than 'tubular' and heavier. I couldn't find a phone number for tech or sales support for ProComp but I know they are kinda big in the 4x4 market.
If anyone can run down a contact, I'd be glad to find out what exactly the above statement means...

http://www.southwestspeed.com/index.php?sec=view_part&id=28400

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Brian 69

· #15 · Apr 1, 2010

Car looks great. I am actually running chrome 18" z06 wheels on my 69.
Couple of quick questions for you. Your front brake caliper adapter brackets for the LS1 car brakes. Where did you buy those from, or did you make those? If you made them, do you have a template that you would be willing to share? Also on the f-body wiper motor, I know that you said that it needs some more tweaking, but what all modifications did it take to get it to work in your car?

Thanks,
Brian

Bowtie70ss

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 1, 2010

The control arms are surely off shore pieces. They are not the glamorous $1500 ones but they are leaps and bounds beyond the factory ones. IMO the ball joints are the weakest part of the arms, and those are gonna be gone. There was a member around here that had taken a set to work and had the welds x-rayed and evaluated. They were found to be of good quality. I also think that by the weight and feel that they will work great. I hope I am not proven wrong.

The wiper motor, so far I have made a adapter plate that needs the position of the motor moved just a little. I need to extend the arm that connects to the motor about a half inch then figure out the wiring.

The LS1 brake brackets I bought online for $40. I have another guy making me some aluminum ones (we'll see how long that takes). I would gladly post a scan of mine, although there are templates available online. Hope I got to everything I will answer everything that I can.

Dave

GenPac

· #17 · Apr 1, 2010

Bowtie70ss said:
The control arms are surely off shore pieces. They are not the glamorous $1500 ones but they are leaps and bounds beyond the factory ones. IMO the ball joints are the weakest part of the arms, and those are gonna be gone. There was a member around here that had taken a set to work and had the welds x-rayed and evaluated. They were found to be of good quality. I also think that by the weight and feel that they will work great. I hope I am not proven wrong.

Hey Dave,

Like I mentioned earlier, I had considered them for my car as well, just kinda weary of the unsubstantiated claims. I too believe they are manufactured offshore, but even their US importers should have SOME data on them.
I'd love to know more about their deviation from OE geometry but I guess it would just be more academic than anything.

I don't doubt their strength, just utility as compared to OE.

93Polo

· #18 · Apr 2, 2010

stealth71 said:
I think he made the adapter plates and yes he notched the frame for the AC. More pics on the ls1tech build thread.

I should have known it was on ls1tech.

I'll have to surf over there. I try to stay off that forum as it tends to make me want to start more projects.

Thanks Stealth and Dave keep up the good work

Bowtie70ss

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 2, 2010

2

I just traced the frame mount then cut them out with a torch.

The notch before grinding

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GenPac

· #20 · Apr 2, 2010

I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here but, if you don't mind Dave... I was looking around at other vendor's LCA offerings and noticed a striking similarity in the arms offered by SWS, the arms you have and the ones SpeedTech sells.

Same bump stops, same sway link, same balljoint housing design, same pocket and webbing design. I'm not saying they are absolutely the same, just saying they have a striking similarity. So, who makes them? SpeedTech? or ProComp for speedtech and the other vendors?

If you're tired of the subject, let me know and I'll slither into someone else's thread.

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